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Whistler athletes on B.C. Disabled Ski Team

The Disabled Skiers Association of B.C. announced the provincial team for the 2008-09 season this week, which will be coached by Whistler’s Phil Chew.

The Disabled Skiers Association of B.C. announced the provincial team for the 2008-09 season this week, which will be coached by Whistler’s Phil Chew.

The team features nine skiers, including Sam Daniels from Whistler and Vancouver’s Rob Gosse, who got his start in competitive skiing through the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program.

Other athletes on the team include Alain Cordonier of Kamloops, Braydon Luscombe of Duncan, Jay Maloney of Salmo, Tyler Maloney as his guide, Gregory Sit of Vancouver, Jeff Foss of Chase, and Simon Harrington of Courtney.

Daniels, 22, has been racing in the sitting category for three years, after he decided to enter the nationals in his first year. He moved up to Whistler the following season to focus on racing, and has his sights set on international competition this season.

“(The IPC World Cup in Whistler) is my biggest goal for this season, but I’m also on my way to Colorado this week to race the Nor-Ams at Winter Park, and there is another Nor-Am coming up in Kimberley in February,” he said. “Those events will dictate where the rest of my season goes.”

While he’s not on the national team, Daniels still hopes to contend for a spot in the 2010 Paralympic Games.

“Alpine Canada is going to announce their criteria this month, and set the bar,” he said. “After that it’s the athlete’s job to do what they can to make it. I don’t think anybody is guaranteed a spot at this point.”

Daniels focuses on the speed events, downhill and super G. He also loves to free ski around the mountains, and just 15 days into the ski season he already has 12 days on the mountain.