NAC ski team in Alaska

The NAC Ability Ski Team recently returned from the USA Paralympic National Championships in Alyeska, Alaska. Racing in Alaska was a unique experience. Because of the radically different pattern of daylight, the lifts do not even open until 10:30 am and the snow does not begin to soften until after noon. Regardless, the race day still began at 9 am with ski prep and course-setting work to be done. Following the completion of course inspection, race runs typically did not start until 12 noon, with second run beginning at 2 pm or later. This made for some long and tiring days. Despite fog, snow, rain, and high winds during the first few days of the championships, all events were completed and we did get to see the sun and blue sky on the final 2 days. The order of events was Downhill, Super Giant Slalom, Super Combined (SG + SL in one day), Giant Slalom and Slalom.

Two shots of Alaska and the wilderness, mountains and sunshine.

Erik ("e-bay") Bayindirli of Turkey - Bronze in Super Combined, Giant Slalom, and Slalom

Arly ("chihuahua") Velasquez of Mexico - career best 4th and 5th place finishes in Downhill, Giant Slalom and Slalom

Teague ("tigger") Cowley of the USA - displaying his great Slalom skills until a spectacular crash took him out of the hunt for his second podium of the season
Tom ("shvedjik") Szwedo of Poland - gaining a lot of attention at his first US Nationals with two top 10 finishes.

Erik is pictured on the far right.