Welcome to the MARA blog! This is where you’ll find the latest news, information, and stuff we just think is cool or inspirational. Enjoy!
Mt. Ashland recently decided to temporarily close due to insufficient snow levels. They have allowed us to push back the start of the season one week, but still offer a full season. We’ll just finish a week later. Even though the weather is out of our control, a few wishes for snow can’t hurt. 
Holiday Camp starts tomorrow, Wednesday, and runs through this Saturday. The hours are 10-3 and remember lunch is unsupervised. It is included in the program fees for all 13 week athletes. Six week EVO athletes can enroll for $160. See you on the mountain!
Even though MARA is a good value on an hourly basis compared to many of the other activities kids do these days, it is still expensive. So, new this year, MARA is offering several opportunities to fund raise your program fees!
We are going to start with one now, offer another at the beginning of the ski season and a third in the spring, to set you up for next season!
First things first. We’ll start with Chico Bags. These are wonderful reusable shopping bags that fold up into a little pouch for easy storage! They are machine washable and most of them are made from recycled plastic bottles! With our pending bag ban, these bags are easy to sell. Plus, most of us are eager to help our environment! For each bag you sell you will earn nearly 50% of the sale price (a little goes for shipping costs) towards your individual program fees.
Go to….
http://www.chicobag.com/t-fundraising.aspx
and CLICK ON…
download entire fundraising packet – High Resolution (Ideal for Printing)
>>It is about halfway down the page<<
This will download a PDF paper about the bags, the types available and an order form. Print it in color and you can see and show the wide variety of bags and designs available.
Here are the details you need to know for MARA….
Hand in your order form and ALL the money or checks made out to MARA to Christopher Rose by December 1, 2011. Call Christopher or Cheryl at 541-702-2044 and they will make arrangements to meet you!
The dollar amount of the profit earned for your sales will be emailed to you, along with your remaining balance due for program fees, before the deadline for MARA registration on December 10th.
Think of this like being a retailer of Chico Bags without having to spend a penny on start-up costs or inventory. Pre-sell the bags at retail and the difference between the price you sell it for and the wholesale cost plus shipping will be credited towards your fees in advance! No investment required!
We’ve got almost a month before the sign up deadline and two more events to go before the season is over. With some creative salesmanship, you’ll be able to make a pretty big dent in this year’s fees and maybe even get a jump on next year.
The Medford Ski Education Foundation is holding their annual ski swap November 11-13. The proceeds help underwrite the local high school racing program. Find the details in this PDF and find your new skis at the MSEF ski swap. Go on Friday and get the best stuff before it’s all picked over. Its a huge advantage for the measly extra 2 bucks it will cost you to get in Friday night! Have fun!
Just a reminder that our dryland training starts this week, on Tuesday October 25th at 4pm. Our dryland training is hosted by Rogue Valley Crossfit on every Tuesday and Thursday from 4pm-5pm and Saturdays from 11am-noon. Tuesday and Thursday training will end on December 22nd, Saturday training will end as soon as Mt. Ashland opens.
Dryland is open and free to all athletes 13 years and older…yes, this includes all masters athletes and coaches!!
Bring your usual work out clothes and something to drink. Please be a little early as you will have to fill out a waiver form.
See you there!
Here are the details for this year’s Fall Race Camp:
When: November 25th – December 1st, 2011(leaving on Friday morning and returning late Thursday evening)
Where: Mammoth Mountain
Total Lodging Nights: 6
Total Training Days: 5 1/2
Lodging: Mammoth Mountain Inn (directly across the main lodge)
Travel: MARA Team Bus
Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner
School/Homework supervision: Yes
Registration Deadline: October 31st, 2011
Total Cost: $950 (based on a minimum of 6 participants)
(The camp cost includes: coaching, lodging, breakfast & dinner, travel by MARA bus, race lane fees and lift tickets. Lunch is not included)
This is a high intensity race camp for Junior racers 13 years old and older. The focus will be on Slalom and GS.
We will have a new wireless timing device available, as a demo, for this camp. Check out their website and this video
Ogasaka Skis will also provide us with new demo Slalom & Giant Slalom skis for all athletes.
Please email our Interim Director at jsm4r4@gmail.com to register or for more information.
When you read the MARA mission statement, you see words like “advancing fundamental skills” and “developing well rounded individuals.” Having been around MARA for many years myself, I’ve also heard- and used- words like growth, character, hard work, sacrifice and commitment to describe our athletes. While these are all worthy goals and attributes, we live in an increasingly cynical and sound bite driven culture. And while we all no doubt strive to rise above this cynicism and cultural mediocrity, we may at some time come to the point where we are compelled to ask: “Are they just words?”
Well, rather than go into a long, philisophical answer, I would simply ask you to take a look at the pictures I’ve posted from a MARA training session this week. You’ll see five of our junior skiers working with Interim Director Jean Schneider on their fine motor skills. These athletes are doing a number of different exercises on the “bosu” ball- half of a large rubber exercise ball with a flat base. If you think it looks easy- give it a try sometime.
Sure, all these athletes are working on their skills. But more importantly, they are all balancing school work, their social lives and family responsibilities to train months in advance for the upcoming season. I know this to be true because I know each of these kids personally. So the next logical question is, why? Some would say it’s because they want to win races. OK, but I say it’s more than that. I think it’s because they want to be the best they can be- at ski racing and at life.
Commitment. Sacrifice. Hard work. Skill. Character. Are they just words?
You decide.
Featured athletes: Nikita Norton, Parker Spear, Nate Hoyt, Nahanee Lukes and Austin Pena.
Mt. Ashland Racing Association has been around for about 40 years. Over that time, the club forged many strong relationships and lasting friendships- and that’s a good thing. We want to take a couple minutes and highlight two of MARA’s oldest friends- and potentially save you some $$ in the process.
Bob and Sandy Matthews at Rogue Ski Shop have been a long time supporters of MARA. If you’re an alpine or nordic skier, snowshoer or snowboarder living in the Rogue Valley, than Rogue Ski is no stranger to you. They have been strong, consistent supporters of our club- including the MARA Auction- for many years. And one of the most practical and appreciated ways they have shown that support is by providing generous discounts on equipment and clothing for MARA families. Once again for the 2011-12 season, Rogue Ski Shop will offer the following discounts to all MARA participants:
* 40% off all racing hardgoods- skiis, boots, bindings and poles!
* 10-25% off protective gear- helmets, shin/pole guards, goggles, etc.; race clothing, including race suits (special order) and gloves.
* Rogue Ski welcomes your special order. They can help you browse multiple product catalogues to help you find exactly the race equipment you are looking for.
* Rather than doing a specific “race night” promotion, Rogue Ski Shop invites MARA participants to contact them directly if they would like to meet with a specific manufacturers rep. The reps are usually in town in the month of October, so call soon if this is an avenue you’d like to pursue.
* Important note: availability of many race items is limited. As the season progresses and inventories dwindle, items many times become unavailable. Fall is the perfect time to order the specialty race items you need for the coming season. Bob and Sandy call help you find what you want while it’s still in stock.
Rogue Ski Shop is located at 309 E. Jackson St. in Medford. Their number 541-772-8047
