Behind the Results: Meet the Next Generation of MMCF Elite Athletes
- Jenna Bullbrook
- 20 hours ago
- 3 min read
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.
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 abundantly clear: success isn't measured only by medals. It's built through resilience, community, and an unwavering love of the mountains.
Progress Over Perfection
For freestyle skier Taylor Haering, this season was all about embracing change. After competing exclusively in halfpipe for the past three years, she made the leap to slopestyle—a transition that paid off with a Rev Tour qualification, a Smith Jib & Jam victory, and consistent top-five finishes. Yet when asked what she was most proud of, Taylor didn't mention the results. Instead, she reflected on learning to enjoy the process.
"I put a lot of pressure on myself to learn new tricks," she said. "What helped me most was making sure I was still having fun."
That mindset echoed throughout nearly every interview.
Snowboarder Priscila Cid spoke about overcoming the mental challenge of committing to tricks she'd been afraid to attempt, trusting both the process and her coaches. Freeride skier Norah Hinson stepped into an entirely new discipline after years of ski racing, finding confidence in a new team and community while balancing success in both sports. Alpine skier Audrey Tomaier experienced one of the toughest moments of her season when her goggles were knocked off midway through a slalom run. Instead of letting the setback define her race, she regrouped and came back with the second-fastest run of the day.
For these athletes, progress rarely followed a straight line—but that made every breakthrough even more meaningful.
The Work Nobody Sees
People often imagine elite skiers and snowboarders spending every day chasing powder. The reality is far different.
Their days begin before sunrise with warm-ups and workouts, followed by hours of training on snow. Afternoons are filled with strength training, trampoline sessions, recovery work, equipment maintenance, schoolwork, and, for some, even part-time jobs.
Snowboarder Ewen Tomaier described training with his team until early afternoon before staying on the mountain for several more hours to continue progressing on his own. He finishes each day in the gym before heading home to complete homework. Audrey balances five days of skiing with five days of school, while Taylor often heads straight from training to work before finishing assignments late into the evening.
Competing at this level demands far more than athletic ability. It requires discipline long after the chairlifts stop spinning.
Opportunity Matters
For every athlete, the MMCF Elite Athlete Grant helped remove one of the biggest barriers to competing: cost.
Competition fees, travel expenses, training camps, lodging, and equipment quickly add up, especially for athletes competing across North America and around the world.
For Australian Olympian Amelie Haskell, the grant helped fund critical pre-Olympic training camps in Switzerland and Austria. For Priscila Cid, it helped make World Cups, Rev Tours, and international training camps possible. Ewen Tomaier was able to accept a last-minute invitation to compete at the Junior World Championships, while Norah Hinson finally replaced the skis she'd been using for four seasons and continued traveling to competitions across California.
These grants aren't simply funding trips—they're creating opportunities. They're allowing talented young athletes to pursue experiences that might otherwise be out of reach, giving them every chance to reach their potential.
Stronger Together
Perhaps the most striking theme wasn't the list of accomplishments. It was the gratitude.
Taylor credits the group of girls she trains and competes with for constantly pushing her to improve. Priscila points to the unwavering support of her family and coaches. Norah says teammate Bryant Zhang inspired her to make the leap into freeride skiing and continues to motivate her every day.
Amelie Haskell perhaps summed it up best when reflecting on her own journey:
"It definitely takes a village."
Behind every successful athlete is a network of parents, coaches, teammates, mentors, volunteers, donors, and community members who believe in them long before the podiums arrive.
Looking Ahead
From first World Cups to Olympic appearances, from first freeride competitions to Junior World Championships, this year's Elite Athlete Grant recipients demonstrated that success comes in many forms.
Some conquered new tricks. Some overcame injuries. Some discovered entirely new disciplines. All of them represented Mammoth with determination, humility, and an incredible work ethic.
As they continue to chase bigger goals around the world, we are proud that their journeys continue to begin here in Mammoth. We can't wait to see where the next season takes them.
