SpeedSkating: Life in The Fast Lane
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My name is Esther Munoz, an 18 year old US Junior Speedskater who recently graduated from Lake Placid High School in Lake Placid N.Y.
One of the biggest inspirations of my 10 year skating career was living in Lake Placid which hosted two Winter Olympics (1932 and 1980) and also having the outside speed skating oval in front of my high school.
Like most serious amateur athletes, my dream is to one day qualify to represent our country in a future World Championship and Winter Olympic Games.
My immediate goal is to make the US Junior World Speedskating Team. Then, I can represent the USA in Finland in Feb 2017 at the Junior World Speed Skating Championship.
One way for me to reach my immediate and long term goal is by having the opportunity to train on the world’s fastest ice with some of the world’s best Coaches and Olympians. Where am I going to find this? Salt Lake City Utah. I always planned on moving to Salt Lake City Utah after I graduated from High School in Lake Placid NY. Salt Lake City is the home of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games and is also the home of the U.S. Speedskating National Team and offers some of the best World Team Programs.
One may ask if there are other Long Track Rinks? There are 4 Competitive Long Track Ice Rinks in the nation. Salt Lake City and Milwaukee have the only inside LongTracks, and Lake Placid NY and Minnesota have the only outside Long Track. Training is very limited in Lake Placid having only Ice time when it is cold enough. Sometimes it is only open for 4 months out of the year. As for Short Track, well, I am basically too tall for Short Track. This is why I started competing with Long Track and I found myself loving the sport even more. In order to train for World competitions and Olympics, it is a full time dedication. This is not just a hobby. It is my passion and is a full time obedient process.
I will still have to find time to work part time when I can, but my priority at this time is to train to my fullest potential. This money will assist with my training, my coaching, and my travel for competitions across the nation and maybe overseas.
Lake Placid has always been good to me. And, I will always miss my teammates and my Coach; but, it is time to step up my training and move on to Salt Lake City Utah. This is why I have developed this GoFundMe account.
I wish it could be easier financially to make it on just my past successes as a US Junior 2 time National Development Team Member Speedskater, and a Junior C National Long Track Champion, and also the 2016 AMCUP Jr. Ladies 500m and 1000m all around champion in the Nation. Unfortunately, Corporate sponsorship is almost nonexistent in this sport; especially for young and up and coming athletes as myself. The other reason I am in need of financial assistance is more of a personal reason; because, most of our family's income is used to pay for my father’s periodic cancer treatments.
I am not asking for a free ride, and I recognize this is going to be a significant challenge. However, those of you who know me, also know I am incredibly driven to do what I need to do in order to make my dreams come true.
I will keep everyone updated through a new Facebook page on my progress. Also, you are able to track my competitions and standings by visiting http://speedskatingresults.com/index.php?p=17&s=25708. I look forward to getting to know you and having you be a part of me when I make the Olympics one day.
Thank you. Esther Munoz
One of the biggest inspirations of my 10 year skating career was living in Lake Placid which hosted two Winter Olympics (1932 and 1980) and also having the outside speed skating oval in front of my high school.
Like most serious amateur athletes, my dream is to one day qualify to represent our country in a future World Championship and Winter Olympic Games.
My immediate goal is to make the US Junior World Speedskating Team. Then, I can represent the USA in Finland in Feb 2017 at the Junior World Speed Skating Championship.
One way for me to reach my immediate and long term goal is by having the opportunity to train on the world’s fastest ice with some of the world’s best Coaches and Olympians. Where am I going to find this? Salt Lake City Utah. I always planned on moving to Salt Lake City Utah after I graduated from High School in Lake Placid NY. Salt Lake City is the home of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games and is also the home of the U.S. Speedskating National Team and offers some of the best World Team Programs.
One may ask if there are other Long Track Rinks? There are 4 Competitive Long Track Ice Rinks in the nation. Salt Lake City and Milwaukee have the only inside LongTracks, and Lake Placid NY and Minnesota have the only outside Long Track. Training is very limited in Lake Placid having only Ice time when it is cold enough. Sometimes it is only open for 4 months out of the year. As for Short Track, well, I am basically too tall for Short Track. This is why I started competing with Long Track and I found myself loving the sport even more. In order to train for World competitions and Olympics, it is a full time dedication. This is not just a hobby. It is my passion and is a full time obedient process.
I will still have to find time to work part time when I can, but my priority at this time is to train to my fullest potential. This money will assist with my training, my coaching, and my travel for competitions across the nation and maybe overseas.
Lake Placid has always been good to me. And, I will always miss my teammates and my Coach; but, it is time to step up my training and move on to Salt Lake City Utah. This is why I have developed this GoFundMe account.
I wish it could be easier financially to make it on just my past successes as a US Junior 2 time National Development Team Member Speedskater, and a Junior C National Long Track Champion, and also the 2016 AMCUP Jr. Ladies 500m and 1000m all around champion in the Nation. Unfortunately, Corporate sponsorship is almost nonexistent in this sport; especially for young and up and coming athletes as myself. The other reason I am in need of financial assistance is more of a personal reason; because, most of our family's income is used to pay for my father’s periodic cancer treatments.
I am not asking for a free ride, and I recognize this is going to be a significant challenge. However, those of you who know me, also know I am incredibly driven to do what I need to do in order to make my dreams come true.
I will keep everyone updated through a new Facebook page on my progress. Also, you are able to track my competitions and standings by visiting http://speedskatingresults.com/index.php?p=17&s=25708. I look forward to getting to know you and having you be a part of me when I make the Olympics one day.
Thank you. Esther Munoz
Organizer
Esther Renee Muñoz
Organizer
Lake Placid, NY
