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SPORTS MOMS AND THEIR WORLD For some, the thrill is not in watching, but in doing The image of the fast-driving SUV mom, going from sports field to sports field, while an accurate picture of Southern California life, is not complete. For some, they are going for themselves, not for the kids. Welcome to "Sports Moms & Their World," a story about five women who have bucked the assumption that a self-styled sports program has to end either at marriage or when babies arrive. Nonsense. As this fivesome proves, there is no such thing as standing on a sideline and merely cheering. This Cover Story was reported by Staff Writer Nayeli Pagaza, Senior Writer Michael J. Medley, and intern Ashley Eliot. THE RUNNER WITH SIX CHILDREN Overseeing a household of six children with her husband wasn't enough to stop 43-year-old running veteran Ceci St. Geme from winning a gold medal in the Orange County Race for the Cure 5K in 2006. "I like running because it is a very time-efficient sport for a mom," says the master runner. "You don't need any equipment, just good running shoes." In high school, St. Geme won the the national high school championship in 3,000 meters. The following year, she attended Stanford and won the NCAA title in the 3,000 meters in 1982. She earned her bachelor's degree in history, her master's in education, and met and married a Stanford football player, Ed St. Geme. Even after the Newport Beach resident began having children, the star athlete still sought the opportunity to make the U.S. Olympic Team in 1992. Unfortunately, an injury stopped that grand plan, so she began to find new ways to keep active and stay outdoors. "When I couldn't run, I would go out and push the stroller because I needed to be walking at least," says the perfectly toned mom. "It was the thing that made me happy, and I feel happy moms make happy children." However, St. Geme did not want to retire her running shoes altogether as she soon began to compete in local races, and found the love for the sport again. "I don't think whether I will win or not because at the end of the race, my children will still hug me and kiss me," St. Geme says. Her children range from 8 to 19 years old. She is also surprised at how well her body has adapted to running after having five daughters and a son. "I celebrate the fact I can still run," she says of her training that consists of 40 miles a week. Her children inherited her running genes too. Annie, 19, the eldest, has become one of the greatest runners in Southern California. "Annie has the drive for the Olympics and I am supporting her tremendously," says mom of daughter, who is now a freshman at Stanford. And 18-year-old daughter Christie is a leading runner at Corona del Mar High School's legendary cross country program, where Ceci is assistant track coach. After being on the cover of Runner's World five times and again last September, Ceci proves it is never too late to regain strength and be as triumphant as a high school athlete. "I started running when I was 16, but I have never felt as strong as I do now. It's amazing what the human body is capable of." - By Nayeli Pagaza A SHIFT TO THE SURF Chani Demello is making splashes for moms who thought only dudes would ride the waves. The stay-at-home mom started surfing two years ago to remind herself of the active person she had been before having kids, and to show her children what a great role model she could be. Demello had played soccer for 25 years, but like many moms, her priorities shifted once she became a parent. "My life had changed so much since having my kids," says the mother of Zico, 9, and Tosh, 7. "I didn't know what to do with myself once they left for school." She felt guilty doing things she loved because she wanted to devote everything to her children. But after her boys began kindergarten, Demello wanted to regain her passions and identity. With encouragement from a friend, Demello began to surf with her husband and friend every morning. "I soon found that surfing regained my mental energy to keep me motivated and happy," says the Seal Beach resident. Before she knew it, Demello met other moms who also were enthusiastic about surfing; she founded Moms on Boards. "Many of the women join after reading about our club through a magazine or word of mouth," says Demello. "It's great because we have stay-at-home moms to professional women here." With the help of her website (momsonboards.com), she has gained 100 members nationwide, who range in age from 25-60. The club also features regional sports like wakeboarding, skateboarding and snowboarding for women to join in their local area. Her biggest hope is to inspire younger women to be true to themselves, especially in the demanding role expected of them. She has also learned that no one leads the perfect life, and women should support, not compete against, each other. "What I like most about this club is that all barriers are broken," says Demello. "It doesn't matter what a woman's social status is or how they look because they come with no makeup, and to have fun." She has also found that it is important to not forget who you are in any circumstance, and never put yourself second. "I have learned to be really happy with my own life and put time aside for myself, which also results in being a better mom and wife," Demello says. - By Nayeli Pagaza SKATEBOARDING WITH BARB In the hills of Laguna Beach, you might catch a glimpse of a blond, 5-foot-1-inch, small-bodied, 44-year-old woman coasting down on a Sector 9 longboard skateboard. That's Barb Odanaka. Growing up in Newport Beach with the 1970s surf and skate crowd, she was known in adolescence as Barbie Ludovise. Now, with a 10-year-old son whom she homeschools, this skateboarding mom and children's book author is reintroducing the adult passion for skateboarding through her group "The International Society of Skateboarding Moms." Her target group is moms or mothers-to-be, mostly in their 30s