A concussion suffered during a crash ended Gracey Hening’s ski season early. Awards still awaited her at the regional championships.
Hening was one of four athletes from the Purgatory Ski Team to qualify for the 2020 U.S. Ski & Snowboard Rocky/Central Regional Under-14 Junior Championships. One of the top junior competitions in the country, it features the90 fastest junior ski racers from Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico and Wisconsin.
Durango’s Hening, a Miller Middle School student, was favored to make the podium in the super-G downhill race after she had won four gold medals at the Southern Series races at her home Purgatory Resort. But a concussion suffered in a scary super-G training run the Tuesday before the regional championships kept Hening out of competition in the event held March 9-14 at Steamboat Springs.
She went to the emergency room but was quick to get back to the mountain to cheer on her Purgatory Ski Team and Colorado teammates. At the end of the competition, she was named the good sportsmanship award recipient.
“The sportsmanship award meant a lot to me,” Hening said. “I’ve always been recognized for doing well in racing, but this time, it was for sportsmanship. I learned that ski racing isn’t all about winning, but it’s also about friendships, supporting your teammates and getting to experience the sport in different ways.”
Hening was awarded the No. 1 bib going into the super-G and was thrilled with the distinction. She had hoped to compete to make it to junior nationals, but the new coronavirus pandemic canceled that event, anyway.
“I was pretty disappointed about not being able to compete at champs because it was my shot at making it to nationals, which was my season goal, but having gone through this will make me stronger and even more motivated to succeed in my goals for next year,” Hening said.
Hening, also a talented pianist and standout student, is still recovering from the affects of the concussion. Her mother, Etoile, said she has handled the situation with an excellent attitude which has helped her improve each day.
“My heart filled with joy when I heard that Gracey would be receiving the good sportsmanship award,” Etoile said. “She truly inspires us all with her positive attitude despite her personal disappointment with not being able to compete in an event she looked forward to for quite some time. Could not be more proud of her supportive attitude.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com