Author Archive | Liz Hollenbach

This year the BKL Festival was March 2 +3 hosted by Frost Mountain Nordic at Rikert Outdoor Center in Ripton, VT. We were luck to have this event so close to home for a second year in a row (Craftsbury in 2023). Mansfield Nordic Club BKL brought 38 skiers this year. We had kids skiing in the Nordic Adventure, lollipop races all the way up to the Grade 7/8 races. And it was a great combination of skiers participating in their first BKL Fest to others that have raced every single year.

In addition to some super fast racing, weekend highlights included trying out biathlon, skiing the mini marathon, lots of jumping, face glitter, racing through puddles and disappearing snow. We had an awesome MNC tent hang out spot with hot drinks and food.

Thanks to our skiers, families and coaches for fun weekend!

BKL Festival Recap from NENSA
Photos from Josh Hummel
Results
Coach Adam’s Post BKL Fest and Graduates

Grade 7/8 boys spectating under the umbrella

Walking together in the Festival Parade!

Wax techs in training!

The weather has turned very spring like in the last week and it seems the season is wrapping up pretty quick. The Range still has a little snow on the snow making trail. This will be our last week of practice at the Range Tues + Thurs. Penguins will have their last day and Awards on Tuesday. All our other groups will have an Awards Celebration on Thursday from 4-5pm.

Thanks to everyone that rented equipment through MNC this season. If you have MNC season lease ski equipment or a season lease race suit feel free to return at practice this week or keep a little longer if you think you want to ski or race more. All the info and details about return is here.

Tuesday 3/5: Penguins, Jack Rabbits, Arctic Foxes & Racers   *** Practice cancelled ***

The Range has cancelled all skiing today. Check back here for updated plan for Thursday.

Location: The Range
Details: Skate, bring rock skis if you have them. We’ll do some adventure skiing on the Airplane snow making loop.

Classic for Penguins and Award Day, hot chocolate, edible medals and new Penguin BKL pins. This is Penguins last day.

Devos check out the Junior training doc

Thursday 3/7: Penguins, Jack Rabbits, Arctic Foxes, Racers & Devos

*** We are on for Awards Day – Penguins can come too***
Location: The Range from 4pm-5pm
Details: Awards Day for Penguins, Jack Rabbits, Arctic Foxes, Racers + Devos

Wear running shoes or snow boots and we’ll start with a big game. We’ll have Hot Cocoa and do awards at the Walker Building. We have paper plate awards, edible medals and new BKL pins for every skier. (We have a GF edible medals please email if you want one for your child and I’ll make sure their coach gets it to hand out.  bkl@mansfieldnordic.org)

Thanks to everyone that rented equipment from MNC this season.

Race Suit Rental Return:

If you are done racing for the season, please return your washed suit to Coach Liz at practice on 3/5 or 3/7. Please put it in a bag and write your name on the outside so we know who returned the suit.

If you are hoping to race some late season races, please keep your suit and return by March 30th. Email Coach Liz to make a drop-off plan – bkl@mansfieldnordic.org

Ski Equipment Rental Return:

If you are done skiing for the season please return your skis at practice on either 3/5 (penguins) or 3/7 (all other groups). If you can’t make it to practice this week or want to try and ski a few more times this season please return skis by March 30. Email Coach Liz to make a drop-off plan – bkl@mansfieldnordic.org

It’s February vacation week and for those vacationing in Vermont we have a couple fun BKL ski options this week. (We don’t have regular Tues/Thurs BKL during February Break, but practice resumes March 5th.) We’ll do some field trips and both Sleepy Hollow and Craftsbury have snow making, so conditions should be good even if the snow melts in town.

Please RSVP and let coaches know that you are coming (There is a tab for each of these events on the spreadsheet)

Sunday,February 25th 10:45am-1pm- Ski Games Day with the UVM Ski Team at Sleepy Hollow

Everyone is invited. We’ll play games on skis and have fun with the UVM Ski Team.

Meeting Time: 10:45am at the Pavilion at Sleepy Hollow. Eat a big snack before you come and bring a water bottle. If you arrive late get your skis on and meet us up in Molly’s Meadow (this is where the Skiathlon start and finish were a couple weeks ago). Sleepy Hollow Website

Ending Time: We’ll ski until about 12:00pm, then head back to the Pavilion for hot chocolate and snacks. UVM is also going to bring stickers, posters and shwag!!

