Strapping on his skis and tethers Thursday morning at Lost Valley in Auburn, Scott Wentzell talked about what it means for him to be on the mountain with his son Scotty.

“It’s always so surreal, even 15 years later,” he said. “I remember the very first time we skied Sugarloaf (Mountain) together I actually had tears running down my face.”

Scotty was born with Dubowitz syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, leaving him nonverbal and with some developmental delay.

Nonetheless, Lisa Wentzell, Scotty’s mother, and his father say he is the happiest 25-year-old in the world, especially when it comes to the Special Olympics Maine Winter Games.

This year’s alpine skiing events were taking place Thursday at the Lost Valley ski area, with speed skating, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing competitions held Wednesday in Waterville.

On Thursday, 75 families took part in the alpine skiing event, which has been going on since 1975, according to Caroline Cole, vice president of operations for Special Olympics Maine.

“This event lights him up,” said Scott Wentzell. “He’s been showing us pictures of past Special Olympics for the past couple of weeks knowing that it was coming up.”

The Wentzells had been involved with the Special Olympics Maine Winter Games before their son was born, living and volunteering at Sugarloaf Mountain in Carrabassett Valley before the event moved to Lost Valley in 2019.

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Scotty started skiing at 5 years old with Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation, an organization founded in 1982 that provides education and training for individuals with disabilities. His family says that by the time he reached middle school, it was time to take part in the games.

“It was a special moment for Scott and I,” said Lisa Wentzell. “We’ve been doing this for so long, but seeing our son take part in a passion that we have, it’s magical. There’s no words to describe that feeling.”

Scott Wentzel says he and his son practice for the Special Olympics Maine Winter Games several weeks before the event, typically hitting the slopes a few times a week at Sunday River in Newry with Maine Adaptive. The family now lives in North Yarmouth.

Scotty’s favorite part of all this, not surprisingly, is the thrill of going down the mountain.

“You can see his face light up and he tries to pump the slider (specialized walker-like adaptive equipment for athletes with limited balance or mobility) a little bit to make it go faster. There’s nothing like it,” said Scott Wentzel.

Meanwhile, Scotty’s parents enjoy the inclusive environment the games offer.

Cole, with Special Olympics Maine, said what matters most at the end of the day is seeing the athletes competing on a similar field just like everyone.

“It’s really incredible to have an opportunity to show the general public that athletes and those with intellectual disabilities often have a lot more to offer than we would give them credit for,” she said.