Howling Huskies get by with a little help from their friends

For the first time ever, the full slate of athletes from Labrador's Howling Huskies Special Olympics team is snowshoeing in the Labrador Winter Games with a little help from some innovative equipment.

"We are very big into inclusion," says team co-ordinator Susan Lomond.

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"We have athletes that are running on the snowshoes, we have a couple of athletes that are walking on them, we have two athletes that are using ski-walkers."

It's opened a whole new world for those athletes.- Susan Lomond

The ski-walkers aren't sold in stores. They were tailor made for these athletes by the welding class at the Happy Valley-Goose Bay College of the North Atlantic campus.

"They agreed to weld skis on to the bottom of the walkers, so it's been fantastic. It's opened a whole new world for those athletes," said Lomond.

Even athletes with more complex mobility issues can take part in the race thanks to the equipment.

"They can't snowshoe so they sit on the snowcoach and a couple of the athletes push them," said Lomond.

The snowcoaches are sleds designed with pelvic, thigh and leg straps. There's also adjustable head and chest support for the athletes, as they race with their teammates.

Jeannie Walsh is a wheelchair athlete who will be racing in a snowcoach, while another athlete will be running in snowshoes and pushing her along the course.

"[This is the] first time I was ever on the sled, so this is my first time being in the Winter Games," said Walsh. "It's going to be fun."

The Howling Huskies are also playing a special part in Sunday's opening ceremonies, before competing in Tuesday's snowshoe race.

Sarah Connell, on of two figure skaters who just finished competing in the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Corner Brook, will be snowshoeing with the team.

Her father, Al Connell, was in Corner Brook watching as his daughter competed in her home province for the first time.

"She did very well, she did her personal best," he said.

He added he's looking forward to watching his daughter compete again in the Labrador Winter Games, being hosted in Happy Valley-Goose Bay March 13 to 19.