Academic Athletes

Ewen Tomaier From the outside, it's easy to see the podiums: a first-place finish at Diamond Peak, a Junior World Championship appearance, a World Cup final, even a trip to the Olympics. What most people don't see are the thousands of hours spent getting there. Priscila Cid The Mammoth Mountain Community Foundation's Elite Athlete Grant supports young athletes pursuing excellence in skiing and snowboarding, but after speaking with this year's recipients, one thing became abun

As part of MMCF’s Elite Athlete Spotlight Series, I’ve been spending time skiing laps and riding chairlifts with some of the incredible athletes supported through our Elite Athlete Grant program. This week, I met up with 16-year-old freeskier Emily Campbell for a few spring park laps at Mammoth Mountain. At this point in the season, Mammoth has entered full spring mode. The snow is soft, sticky, and rapidly disappearing under warm bluebird afternoons, leaving behind slushy pa

As part of MMCF’s Elite Athlete Spotlight Series, I’ve been spending time skiing laps and riding chairlifts with some of the incredible athletes supported through our Elite Athlete Grant program. This week, I met up with 16-year-old alpine ski racer Calvin Wong for a few spring laps around Mammoth Mountain. By now, Mammoth is deep into late spring conditions. What starts as firm snow in the early morning quickly transforms into sticky slush by noon, especially around Chair 3

As part of MMCF’s Elite Athlete Spotlight Series, I’ve been spending time riding chairlifts and skiing laps with some of the incredible young athletes supported through our Elite Athlete Grant program. This week, I met up with 14-year-old ski racer Sadie Hinson for a few slushy spring laps around Mammoth Mountain. By this point in the season, Mammoth has fully entered spring mode. The snowpack is rapidly shrinking under warm bluebird afternoons and the occasional dramatic thu

As part of MMCF’s Elite Athlete Spotlight Series, I’ve been spending time riding chairlifts and skiing laps with some of the incredible young athletes supported through our Elite Athlete Grant program. This week, I met up with 15-year-old ski racer Sara Tomaier for a few spring laps around Mammoth Mountain. Born and raised in Mammoth, Sara has been skiing practically since she could walk. We met at Chair 1 on a sunny Saturday afternoon, where she rolled up in her MMSST race k

This year, MMCF is adding a new element to our Elite Athlete end-of-season interviews by meeting a select group of athletes where they’re most at home—on the mountain. Alongside our traditional interview process, this series gives us the opportunity to ride chairlifts, ski laps, and spend time getting to know the young athletes we support through the MMCF Elite Athlete Grant program in a more personal way. These grants help offset the costs of competing at a high level, and t

MEET OUR STUDENT/ATHLETES OFF OF THE SNOW!! The athletes have applied, we have reviewed applications and awarded the 2025 MMCF Academic Elite Team! Each year in the late spring we open up our application for the MMCF Academic Elite Team. The MMCF Academic Elite Team Award honors student/athletes who excel in the classroom and on the slopes, which is no easy task! This application is not just a questionnaire for one to fill in the blanks. Along with pertinent information th