Alpine Skiing & Snowboarding 2026

Emily Viens, from the Genesee Region, celebrates her ski during the alpine skiing competition at Swain Mountain in Swain, N.Y. on Feb. 21, 2026. (Photo by Natasha Kaiser)

Alpine Skiing & Snowboarding

By Lydia Hammer

SWAIN, N.Y. — Special Olympics New York (SONY) held its annual alpine skiing and snowboarding event on Feb. 21, 2026, at Swain Mountain in Swain, N.Y.

The weather remained cloudy throughout the competition. The event started a bit late due to the late arrival of one of the teams. Competitions were separated into different levels, which competed one after another, ranging from novice to advanced, with intermediate in the middle.

Zachary Elder, of the Capital Region, snowboards down the mountain during the Advanced Slalom competition at Swain Mountain. (Photo by Natasha Kaiser)

Central Region athlete Tim Ranger finished the competition — his second year skiing at Special Olympics — with two gold medals. He described, “I went in my first competition last year. This year, I definitely felt like I did better.”

Ricky Sehlmeyer also earned a gold medal in downhill skiing. “It was cold,” he stated, but he reassured those who asked that the athletes were equipped with warm gloves and proper equipment.

Anthony Robilotto, from the Capital District Region, looks out on the course before his ski in the alpine skiing competition. (Photo by Natasha Kaiser)
Matthew Holcomb, from the Genesee Region, beings his ski during alpine skiing competition at Swain Mountain in Swain, N.Y. on Feb. 21, 2026. (Photo by Rebecca Villagracia)
(Video by Jack Mallett)

Though fluctuating weather and temperature conditions over the course of the past week made the snow a bit rough to snowboard or ski on, the event was enjoyable for those who attended.

Tim Ranger, of the Central Region, celebrates with his two gold medals in the Giant and Regular Slalom intermediate races following the alpine skiing competition at Swain Mountain. “I went in my first competition last year. This year I definitely felt like I did better,” said Ranger. (Photo by Rebecca Villagracia)
NW and Hilary Wong (Left to Right) cheer for other athletes during the alpine skiing competition at Swain Mountain in Swain, N.Y. on Feb. 21, 2026. It is NW’s second year participating in the games but his first time snowboarding. NW says “I really appreciate all the people volunteering and making this possible. It is really special for our family.” (Photo by Samuel_Fox)
Reece Villani, from the Central Region, skis to hug his older sister Monique Villani after finishing his ski run during the alpine skiing competition at Swain Mountain. (Photo by Natasha Kaiser)
Daryle Jennings celebrates finishing his ski during the alpine skiing competition at Swain Mountain in Swain, N.Y. on Feb. 21, 2026. (Photo by Samuel_Fox)
Joseph Jackson, an athlete from the Genesee Region, participates in the alpine skiing competition at Swain Mountain. (Photo by Samuel Fox)
Reece Villani waits for his ski to begin during the alpine skiing competition at Swain Mountain in Swain, N.Y. (Photo by Natasha Kaiser)
State Trooper Kyle Schreader gives a medal to athlete Trevin Wickland, of the Grenesee Region following the alpine skiing competition at Swain Mountain in Swain, N.Y. on Feb. 21, 2026. Wickland received a silver medal in Giant Slalom. (Photo by Rebecca Villagracia)
Clare Moheimani, of the Southern Tier Region competes in the alpine skiing competition at Swain Mountain in Swain, N.Y. on Feb. 21, 2026. (Photo by Rebecca Villagracia)
Zachary Elder, from the Capital Region, waits in line for his turn to ski during the alpine skiing competition at Swain Mountain. (Photo by Rebecca Villagracia)
Warm and rainy weather over the past week created challenging conditions at Swain Mountain with granulated snow and fluctuating temperatures for the racers. (Photo by Rebecca Villagracia)
Ava McIntosh, an athlete from Windham Adaptive Sports Foundation, grabs a pair of skis before the alpine skiing competition at Swain Mountain. (Photo by Natasha Kaiser)
Matthew Schadt, from the Southern Tier Region, skis down the mountain during alpine skiing competition at Swain Mountain in Swain, N.Y. on Feb. 21, 2026. Matthew had been competing in the games for eight years. (Photo by Samuel_Fox)
Sullivan Wallner, a member of the Genesee Region Rockets team, gets ready for the competition with the help of his mom Mary Jo before the alpine skiing competition at Swain Mountain in Swain, N.Y. It is his second season skiing, and he competes in swimming in March (Photo by Henry Youmans)
Matthew Schadt, of the Southern Tier Greek Lightning team, looks out a window at the mountain before the alpine skiing competition at Swain Mountain in Swain, N.Y. on Feb. 21, 2026. (Photo by Henry Youmans)
Ernie Eichensehr points out the window showing his son Patrick, an athlete on the Genesee Region Rockets team, the mountain before the alpine skiing competition at Swain Mountain in Swain, N.Y. on Feb. 21, 2026. (Photo by Henry Youmans)