CARRABASSETT VALLEY – James Therrien and Bonnie Waldo, both of Lewiston, were ready.

They had donned their winter gear and ice skates and wore borrowed helmets and elbow protectors from the Lewiston Maineiacs, a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team.

It was time to leave the warmth of the lodge at the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center and step out into subzero temperatures.

The ice skating trials for the 39th Special Olympics Maine events were ready to begin Monday morning.

Therrien and Waldo attend John F. Murphy’s Navigators day rehab program in Auburn, Cindy Berube, a coach for the athletes said.

It was 25-year-old Therrien’s first time at the games since he was a student at Lewiston Middle School.

“We’ve been practicing with the Maineiacs and we borrowed some equipment,” Therrien said. “They taught me how to stop.”

Waldo, 22, said she knew how to skate “somewhat.”

Therrien, wearing No. 645, stepped onto the ice and took his place for the 800-meter time trial.

The sun’s rays beamed down, taking the chill off the 14-degree-below-zero temperature.

Waldo and Berube cheered from the sidelines, “Go James.”

He was off to a good start, moderately paced and steady.

Berube leaned down to Waldo and whispered if you fall, just get right back up.

“I know,” Waldo said.

“Go James,” she yelled. “Go faster, James. Come on James.”

As Therrien skated by, the noise of the swoosh of his skates and the whistle of his snow pants could be heard but was drowned out by cheers.

“Nice job, James. Keep it up,” Berube yelled as he passed where she was standing.

Waldo said she was a little uncomfortable and a little nervous as she waited her turn.

“I always fall. I did better last night,” she said.

They had arrived early at Sugarloaf for the three-day event Sunday and practiced on the rink.

After a few more cheers from his fellow Navigators and its sister program, Life Center, also in Auburn, Therrien stepped off the ice.

He had done it. His beard was dusted in snow as he sat down on a snowbank.

“I just took my time,” he said. “It was easy for me.”

Therrien went off to see his older sister, Brenda, who had been rooting for him from the sidelines as she waited to participate in the snowshoe trials.

“You did a good job, James,” she said. “Good luck, Buddy. I’m so happy for you J.J. You’re doing awesome.”

As Therrien continued toward his teammates, shouts of “Great job. Good job, James,” serenaded him.

Then it was Waldo’s turn.

She was skating in the 300-meter race.

The sound of the cow bells clanged. Cheers went up as the racers took off from the starting line.

Waldo, No. 646, skated slowly but steadily around the rink, falling to her knees a couple of times. She got up and kept on going. Her mint green gloves highlighted how she was trying to balance herself. She continued skating, around and around.

She stopped for a break and to get her skates tightened.

She was off again.

“You can do it, Bonnie,” Berube yelled.

She finally made it to the end.

“It was hard,” Waldo said.