{"id":2453641,"date":"2020-01-23T17:36:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-24T00:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/after-six-years-daina-shilts-finally-wins-unified-snowboard-gold-with-mike-schultz\/"},"modified":"2020-01-23T17:36:00","modified_gmt":"2020-01-24T00:36:00","slug":"after-six-years-daina-shilts-finally-wins-unified-snowboard-gold-with-mike-schultz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/after-six-years-daina-shilts-finally-wins-unified-snowboard-gold-with-mike-schultz\/","title":{"rendered":"After six years, Daina Shilts finally wins unified snowboard gold with Mike Schultz"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.9573070607553\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-319618-255\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Daina Shilts celebrates after winning her first heat of the X Games Special Olympics Dual Slalom Snowboard event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>Daina Shilts celebrates after winning her first heat of the X Games Special Olympics Dual Slalom Snowboard event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Daina Shilts celebrates after winning her first heat of the X Games Special Olympics Dual Slalom Snowboard event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-1-804x1024.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Daina Shilts, left, hugs competitor Latrice Pringle after racing each other during the X Games Special Olympics Unified Snowboarding event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"13\">\n<p><strong>Daina Shilts, left, hugs competitor Latrice Pringle after racing each other during the X Games Special Olympics Unified Snowboarding event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-1-804x1024.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Daina Shilts, left, hugs competitor Latrice Pringle after racing each other during the X Games Special Olympics Unified Snowboarding event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-2-1024x683.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Palmer Lyons skis to the bottom during the X Games Special Olympics Unified ski event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. Lyons and Gus Kenworthy won the first year that skiing was introduced in this event. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>Palmer Lyons skis to the bottom during the X Games Special Olympics Unified ski event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. Lyons and Gus Kenworthy won the first year that skiing was introduced in this event. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-2-1024x683.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Palmer Lyons skis to the bottom during the X Games Special Olympics Unified ski event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. Lyons and Gus Kenworthy won the first year that skiing was introduced in this event. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-3-1024x692.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Cassie Sharpe, left, and Alex Ferreira ski into the base of the X Games Special Olympics Unified slalom course on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"13\">\n<p><strong>Cassie Sharpe, left, and Alex Ferreira ski into the base of the X Games Special Olympics Unified slalom course on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-3-1024x692.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Cassie Sharpe, left, and Alex Ferreira ski into the base of the X Games Special Olympics Unified slalom course on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-4-830x1024.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | A crowd cheers along with athletes as they race in the X Games Special Olympics Unified slalom races on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>A crowd cheers along with athletes as they race in the X Games Special Olympics Unified slalom races on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-4-830x1024.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"A crowd cheers along with athletes as they race in the X Games Special Olympics Unified slalom races on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-5-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-5-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Jack Mitrani skis into the bottom of the X Games Unified Special Olympics slalom course after one of his heats against Hannah Teter on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>Jack Mitrani skis into the bottom of the X Games Unified Special Olympics slalom course after one of his heats against Hannah Teter on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-5-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Jack Mitrani skis into the bottom of the X Games Unified Special Olympics slalom course after one of his heats against Hannah Teter on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-6-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-6-1024x743.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Daina Shilts, left, and teammate Mike Schultz hold up their gold medals after winning first place in the X Games Special Olympics Unified slalom snowboard event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"13\">\n<p><strong>Daina Shilts, left, and teammate Mike Schultz hold up their gold medals after winning first place in the X Games Special Olympics Unified slalom snowboard event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-6-1024x743.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Daina Shilts, left, and teammate Mike Schultz hold up their gold medals after winning first place in the X Games Special Olympics Unified slalom snowboard event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-7-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-7-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | A skier races to the bottom of the X Games Special Olympics Unified slalom course on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. \" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>A skier races to the bottom of the X Games Special Olympics Unified slalom course on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. <\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-7-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"A skier races to the bottom of the X Games Special Olympics Unified slalom course on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. \"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-8-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-8-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Chris Klug high-fives teammate Latrice Pringle after finishing his heat during the X Games Unified Special Olympic snowboard event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>Chris Klug high-fives teammate Latrice Pringle after finishing his heat during the X Games Unified Special Olympic snowboard event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-8-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Chris Klug high-fives teammate Latrice Pringle after finishing his heat during the X Games Unified Special Olympic snowboard event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-9-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | The X Games Special Olympics Unified slalom ski racers pose for a group photo after their event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>The X Games Special Olympics Unified slalom ski racers pose for a group photo after their event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-9-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"The X Games Special Olympics Unified slalom ski racers pose for a group photo after their event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-10-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-10-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Athlete Daina Shilts, left, hugs her mother Jan Shilts after winning gold in her slalom ski race during the X Games Special Olympics Unified event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. Jan surprised her daughter two hours before the race. She expressed how hard Daina had worked for the victory.(Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"14\">\n<p><strong>Athlete Daina Shilts, left, hugs her mother Jan Shilts after winning gold in her slalom ski race during the X Games Special Olympics Unified event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. Jan surprised her daughter two hours before the race. She expressed how hard Daina had worked for the victory.(Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-10-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Athlete Daina Shilts, left, hugs her mother Jan Shilts after winning gold in her slalom ski race during the X Games Special Olympics Unified event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. Jan surprised her daughter two hours before the race. She expressed how hard Daina had worked for the victory.(Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-11-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-11-1024x683.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | X Games athletes Cassie Sharpe, left, and Alex Ferreira stand at the base of the slalom ski course after their heat during the Special Olympics Unified event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"13\">\n<p><strong>X Games athletes Cassie Sharpe, left, and Alex Ferreira stand at the base of the slalom ski course after their heat during the Special Olympics Unified event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-11-1024x683.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"X Games athletes Cassie Sharpe, left, and Alex Ferreira stand at the base of the slalom ski course after their heat during the Special Olympics Unified event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-12-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-12-1024x683.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | X Games athletes Gus Kenworthy, left, and Maggie Voisin stand at the base of the slalom ski course after their heat during the Special Olympics Unified event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"13\">\n<p><strong>X Games athletes Gus Kenworthy, left, and Maggie Voisin stand at the base of the slalom ski course after their heat during the Special Olympics Unified event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-12-1024x683.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"X Games athletes Gus Kenworthy, left, and Maggie Voisin stand at the base of the slalom ski course after their heat during the Special Olympics Unified event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-13-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-13-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Teammates Jack Mitrani, left, and Henry Meece pose for photos at the base of the slalom snowboard course during the X Games Special Olympics Unified event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"13\">\n<p><strong>Teammates Jack Mitrani, left, and Henry Meece pose for photos at the base of the slalom snowboard course during the X Games Special Olympics Unified event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-13-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Teammates Jack Mitrani, left, and Henry Meece pose for photos at the base of the slalom snowboard course during the X Games Special Olympics Unified event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-14-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-14-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Athlete Cody Field snowboards to the bottom of the slalom course during the X Games Special Olympics Unified event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>Athlete Cody Field snowboards to the bottom of the slalom course during the X Games Special Olympics Unified event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-14-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Athlete Cody Field snowboards to the bottom of the slalom course during the X Games Special Olympics Unified event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-15-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-15-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Gretchen Bleiler waves after getting to the bottom of the slalom snowboard event during the X Games Special Olympics Unified event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>Gretchen Bleiler waves after getting to the bottom of the slalom snowboard event during the X Games Special Olympics Unified event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-15-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Gretchen Bleiler waves after getting to the bottom of the slalom snowboard event during the X Games Special Olympics Unified event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-16-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-16-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Hannah Teter and Jack Mitrani high-five after racing during the X Games Special Olympics Unified event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>Hannah Teter and Jack Mitrani high-five after racing during the X Games Special Olympics Unified event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-16-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Hannah Teter and Jack Mitrani high-five after racing during the X Games Special Olympics Unified event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-17-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-17-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | X Games Anna Gasser, left, and Danny Davis race to the bottom of the slalom snowboard course during the Special Olympics Unified event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"13\">\n<p><strong>X Games Anna Gasser, left, and Danny Davis race to the bottom of the slalom snowboard course during the Special Olympics Unified event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-17-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"X Games Anna Gasser, left, and Danny Davis race to the bottom of the slalom snowboard course during the Special Olympics Unified event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-18-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-18-1024x741.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Scotty Lago snowboards to the bottom of the X Games Special Olympics Unified slalom course on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>Scotty Lago snowboards to the bottom of the X Games Special Olympics Unified slalom course on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xunified-atd-012420-1-18-1024x741.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Scotty Lago snowboards to the bottom of the X Games Special Olympics Unified slalom course on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/sports\/after-six-years-daina-shilts-finally-wins-unified-snowboard-gold-with-mike-schultz\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/sports\/after-six-years-daina-shilts-finally-wins-unified-snowboard-gold-with-mike-schultz\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText DropCap\">Daina Shilts has become as much of an X Games mainstay as any other athlete competing this week at Buttermilk. Her enthusiasm each of the past five years in the Special Olympics Unified snowboarding competition isn\u2019t easily forgotten.