November 17, 2011
Seasoned racer to coach Teton Nordic Team
Kyle Marvinney is the newest addition to the growing Teton Nordic Team program working alongside veteran head coach Bob Gammelin. Marvinney is fast on skis, but focused on team-building and fun this winter.Citizen photo/Jeannette Boner
With snow on the ground and the weather service predicting much more on the way, Teton Valley has turned to thoughts of powder, first turns and new wax.
And Kyle Marvinney is ready for the season to slide into high gear. This 23 year old has almost 20 years logged on Nordic skis, four of which he raced through college at St. Lawrence, a Division 1 team.
Recruited by Teton Nordic Team head coach Bob Gammelin, Marvinney brings more than a set of skis and a drive for speed on the region’s well-groomed trails and pathways.
“A ski team becomes a family,” Marvinney said Tuesday night. “You want to see everyone succeed. Above all, you really want kids to see that Nordic skiing is fun. I think it (Nordic skiing) gets overlooked at times, but the bottom-line is that it’s a really challenging sport that requires a lot of conditioning that’s fun.”
And the Teton Nordic Team is all things Nordic, but above all, fun. Gammelin reported that the program continues to grow with 30 students on the race team and 20 students participating on the recreational team. Gammelin said the Teton Nordic Team is one of the largest programs in the region given the size of this community.
This is Marvinney’s first taste of the Tetons and he’s personally excited to, “be on the snow, a lot” this winter. Team building is paramount to the success of the team he said. And while the students learn to build one another up as competitors, Marvinney will be fine-tuning their Nordic form and holding them fast to personal racing goals.
“It’s a good team,” he said of this year’s skiers. “The kids are fired up.”
And so is Gammelin.
“We’re here to help kids obtain goals on skis, but above all help kids develop a sense of community and team,” Gammelin said of the Teton Nordic Team program. “Other programs are focused on creating Olympic racers; we’re not opposed to that, but our program is focused on team. Kyle’s not here to create fast gears. He sees Nordic as a whole. A culture that’s supportive and a team that likes having a good time.”
That said, Marvinney is anxious to participate in the team’s first competition next weekend in West Yellowstone, Mont. After that Marvinney and the group will head to Salt Lake, Bozeman, Sun Valley and all points inbetween. “I’m excited for the kids to watch professional racers,” Marvinney added of heading to some of these races. I’m excited for them to see really fast racers.”
The Teton Nordic Team is a nonprofit organization that strives to make Nordic skiing affordable and convenient. The program offers low-cost equipment, discounts on gear at local shops, and can provide fee waivers and free gear. The program has never turned anyone away because they couldn’t pay. Find the team at www.tetonnordic.org. Bob Gammelin may be reached at Bob@TetonNordic.org or at 307-353-0373 (please don’t call before 7 a.m. or after 8:30 p.m.). Kyle Marvinney may be reached at Kyle@TetonNordic.org or at 207-837-7709.
Be sure to catch the Local Heroes speaker series this Saturday at the Wildwood Room in Victor. The event is a fundraiser for the Teton Nordic Team, featuring local athletes. This Saturday, local athlete and action photographer Mark Fisher will be featured. The event starts at 7:30 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m. for happy hour, food and raffle prize giveaways.
