{"id":2454453,"date":"2020-02-12T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-12T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/?p=320737"},"modified":"2020-02-12T05:00:00","modified_gmt":"2020-02-12T12:00:00","slug":"challenge-aspen-athletes-excited-honored-to-compete-at-nastar-nationals-in-snowmass","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/challenge-aspen-athletes-excited-honored-to-compete-at-nastar-nationals-in-snowmass\/","title":{"rendered":"Challenge Aspen athletes excited, honored to compete at NASTAR Nationals in Snowmass"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.6251251251251\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-320737-980\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-1024x671.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Challenge Aspen\u2019s Lauren Jackson practices on the NASTAR slalom ski course on Snowmass Mountain on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.47727272727273\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9.5454545454545\">\n<p><strong>Challenge Aspen\u2019s Lauren Jackson practices on the NASTAR slalom ski course on Snowmass Mountain on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<br \/><a class=\"buy-link\" href=\"http:\/\/aspentimes.mycapture.com\/mycapture\/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return+to+AspenTimes.com&amp;backurl=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/snowmass\/challenge-aspen-athletes-excited-honored-to-compete-at-nastar-nationals-in-snowmass\/&amp;image=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-1024x671.jpg&amp;notes=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1.jpg\"><i class=\"fas fa-shopping-cart\"><\/i> Buy Photo<\/a><\/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\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-1024x671.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Challenge Aspen\u2019s Lauren Jackson practices on the NASTAR slalom ski course on Snowmass Mountain on Thursday, Jan. 30, 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\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-1-772x1024.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Challenge Aspen\u2019s Chris Guay practices on the NASTAR slalom course at Snowmass on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.47513812154696\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9.5027624309392\">\n<p><strong>Challenge Aspen\u2019s Chris Guay practices on the NASTAR slalom course at Snowmass on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<br \/><a class=\"buy-link\" href=\"http:\/\/aspentimes.mycapture.com\/mycapture\/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return+to+AspenTimes.com&amp;backurl=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/snowmass\/challenge-aspen-athletes-excited-honored-to-compete-at-nastar-nationals-in-snowmass\/&amp;image=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-1-772x1024.jpg&amp;notes=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-1.jpg\"><i class=\"fas fa-shopping-cart\"><\/i> Buy Photo<\/a><\/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\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-1-772x1024.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Challenge Aspen\u2019s Chris Guay practices on the NASTAR slalom course at Snowmass on Thursday, Jan. 30, 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\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-2-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Challenge Aspen\u2019s Lauren Jackson adjusts her goggles after a practice run on the NASTAR slalom course at Snowmass on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. Jackson has a sticker on her helmet in remembrance of her late friend Sam Coffey. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10.667785234899\">\n<p><strong>Challenge Aspen\u2019s Lauren Jackson adjusts her goggles after a practice run on the NASTAR slalom course at Snowmass on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. Jackson has a sticker on her helmet in remembrance of her late friend Sam Coffey. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<br \/><a class=\"buy-link\" href=\"http:\/\/aspentimes.mycapture.com\/mycapture\/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return+to+AspenTimes.com&amp;backurl=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/snowmass\/challenge-aspen-athletes-excited-honored-to-compete-at-nastar-nationals-in-snowmass\/&amp;image=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-2-1024x682.jpg&amp;notes=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-2.jpg\"><i class=\"fas fa-shopping-cart\"><\/i> Buy Photo<\/a><\/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\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-2-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Challenge Aspen\u2019s Lauren Jackson adjusts her goggles after a practice run on the NASTAR slalom course at Snowmass on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. Jackson has a sticker on her helmet in remembrance of her late friend Sam Coffey. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-3-1024x679.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Tuvia Stein, left, and Tanner Jadwin hold Yorkshire terriers Bonnie and Clyde in the Challenge Aspen office in Snowmass on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. Stein said that his two small dogs are the office\u2019s therapy dogs. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.96875\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12.59375\">\n<p><strong>Tuvia Stein, left, and Tanner Jadwin hold Yorkshire terriers Bonnie and Clyde in the Challenge Aspen office in Snowmass on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. Stein said that his two small dogs are the office\u2019s therapy dogs. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<br \/><a class=\"buy-link\" href=\"http:\/\/aspentimes.mycapture.com\/mycapture\/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return+to+AspenTimes.com&amp;backurl=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/snowmass\/challenge-aspen-athletes-excited-honored-to-compete-at-nastar-nationals-in-snowmass\/&amp;image=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-3-1024x679.jpg&amp;notes=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-3.jpg\"><i class=\"fas fa-shopping-cart\"><\/i> Buy Photo<\/a><\/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\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-3-1024x679.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Tuvia Stein, left, and Tanner Jadwin hold Yorkshire terriers Bonnie and Clyde in the Challenge Aspen office in Snowmass on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. Stein said that his two small dogs are the office\u2019s therapy dogs. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-4-1024x684.