Athlete Stories
Visit Big Bear Athlete Ambassadors
Robert Mancilla
My love for boxing began at just 11 years old. Back then, I didn’t fully appreciate the advantage of training at high altitude. It wasn’t until I began competing as an amateur that I noticed the difference: while my opponents struggled to catch their breath, I recovered quickly and stayed strong throughout the match. It all clicked in biology class back in high school that I learned the science behind high-altitude training. That’s when I understood why so many elite athletes come to Big Bear to prepare for competition.
Siena Hermon (Off-Road Cyclist)
Training in Big Bear is ideal for me because there is an endless amount of singletrack and fireroad trails all around the valley. It is the perfect place to ride for not only Mountain Biking but gravel cycling too. The elevation of 6752 is known as the sweet spot for athletes. Living and training here year-round gives me a real advantage over athletes at sea level. And beyond the performance benefits, it’s just beautiful - you get to see views of the lake, forested areas, wildlife, and my all time favorite thing about Big Bear is the beautiful blue skies we experience almost on the daily basis!