The excitement surrounding the Team Alberta training camp last weekend was contagious for all the medal contenders at the upcoming 2012 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games.
"This is so much fun," exclaimed Charlene Stevenson, while surveying the snowshoeing course at the St. Albert Rugby Football Club on a frosty Saturday morning. "I like it here and I can't wait for the Games to start."
Stevenson, 46, has her sights set on making the national team for worlds next year in South Korea.
"My goal is to get a bunch of gold medals, but I know it's going to be a tough competition," said the Calgary athlete. "I would love to go to my third Games next year. I'm hoping to. That would be a personal showing."
Stevenson represented Canada at worlds as a swimmer in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and as an alpine skier at Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
"My happiness at worlds was when I got to carry our flag in the opening ceremonies [at Lake Tahoe]," she said. "I was a bit nervous and a bit anxious. It was in the middle of winter and butt cold. It was in the evening and it was very windy. It was a big flag and I had to hang on to it. It was like having a salmon on your fishing line. You've got to hang on to it because if you don't it's going to go away."
Stevenson isn't worried if the weather is nasty for the Games.
"I will just bundle up and keep warm and enjoy everybody around me."
The training camp marked the last time Team Alberta would gather as a group in preparation for the Feb. 28 to March 3 nationals.
"It's really, really nice to have all the athletes around. That way you get to know who the athletes are and where they're from and what sport they're doing," Stevenson said.
Happy trails
At Kingswood Park on an overcast Saturday morning, the Calgary-dominated contingent of cross-country skiers briskly walked a course that lacked snow.
"It was fun to see where you would be skiing," said Sarah McCarthy. "I hope to do my best and meet new people and have fun."
"I like it here. It's going to be pretty easy," chimed in Jennifer Riddell. "I'm really excited. It will be a good time."
Riddell, 32, has been to the Games before and enjoys the camaraderie.
"I like competing and meeting people and doing my best," she said.
McCarthy, 28, was happy to see so many friends at the training camp.
"It's really exciting to see the team here. I'm having fun because I know people on the team."
Rock stars
Rinks from Red Deer and Calgary put on a show Saturday at the St. Albert Curling Club during the learn-from-the-pros clinic and all-star games with celebrity curlers.
"I'm happy they're here. It's a real fun time," said Calgary skip David Rench.
The oldest athlete who will participate in the Games at age 65, was picking up tips from the various Olympic, Brier and world champions at the event.
"I want to learn more about curling because I want to be a good player for Alberta so I win a gold medal," said Rench.
He lives and breathes the sport.
"I'm thinking about curling all the time. I like it. My dad was a curler and I would like to be a curler for a long, long time for the Special Olympics."
The multiple gold medallist at the Games is eager to add more gold to his collection.
"I have a good team. We've done lots and lots of training."
His secret to winning gold is simple. "Hit the broom!"
Also going for gold at the Games is the Red Deer rink skipped by Graham Kryzanowski.
"A medal like that would be nice but just to play well as a team would be even better," Kryzanowski said. "Our team is pretty good. We have a lot of fun. We work together and we learn a lot. We have good coaching too."
The member of the Michener Hill Curling Club plays in a mixed league on Fridays and spares in the men's league.
"I like making friends and meeting new people and learning from them when I curl," said the track and field participant at a previous summer Games.
Kryzanowski, 34, is pumped to represent his province at nationals.
"I'm very excited. I'm trying to count down the days," he said. "Our team has trained hard. We have a training book that we fill out every day and our coach checks it for stuff like our diets. I had to lose a little bit of weight and I did it."
