CARRABASSETT VALLEY – “Be brave” and “have fun” were the buzzwords on Monday during the first day of competition in the 26th annual Special Olympics Maine 2008 Winter Games competition at Sugarloaf/USA.

First-time Special Olympians 11-year-old Shawne Gardiner and his nine teammates from Jay elementary and middle schools embraced those words with exuberance.

They were joined by about 500 other athletes of all ages from 85 communities during the first day of training and time trials for alpine, Nordic and dual-ski skiing, and snowshoeing events.

Ice speed-skating, however, only attracted four athletes, so they raced for medals on Monday morning at the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center in Carrabassett Valley. Finals for the other events will be held today.

Unlike some, the debut Jay snowshoe racers weren’t a bit leery or shy, engaging in witty repartee with race coordinator Scott Gregory of Fryeburg in the staging area. Some of them knew how to snowshoe; others, like Gardiner, didn’t.

“When can we go? When can we go?” Gardiner and Anthony Collora both asked of their 25-meter handler.

About 90 minutes earlier, the mostly black-and-orange-garbed youngsters entered parade formation with the rest of the Special Olympians in the Village West courtyard for opening ceremonies. For a change, the weather was perfect, albeit a bit chilly in the morning.

“On a scale of 1 to 10, this is about a 12,” Nordic ski venue director Gary Lovell of Houlton said. “We’ve done this in pouring rain and wind chills below zero, but today, it’s a glorious, glorious sunny day. You could not ask for any better.”

A large American flag flew from the basket bottom of an extended Carrabassett Valley firetruck as teams of athletes, coaches, friends and family members filed past, marching into the Widowmaker Lounge plaza.

The colorful throng walked through a gauntlet of flag-waving, wildly cheering people of all ages. Those on the outer edge got high-five hoof and paw recognition, respectively, from Sugarloaf’s Amos the Moose and Blueberry Bear mascots.

Firefighter Fred Parsons of Presque Isle sang the Canadian and American national anthems, then Carrabassett Valley Town Manager Dave Cota welcomed all to the games.

After the ceremony, which included a few short speeches and chanting of the Special Olympics of Maine oath, Special Olympian alpine dual-skier Wallace “Butch” Webber, 63, of Auburn and team John F. Murphy Homes, and Games Director Steve Pierce carried the lit Special Olympics torch in. Pierce then climbed a podium and lit the giant torch to loud applause.

Then it was time to race, and none too soon for the Jay boys and girls. They prodded their teacher, Julie Castonguay, to hurry up and get them to the snowshoe venue at nearby Carrabassett Valley Academy. Once there, they quickly headed for the staging area then chatted it up with the media.

“Well, I’ll try my best. I never snowshoed before. Whoever wins, good for them,” said Gardiner, his head and top part of his wire-frame glasses covered under a black tote cap.

Lovell told them to do their best, because they were being timed for starting positions for Tuesday’s finals.

After getting strapped and buckled into Tubbs black and red aluminum snowshoes, Gardiner, a write-in racer in the 25- and 50-meter races, lined up. He took off on the count of “3” then hesitantly stopped and waited for the other racers, who left the line at the word, “Go!”

In the next race, Gardiner lined up beside teammate Devon Lesuer, 13, who ribbed the rosy-cheeked youngster good-naturedly.

Gardiner got a serious look on his face, then said loudly to Lesuer, “I’m going to smoke you like bacon!”

Laughter erupted at the starting gate as Gardiner quickly outpaced his teammates down the stretch, kicked up snow flying high behind him, a big toothy grin on his face.