BY WENDI REARDON
Clarkston News Sports Writer
Clarkston High School sophomore Sean Maier has spent his snow days preparing to go to nationals.
Last year was Maier’s first year of snowboarding. He qualified to go to nationals, but he never got to go. A month before, he was warming up for Boarding for Breast Cancer and broke his shoulder.
When the snow started falling this year, Maier told his mother, Jamie Phillips, he just wanted to take his board out.
‘I miss it,? he told her.
‘I’m just proud he came back on his own,? said Phillips. ‘He wasn’t pushed.?
This year, he has qualified again and will be attending nationals in Copper Mountain in Colorado, March 28-April 6.
He will represent Michigan and the Midwest in the Junior Men’s division, consisting of skiers 16-17 years old from around the country.
‘I’m hoping to show everyone out there what people can do in the Midwest and hope to place in the top three,? said Maier.
‘One of the things I have noticed in an athlete is the internal drive, that dedication that you don’t see in everyone,? said Phillips. ‘That ‘I’m not going to quit spirit, I’m going to work until I get it.? Nobody pushes him, it’s something that comes from within. I have seen that in everything Sean has done, related to sports.?
His mom supports him by driving him to competitions, and they both work to pay for equipment and travel. Going to nationals will cost about $4,000, for hotel, travel, and equipment.
‘His pants are falling apart. When you go to nationals, you are representing Michigan and need to look good,? said Phillips.
They are looking for more sponsors and fundraising ideas. Thule’s Towing Systems is a gold sponsor, donating $500. Corky’s Board Shop offered a limited sponsorship, giving Maier a percentage off his equipment.
Phillips? work as a flight attendant takes her away, and she doesn’t have enough time to find sponsors when she is home.
‘It’s not an easy thing to ask for help,? said Phillips. ‘It’s not in our nature.?
She met the Thule’s representative by chance on a flight.
‘I wasn’t even supposed to be on that flight. I was supposed to be on another one, but I changed my schedule to be home for his competition,? she said. ‘I realized there are people who want to help young people with dreams to achieve their goals. Sean’s reaction was shock. It’s amazing, the generosity of people out there. It’s not easy to ask. There are a lot of different needs out there. I’m sure I went low on the goal, but I wanted to be realistic. I think it’s attainable.
‘The exciting part is I wanted Clarkston to know they have a new athlete. Someone who strives.?
For Maier, who also plays baseball and golf, snowboarding is just him versus the mountain.
‘You can’t worry about anything,? he said. ‘That’s how you get hurt.?
He doesn’t have a coach, but if he does well at nationals, they will start looking.
Maier is part of the United States of America Snowboard Association and competes in two divisions, Middle Earth and Huck Finn. Middle Earth includes competitions up north and Huck Finn is local.
‘They cheer each other on even though there is a competitiveness to place,? said Phillips.
He averages 2-3 competitions per weekend. Once a month, he gets a weekend off.
Maier practices 4-5 hours a day, sometimes up to 10 on school snow days.
His winter life revolves around school and snowboarding. He works on homework before and after practice. If he has enough time, he takes time to relax.
The family moved to Michigan, near Crystal Mountain Resort, from Texas four years ago. Most of his friends snowboarded, so Maier gave it a try.
‘I loved it,? he said.
He enjoys the adrenaline rush, competitiveness, and going to competitions.
Maier and his mom moved to Clarkston recently to be near family.
‘It’s natural to me,? said Maier, who thinks Michigan needs 10 more inches of snow.
He had one lesson when he was 10, when he visited Michigan.
Snowboarding was a hobby until someone entered him in a competition.
He has a few more competitions before he goes to Colorado.
This weekend, Maier will compete in a private competition for Revolution Snowboards. The company is looking for a top Michigan rider to sponsor. The top 75 riders were invited.
From it, Maier will get film exposure to show sponsors.
In Texas, he played baseball all year long and was part of the golf team.
He will try out for high school baseball team in the spring because it
Baseball is his second passion. He plans to try out for high school baseball in the spring, and played with the traveling Riverdawgs this past summer.
For more information, email seanmaieruninc156@comcast.net.
Donations can be sent to Sean Maier-National Snowboard Fund, Attn: Jamie Phillips, 7255 Bluewater Drive #75, Clarkston, Michigan 48348.