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Gallery loves the downhill
By Ray Grass
Deseret News Paralympic specialist
SNOWBASIN — Normally, it might be a stretch to connect, in some way, state PTA Day and the Paralympics — but connected they are, like country music and Nashville, and autos and Detroit.
Saturday, the first day of alpine competition and state PTA Day — no coincidence — the education group's favorite honorary chairman, Chris Waddell, skied in his first event.
Which might account for the fact that the men's downhill was the first event in these Games to sell out. And, it might account for the unusually loud cheers when Waddell crossed the finish, strapped in a mono-ski, and raised his arms in triumph. And, it might even account for the constant waving of signs and the blowing of kisses when Waddell's time was bettered by another skier — Martin Braxenthaler of Germany.
In other events, the American men went one-two in the mono-ski LW 12 class: Kevin Bramble of Truckee, Calif., took the gold, and Chris Devlin-Young of Campton, Ohio, the silver.
In the women's mono-ski, the U.S. went one-two-three. Sarah Will of Vail, Colo., won the gold; Muffy Davis of Sun Valley, the silver; and Stephanie Victor of Park City the bronze. Will has won nine gold and one silver in four Paralympics.
Other winners included a bronze for Jason Lalla of Braadford, N.H., in the standup L2 class; a bronze for Jacob Rife of Pocatello, Idaho, in the men's standup L3 class; and a silver for Csilla Kristof of Las Vegas, in the women's standup class.
As one sign read, "Chris is our hero," evidence that Waddell is a favorite of the throngs of PTA parents and kids who showed up to watch the Park City skier compete in his third Paralympics. He has now won five gold and six silver medals.
It seems, said two of his most vocal fans, Carmen Snow, state PGA membership chairman, and Darci Hansen, Utah PTA community involvement commissioner, both of St. George, that a search was put on last year for a celebrity and honorary chairman.
Someone who didn't fit the stereotype of the organization, said Snow, "that is, someone who was not female. Everyone associates the PTA with women."
"So, we asked Chris . . . It's nice to have a male, and a single male at that, and a disabled male." The first stop for the honorary member was at an assembly on Sept. 11. It was, said Hansen, a time for tears and thanksgiving . . . "and Chris was great. More than we could have wished. Chris represents all of us."
There was, said Waddell, that added pressure on him of trying to come through for his fans.
"It can be disappointing, having to step down from the top step to a lower one," he said after Braxenthaler's time was announced. "I had a good race, but it wasn't flawless.
"But there's nothing like competing before a crowd like this. I didn't hear them coming down, but I did going up the lift. It's craziness. We don't usually get these crowds at our races. It was the best feeling, but it was also there in the back of my mind. I wanted to lay one down for the folks."
Waddell's time in the mono-ski LW10 class was one minute, 41.50 seconds, compared to a 1:41.14 for Braxenthaler.
Devlin-Young, now, did put down a perfect run. It was the best run he'd ever had on his sit-ski.
"I had three downhills in me, which is perfect. In training I was (stopped) on my first and fell on my second, and one I got right," he said as he waited for his best friend and teammate, Bramble, to finish.
After the race, he was as happy for his friend and Bramble himself was for his gold.
"It's funny, I was so excited watching Kevin ski," said Devlin-Young. "I could see his turns and was thinking, 'Oh no, just a little late there, get back in line.' I was thinking like a coach and I had to stop and think, 'Wait a minute, I'm an athlete. I want to win."
Bramble and Devlin-Young might be considered rebels on the U.S. Disabled Ski Team. Bramble, a self-taught mono-skiers, left the team three years ago to train on his own.
"This win is vindication for everything I've done," he said.
Devlin-Young also left the team and returned this season.
A number of competitors took the time to make a "colorful" statement, but none was more colorful than the hairdo of Rife. It was as striking blue on top, with streaks of red and natural blonde on the sides.
"I did it a week ago, I don't know why, but I had it darkened up yesterday. It could be an intimidation factor, maybe," he joked.
Competition continues today with the men's super-G, which starts at 10:30 a.m. The super-G for the visually impaired and women will be on Monday.
E-mail: grass@desnews.com
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March 10, 2002
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