Snowshoe is a running sport similar to track, but with snowshoes on. Typical events are a 50M run, 100M run, 4×100 Relay, etc. Level 1 Snowshoers run or walk short distances up to 100M. Level 2 Snowshoers run or walk distances of 100M or greater.
| Coaches | John Bogasky – Head Coach Rachel Maryn – Sport Director |
| Season Dates & Times | Practices: Saturdays 9 AM – 10:30 AM, starting November 15, 2025 at Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg (506 South Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg, MD). Meet by the picnic shelters. Signup Begins: Sunday, October 5, 2025 at 6 PM |
| Athlete & Volunteer Registration Expiration Date | Sport’s State Games competition Date: February 26, 2026 All Forms must be up to date before the signup date (first Sunday in October). The expiration date on an Athlete’s Registration form, or a Volunteer’s certification, must be after the above State Games competition date to participate in the upcoming season. |
You can find the official Special Olympics Rules, Fact Sheet, Coaching Guide, and other resources at this link: Special Olympics Snowshoeing.
SOMO will provide athletes with snowshoes. Athletes are free to bring their own snowshoes, and many athletes do so. Please talk with the Head Coach about the snowshoe rules before purchasing your own snowshoes.
SOMO will provide athletes with a jacket, fleece, and hat. Families can purchase and keep their uniform or return them at the end of the season. Athletes are responsible for all other apparel. Sneakers are normally worn with snowshoes, especially in races. We recommend that athletes wear water-resistant pants for Snowshoe races and whenever snow is on the ground.
Location: Bohrer Park (506 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg, MD 20877). Meet at the picnic pavilion.
Timing: Practice occurs every Saturday morning from the season start until the Saturday a week before Winter Games. Practices on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s weekends, if they occur, are optional. On-Snow Training replaces regular practice on Saturdays, where the team travels to Whitetail Resort.
Activities: Practice begins with warm-ups, generally to music such as the Cha-Cha-Slide. Once warmed up, athletes put on their snowshoes to practice running on an oval we set up at Bohrer Park. Practices include drills and games, all with the aim of improving their running skill with snowshoes on.
On-Snow Training at Whitetail Resort: Once or twice each season, the team travels to Whitetail Resort for an on-snow training experience with athletes from other counties.
Snowshoe Time Trials occur at Wisp Resort on the Sunday of SOMD Winter Games.
The SOMD Winter Games are held at Wisp Resort in late February.
Athletes must attend at least 8 practices and participate in Time Trials to be eligible to compete in Winter Games. Athletes who cannot participate in the Winter Games due to other commitments (e.g., school or work) are encouraged to participate in Time Trials on Sunday in order to have an on-snow competition experience.
Snowshoers can participate in other SOMO sports as long as the athlete can maintain full practice and competition participation in all of their sports.
Not Required
Athletes participating in Winter Games will be housed for two nights in hotels at or near Wisp Resort, along with chaperones and the coaching staff, at a ratio of 3 athletes per chaperone/coach. Athletes who have not demonstrated the independence skills to succeed in the dorms with a 3:1 ratio can participate in Winter Games as Day-of athletes. In 2025, about half of the delegation to Wisp were Day-of athletes.
Athletes who participate only in Sunday’s Time Trials will be Day-of Athletes, without housing.
None
