Local businessmen, University students and Centre County children will team up on the slopes this weekend in the Centre County Special Olympics Ski Competition.

With Penn State volunteers at their sides, 30 Special Olympians from across the county have been practicing for the past six weeks at the Tussey Mountain Ski Resort, said Duffy Whitmer, training coordinator.

The practices, held from 4 to 8 every Monday night this semester, ended this week, and the olympians are ready for the competition, Whitmer (senior-health and physical education) said.

About 40 students volunteered to coach the athletes during practice and to offer support Sunday, Whitmer said. Participants are members of the Special Olympics Club on campus or random volunteers, he said.

Volunteers give a lot of themselves to the program, but receive a lot back too, said Christine Matheson (sophomore-journalism).

"You get a lot of satisfaction out of it. It feels good to know that some of those kids are going down the hill just to show you they can," she said.

While the volunteers have been assisting the skiers on the slopes, local businesses have been working behind the scenes gathering money and sponsors to pull it all together.

The Rotary Club of State College-Downtown is sponsoring the event for the second year in a row, said David Panko, local businessman and co-chairman of the competition.

The club helped interest nine other sponsors, Whitmer said.

"The Rotary Club takes care of getting all our sponsors," he said. "I think they're sent from heaven."

Tussey Mountain Ski Area, the site of both the practices and the competition, provides all services to the Special Olympics free of charge, Whitmer said.

"We give them free equipment and lift tickets for the six weeks and on the day of the competition. It costs us over $1,000 each time they come," said Sue Matalavage, Tussey Mountain's director of marketing and sales.

But it's all thought to be worthwhile, she added.

"These kids don't have much in their lives, and it gives them something rewarding to look forward to," Matalavage said.

Children of all ages are allowed to participate -- some athletes are as young as eight years old, while others are in their late 20s, Whitmer said.

The athletes vary in their skiing ability.

"Some compete just to stand on their skis and go forward, and then there are some who ski as well as me -- and I can ski pretty well," Panko said.

An awards ceremony will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the Elks Country Club in Boalsburg, Whitmer said.

Each athlete competing will receive a ribbon while those placing first, second, or third will receive a medal.

An emphasis is placed on the fun of the sport, not winning itself, Whitmer said. "Everybody's a winner," he added.

Seven of the Special Olympians that participate in this weekend's competition will go on to ski at the state competitions next month, Whitmer said.

The skiers will be sent to Shawnee Ski Resort in the Poconos, March 13 through March 16, he said.

Unlike many competitions, those eligible for the state competition will not necessarily be those who finish high on Sunday, Whitmer said.

"(The selection) will be based on their dedication to the program and their overall attitudes," he said.