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Special Olympics ski competition not just about competition

WARREN TWP., Pa. — The 32nd annual Special Olympics ski competition brings Special Olympians to participate in ski challenges at Roundtop Mountain Resort....

WARREN TWP., Pa. -- The 32nd annual Special Olympics ski competition brings Special Olympians to participate in ski challenges at Roundtop Mountain Resort. The head coach of the Alpine ski program said it's refreshing to have the athletes so excited about competing.

Kathy Charron, the head coach of the Alpine Ski Program, said, "These athletes are just such enthusiastic people and they always are, they always are. They don't complain and they don't moan and they don't groan and they try really hard and it's just really nice."

Special Olympian Joshua Colm-Diaz has been coming to the competition for three years.

He said, ""It's a lot of fun because you can ski all around and have the wind in your face and stuff."

His mother said his love for skiing keeps him coming back.

Heather Danner said, "He's not very athletic. He likes to play video games. But when he's on the skis, he's a completely different child."

She said it helps him grow.

She said, "It really gives him self esteem. It really gives him self esteem to get better every year, and he's really good at it."

The coaches said it's not just about the competition.

Charron said, "I want them to have fun, but I want them to have a really great feeling of success that they could do something that some people don't do."

Skiers selected in this competition will move on to the state competition.

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