Dear Eastern Sierra Nordic Supporters,

With the winter of 2019-20 behind us, the ESNSA Board of Directors is busy wrapping up the business of the ski season and making plans for next season. Looking back, it was a bit of a wild ride, with early season snow, then a couple of dry months, followed by a snowy spring and an abrupt early closing. Tamarack came through with exceptional grooming all winter, so a big thank you to the folks at the ski center who make what we do possible.

Eastern Sierra Nordic Ski Association remains dedicated to their mission of supporting nordic skiing, even during these uncertain times. Unfortunately, we lost the popular Biathlon this year, but we have lots of other nordic activity to report.

Our junior program literally hit the ground running in June of 2019, with a solid group of dedicated U12-14’s and a brand new coach. Ben Higgins came to us from New Hampshire and took over the junior coaching reins from outgoing coach, Nancy Fiddler. The juniors trained 4 days a week together all summer and fall. Coach Ben organized roller ski, running, hiking, and strength workouts in a fun and informative format, and the kids got strong! By the time the snow flew in November, the team was ready to begin their on-snow preparation for racing. School team coaches, Jeff Byberg and Kathi Kirkeby jumped into their winter work in December, along with Coach Nancy, who has turned into a perennial volunteer.

Highlights of the season included a CNISSF State Championship title for the Mammoth Middle School Boys team and a Second Place trophy for the Mammoth Middle School Girls Team. Additionally, Mammoth’s Dane Karch was the individual winner at States. ESNSA’s junior club team, Mammoth Nordic Racing, had a very active and successful winter, as well. MNR juniors added a Saturday workout to the school practice schedule and a few more weekend races. Our MNR juniors raced before Christmas in a two day Junior National Qualifier at Auburn Ski Club, at the local Allan Bard JNQ in February, and a two day JNQ at Sugar Bowl. Additionally, the team traveled to Soldier Hollow, Utah, for a weekend of racing at the western regional level. The kids did a lot of racing, and besides being fast, they demonstrated good sportsmanship and team spirit everywhere they went.

We are ready to roll out the 2020 summer programs, which begin June 1. Currently, Coach Ben has a pre-season plan in place and the athletes are training on their own. While we wait for restrictions to lift, group training is on hold. In the meantime, the skiers are involved in a 100 Mile Challenge during May, with about 14 individuals representing MNR in a competition against other nordic clubs. Everyone is out getting miles for the team, so when we are able to meet as a group, we will be able to begin training in earnest. Also on hold is our June Lake training camp in July, but if restrictions lift, we expect to fill this program.

Ben and Anna Ceruti are offering a brand new masters program this year. Right now, they are offering a twice weekly free Zoom program with technique and core strength sessions. Once restrictions lift the in person masters program will start up. Please contact Coach Ben at mammothnordicracing@gmail.com or at 603-631-5754 for details on this program.

It’s time to get on board with ESNSA! Please show your support for what we do by becoming a member or re-joining for the ‘20-’21 season. Any donation is welcome and goes toward our mission of keeping our ski programs strong. ESNSA provides scholarships for the Tamarack Gliders program, Mammoth Middle and High School teams, and the Mammoth Nordic Racing program. While junior program participants are responsible for buying or renting their ski equipment, ESNSA provides crucial support for uniforms, wax and tools. Club volunteers spent Christmas week gutting and remodeling the waxing loft at Tamarack, a project that was at least 50 years overdue! We also help support our MNR coaches and continuing professional development for all our coaches. 

Thank you! Your donations go straight to work to keep nordic skiing strong in the Eastern Sierra!

The Mammoth Middle School and Mammoth High School nordic ski teams have officially ended

their spectacular season. State Championships were held on February 22nd under clear, sunny

skies at Auburn Ski Club.

Mammoth High School sophomore Mia Karch skied to an impressive 9th place finish at State

Championships. She had a quick classic to skate ski transition, and finished both 3.3km loops of

the pursuit race, in time of 24:21.7.

