GRANT REPORT - MAMMOTH NORDIC RACING TEAM
Mammoth Nordic Racing Team is a Nordic Ski Team open to Mammoth High School and Mammoth Middle School students. These students are a regular “fixture” at Tamarack Cross Country Ski Center. Upon the opening of ski season, you can see these youth skiing five days a week, after school, working on their skills and training for upcoming competitions. This team does not only train when the snow is on the ground, this sport is a year-around sport, the team training throughout the summer building skills and building team bonds. These kids are actively involved in our community of Mammoth Lakes and are hard working academics as well.
Kim Escudero, the head coach, spent some time with us to tell us about this amazing team and how the MMCF Grant they received has helped the team. Here is what she had to say.
What did you get from the grant?
Mammoth Nordic Racing and Eastern Sierra Nordic Ski Association (ESNSA) are proud to be recipients of MMCF grants. This year, the grant funds were put towards our newly acquired van, waxing supplies, uniforms and scholarships.
How did this grant improve the lives of the student population benefiting from it? What ages/grades does your program serve?
Mammoth Nordic Racing is open to all students from Mammoth to Crowley, from middle school through high school ages. This grant helped us in a number of ways. First and foremost, it allowed us to give two scholarships to athletes who could not have otherwise been able to participate on the team. The grant also helped with expenses incurred with our new van. The van has been a game changer, as we are now able to travel as a team to practices and races, which has been truly invaluable for team bonding.
Was there a noticeable correlation between academic engagement/progress during the time period that the Nordic team was running?
Without a doubt, Nordic skiing is a tough sport. The athletes train for 2-3 hours after school, and then have to finish their homework and studies afterwards. But this also trains the athletes to become better student-athletes, as they work on time management skills to complete their training, waxing skis and studying as well as getting their beauty sleep. And they are doing well, as our five graduating seniors are all headed off to college in the fall, and the remainder of our student athletes will continue to train and receive continued great grades.
How did this grant improve the lives of the students and their athletic experience? And some of your athletes traveled to the Junior Nationals. Can you give some insights about what that experience did in their lives?
We are proud to have had five Mammoth athletes qualify for the Junior Nationals Championship this year. Even more exciting was that it was held in Lake Placid, home to two past Olympic games. It was incredible for these athletes to not only represent Mammoth and the Far West region, but to compete at such a special Olympic venue. It was definitely a priceless experience that was well earned.
Did this grant have the effect that you were hoping for?
The MMCF grant has been invaluable in so many ways. It allows our athletes to be part of a team where they learn the love of skiing, how to care for their bodies with nutrition and exercise, how to manage their time, learn the benefits of friendly competition and forge great friendships… all while having fun.
You mentioned that there is not only winter training but off-season dryland training as well. Can you tell us a little more about this and the benefits that are both physical and social?
Our Nordic ski season begins in November and ends in April. But during the rest of the year, when there is no snow, the team is engaged in off-season dryland training. This typically involves roller skiing, running, biking, hiking and weight lifting. This not only keeps the athletes in shape, but it keeps their team bonds strong throughout the year, as nearly all the team members enroll in off-season training as well.
The Nordic team is very active in the community. Please share the positive impact that the program is having on the community you are serving?
The Nordic Team consists of athletes from Mammoth and Crowley. These athletes are proud of the community they live in and love to show it by participating in community activities. You may have seen their Adopt-a-highway sign on 395 by Smokey Bear Flats. You can find them picking up trash to help keep their community clean. You can also find them staffing various tents at events and aid-stations for races including the Mammoth Gran Fondo, Mammoth Trail Fest, and Bluesapooloza to name a few.
Is there anything that you would like to convey to the donors of MMCF that we can include in our article?
We are truly honored to not only be recipients of MMCF’s generous grants, but we are just as honored to be part of such an amazing community. We are extremely grateful to all those involved with, and who have donated to MMCF and find us worthy of their donation. Our thanks knows no bounds.
