I came back from the first-ever Mini Mountain Camp divided between reminiscence and anticipation. And all of it was good, let me be clear about that.
There were so many echoes of what the very first Mountain Camp achieved back in the summer of 2016…you can read into my excitement back then (and see lots of now-funny photos of this team when they were younger) if you take a look at the original Mountain Camp Blog Post. What was so full-circle to me was that, now 5 years into coaching with MNC, we’ve completed an entire cycle of young skiers transitioning from BKL to Junior. The group at Mini Mountain Camp was all skiers who were either not in the club when I first arrived, or who were barely older than the Penguins shuffling around the penalty loop at the Range…meanwhile, the skiers who were the youngest at the first Mountain Camp are visiting colleges or have already graduated high school.
I’m sure any coach who does this for long enough has gone through this same cycle, but for me it was a first. Hard not to get a little emotional, that’s for sure. But also hard not to be inspired. Just to illustrate how much the culture of training and challenge has grown in this club, what we refer to as “Mini Mountain Camp” is actually the same duration and almost a mirror of the same workouts as the original, full “Mountain Camp” when it first started. What once was the peak is now just base camp…
We started the camp off with an classic ski session. First it was all about a good warmup off the skis, with a jog and introduction to the mechanics we do with the Juniors on a regular basis. Then we put skis on, for some the first or second time on classic rollerskis every. This was all about progression though…first with some drills and then agility practice in the Kennett HS parking lot.
First start slow, then add challenge, then add speed AND competitors head-to-head
The agility and skills was all a build-up to testing our road safety and awareness. Coach Dith led everyone out on a bigger road and back for the finale of the day
On Friday we started with a staple of the Mountain Camp schedule, which avid readers have heard about for years now: the Kancamagus Rollerski. The group pushed across the long flat and gradual stretches before heading up toward the summit. It was a big day: for many the longest rollerski yet, and for everyone a unique challenge. There were some who pushed themselves more than ever before and really reached a new level of engagement with self-determination and that’s about the best thing you can ask for with a workout like this.
After the ski, we pulled over for gas and sought out a place to really CHILL with some help from the Cumby’s Chill Zone. Turns out most skiers are fans of a sugary slushie after a hot workout no matter how old or young they are…
That afternoon we headed to Attitash, the ski area down the road, for a little bounding action. When I say “a little” bounding, I mean one of the toughest mental and physical workouts! Lots of sprints and short hard efforts with poles, again and again. With coach getting fired-up and attempting to help spur some deep digging into the pain cave. Oh, it was also about 95 degrees out! A good workout, and temperature, to remember this winter when racing hard in the cold and snowy ski races.
The heat index was only climbing the next day, when we were slated to take on Mt Washington. Thankfully, getting up at 6 and reaching 6,000ft before 10am meant we were actually putting some layers on at the top. We enjoyed a nice lunch at the top with good views and even some hotdogs…because when there’s a road and a train and a snackbar at the top of a mountain, why not?
Tuckerman’s Ravine clinging to the last snow in the East!
PUGTAGONIA
The final day…tired bodies, sore legs, and heat that just wouldn’t quit. Instead of another hike or run, we decided to put all the pieces of our rollerski progression together. We held the first ever Mini Mountain Camp Sprint Race! Everyone raced a qualifier, but heats were randomized and everyone raced a quarter and semifinal in groups of three. Then for the final, we went MASS START.
The course was once again in the local high school parking lot. This was perfect…the school sits on it’s own road, and at 9am on a Sunday we saw zero interaction with cars. Woohoo! It was like the Range, but even more flat and open space for agility elements like tight turns and swoops. Super proud of how everyone gave it their all despite the big training load.
Serious sprint action!
Again, I am just super impressed with how organized, timely, polite, and hard-working this group was. This isn’t just the future of MNC skiing…this is the NOW!
Mini Mtn Camp Flickr Photo Album
This trip wouldn’t have happened without the NEW MNC VAN
If you couldn’t tell, we are fans of BLIZ sunglasses…to get 30% off Bliz glasses visit www.enjoywinter.com and use the promo code “MNC1920“!
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