Tess Mattern grew up as a swimmer in Northern California, beginning racing at simply four-years-old. However following her personal path has led her to turning into one of many prime triathlon coaches within the South Island.
With two older sisters who swam, Mattern grew up on the pool, and swam all through uni, instructing children to swim when she was nonetheless younger herself.
“My membership coach as a child was actually an enormous proponent of instructing, and permitting us the chance to show different folks,” Mattern says of her teaching beginnings.
After graduating from college with a sociology diploma, Mattern wasn’t positive what course she wished her profession path to go, so returned to her childhood swim membership.
“My previous membership coach was nonetheless the top coach then, in order that was actually enjoyable and full circle to return again and coach with him, alongside him,” she says.
“He was actually supportive of growing me as a coach, and was all the time declaring my strengths. He was actually hands-on after I wished him to be, he would supply help and recommendation and collaborate but additionally was hands-off, that was additionally essential, to let me develop too.
“So it was a very pretty relationship to start out my teaching journey.”
Mattern then studied to turn into a private coach, and determined she wished a vitamin diploma to enhance her present information, and assist her private coaching shoppers.
Shifting to Colorado together with her associate to check, she was approached by the Colorado State College triathlon crew, who had been searching for a swim coach.
Having carried out some triathlon casually to maintain match, Mattern was eager to be concerned in all points of teaching the game, and never simply swimming.
“I took on the function as swim coach for Colorado State and I used to be working with a head coach who had been doing triathlon teaching for a very long time,” Mattern says.
“I bought actually fortunate as a result of he was anyone who actually believed in me, supported me, and was actually encouraging of me to develop my expertise throughout all three sports activities. He was like ‘it’s nice that you simply’re taking over our swim programme but additionally let’s get you licensed as a triathlon coach so you’ll be able to assist with all of the periods’.”
Teaching each informal athletes and people who wished to go skilled, Mattern discovered lots from the expertise. It was a robust programme, with athletes constantly making the highest 5 within the nation.
Having her background with vitamin and private coaching meant Mattern was capable of present her athletes with personalised power programmes, one thing many triathlon coaches didn’t concentrate on.
“That was actually essential to me, and it was one thing that I all the time pushed to athletes,” she explains.
“It was good to have that background to have the ability to say I can truly write you a power programme which is acceptable to you as an endurance athlete and that may help your endurance coaching.”
Mattern thought she is perhaps a full-time nutritionist, however she fell in love with triathlon teaching, and makes use of her schooling alongside her teaching expertise.
In 2018, Mattern and her husband Tucker moved to New Zealand, Tucker learning winemaking at Lincoln College and the couple settling in Christchurch. Tess began working on the Canterbury Tri Membership in 2019, teaching their academy, with children aged from 14-18.
“At first I used to be fairly uncertain about working with that age group, as a result of it was lots youthful than the college age, however I actually fell in love with them,” she says.
“They had been playful however tremendous coachable, actually engaged and simply plenty of enjoyable to be round, and in my view, very mature. They’d good social expertise and emotional intelligence and actually stunned me.”
When lockdown hit, the couple moved to Otago for Tucker’s internship in Gibbston. After a time spent working with him at Chard Farm (a winery), Tess was much more satisfied that teaching was the precise path for her.
“I ended up working part-time within the lab, which I hated truthfully, it was not for me and it was very validating that I used to be in the precise profession,” she laughs.
With lockdown proscribing teaching to digital periods, Mattern stepped into the function of programme director of the academy, largely working remotely however travelling as much as Christchurch as typically as she may. She stayed in that function for 5 years, solely lately stepping away.
“Over that point, I ran a bunch of South Island junior camps, which was one thing that hadn’t actually occurred earlier than,” Mattern says, with most camps and races happening within the North Island.
Mattern had her first son, Hugo, in Might of 2022, however problems at start meant he solely lived for one week.
“It’s been an ongoing grieving course of, however the first 12 months was actually intense,” says Mattern of the tragic loss. Along with her second son, Kai, turning one in November, Mattern has needed to shift her focus over the previous few years, to take care of herself and her household.
“Going by way of my expertise of shedding my son actually shook my confidence, as a result of I used to be very trusting of the birthing course of, after which I believed it went nicely nevertheless it didn’t,” she says.
“And to return residence with out a child after an expertise that I had been totally trusting of actually shook my confidence as a result of I used to be like how did I not know that one thing was mistaken, and that actually bled over into all points of my life, together with my teaching.”
Mattern was initially launched to the Te Hāpaitanga programme in 2022, however wasn’t in the precise psychological house to think about becoming a member of the ladies’s teaching mentorship.
She utilized for the 2024/25 cohort, and was accepted, alongside 9 different members throughout numerous sports activities.
“It was truthfully the factor that I wanted at that time in my life to provide me some confidence again,” Mattern says of Te Hāpaitanga.
“Being accepted into the programme and being a part of a gaggle of tremendous supportive ladies, was simply important and life-changing for me, to be lifted up in each a private {and professional} means.”
She discovered she was pregnant proper earlier than the primary residential, and the group supported her all the way in which.
“All by way of my being pregnant, they had been tremendous accommodating when it comes to ensuring I used to be snug at residentials, and being actually versatile about what I participated in,” Mattern says.
In addition they taught her to start out taking care of herself, particularly programme lead Jody Cameron.
“That sounds actually primary, however I believe particularly ladies, we don’t do one of the best job at that, we’re all the time placing different folks first. Jody particularly was all the time like ‘go have a nap, you’re okay, you’re rising a human, it’s okay if you happen to miss this one session, we’ll fill you again in on it and also you’ll be higher centered while you come again’,” Mattern remembers.
“That was one thing I by no means would have thought-about doing, taking a second out for myself.”
As soon as Mattern had her child, Cameron was greater than accommodating, providing to fly household to residentials and making certain snug lodging for the household.
“It simply confirmed me how when folks determine it’s value it to help a lady who has kids in an area, it might occur actually simply,” Mattern says.
“It doesn’t should be one or the opposite, and thru having that help after which additionally having the monetary help, I’ve been capable of do quite a bit with my son all through the final 12 months.”
Mattern is determining the best way to steadiness teaching with being a full-time mum, and training within the excessive efficiency house in addition to the event house.
“It’s nonetheless my objective to be closely concerned with the junior facet of issues as a result of I like it and I wish to begin one thing down right here, as a result of there’s nothing in Queenstown actually for juniors, however I simply have to determine the precise timing for myself, and the place I discover the precise time to do it,” she says.
Mattern’s final dream is to go to an Olympic Video games as a coach, and see her athletes on the worldwide scale, and she or he’s grateful to New Zealand for giving her the pathway.
“It has been a very distinctive alternative to be working in triathlon in New Zealand, as a result of clearly New Zealand is a small nation, however triathlon is a small sport,” Mattern says, having the connections to excessive efficiency sport.
“I’m doing every thing that I can to benefit from that and assist Triathlon New Zealand in any means that I can, but additionally develop myself in all of the ways in which I can.
“I’m grateful for being on this place proper now, and having individuals who have supported me and proceed to help me in my skilled improvement and I’m excited to see the place I can take this and hopefully reside out a dream of going to an Olympics.”
*This profile seems in affiliation with Te Korowai – Sports activities Efficiency Coaches New Zealand, the skilled physique for New Zealand’s Efficiency Coaches – www.te-korowai.org.nz
