Special Olympics Virginia and Wintergreen Resort have partnered to conduct a Winter Skifest this weekend. Over 100 SOVA athletes will participate in the Skifest which will take place March 6-7 and will be composed of two days of training and racing. More than 100 Virginia athletes with intellectual disabilities will participate in the two day event which will include training sections with ski instructors and a number of Wintergreen Resort volunteers. Ski training for beginner, intermediate and advanced ability levels is from 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Sunday and 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Monday. The Skifest is taking place of the postponed SOVA Alpine Skiing Championship which was scheduled for January 10-11 earlier this year. Wintergreen Resort has hosted the Special Olympics Virginia Skiing Championships since 1978. The training sessions will begin on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. with dinner and a dance to take place later that evening in Wintergreen’s ballroom. The public and media representatives are encouraged to attend all events free of charge Special Olympics Virginia provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for over 14,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities in the commonwealth. For more information please call 1-800-932-GOLD or go to www.specialolympicsva.com. 2005 Special Olympics Virginia Winterfest Schedule Sunday, March 6   Noon – 3:00: Area Registration: Lobby of the Mountain Inn Noon: Trainer / volunteer meeting: Mountain Inn Main Ballroom 1:00: Athletes and coaches meet trainers at assigned trainer number locations. * 1:00-4:00: Ski (return ski rental to equipment room if needed) 5:00-6:30: Dinner 8:00-10:00 Dance/entertainment 10:00 Athletes return to condos/lights out   Monday, March 7   7:15-8:45: Breakfast in Ballroom 9:00: Welcome in Courtyard (athletes should have equipment ready to ski) 9:15: Athletes and coaches meet trainers at assigned trainer number locations.* 9:30-1:00 Ski NLT 10:00 All room keys returned to the Operation Room 1:00-2:00 Lunch in Main Ballroom 2:00 Delegations depart *-near the wooden racks next to the Courtyard