Park City skiers bring home pair of medals

COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. — Coming off its 11 medals at the 2008 Disabled Nationals ski races last spring, the Ability Ski Team from Park City's National Ability Center (NAC) has won its first two medals of the 2008/2009 season.

Mikayla Briere (sit ski; Lincoln, N.H.) won her first gold medal, while Sam Blakely (standing; Henefer, Utah) won a bronze medal. Both medals came in the junior division of the NorAm Level II Slalom races at the 21st annual Hartford Ski Spectacular on Monday.

For Briere, this is her first year as a member of the Ability Ski Team. She spent the summer training with the National Ability &#gt; Center's adaptive cycling program, wheelchair rugby program, Nordic

&#gt; dry-land camp, and rock climbing. The cross-training paid big &#gt; dividends as Briere won the gold medal in her first race of the year.

Blakely's bronze medal was his first ever in competition. This &#gt; summer, he traveled to Beijing for the Paralympic Games after &#gt; winning a trip through the U.S. Paralympics' Paralympic Academy. &#gt; While in Beijing, Blakely spoke with multiple national athletes &#gt; about their experiences and picked up training pointers to help him &#gt; in his training.

The Ability Ski Team's new head coach, Rip Pridday (prEYE-day) &#gt; said, =93We're proud of Sam and Mikayla for their great finishes. Sam &#gt; really wanted this after missing the podium at (U.S. Disabled) &#gt; Nationals last year.=94

Sue Greenberg, the team's new assistant head coach, said, =93Mikayla &#gt; was so surprised at her victory. It was fun for all of us to see &#gt; her so excited, and I think it sparked some of the other (Ability &#gt; Ski Team) members for the GS races.=94 -->

Today the team will be competing in giant slalom races at Copper Mountain.

The first chance for Utahans to see the Ability Ski Team in competition on Utah's Greatest Snow on Earth will be Feb. 10-12 in the Huntsman Cup at Park City Mountain Resort.