For the past four years, thousands of fans have cheered alongside Thunder, the University of Victoria’s (UVic) beloved mascot, without ever knowing the person inside the suit.
At the centre of it all was education student Elena Mairs, rallying crowds, performing the splits and high-fiving kids as she moved through packed crowds as a familiar yet anonymous presence. Operating inside the costume gave her the freedom to perform without hesitation, but it also taught her to read a room, connect with people, and create a sense of community—one that would become a central part of her university experience.
Now, as she prepares to step into a classroom of her own, those same instincts are shaping the kind of teacher she is becoming.
Mairs has wanted to become a teacher since preschool—a path shaped in part by her grandmother, who founded a school in Mexico more than 50 years ago, and her mother, who is also a teacher. Born in Mexico and raised in Victoria, Mairs says education has always been important to her family and teaching has always been the goal. But even with a clear career direction, she spent her years at UVic learning what kind of teacher she might become.
A lifelong dancer, Mairs grew up in studios long before she entered a lecture hall. She trained in a wide range of styles including jazz, ballet, Ukrainian dance and more, and began teaching dance in Grade 12, something she continues to this day. That experience has shaped how she moves through the world.
It also made performing second nature.
Becoming UVic’s mascot Thunder
Her mascot journey began at Royal Oak Middle School, when she put on an eagle costume for an event and unintentionally became the school mascot. At Claremont Secondary, she stepped into the role again—this time as the Spartans mascot—whenever student council needed someone willing to suit up. She did, without hesitation, adding school games, events and even lighthearted appearances like Pizza Fridays to a growing list.
By the time she arrived at UVic, stepping into Thunder felt like the obvious next move.
On her first day at UVic during orientation, Mairs remembers joking with friends that she had been the mascot at every school and “needed to keep the streak alive.” That same day, she walked up to the Vikes Nation tent and asked how she could become Thunder.
Her first assignment came the following weekend at a children’s birthday party. It was an informal trial run that turned into something more. Mairs connected easily with the kids, improvising and entertaining, and was invited back for the full year as a volunteer before the role later became a paid work-study position.
It was such a great way to meet people and introduce myself to campus. To get my friends out to games and events on campus—it really became my community.”
—Elena Mairs, UVic Education student and mascot Thunder
That sense of community quickly became the heart of the experience. Over four years, Mairs became a consistent presence at Vikes games and campus events, helping energize crowds with her trending dance routines and social media presence. One of her most memorable moments came during the Canada West men’s basketball championship game, when the atmosphere inside the gym shifted in a way she hadn’t experienced before.
“It was so electric,” she says. “There was so much energy in the stadium, and the fans were going crazy. As someone who wasn’t previously a big sports fan, I was like—wow. I get it now.”
The role also came with what she refers to as “core memories.” At Thunderfest, she performed the viral Dallas Cowboys cheer routine in front of thousands of screaming fans. She also recalls the less graceful moments just as clearly, including one trip-and-fall in front of a packed crowd that has stayed with her for all the wrong reasons.
Greater Victoria community building at its core
Beyond game nights, she also represented Thunder at community events such as the TC10K kids run, campus food drives, birthday parties, and appearances with other local sports teams. Those moments, she says, reinforced the broader purpose of the role.
Thunder means a lot to a lot of people. Not just kids but students, fans, everyone. It’s about making people feel part of something.”
—Elena Mairs, UVic education student and mascot Thunder
That sense of inclusion is something she now recognizes as central to her time at UVic and her future career. Currently working as a substitute teacher in Victoria, Mairs is preparing to move abroad next year to teach in Bristol, England, after learning about the opportunity through a UVic career fair.
Looking back, she says Vikes Nation played a significant role in shaping her university experience, offering a close-knit community within a large campus.
“It really helped make campus feel smaller,” says Mairs.
As Thunder continues on with a new student stepping into the suit, Mairs leaves behind a role that has existed at UVic for decades, but one she helped shape during her four years on the sidelines.
