Beyond the Game: A Special Olympics Pennsylvania Profile Series
Meet Josh Wortman, a professional snowboarder and a Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games volunteer.
“I got involved because my board sponsor Gilson sponsored Special Olympics Pennsylvania, starting about five years ago. So, they invited me out to be a part of [Winter Games]. After that first year, I just couldn’t stop coming. I fell in love with everything that happens throughout the week, all the athletes that are here. It’s just, it’s too much fun and too much positive energy to turn down.”
“For my background as a snowboarder, I did a lot of competing. Growing up, throughout my whole life, the energy when you’re at a competition is always like ‘me versus you.’ It’s always really gritty. And it’s not ever a positive environment, in my opinion.
But the special thing about Special Olympics is you get all the great things of competition. Everybody also supports each other in ways that you don’t find in other competitions… It’s just amazing to see there’s still people out there that want to support each other in the ways that athletes do here.”
Josh was one of the snowboarders to help with this year’s Opening Ceremony and the overall competition weekend. Here’s what he has to share on one amazing competition weekend this past February:
“We skied down with the torch, I had the flag, and I was all lit up [with lights]. That’s always such a great time. I love skiing down with the athletes into the pavilion down at the bottom with the huge crowd of people, just cheering everybody on and having a great time. Today, I did timing on the beginner slope for the races. Then, once we finished up with that, I kind of linked up with as many athletes as I could and try to get out there and get some laps with them before they came into rest, get lunch and stuff. That was awesome.
I’ve spent a lot of time with Micah, [a Special Olympics Pennsylvania athlete]. His energy level is unmatched and he’s an incredible person. It’s really cool to see. It’s one thing when he just hanging out with him at lunch and stuff, but then you see the excitement on his face when you’re actually on the mountain riding down, it’s a whole different ballgame…”
“I think it’s important that we show athletes that we support them. The snowboarding community can be a very tight knit community where there’s not a whole lot of inclusion… But it’s very important that we show these guys that we’re here for them. We want to make sure that they’re just as successful as we can possibly be. I think by doing that, it sets a good example for myself and for athletes to continue doing what they’re doing, because it’s important that they do.
“I’ve been snowboarding my entire life. I’ve got a few sponsors, like Gilson… I was competing for USPSA Slopestyle Open Class and Rail Jam, and then linked up with Gilson and have been along for the ride ever since. They pitched the idea of Special Olympics to me a few years ago, and I was all in. Like I said, I can’t stop coming back now
Other than snowboarding, I skateboard a lot. I’ve been skateboarding longer than I’ve been snowboarding but I’m not quite as good at skateboarding as I am with snowboarding. I like hunting and fishing. I just like being outside. I like drag racing cars and dirt bikes. I pretty much survive on adrenaline at this point.”