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Challenge Aspen skiers watch their friends practice on the NASTAR slalom course as they ride the lift on Snowmass on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10.53738317757\">\n<p><strong>Challenge Aspen skiers watch their friends practice on the NASTAR slalom course as they ride the lift on Snowmass on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<br \/><a class=\"buy-link\" href=\"http:\/\/aspentimes.mycapture.com\/mycapture\/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return+to+AspenTimes.com&amp;backurl=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/snowmass\/challenge-aspen-athletes-excited-honored-to-compete-at-nastar-nationals-in-snowmass\/&amp;image=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-4-1024x684.jpg&amp;notes=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-4.jpg\"><i class=\"fas fa-shopping-cart\"><\/i> Buy Photo<\/a><\/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\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-4-1024x684.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Challenge Aspen skiers watch their friends practice on the NASTAR slalom course as they ride the lift on Snowmass on Thursday, Jan. 30, 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\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-5-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-5-1024x685.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Challenge Aspen\u2019s Tanner Jadwin skis to the bottom of the NASTAR slalom course during practice at Snowmass on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10.526315789474\">\n<p><strong>Challenge Aspen\u2019s Tanner Jadwin skis to the bottom of the NASTAR slalom course during practice at Snowmass on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<br \/><a class=\"buy-link\" href=\"http:\/\/aspentimes.mycapture.com\/mycapture\/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return+to+AspenTimes.com&amp;backurl=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/snowmass\/challenge-aspen-athletes-excited-honored-to-compete-at-nastar-nationals-in-snowmass\/&amp;image=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-5-1024x685.jpg&amp;notes=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-5.jpg\"><i class=\"fas fa-shopping-cart\"><\/i> Buy Photo<\/a><\/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\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-5-1024x685.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Challenge Aspen\u2019s Tanner Jadwin skis to the bottom of the NASTAR slalom course during practice at Snowmass on Thursday, Jan. 30, 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\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-6-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-6-1024x669.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Challenge Aspen\u2019s Matthew Boyd practices slalom snowboarding on the NASTAR course at Snowmass on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.47704081632653\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9.5408163265306\">\n<p><strong>Challenge Aspen\u2019s Matthew Boyd practices slalom snowboarding on the NASTAR course at Snowmass on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<br \/><a class=\"buy-link\" href=\"http:\/\/aspentimes.mycapture.com\/mycapture\/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return+to+AspenTimes.com&amp;backurl=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/snowmass\/challenge-aspen-athletes-excited-honored-to-compete-at-nastar-nationals-in-snowmass\/&amp;image=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-6-1024x669.jpg&amp;notes=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-6.jpg\"><i class=\"fas fa-shopping-cart\"><\/i> Buy Photo<\/a><\/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\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-6-1024x669.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Challenge Aspen\u2019s Matthew Boyd practices slalom snowboarding on the NASTAR course at Snowmass on Thursday, Jan. 30, 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\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-7-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-7-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Tuvia Stein holds one of his Yorkshire terriers on his shoulders in the Challenge Aspen office on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.47692307692308\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9.5384615384615\">\n<p><strong>Tuvia Stein holds one of his Yorkshire terriers on his shoulders in the Challenge Aspen office on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<br \/><a class=\"buy-link\" href=\"http:\/\/aspentimes.mycapture.com\/mycapture\/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return+to+AspenTimes.com&amp;backurl=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/snowmass\/challenge-aspen-athletes-excited-honored-to-compete-at-nastar-nationals-in-snowmass\/&amp;image=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-7-1024x682.jpg&amp;notes=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-7.jpg\"><i class=\"fas fa-shopping-cart\"><\/i> Buy Photo<\/a><\/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\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-7-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Tuvia Stein holds one of his Yorkshire terriers on his shoulders in the Challenge Aspen office on Thursday, Jan. 30, 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\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-8-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-8-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Challenge Aspen skiers make their way back to the lift while practicing at Snowmass on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.47554347826087\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9.5108695652174\">\n<p><strong>Challenge Aspen skiers make their way back to the lift while practicing at Snowmass on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<br \/><a class=\"buy-link\" href=\"http:\/\/aspentimes.mycapture.com\/mycapture\/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return+to+AspenTimes.com&amp;backurl=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/snowmass\/challenge-aspen-athletes-excited-honored-to-compete-at-nastar-nationals-in-snowmass\/&amp;image=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-8-1024x682.jpg&amp;notes=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-8.jpg\"><i class=\"fas fa-shopping-cart\"><\/i> Buy Photo<\/a><\/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\/02\/challengeaspen-svs-021220-1-8-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Challenge Aspen skiers make their way back to the lift while practicing at Snowmass on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/snowmass\/challenge-aspen-athletes-excited-honored-to-compete-at-nastar-nationals-in-snowmass\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/snowmass\/challenge-aspen-athletes-excited-honored-to-compete-at-nastar-nationals-in-snowmass\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText DropCap\">In late January, more than a dozen Challenge Aspen winter athletes and coaches gathered in the Snowmass nonprofit\u2019s upstairs office on the Village Mall.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">As they ate their lunches and warmed up before heading back out to the slopes, some talked about achievements on their skis and snowboards that day and of aiming to earn top spots at the Special Olympics Colorado 2020 State Winter Games.