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Then came Thursday, her sixth time competing in the event, which happens to be in its sixth year, which ended with her winning X Games gold for the first time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cAfter six years I finally got it. Oh my gosh, my adrenaline is so high right now,\u201d a fast-talking Shilts said from the bottom of the slalom course. \u201cI\u2019m shaking so bad. I\u2019ve worked so hard to get this. But in the end it\u2019s not about finishing first, it\u2019s about finishing, having fun and interacting.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">From Neillsville, Wisconsin, Shilts won a silver once alongside Olympic gold medalist Hannah Teter. She\u2019s also won four gold, five silver and two bronze medals competing at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in 2013 and 2017.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">This winter at X Games Aspen, she partnered with Minnesota\u2019s Mike Schultz, an adaptive motorsport athlete who entered this year\u2019s games at Buttermilk with nine career X Games gold medals between the summer and winter events.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThis one is pretty special. It\u2019s the first team event I\u2019ve done and I\u2019m so happy for Daina and her winning the gold,\u201d Schultz said. \u201cShe\u2019s been here for six years and to be here while she won her first gold was pretty dang special. You could see the expression on her face and just overwhelming excitement. So I\u2019m really happy I could be part of that moment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The unified event is a head-to-head snowboard race between teams of two: one Special Olympics athlete and one professional. The event has long been dominated by Aspen\u2019s own Chris Klug, an Olympic bronze medalist in alpine snowboarding, and Special Olympics athlete Henry Meece of Oregon. This year, Meece partnered with X Games host Jack Mitrani for bronze.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">California\u2019s Danny Davis, one of the best snowboarders in the world who also competed in Thursday\u2019s men\u2019s superpipe final, won silver alongside Russia\u2019s Dmitri Tiufiakov. Other notable pros who competed included Aspen\u2019s Gretchen Bleiler and Austria\u2019s Anna Gasser.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThis event is pretty special. It brings out the best in sport,\u201d Schultz said. \u201cThe Special Olympic athletes, obviously they are going through some challenges in life and for them to be able to come out and compete on a stage like X Games and be teamed up with pros of the sport, it\u2019s incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Subhead\">SKIERS MAKE UNIFIED DEBUT<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">New this year was the addition of a skiing competition to the unified event, won by Telluride freeskier Gus Kenworthy and Denver\u2019s Palmer Lyons, who was decked out in a full speed suit for Thursday\u2019s race.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Lyons said he is a close friend with Denver\u2019s Cody Field, a notable Special Olympic athlete who won three gold medals at the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Korea. Hearing of Field competing at X Games inspired Lyons to want to try it himself with skiing making its unified debut at Buttermilk.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s very special and I\u2019m so glad they include skiing and I\u2019m so grateful I was asked to be a part of it and I feel very lucky that I was partnered with Palmer,\u201d said Kenworthy, a five-time X Games medalist. \u201cThis one is very special to me. It\u2019s actually my first X Games gold, so that\u2019s amazing. I\u2019ve got a handful of silver and bronze, but it just feels incredible and I really got to give it up to Palmer, because it was all him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Winning silver in the ski race Thursday was Aspen\u2019s Alex Ferreira, the reigning X Games ski halfpipe champion who will compete in Sunday\u2019s final. He partnered with Denver\u2019s Haldan Pranger to hold off bronze finishers Sarah Hoefflin, a freeskier from Switzerland who won X Games Aspen big air gold in 2018, and Boulder\u2019s Kohlor Von Eschen.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Ferreira, who also has an Olympic silver medal in halfpipe skiing, is making a name for himself as a ski racer this winter, having partnered with NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson to win the annual Audi Ajax Cup on Dec. 30, a fundraiser for the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThere might be a career switch in the future,\u201d Ferreira joked. \u201cIt\u2019s an amazing experience, first and foremost. I was lucky enough to do the unified BMX Special Olympics during Summer X Games, and then they asked me to do skiing and I noticed it was the first year and I said, \u2018Of course, absolutely I\u2019d love to be a part of it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Finishing fourth in Thursday\u2019s ski race was Nevada\u2019s David Wise, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in halfpipe skiing, and Denver\u2019s Andrew Carlson. Wise, who was a ski racer until his early teens when he switched to freeskiing, liked the banter between the professionals. He, Ferreira and Kenworthy all are competing against each other this weekend in the halfpipe.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Olympic and X Games halfpipe champion Cassie Sharpe of Canada and Montana slopestyle specialist Maggie Voisin, another X Games champion, also competed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI\u2019ve watched it on the snowboard side in the past and always thought it was super cool. So as soon as they announced they were going to do ski I threw my name in the hat,\u201d Wise said. \u201cWe were definitely talking trash back and forth and making it fun and interesting it\u2019s a super cool event because it\u2019s all about camaraderie. For me getting to meet my teammate Andrew and just see his passion for skiing and his excitement for life is pretty special.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Tagline\"><a href=\"mailto:acolbert@aspentimes.com\">acolbert@aspentimes.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/sports\/after-six-years-daina-shilts-finally-wins-unified-snowboard-gold-with-mike-schultz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Daina Shilts celebrates after winning her first heat of the X Games Special Olympics Dual Slalom Snowboard event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times Daina Shilts, left, hugs competitor Latrice Pringle after racing each other during the X Games Special Olympics Unified Snowboarding event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2453641","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-18 19:16:30","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2453641","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2453641"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2453641\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2453641"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2453641"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2453641"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}