Allison Jones, a junior at the University of Denver, has a lot more on her plate than the typical undergrad.
Last March, she competed in the Paralympics in Torino and won a gold medal in women’s slalom.
Jones, who was born without a right leg, trains with the DU ski team both on and off the mountain. Although she does not race with the team, she does race at some of the same local events that the members race in.
These races are for those competing at the international level, so there are less competitors who have the international qualifications.
Jones said she enjoys being with both the DU ski team as well as the Paralympic team. “I feel a part of each team and there are only slight differences between the teams,” said Jones. “The time I spend on the Paralympic team is about twice as long as I spend with the DU team training.”
Jones has competed in three Paralympics including this year’s games. Jones competed in the Winter Paralympics, and also in the summer games.
In Salt Lake City, she “won the silver in both the Super-G and Giant Slalom,” said Jones. Then in Athens, Jones competed “in Paralympic Cycling where I competed in the 1 kilometer sprint [and placed] 4th and the road TT [and placed] 6th,” said Jones.
This year in Torino, Jones placed in all four events. “I finished 7th in the downhill, 4th in the Super-G, 5th in the giant slalom and 1st in the slalom.”B
Jones got involved in skiing in Winter Park, Colo.
“I started out in the recreational side of the National Sports Center for the Disabled, NSCD,” said Jones.B “When I was 8 they told me there was no more for me to learn so I went over to the competition side of the program and began to race.”
Jones is currently sponsored by Time Warner Cable with money, Fischer Skis and Power Bar with product as well as LAKE cycling shoes.
The freedom of skiing is what Jones loves about the sport. “I can do whatever I want and I can do anything an able-bodied skier can do,” said Jones. “Skiing is a strength sport and that definitely carries over to cycling.”
