BIG SKY – Moonlight Basin Resort will host the fourth annual Special Olympics Montana Big Sky Area Winter Games on Monday, Feb. 25.
“In our continuous effort to support community-wide programs, we are looking forward to another day of races and smiling faces,” said Ersin Ozer, Event Coordinator for Moonlight Basin.
A snowshoe course will be set up on Madison Avenue at the Madison Village Base Area, which will provide ideal spectator viewing of the 50 and 100-meter snowshoe races.
“The event is shaping up to be our biggest yet, and we want to thank all the volunteers and Moonlight Basin for making this possible,” said Sean Fitzgerald, Big Sky Area Winter Games Coordinator for Special Olympics Montana.
Additionally, before the races begin, participating Special Olympics athletes will take part in an opening ceremony emceed by local radio-celebrity, DJ Missy O’Malley.
During the ceremony, all volunteers will be issued custom cowbells to cheer on the athletes throughout the day.
“The Big Sky Area Winter Games is one of our favorite days because it gives us the opportunity to show support to athletes and gain inspiration by their enthusiasm,” said Greg Pack, General Manager for Moonlight Basin.
With Moonlight Basin sponsoring the athletes’ lift tickets, transportation to and from the resort and use of terrain for the venue, additional support for race equipment comes from the Big Sky Ski Education Foundation, a non-profit deeply rooted in spreading the participation of downhill racing and freestyle skiing.
The Big Sky Area Winter Games will include 60 athletes competing in alpine skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing events. The athletes come from Gallatin, Park, Sweetgrass and Madison counties in Southwest Montana, as well as part of Madison County.
All activities and events for the Special Olympics Big Sky Area Winter Games will be hosted at Moonlight Basin’s Madison Village Base Area, Wagon Train and Cupajo ski runs. Advanced and intermediate races will be held on Wagon Train, with novice races being held on Cup-a-Jo.
