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makethemaverygoodandpotentiallyworld-classracingteam.Botharestrongphysicallypowerfulwomenandbothmatchoneanotherinsizeandweight.Whatsmoretheybothreallylovetoskifast.AndthecombinationofthosethingscanandoftendoesleadtooneWorldCupandParalympicpodiumafteranother.AsforthesamenessintheirsizeandbodytypeSeeversex-plainedtheimportance.PriortomeetingMannellaSeevershadworkedwithanotheryoungvision-impairedParalympicathletefromtheAdaptiveSportsFoundationnamedCaitieSarubbi.Sa-rubbiisapetiteyoungladywhoisalmostelninstatureandwholikedtoskiafairdistancebehindSeevers.Thedierencesintheirphysicalsizehelpeddeneboththeirskiingstyleandtheirdy-namicasateamoftenleadingtoaninconsistentgapbetweenthepairdependingonthepitchofthehillorsetoftheracecourse.FromdayonehoweverMannellachosetopositionherselfdirectlybehindSeeversandkeepheratalltimesalmostliter-allywithinarmsreach.Duringcompetitionthisallowedheratleasttosomedegreetoactuallyseeherguideandrelylessonoralinstructions.IhaveachromatopsiaMannellaexplained.ThatmeansImverylightsensitivehaveahighdegreeofcolorblindnessandcannotseedistancesatall.SoIliketoskiascloseasIcantoKimsoIcanseeherasclearaspossible.ThatallowsmetobeasaccurateasIcanwithmyturnsmyweightshiftsandeverythingelseImdoingupthere.Fieldofvisionasidehowevertheideaoftwosimilarlybuiltandlike-sizedwomenbothskiingatpeakcapacityandattackingthemountainasavirtualsingleunitwhileleveragingsuchscien-ticadvantagesasgravityandareductioninwindresistancehastheParalympiccoachingstaalmostgiddywithexcitement.AsKevinJardinesaidStacihasbuilt-inadvantagesasaracerandweretryingtogethertounderstandthatandtakefulladvantageofthem.Imnotsuresheevenrealizeshowgoodshehasitinhertobe.SaidSeeversStacihastheheartofachampion.Nowshejusthastogetthatintoherhead.ShethenaddedthatforMan-nellaalltheelementsarethereexceptperhapsexperience.IloveworkingwithStaci.Sheshonesthard-workingandcom-pletelyaccountableforthethingsshedoes.Itsbeenarealthrilltowatchhergrowovertheyears.AndImsurethatthemoreexperienceshegainsthebettershesgoingtobecome.Theyearaheadpromisestobeamuchmorefocusedandski-centriconeforMannellawhowillbeenteringhernalyearofhighschoolwhereshecontinuestotakeclassesspecicallydesignedtoallowhertopursuehergoalofbecomingaveteri-narian.Behindherwillbethispastyearacrazystressfulpairofsemestersinwhichshetookanumberofhonors-levelcoursestookalltherequisitecollegeexamschallengedherselfasneverbeforeacademicallyandattemptedtodoonweekendswhatmanyofherteammatesandfellowcompetitorswerespendingfullweeksdoingnamelytrainingskiingandworkingontheirvariousracingtechniques.NotonlyhastheWorldCupschedulegrownvirtually100percentthisseasonbut2014willbeaParalympicyearandMannellassightsremainastheyhaveforsixyearsxedsquarelyonSochi.IvebeenhearingaboutthisplacecalledSochiforsixyearsasifitslikeOzorsomethingshesaid.KimmadeearningapodiuminSochiourgoalsixyearsagowhenwerststartedworkingtogetheranditremainsourgoaltoday.ThegoodnewsisasaseniorthiscomingyearMannellawillhavemoretimetohitthegymandtraveltoWorldCupeventsthanshedidinthepastandshehopesthesituationwillallowhertotakeagiantleapforwardinbothhertrainingandherresults.WhenaskedrecentlyshewascandidandhonestwithanyonewillingtolistenabouthowshegottowheresheisandwhyshenowndsherselfsoclosetoWorldCupandParalympicgreat-nessthatsheandnodoubtSeeverscantasteit.NoquestionIwouldnotbeherewithoutKimshesaid.InfactfortherstfewyearsweweretogetherIgottabehonestthiswasprobablymoreherdreamthanmine.Butthatdreamisclearlymutualnow.AndyetsomehowthroughitallStaciMannellaremainsexactlywhosheisandwhoshesbeenforquitesometimeatypicalalmostpainfullynormalkidfromJerseywhosjusthavingfunhanginglooseanddoingthebestshecanevenasshesundertakingthedauntingtaskofcompetingagainstthenestadaptiveskiersintheworld.AsshesaidlatelastseasontoaveryedgySeeversinthestart-inggateofoneparticularlycriticalnationalchampionshipracewhenthelatteraskedhowshewasabletostaysocalmKimcmon.Youhavethehardpart.AllIhavetodoisfollowyou.IwouldnotbeherewithoutKimsaysMannella.InfactIgottabehonestthiswasprobablymoreherdreamthanmine.