Grant-A-Week WINNER
Melissa Noonan - Swimming,
Cross-Country skiing and Running

My name is Melissa Noonan. I am a 15 year-old, Grade 9 honour student. I have been a competitive athlete in three different sports, swimming, cross-country skiing and cross-country running. I am thanking CAAWS and Nike for their support, I am more than happy to receive your help.
In my very first swim meet, when I was 9 years old, I achieved "AAA" times I have won medals in swimming over the years and I was named top achiever on three different competitions. In May 1999, during the "AAA" Provincial Swim Competition I placed 1st in the 100m breaststroke with a time of 1:24:24 and 1st in the 200m breaststroke with a time of 3:05:09 for the 13-14 age group. I also have several other "AAA" times but my specialty is the breaststroke. I am still on the swim team and practice 3-4 times a week. My goal in swimming is to do my best, and improve my time in the l00m and 200m breaststroke.

Last year ('99 snowboard season) the racing bug hit. I moved from my home with my parents, just outside Charlottetown, PEI, to Halifax, Nova Scotia with the intent to begin riding and training in both snowboard race disciplines. It was a personal goal to compete in those competitions offered in Nova Scotia as well as to go to Nationals.

Dreams became a reality when I won the Nova Scotia Provincial competitions in Giant Slalom, Dual Slalom and Boardercross. In March, Nationals were held in Nakiska, Alberta and I accompanied the Nova Scotia team and competed again in the same disciplines. It was definitely the best winter I've ever had!

I moved from Halifax to Quebec City only two weeks ago (beginning of Dec. '99) to train at Mont. Sainte Anne for this winter in the Giant Slalom and Dual Slalom disciplines.

Thus far, I have spent 10 days on snow and am almost back into the groove (no pun intended!) There are some great guys and girls at the mountain with whom I will be training after the World Cup here this weekend. They're a great bunch and with two guys on the World Cup tour always ripping it up, there are some great athletes training here.

As a newbie to Quebec and to racing in general (as of last year), I'm hoping this year will be everything I hope it will be, a great learning experience and a definite confidence booster.

It's steep and it's fast but I can't deny I don't regret giving up a great job and leaving my friends and family (only physically of course) behind for such an experience. I love it! And thanks CAAWS and Nike!

Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity contact us