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Show Monday, February 4, 2008 ir 1 HE SIGNPOST - FEATURES Called to be with Olympians Coach trains students for Special Olympic World Winter Games By Heather Wheatley sr. features reporter I The Signpost Laura Haislip started iceskating when she was four years old. She took private lessons for mainly recreational purposes, and only remembers performing in one ice show. She said later on in college she took up private lessons again, and still she did not skate for competitive purposes. It would be her coaching later on that would take her and her skaters to the competitive arena of the Special Olympic World Winter Games. "We are gently guided to what we are supposed to be doing," Haislip said. "I really think this is what I'm supposed to be doing." Haislip said she had been teaching ice-skating at the old Golden Spike Arena when in January of 1986 she overheard a conversation between a mother and daughter. They were arguing about what fishes and swizzles were. Haislip said she introduced herself and explained they were the same skating motions and also demonstrated. The daughter, Tina Etcheverry, excitedly told her mother that that was the maneuver. Etcheverry's skating coach had relocated and left her mother with the music and a diagram of the routine Tina was to use at the SOWWG. However, Etcheverry's mother didn't skate nor did she know much about skating. Haislip said she offered to help Tina with her program once a week and also chaperoned her to the state games. Haislip said it was the first time she had been to a Special Olympic event. "I was absolutely amazed at the level of talent, for one, and the friendship, the comradery, the atmosphere," Haislip said. "It was amazing." Haislip said her coaching reach expanded from there. Etcheverry would tell other people about her, and at one point Haislip was coaching 12 Special Olympians. According to Haislip, most of the original skaters have since retired. Etcheverry retired three to four years ago. People with disabilities sometimes cannot continue in theirsportduetonewmedications and the ensuing side effects or developments in their disability to where it is no longer safe for the athletes to be out on the ice. Haislip's program has been able to run year-round at the Ice Sheet and she said she couldn't be more grateful. The athletes said they are even more grateful. At the Golden Spike Arena, the skating season ran for four months. Haislip said she would spend the first two to three months refreshing the skaters to the level of skill they were at the close of the last season. She said it could be frustrating to only have a month left to expand Special Olympics the athletes' skills and develop routines for the next games. The athletes said when being on the ice is something looked forward to every week, four months is just not adequate time. Haislip said she knows how much they love it. One athlete, Jacob Shock, is a non-verbal autistic boy whovisiblyenjoysbeingontheice. "If you knew him and saw the look on his face," Haislip said. Haislip said these athletes are such a part of her life that she also knows of Shock's accomplishments in bowling and swimming. For most of these athletesice-skating is their only sport. According to Haislip, there are so many skills they have to learn, that one sport is enough to put energy into. "Sometimes it takes a couple of years to develop skills to compete in that atmosphere," Haislip said. For Haislip's program, she said she does not require her athletes to be on an Olympic team, but they must have a disability. Haislip described herself as Weber State ski days a success derness Recreation Center sponsors Tuesday ski days with Wolf Mountain Resort. good idea for both sides of the equation. "There are so many resorts around correspondent I The Signpost our area and for Weber State to team Fifty, 60 and even sometimes $70 are up with one of them was a very good common prices for a day pass to some business move. It gets students to go of the local ski and snowboarding resorts have fun while getting the resort more in the area. Anything lower is usually business. If the people who attend unheard of until this year. For $20, like the resort, then they will consider students and community members can going not only on Tuesdays but on sip and snowboard at Wolf Mountain from other days throughout the week." sunup to sundown on any given Tuesday. Not only do the people at the Wilderness Rec. center think of this as a The Coordinator of the Wilderness goodoutdoorevent.studentswhoskiand Recreation Center, Daniel Turner, put the idea together. The Wilderness Recreation snowboard feel more resorts should start Center is located in Annex 9 by the tennis to take advantage of student discounts. "I think this should be a continuing courts on Weber State University campus. tradition at Weber State." Rose said. "Every Tuesday, students and local "Not only with Wolf Mountain but other community members can come up the Wilderness Recreation Center and buy ski resorts and a pass. It is pretty recreational much designed " / f s been a huge success. places. The to get students up word will get The price speaks for itself. out and more on the mountain, and more Most day passes to a repeople will a junior come if the student, who works sort on/y last from 9 a.m. prices are at Wilderness . . reasonable. We we do offer to 4 p.m. Our deal goes pay enough 9 a.m. to 9 p.m." for school and this allows us Mountain for $45 instead of $53 at -Michelle Henderson, to get and do things that the resort, but Wilderness Rec. Center employee might be out nothing compares ofour budget." to the deal we have set up with Wolf Mountain." As well as buying the passes at Michelle Henderson, a junior nursing the Wilderness Rec, one can also student, who also works at Wilderness rent the equipment for the occasion Rec.r feels it was a great ideafromthe start. and other recreational activities. "It's been a huge success," Henderson "Skis are $12 for students and $17 said, "The price speaks for itself. Most for community members. With this day passes to a resort only lastfrom9am- price it includes boots, poles and skis." 4pm. Our deal goes from 9am-9pm." stated Henderson, "For snowboards "Right now, we usually have around its $15 for students and $22.50 for 15-20 people attending each time. This community members. With that it is the first year we have done this so it includes the boots, bindings and has really had done well." added Bauter, board. People can come rent other "Also, Wilderness rec. offers a free shuttle winter sports equipment as well as pass to go up