[NCNCA] winner within mentoring

[laurie fenech]

I would like to introduce the members of the 2008 NCNCA “Winner Within” 
Mentor Program. We will mentor all women cat 4 races (no combinations) this 
season. This dedicated, qualified and friendly, group of female mentors are 
eager to assist, inspire and inform any women cat 4 racer with questions 
concerning the racer and the race field. Please share this information 
with your fellow team mates, thank you.
 
 
Elis Bradshaw
Elis started racing in college and was a member of the Cal Cycling team for one year. 
Since then she has raced USCF races for 4 years. Elis raced unattached as a cat 4 
before racing on the Metromint Cycling team as a 3 and a 2. Her strengths 
(and favorite races) are fast, technical criteriums, but she’ll make a climber of herself yet!
 Laura Charameda
Laura's racing results include multiple stage wins at the women's Tour de France, a 
medal at the World Road Racing Championships, a spot on the Olympic Team, and 
two Criterium National Criterium titles. With the number of Laura's career cycling 
victories are well over 250.  Laura's current career foci are athletic program development, 
coaching and directing both junior and women cyclists, leading clinics for beginning cyclists 
and this year was the Race Director for the inaugural Women’s Tour of California Criterium. 
After retiring from professional athletics her passion has shifted her own athletic performance 
to helping others learn the joys of cycling at every level of the sport. Laura is currently the 
executive director of Team Swift which is a nonprofit organization based in Sonoma County , 
California . Team Swift brings resources and guidance to 10-18 year olds cyclists, starting 
with their first cycling experiences and continuing through the USA National Team level. She is 
also director of the U23 Women's Dewars/TIME Factory team to provide opportunities for 
beginning women cyclists. Laura's greatest satisfaction comes from helping athletes achieve 
personally defining breakthrough experiences in athletics. 
 Laurie Fenech
Laurie coordinates the “Winner Within” women mentors. She is honored to work with 
dedicated mentors who are experienced racers and value the importance of safe and 
skilled behavior in the field. Being mentored herself for two years through the Early Birds, 
she understands the essential aspects of safe racing and the genuine guidance from the 
mentors whom she learned from. Laurie races for Team Walthour, as cat 2 racer, 
2007 district road race master champion, and she is the coordinator of the 
Women cat 3-4 Advance Skills clinic that runs adjacent with the Early Birds in January. 
 Laurel Green
Laurel Green has been racing for 15 years. Her racing experience is with Criteriums, 
Stage Races, and Time Trials in the United States. She specializes in teaching bike 
handling, and safe racing skills. Since she loves to coach, she works for Wenzel Coaching, 
a reputable coaching company based in Walnut Creek, CA. She is currently a 
Level 2 Cycling Coach for USA Cycling, as well as a Safe Routes to School Instructor 
for the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition in Santa Rosa, CA. During the school year 
she teaches Physical Education to 4th and 5th graders in Windsor, CA. Feel free to 
contact her with questions you might have about your own potential as a bike racer. 
707-829-2619

Sarah Lightfoot
Sarah Lightfoot is in her fifth year of racing. She believes passionately in growing the sport 
for women, and that mentoring programs are a terrific way to help women learn more 
about the sport. Sarah was BAR in 2006 for in category 3, and is enjoying her second 
season as a cat 2 riding in support of her District Champion teammates. Off the bike, 
Sarah raises money for Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) schools in the Bay Area, 
that provides students in underserved communities for success in college and in life.
 Holly Roberts
Holly has been racing for 5 years. She races on the road as a Category 2, a Category 4 
on the track (hopefully that will be a Cat 3 this year!) and a Beginner on the MTB. Proudest 
moment so far: a podium (3rd place) at Sea Otter in the XC MTB race in 2008, after 
falling "a zillion times". (2nd proudest moment: Not falling when demo'ing wheel touching 
at the Early Birds in 2008.) Fortunately, she keeps upright on the road as much as possible 
and has been mentoring at the Early Bird series for the past four years. "I found the mentoring 
at the Early Birds so helpful my first year, that I wanted to continue to give back."
 Taitt Sato
Taitt Sato comes to Wenzel Coaching with seven years of regional and national level 
road-racing experience. She is a certified USA Cycling Level 3 coach, and has earned 
several regional and national podium appearances such as the Nevada City Classic, 
Cougar Mountain, 2002 USCF masters national road race, as well as the 2004 and 
2005 NCNCA Best All-Round Rider award for Cat 1/2 women.  Taitt welcomes working 
with road and criterium racers who are either just beginning to race or have an interest in 
competing at an elite level. She is also available to work with cyclists of all abilities 
and interests. Her own experiences can help others who want to achieve their goals in cycling.
Taitt herself has been a Wenzel athlete since 2001. She started out racing in California and 
from the outset challenged herself with National Calendar Races such as McLane Pacific, 
the Solano Stage Race, and the Redlands Bicycle Classic. As a full-time lawyer, 
she focused on her career while pursuing racing as an exciting diversion from her desk job. 
She attributes her early success and quick upgrade to Cat 1 to the Wenzel coaching program. 
She continues to race in regional and national events with the ValueAct Capital Cycling Team. 
Her deep understanding of how to balance racing with a full-time career or family life can 
enable athletes to enjoy their sport to the fullest.
 Jennifer Van Muckey
Jennifer is a cat 2 road racer in her fifth season of USCF racing. She currently races for 
the Easton/SugarCRM/Specialized elite team and is their team leader. While state or 
national titles have yet to be won, she was given a coffee mug entitled World's Greatest Mom.
 
 Any questions about our program feel free to contact me,
Laurie Fenech
“Winner Within” coordinator
nachurelover at sbcglobal.net