to 40s. "I'm a wimp when it comes to the ocean," Odanaka says. "I started surfing at 10 and the reality was that I was a horrible surfer and if the wave was over 2 feet, then I would freak out. I realized early on I wasn't going to be a pipeline master in Hawaii but I could surf the street and you get somewhat of the same feeling." Her love for skateboarding began at 10 when Santa left a present under the tree that would influence her for the next 34 years. The Hobie Super Surfer skateboard sparked this life-long obsession. Today, with tons of experience under her belt such as skating for the Hobie Amateur Skateboard team, she wants to find more women who feel the thrill of doing 360-degree turns, daffys and tail wheelies. "I still love cruising down the street going really fast," she says. "It's the one thing that keeps me sane." Once a sports reporter for the Los Angeles Times, Odanaka started reviewing children's books and then later wrote three of her own, "Skateboard Mom" in 2004, "Smash! Mash! Crash! There Goes The Trash" in 2006, and her still-to-come "Critter Café" in 2008. Her group, with more than 400 members worldwide, began in 2004. Odanaka hosts a local meet in Orange County for women skateboarders over age 21 every Wednesday and Friday, usually at the Vans Skateboard Park at the Block of Orange. Her annual "Mighty Mama's Skate-O-Rama" on Mother's Day funds the Orangewood Children's Home and she created "Rolling for Reading," a program built to collect books for children in need. "I go to schools and do presentations to get the kids fired up about reading and writing, and I do skateboard tricks," she says. "For my finale, I put the principal on a skateboard." For more information, check out her website, skateboardmom.com. - By Ashley Eliot THE STANDOUT SOCCER MOM In fourth grade at 8 years old, Kelli Moore of Los Alamitos probably didn't expect the sport to become such a big part of her life. Twenty-nine years later, this soccer mom is still whizzing by defenders, playing forward and ruling the field with the same teammates she had as a little girl. "It's nice playing together as a group," Moore says. "It's a neat feeling. We remember how each other play...they set me up and I run to score." Starting on a soccer team in Orange County through AYSO as a child, Moore found a niche for her fast speed, aggressiveness and athleticism, which is common in her "sports family," especially with a retired pro baseball player as a father. Moore, after taking a break in college from the game for a tennis scholarship, is more enthused than ever about soccer. She plays on three teams: the Sharks in Orange County, and in Long Beach, For Kicks and an over 30 squad. "I'm fast and I like running," she says. "It's a fast-paced game...everybody's involved." Life can be hectic. As a single mom with a 10-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter, she juggles her job at Boeing as a computer technologist, soccer, and all the necessities in between. But Moore, now engaged, manages well and understands safety is emphasized when playing the competitive sport. She's hurt both knees and once was taken to the hospital for a neck injury. "I score a lot of goals so people come at me a lot on purpose," she says. As she watches her son get into soccer and other sports like baseball and hockey, she's reminded of growing up in the midst of competition. Yet with a few teammates from her first soccer team as a young girl, there are new memories to be made and old ones to be cherished. Rather than look behind, these women are bringing back the past. - By Ashley Eliot SWIMMING UPSTREAM WITH DAUGHTERS You do not really need to see the "Head Coach" logo on Sue Nesbitt's sweats to know that she is the person in charge. She carries herself with the graceful confidence of someone accustomed to achieving success and helping others achieve success, in the swimming pool or in life, as coach and as mom. Under her leadership, the Riverside AQuettes won the team, solo, and duet championships at the 2006 U.S. Synchronized Swimming Junior Nationals. As a mom, she has just seen her two daughters, Stephanie, 21, and Barbara, 19, both former members of the AQuettes, off on their next adventures in life. Barbara is starting her career as a student and swimmer at Ohio State University and Stephanie is joining the cast of the "La Rêve" water show at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. Nesbitt, a Riverside native and resident, started her own swimming career with the AQuettes, swimming with the club from age 10 through high school. She spent her college career as a member of the championship synchronized swimming team at San Jose State University. As an athlete, coach, and mother, she is uniquely situated to understand the joys and difficulties of all three roles. Both her daughters joined the AQuettes when they turned 9. "I was happy that they wanted to participate in synchronized swimming," Nesbitt says, "because I would spend so much time with them, but it has been difficult. What I tried to do very early on is make sure that home was the place where I was their mother and at the pool I was their coach." That dual role really came home for Nesbitt when then 16-year-old Stephanie moved to Santa Clara for 18 months to train with the U.S. Olympic Team in synchronized swimming. Stephanie found the coaching style quite a bit different from Sue's and her phone calls home betrayed her upset feelings. "I had to, on the one hand, try to console her and make her feel better," Nesbitt says, "and on the other hand, not make judgments on how the other coach was coaching my daughter." Stephanie, by the way, went on to win a bronze medal in synchronized swimming at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. It looks like mom's advice and guidance were pretty good. "They guided the process," Nesbitt says of her daughters' swimming. "I just wanted them to be happy." - By Michael J. Medley |
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