Kikkan Randall Signs with US Ski Team, Matanuska Maid

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA - OCTOBER 10, 2006 - At 23, Kikkan Randall is the top female US cross-country skier and among the best in the world. That’s young to have already won five national championships, raced in two winter Olympics and placed fifth in last year’s World Cup races. image

In a country where most top athletes retire from sports by the time they reach 30, cross-country skiers often compete for a decade beyond that. “I’m on track to reach one of my ultimate goals – an Olympic medal – in 2010, at the Vancouver, BC, games,” Randall said. “Getting there isn’t a wham-bam achievement,” she added. “It takes a healthy lifestyle, dedication, patience and making good decisions. These same values apply anywhere, whether you’re talking about sports, school or work.”

Matanuska Maid has just agreed to sponsor Randall at least another year, according to corporate marketing consultant and company spokesman, Greg Galik. “Matanuska Maid has sponsored Kikkan’s athletic efforts since 2003, and these sponsorships allow her to devote her time to training without having to work,” he said. Randall said the generous sponsorship also includes a supply Matanuska Maid Dairy products, “which contain important proteins and carbohydrates to sustain strong bones and to help regenerate muscles after tough workouts and racing.”

The US Cross-Country Ski Team for 2007 will include 14 racers. Tazlina Mannix of Anchorage, one of seven women to compete in World Cup races internationally, will join Randall, who also skis on the Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center team, on the US team.

“Matanuska Maid’s corporate values fit really well with the other commitments I have right now,” Randall continued. She has been chosen as a spokesperson for the statewide Health Futures program and will also work with an affiliated Healthy Heroes project, publishing a book of stories by Alaska leaders for use in the Anchorage School District for motivating students to live healthy, active, principled lives.

Randall’s training and race schedule will have her traveling internationally for many of the next 12 months. Now a junior at Alaska Pacific University, Randall continues to pursue a business management degree, some of which she can do online. When here in Alaska, Randall spends quite a bit of time appearing at events and in schools, to promote values for healthy choices.

“Kids are a particularly tricky audience,” Randall said. “They’ll challenge me to illustrate why my message is important and how it pertains to them.”  To capture their attention, Randall will ride into the classroom on her unicycle. “I’ll also get their attention with a slide show that documents my development as an athlete over the years. They can see how I was once on the same local soccer team that they’re on today; that’s how I can establish rapport, which allows me to have some influence with them on other parts of my message, about the importance of fitness and a healthy lifestyle.

“Kikkan has been a delightful addition to our team,” said Joseph W. Van Treeck, Matanuska Maid CEO and President. “Her abilities and attitude represent the best that Alaska has to offer. She is personable and powerful. As a Matanuska Maid representative, we couldn’t do much better, in terms of having someone translating our values to the next generation, who depend on role models like her to guide their thinking and choices. That can’t but help Mat Maid, in its 70th year of business, to have Kikkan demonstrate how healthy diets translate into healthy human performances.”

Matanuska Maid is among the world’s largest dairy processors located in the far north. Offering a full line of dairy, juice and beverage products, Matanuska Maid Dairy celebrates its 70th anniversary in Alaska this year. For more information about Matanuska Maid Dairy, visit the company website www.matmaid.com.