Technique: We will skate ski. Bring rock skis if you have them. Penguins classic.

Tickets: Everyone needs a Sleepy Hollow ticket or season pass. We’ve organized $5 Sleepy Hollow tickets for this event. Please purchase your ticket inside the lodge when you arrive.

UVM Ski Team and MNC BKL having fun doing a games day at Bolton in 2010!

Wednesday, February 28th 10am- Craftsbury Ski Day
Join us for our traditional MNC BKL ski adventure day at Craftsbury.

This is a family event! Parents are encouraged to ski with us. We’ll have all different abilities and speeds and only a few coaches.  If you have never been to Craftsbury, you are in for a treat! Impeccable grooming and beautiful trails at and it’s very affordable.  Craftsbury Outdoor Center Website

Getting There:  In google maps or your map app, enter: Craftsbury Outdoor Center, Craftsbury Common, VT

Meeting Time: 10:00am in the upper field, just outside the Nordic Center Lodge (bring a water bottle and holder)

Ending Time: It’s a little fluid. We will ski from 10 to about 12, have lunch and then play some games and do some relays, probably ending about 2. You are welcome to stay as long as you want!

Technique: We will skate ski. Penguins classic. And any parents that wants to join, but don’t skate ski, can classic too.

Lunch: Bring lunch! There is also a food option in the Nordic Center. Front Seat Coffee (of Hardwick) has an outpost at Craftsbury and they serve m-f 10-4 with sandwiches, baked goods, drinks and coffee.

Tickets: Everyone who skis needs a day pass or membership. Purchase them online HERE.  It’s $5 for kids and $10 for adults.

Conditions: Craftsbury Trail Conditions

Margo and Daisy give two thumbs up for Craftsbury Ski Day last year!

Tuesday we are going to Classic at Tomasi Meadow for a mid winter ski! Tomasi has great powder snow right now and is groomed. (but the trail from the Underhill Central Parking Lot to Tomasi is a skied in track) Please note that our practice time is 4:00-5:15, to give everyone time to get there.

Tuesday 2/20: Penguins, Jack Rabbits, Arctic Foxes & Racers    4:00-5:15
Location: Tomasi Meadow, Underhill Center
Details: Classic for ALL – Devos can choose to come to Tomasi or go to the Range with the Juniors  (see training doc)

Practice Time: 4:00-5:15pm (hopefully this will give everyone time to get there)

Reminder: There is no inside space at Tomasi or bathrooms (go before heading over)

Penguins Park at the P and all other groups at Underhill Central School (UCS)

Parking: Penguins can park at the lower Tomasi parking lot (P on the map) and meet coaches right at the parking lot. There is space for about a dozen cars, so please park tight or carpool if you can.  To get to Tomasi Lower Lot- coming from the four way stop in Underhill Center go out Pleasant Valley Road, past the Underhill Central School and the Tomasi Lower lot will be on your right about a 1/4 mile past the school.

All other groups please park at Underhill Central School (UCS on the map). We will meet at UCS and ski over with our sub groups. It’s about a 1/3 mile ski from UCS to Tomasi. It will be helpful to have some parents skiing along with sub groups and helping kids cross the road when we get to Tomasi Meadow.

Practice Waxing Info: Clean all the old kick wax off your skis. If you can wax at home that would be good. Conditions will be powder and temps in the mid 20s and will most likely be extra blue or something similar. We’ll have a wax bench setup in the Underhill Central School parking lot.

Thursday 2/22: Jack Rabbits, Arctic Foxes, Racers & Devos
Location: The Range
Details:  Skate

Looking ahead: Let Coaches Know you are Coming
Ski with the UVM Ski Team– Sunday, Feb 25 at Sleepy Hollow. Meet at 10:45am at the Pavilion. Everyone is invited to play games on skis and have fun with the UVM Ski Team. We’ll end with hot chocolate. ($5 Sleepy tickets  for this event)
Craftsbury Ski Day– Wednesday, Feb 28 at 10am. Join us at Craftsbury for our traditional MNC BKL ski adventure.
BKL Festival – March 2 + 3 at Rikert in Ripton, VT. Nordic Adventure and Racing options available. Check out our Fest FAQs post for more info