there. Its first come first summer activity gear. We have things serve, but it will take you round trip." like snowshoes and cross country skis." Sophomore criminal justice student, Comment on this story at Brock Jtose, sees this opportunity as a wsusignpost.com. By Kelsey Stettler memorable moment was when Allison Bommer skated for the first time without the assistance of her walker. According to Haislip, "Allie" will never be able to skate long-distance without the assistance of her walker, but she has conquered skating three to four feet by herself, and she knew she was doing it herself. Haislip said everyone PHOTO SOURCE WWW.BOOZALLEN.COM in the rink stopped what they were doing and applauded always having a love for teaching when Bommerfirstskated solo. "The first time she and sharing her knowledge. did it," Haislip said, "I She said she enjoys watching thought I'd have to pick her the change in the kids' lives. mom up off of the floor." She has also coached adults Haislip said she is grateful in their mid-60's and said she for the support from parents, sees the same changes and blossoming happening for them. athletes and the community. Haslip said the age of the athlete She said her husband helps behind-the-scenes doesn't matter for them to be in with preparations, and her 10her program. To compete in an year-old daughter skates Olympic event, however, athletes with the athletes, cheers, must be over the age of eight. "I will never turn a greets and helps wherever her skater down," Haislip said. mom needs her. Volunteers Evenathletesinwheelchairscan from the Wasatch Skating be out on the ice. Haislip said that Club at the rink also help one of the most rewarding results teach the special athletes of what she gives is watching when they meet Fridays. According to Haislip, they the athletes learn and watching lookforward to it as well. Haislip their self-esteem blossom. said Jan Hodgeshire, a Weber To see them accomplish a State University professor, skill and be able to execute it on their own and watch their face has her entire family helping light up is something she said the year state games are held. she looks forward to every week. WSU alumni help organize, "Sometimes parents will greet and even judge if needed. One " family has helped have a bigger grin then they [the athletes] will," Haislip said. Haislip said that one See Olympics page 7 -A day in the life By Nicole Jacobson correspondent, I TheSignpost ,, Ever wondered what happens inside a ski -, ^ shop? Thomas Brady , gives us some tips and a little insight to a day in the Alpine Sports Ski Shop located in Ogden along with some advice for firsttime skiers or boarders. By Jessica Schreifels features editor I The Signpost It seems like we have had a fashion role reversal. It initially all began with the pants. Some man, somewhere, had the great idea to put on their little sister's pants and call it a style. The style caught on with certain people, and men began shopping the women's racks to find some jeans that fit just right. Now, many popular stores carry the skinny straight pant in men's sizes so they can get that too-tight jean without looking completely ridiculous trying on women's jeans in the mall. Women found retaliation in stealing tr^ men's style. From there, the boyfriend jean was born. The boyfriend jean is a wide-legged, baggy pant. While the pants are still tight in the hip and butt area, the legs of thepants are baggy, and somewhat sloppy. After men had conquered women's pants, another style borrowed from the ladies followed. Skin tight shirts became appropriate for a man, no matter the size, to accompany his too-tight jeans. What did women do? They wore baggier clothes. They brought back the empire waist See Trend page 7 Ski Technician TB: Not that I am aware of but I'm sure you can find some way to get a discount. SP: What tips can you give to a student wanting to rent skis or a snowboard? Signpost: Describe a typical day at the ski shop: TB: Demo it. It will cost more but you will get the most current equipment in good shape. Thomas Brady: I'll check in, start checking out the shop, and start itemizing what things need to be done. I'll then start tuning which includes sharpening edges, flattening bases of skis and making repairs. Then I'll start running the skis through the machines, de-tuning them, waxing them, and making them all smooth. Throughout the day I'll take quotes on mounting skis or like today, I had a dude that wanted his skis mounted like RIGHT NOW so I'll do that sometimes. SP: What do you enjoy about your job? TB: I guess I'm kind of my own boss as long as I get things done. I can go at my own pace. It's rewarding to take some old skis that have been on someone's porch for like six years, and in an hour, I can make them look like they're off the shelf. I like to just turn on the music and jam out while I get things done. We have a good time. Current trend: Pants exhange SP: How new is the equipment you rent? TB: A lot of stuff is brandnew this season. Sometimes the bindings and boots can be a year or two old but it is a good mix. Probably more than half is brand new this year. SP: Do you see yourself working in the skiing industry long-term? TB:This is mainly just a job that works with my school schedule. I don't see it as a long-term job right now but things can always change. SP: What Is your passion and does this job help you achieve that? TB: I have a lot of fun going out skiing. I can use the tools for my own skis when I destroy them on the mountain so that's a pretty good benefit. SP: Do you get to ski as much as you'd like to? Thomas Brady displays a ski he worked on at Alpine Sports Ski TB: I don't really get Shop on 30th Street and Washington Boulevard in Ogden. out enough as I'd like to. SP: What is the craziest Sometimes I'll get a couple lift sharpening some skis that didn't have or weirdest experience passes in my paycheck so I can get out any bindings or anything on them you have had in the shop? and enjoy it. and they slipped out of my hands and shot across the shop like a rocket and TB: We work with a machine that SP: What advice do you have for knocked a chunk out of a piece of has belts that run across it really first-time skiers or boarders? wood. fast and if you don't l>old onto the TB: Patience. equipment, it can slip right out of Comment on this story at SP: Any WSU student discounts of your hands. This one time I was wsusignpost. com. rentals? PHOTO BY BRICE KELSCH| THE SIGNPOST Friday's paper was not distributed due to campus closure. Select stories have been reprinted in today's paper. Check wsusignpbst.com for the rest of Friday's stories. |