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44 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, March 29, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend March 28, 2005 Renee Masters, right, helps Special Olympics skiing gold medalist Becky Booher with her bindings during a recent outing on Mount Ashland. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Something special The coordinator of Jackson County’s Special Olympics program says one season on the ski slopes beats hundreds of hours in a clinical setting By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune Renee Masters’ path to become Jackson County’s Special Olympics coordinator began on a downhill slope on Mount Ashland. "I got hooked on skiing," she says. "And I wanted to teach it to someone." Masters, 55, found the perfect outlet for her snowy passion. She began to teach skiing to local athletes enrolled in the Special Olympics program. A decade later, this volunteer hopes that others hooked on sporty endeavors will want to share, too. "We only have enough to serve 100 to 150 athletes," Masters says. "But we could serve 400 athletes right now. And the potential for the area’s population is estimated at 1,000." Advertisement Founded in 1972 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics offers year-round sports training to athletes with intellectual disabilities. The organization serves more than 1 million people in more than 150 countries. Whatever your Olympic sports passion, the need is there, Masters says. Skiing is one of the county’s smaller Special Olympics programs. The other 11 sports include basketball, softball, bowling, volleyball and power lifting — all with more athletes. "We have a lot of athletes who want to participate. But because we don’t have enough coaches, we can’t serve them," says Masters. Masters, 55, is a former speech pathologist and author of "You’re Smarter Than You Think." She says her biggest coaching surprise was seeing the behavioral, social and physical improvements in these athletes. Just one season on the slopes beat the progress she could make after hundreds of hours spent in clinical settings, she says. "I was shocked to find out how powerful and therapeutic learning a skill could be for a Special Olympics athlete," Masters says. "The athletes we get think they are damaged goods. Sooner or later, they get to thinking, ‘Hey, I don’t measure up." But things turn around quickly once they realize they are good at something, she says. "It changes them. It transforms their lives," she says. "If you change a person’s view of themselves, that does change everything." Masters says an unexpected call she received from the teacher of one of her autistic athletes tells it all. The teacher, says Masters, said the boy was less lethargic, speaking in class for the first time — and making friends. "Just from learning how to go around some gates," Masters says. Pitted against other athletes with equal abilities, all are taught technique and sportsmanship, says Special Olympics golf coach and "Dr. G" radio personality Gwyn Gilmore. Gilmore took five fellow avid golfers and taught them how to drive, chip and putt. The golfers ranged in abilities and in age (from 14 to 25 years), she says. Gilmore was challenged to rely less on her verbal skills and more on her physical and emotional connection with the game — and her athletes. "My lesson plan was blown out of the water on the very first day," Gilmore says. But she found a way to communicate. In addition to placing hands in proper club position, there were lots of hugs, high-fives and way-to-gos, she said. "It taught me be to be very supportive. It’s a whole new way to of communicating and coaching," Gilmore says. Studies show that athletes who participate in Special Olympics programs are more likely to live independent, productive lives, says Masters. Becky Booher is another of Master’s skiers. Booher won a Special Olympics gold medal in the giant slalom as "the fastest female in Oregon," says Masters. Booher, 27, is also a volunteer at Jacksonville Elementary School. "I teach the Presidential Physical Fitness program," she says. Booher — a skier for eight years — says it was Masters’ coaching that helped her win gold. "She’s a great lady," says Booher. "She is teaching me how to ski better. She gives me good technique." Booher also swims the 100 and 50 meter breast stroke in the Summer Special Olympics. Special Olympics in Oregon was almost bankrupt in 2003, says Masters. But the Jackson County program reorganized in 2004, firing most of its paid staff and now relying on volunteers, she says. Most competitions are scheduled in the northern part of the state. Masters says she’s pleased the next event — a track and field competition on May 21 in Grants Pass — won’t require expensive overnight stays. "Our transportation costs are (usually) three times, compared to Eugene," says Masters. Masters says it’s not just coaches that are wanted —more fund-raisers and managers are in demand, too. For more information, call the Jackson County Special Olympics office at 779-7120. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg Slippers Student Loans afsa teleconferencing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Tatoo Advertisement s