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">But for seven Challenge Aspen athletes, their sights are set on the NASTAR National Championships, which they qualified for earlier this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt was pretty cool,\u201d said Chris Guay, 40, of qualifying for the NASTAR nationals, which will be held March 24 to 28 in Snowmass. \u201cI\u2019ve been working on just getting better times on the race course this year, I\u2019ve gotten about seven or eight platinums, so I had a pretty good feeling I was going to qualify.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Challenge Aspen is a Snowmass-based nonprofit that aims to provide year-round adaptive experiences for people faced with cognitive and\/or physical disabilities, according to the organization.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Guay, who is from Glenwood Springs, has been skiing competitively with the Challenge Aspen winter sports team for about seven or eight years. And although the Special Olympics Colorado Hall of Fame inductee said he\u2019s excited to compete at NASTAR nationals this year, he\u2019s no rookie.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">This will be Guay\u2019s third time competing at the national event, which he said is an honor and is much different than the Special Olympics winter competitions. He said he will compete in the giant slalom and super-G in March, and hopes to secure a podium spot.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s totally different because all of the professionals come out and sign autographs and you meet new people, so it\u2019s just a different atmosphere,\u201d Guay said of NASTAR nationals. \u201cI just hope to go out there and do my best on the race course and I just think it\u2019s a cool atmosphere skiing with the pros and all of my good friends.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">NASTAR, which stands for National Standard Race, is the world\u2019s largest recreational ski and snowboard race program. It aims to allow racers of all ages and abilities a means to compare their race results to other competitors across the country through a handicapping system, regardless of when and where they race, according to the program website.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The website also notes that more than 50,000 racers will compete at 100 resorts across the country to qualify for a spot at the NASTAR National Championships within their age and ability group by March 20.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThis is such a huge, huge accomplishment for these athletes and it reflects in the athletes,\u201d said Shianne Quintana, a coach with Challenge Aspen. \u201cThey are radiating.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Quintana, who is in her first year coaching with Challenge Aspen and worked for a similar adaptive skiing program in Telluride, said she\u2019s seen each athlete improve athletically and emotionally over the past few months as a result of training for the upcoming Special Olympics and NASTAR competitions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">As a coach, she said her goal is to push each athlete as needed to help them achieve their personal goals, and to let them know she\u2019ll always have their back.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cHelping them achieve their goals and allowing people the same opportunity to feel what I feel when I ski is really rewarding,\u201d Quintana said. \u201cI think enabling these athletes to get out and accomplish what they might not normally be able to helps them gain the confidence and courage to try other things. \u2026 Challenge Aspen makes goals possible for participants and instructors as well.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Lauren Jackson, 30, is another one of the NASTAR qualifiers who has gained confidence and grown as an athlete over the past year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">After dislocating her knee cap just before the state Special Olympics winter games and NASTAR Nationals last year, she\u2019s worked hard to get back on track and hopes to earn the first podium spot for giant slalom at nationals this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt was so heartbreaking,\u201d Jackson said of dislocating her knee. \u201cBut I\u2019ve just focused on being stronger and I feel through all of my training runs I\u2019ve come back a whole lot stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Through on- and off-mountain training, good eating and sleeping habits, drinking lots of fluids and taking in all of the coaching tips she\u2019s received over the years, Jackson said she feels better than ever going into state and NASTAR this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">But although she\u2019s been focusing on her health, Jackson said her races this year aren\u2019t just about her \u2014 she\u2019s dedicating all of her 2020 performances to her friend and classmate Sam Coffey, a well-known local skier and Snowmass Village native who died last spring after suffering a series of strokes while on a surf trip in Mexico.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cHe was a really good friend and a major skier. \u2026 I have his sticker on my helmet,\u201d Jackson said of Coffey. \u201cI decided I would dedicate all of my races to him this year and that just makes me fell a lot stronger than normal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Jackson and Guay said they feel honored and excited to compete in NASTAR Nationals, and acknowledged the support of their Challenge Aspen teammates and coaches in helping them qualify.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cTaking in all of the coaching I got last year and in years past I really feel like it\u2019s been a good asset,\u201d Jackson said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Guay shared similar thoughts, adding that it helps to train as a group.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s a group thing, it helps us compete and get better,\u201d Guay said. \u201cI just want to go out there and do better with my race times and just have a good time with my friends.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Tagline\"><a href=\"mailto:mvincent@aspentimes.com\">mvincent@aspentimes.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/snowmass\/challenge-aspen-athletes-excited-honored-to-compete-at-nastar-nationals-in-snowmass\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Challenge Aspen\u2019s Lauren Jackson practices on the NASTAR slalom ski course on Snowmass Mountain on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times Buy Photo Challenge Aspen\u2019s Chris Guay practices on the NASTAR slalom course at Snowmass on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times Buy Photo Challenge [&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-2454453","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-18 16:06:54","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\/2454453","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=2454453"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2454453\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2454453"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2454453"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2454453"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}