The MMS girls team took 2nd place overall for State Championships and 3rd place overall for

the league. The 3.3km skate state championship race was led by Ella Walker (2nd) and Lila

Creasy (3rd), who finished within one second of each other. Olivia Karch (19th), CJ Andelman

(20th), Lucy Perry (36th), and Parker Andleman (45th) all skied fantastic.

The MMS boys team won both overall league and state championship titles. Dane Karch, who

also won the Truckee Sprint race on February 7th, skied to a first place finish and was named

the 2020 Middle School State Champion. We had several outstanding top ten finishes by Cabot

Godoy (3rd), Davin Wolter (5th), Cyrus Creasy (6th), Wade Perry (8th), and Mason Georgeson

(10th). Competition was tough but Jack Leonard (14th), who was only 1:39 behind first, led

Wyman Fisher (21st), Owen Czeschin (24th), Beckett Page (25th), Martin Walker (45th), and

Max Clark (54th) into the finish.

Throughout the season, Tahoe coaches commented not only on how fast Mammoth was skiing

but also how great their sportsmanship was. One would often find our athletes wishing

competitors good luck, congratulating peers after races, thanking race volunteers, and excelling

in school. All the nordic skiers received academic recognition this year, with many being on the

Principal’s List. Mammoth coaches, Ben Higgins, Kathi Kirkeby, Jeff Byberg, Nancy Fiddler, and

Chris Thompson are very proud of these athletes and excited to see where the future of

Mammoth Nordic goes.

Three Mammoth Nordic racers, Jared Mahler, Mia Karch, and Wade Perry, will be competing at

Junior National March 8th-14th in Truckee, California.

Written by Kathi Kirkeby [March 5th, 2020]

Heading into the Presidents’ weekend the Mammoth Nordic Team traveled to Midway Utah where  the  athletes competed in the Western Super Qualifier at iconic Soldier Hollow, site of the 2002 Olympic nordic competition.  With hundreds of fellow competitors from across the western states, the team tested their legs on a challenging course against other top-notch skiers vying for spots for the Junior National Championships to be held in early March at Auburn Ski Club, California.    

Friday was a daunting individual skate ski race on the former Olympic course.  Great snow with warm and sunny conditions made for exciting racing conditions.  Mammoth athlete Wade Perry raced a 5km in the U-16 boys race to a 92nd place.  A cohort of Mammoth U-14 boys raced a 3.3km course, with Cabot Godoy finishing 7th place, Dane Karch in 17th, Davin Wolter in  21st, Cyrus Creasy in 31st, Jack Leonard in 51st, and Wyman Fisher crossing the line in 54th.  Ella Walker represented the Mammoth girls U-14 team to a 46th place finish, and Mia Karch finished the same 3.3km course in 2nd place in the Novice Women category.  Lila Creasy and Olivia Karch finished a 2km course for the U-12 group in 6th and 17th place respectively.

Saturday saw the athletes compete in a mass start classic distance race.  A cold night and overcast sky in the morning kept trail conditions good despite the heavy use and warming temperatures.  Mia Karch raced a 3.3km course in the Novice Women’s category to the top of the podium, besting her competitors for the win!  Ella Walker finished the 3.3km U-14 race in 42nd place.  The U-12 Mammoth girls raced a 2km course again, with Lila Creasy finishing in 8th place and Olivia Karch in 9th.  Wade Perry once again raced a 5km U-16 event, this time to an 89th place.  The U-14 boys had yet another strong showing with Cryus Creasy finishing in 11th, Dane Karch in 12th, Cabot Godoy in 14th, Davin Wolter in 25th, Jack Leornard in 43rd, and Wyman Fisher in 48th.

This weekend the Mammoth Team will be heading up to Truckee to compete in the CNISSF State championships at Auburn Ski Club.  Go Mammoth Nordic!