Max
12-11-2002, 04:53 PM
Mountain lures medalist
By Paula Parrish, Rocky Mountain News
December 11, 2002
BRECKENRIDGE - This is the mountain that changed Sandy Dukat's life.
When she went back to Chicago five years ago after learning to ski at The Hartford Ski Spectacular, friends could tell she'd had a life-changing experience.
"They could just tell something had happened," Dukat said.
In those five days back in 1997, Dukat went from skiing beginner runs to expert runs - and that's when a member of the U.S. Disabled Ski Team approached her.
"Are you the girl who goes racing straight down underneath the lift?" he said.
That was her.
"You are going to go to the Paralympics," he said, "and you are going to do something great."
And she did, becoming a member of the U.S. Disabled Ski Team. At the 2002 Salt Lake Paralympics, which followed the Winter Olympic Games, Dukat won bronze medals in the super-G and slalom.
"I went from a girl who knew nothing about skiing to winning medals, and that's what I want to share here this week," said Dukat, returning to compete in the festival for a fifth consecutive year.
The festival is the largest winter sports event for people with disabilities, drawing hundreds of athletes from across the nation.
Dukat's right leg was amputated above the knee when she was 4. Still, she got into swimming and set an American record in the 800-meter freestyle at the 1998 Disabled World Swimming Championships. But skiing lured her away from the pool.
"For me, the festival is where it all started, and that's what I want people to know," she said. "I have a disability, but I have no limits. That's the message I want to share with others."
Racing begins Thursday and continues through Saturday, with adaptive and instructor clinics all week, along with demonstrations of the most up-to-date equipment for disabled skiers, including mono-skis and sit-skis.
Information: (970) 453-5633.
Copyright 2002, Rocky Mountain News. All Rights Reserved.
By Paula Parrish, Rocky Mountain News
December 11, 2002
BRECKENRIDGE - This is the mountain that changed Sandy Dukat's life.
When she went back to Chicago five years ago after learning to ski at The Hartford Ski Spectacular, friends could tell she'd had a life-changing experience.
"They could just tell something had happened," Dukat said.
In those five days back in 1997, Dukat went from skiing beginner runs to expert runs - and that's when a member of the U.S. Disabled Ski Team approached her.
"Are you the girl who goes racing straight down underneath the lift?" he said.
That was her.
"You are going to go to the Paralympics," he said, "and you are going to do something great."
And she did, becoming a member of the U.S. Disabled Ski Team. At the 2002 Salt Lake Paralympics, which followed the Winter Olympic Games, Dukat won bronze medals in the super-G and slalom.
"I went from a girl who knew nothing about skiing to winning medals, and that's what I want to share here this week," said Dukat, returning to compete in the festival for a fifth consecutive year.
The festival is the largest winter sports event for people with disabilities, drawing hundreds of athletes from across the nation.
Dukat's right leg was amputated above the knee when she was 4. Still, she got into swimming and set an American record in the 800-meter freestyle at the 1998 Disabled World Swimming Championships. But skiing lured her away from the pool.
"For me, the festival is where it all started, and that's what I want people to know," she said. "I have a disability, but I have no limits. That's the message I want to share with others."
Racing begins Thursday and continues through Saturday, with adaptive and instructor clinics all week, along with demonstrations of the most up-to-date equipment for disabled skiers, including mono-skis and sit-skis.
Information: (970) 453-5633.
Copyright 2002, Rocky Mountain News. All Rights Reserved.