USA's Kinney receives Sportsmanship Award

Curler’s warm personality melts ice

By Terry Kolesar, USCA Communications Specialist

The gift of friendliness has paid big rewards for curler Loren Kinney of Hallowell, Maine.

Kinney, who played lead for Team USA at the 2004 World Wheelchair Championships in Sursee, Switzerland, was honored by her peers in January with the event’s Sportsmanship Award. Kinney’s teammates at Worlds included Wes Smith (Glenburn, Maine), Sam Woodward (Surry, Maine), Danell Libby (Gray, Maine) and Mark Taylor (Deansboro, N.Y.).

“Loren is so outgoing and genuinely enthusiastic about everything and definitely deserved the award,” said Diane Brown, national/world team coach. “She went out of her way to meet everyone at the competition and remembers all of their names and information about them.”

Kinney, 44, began curling in 2001 shortly after a skiing accident left her paralyzed from the chest down – a complete T-7 injury. Kinney was skiing down Heavenly Mountain in Reno, Nev., when she fell on her back – she didn’t fall on anything or hit anything – just simply fell the wrong way.

Kinney will undergo surgery in May as part of a research study that hopefully will enable her to stand on her own. Since her accident, curling has been an outlet for Kinney as she adjusts to a new lifestyle.

“I got interested in curling from a card I was given by one of the people that worked for a disability oriented firm in Maine,” Kinney said. “I kind of just stuck it in my pocket. I was still trying to conquer the transfer from the chair to the bathtub. After being home for a little while I called and started curling with five others.”

That led Kinney to the inaugural Wheelchair World Championships held in 2002 in Sursee.

“I really felt like a newborn colt compared to the other curlers,” she said. “They were not using the arms in their wheelchairs; they had balance and were comfortable with their bodies. I was still learning how to cope with all the new things going on.”

The following season Kinney and her teammates returned to the ice and played with other able-bodied curlers from the Belfast Curling Club. The practice paid off as Kinney’s Belfast team defeated a team from Utica, N.Y., in the National Wheelchair Championship in December to advance to the 2004 Wheelchair Worlds.

Kinney made an effort to talk with each team throughout the weeklong event – even if she didn’t speak their native tongues.

“I didn’t have a clue what the Russians were saying,” said Kinney, who tried to remember the names, faces and nationalities of every competitor.

Kinney was awarded a silver plate for her warm personality on and off the ice. However, she credits her father’s career in the Air Force for her bubbly personality.

“We moved around a lot so I am sure that contributes to meeting and talking to others,” she said. “I love to hear other accents.”

Team USA finished fifth at Worlds, earning six points toward qualifying for the 2006 Paralympic Winter Games where curling will be featured as a full-medal sport for the first time.

“This trip and all that was involved and the success that went with it really goes to my husband, Dennis. Without him it would have been a real struggle and not nearly as much fun. When I was able bodied only three years ago in April I would push as much as I could in one day. I still do the same thing, it just takes me five times longer – no make that six.”