Author Archive | Liz Hollenbach

Photos- Shared by BKL Families | Results and More Photos

The Mansfield Nordic Club Skiathlon is a full day of racing with adult races in the morning and BKL races in the afternoon. Last Monday the event organizers began to wonder what would happen, “would there be any snow left?” and “will anyone register for the race?”. There was enough snow and in the end we had Thirty Nine (39!!!) Mansfield Nordic Club kids. Many tried ski racing for the first time! The warm weather and short courses made it a great day for spectating. Many stayed to cheer on friends, family and teammates. Once again our friends at Sleepy Hollow did a great job making sure we had courses to ski.

The afternoon races started off with the lollipop classic race led out by former MNC Penguin coach Hanna Holm in her trademark cow in pink tutu costume. It was all smiles on the start line for Claire Dolbec, Johannes Hollenbach, Tanner Magnan, Nathaniel Schroeter and Daisy Tremble. After racing a Molly’s Meadow loop they were rewarded with a lollipop and cookie at the finish line.

Lollipop racers on the start line

The Grade 1/2 race was packed with MNC kids! Margo Dillon, Nora Johnson and Ophelia Popkin were joined by Rory Dolbec, Will Hogan, Ollie Laber and Nathaniel Schroeter. Their 1km classic race went out Acadia Mania and around Potato Farmer before finishing through the fun park. Great skiing everyone!

Grade 1/2 – And they’re off!

The last three categories of the day skied the Skiathlon, starting with classic and changing to skate mid race. We practiced our classic to skate ski changes at practice this week and everyone was ready!

After previewing the course and getting skis setup in the equipment transition zone, Grade 3/4 racers headed to the start line. Our 3/4 contingent included Rowan Crawford, Mazzy Merritt, Maeve Popkin, Lillian Rockwell, Rory Dillon, Charlie Goossen, George Hogan, Guy Sonderegger and Oliver Tremble. Everyone skied great on a challenging course that included 1km classic, followed by 1km skate on Acadia Mania and Potato Farmer.

It was a full start line for grade 3/4 girls and boys

Maeve and Rowan working together on their last lap

The Grade 5/6 race was a 1.5km classic followed by a 1.5km skate (each technique was 2x.75km). The boys started first and Luke Cichanowski, Henry Kelsey, Finn Laber and Gabriel Schroeter spread out across the start line. The girls started next, Georgia Carroll and Kaisa Weaver lined up next to each other. The short loops with lots of racers meant there was lots of back and forth on course and a busy equipment transition zone.

Georgia and Kaisa fast off the start line

With the most Mansfield Nordic starters of any race, the Grade 7/8 boys included Parker Bartsch, Isaiah Bowen, Logan Cichanowski, Oakley Crawford, Liam Dailey, Ansel Sprague and Silas Weaver. It was a mix of kids that race all the time and others that focus on the Skiathlon each year. The girls’ started shortly after and were strong off the line.  Gretta Carroll, Linnea Dailey, Mia Gorman and Fiona Repp each skied hard all the way to the finish. Grade 7/8 skier, Emma Connell, raced earlier in the morning in the Try It 5km.

Logan coming out of the ski exchange zone

It was busy out on the race course – Silas, Mia and Oakley racing together for a moment

Thanks to all the MNC racers and families that came to Sleepy Hollow for the Skiathlon. It was great racing and lots of FUN! We also want to thank everyone that came out to volunteer and make cookies for BKL Prizes.

MNC Families – Thanks for all the cheering!

It’s MNC Skiathlon week! This is our “home” ski race for all ages and proceeds go to support the MNC scholarship fund. Everyone is invited to race or come cheer and check out the scene (details and registration link below). At practice this week kids that are planning to race will do some skiathlon practice. Tuesday we will practice with just our classic equipment and Thursday we’ll practice with skate boots and both skate and classic skis and poles.

BKL Fest Volunteering: Our friends at Frost Mountain Nordic have asked us to spread the word that they are looking for some more volunteers for the NENSA BKL Festival (March 2+3). Please check it out and sign up for a spot if you are available.  Frost Mountain Nordic: Bill Koch League Festival at Rikert (signupgenius.com)

Bring a Water Bottle! This time of year we start to do more trail skis at practice- everyone is working hard and getting thirsty. If you have some type of little waist pack, water bottle holder or camel back at home it would be a great to bring it to practice to carry water while skiing. These don’t have to be fancy, just secure around the waist and hold a bottle. You can also bring a full water bottle and leave it at the edge of the trail near the metal fence below the Walker Building. Coaches have been working on stopping for water breaks along the way. Reminder: the water in the Walker Building is not potable. We are also working on collecting some hand me down water bottle holders. Let us know if  your child would like one bkl@mansfieldnordic.org.

Last couple days to order Neon Pink and Yellow Sweatshirts! We’ve reopened the online MNC Apparel Shop for youth, men’s and women’s clothing. Orders due by February 7th at midnight. Order Here

BKL Sub-Groups | Parent Volunteer signup sheet | BKL Season Long Schedule

Tuesday 2/6: Penguins, Jack Rabbits, Arctic Foxes & Racers
Location: The Range
Details: Classic for ALL – Devos check out the Junior training doc

Practice Waxing Info: If you raced this past weekend at Sleepy you can ski on your race wax one more time. Forecast is for mid 20s and it may be something like violet klister.  You could also try a warm hard wax like Toko Yellow. We’ll have the wax bench setup inside the Walker Building and will have wax available.

Racers, Liz’s Jack Rabbit Group and any child doing the Skiathlon: we will practice some ski changes in just classic equipment today.

If there are any Arctic Foxes or Grade 3/4 Jack Rabbits (1/2 Racers do a classic loop only) interested in racing the Skiathlon, bring classic equipment and join Racers and Liz’s Group for Skiathlon practice. Let your coach know and they will help connect you.

Thursday 2/8: Jack Rabbits, Arctic Foxes, Racers & Devos
Location: The Range
Details:  Skate

Racers, Devos, Liz’s Jack Rabbit Group and any Arctic Fox or Grade 3/4 Jack Rabbit doing the Skiathlon: Wear the boots you use for skating and bring both Skate & Classic Equipment for Skiathlon Practice. Let your coach know and they will help connect you with a group that’s practicing Skiathlon.

Saturday 2/10: Skiathlon at Sleepy Hollow
Online registration closes Fri 2/9 at 5pm (BKL $12 and lollipop free)
Day of race registration is also available (BKL $20 and lollipop free)
Let coaches know you are coming: Racer Sign Up List
If you are coming to Sleepy help make cookies for BKL Prizes: Sign Up to Bring Cookies

MNC Team Info and We’ll also email it to families on the Racer Sign Up List.

Looking ahead: Next week we are planning to do the Mini-Marathon (the exact day is TBD and will be based on weather and conditions). At the Mini-Marathon we all ski on the 1km loop and kids can ski at their own pace with friends and coaches. We need some parent volunteers to bring snacks, help at the snack table and count laps.  Mini-Marathon Sign Up

Race Report – Sleepy Hollow BKL Race 2024
Saturday, February 3

Photos | Results

A steady stream of racers and families started arriving at Sleepy Hollow around 9am on Saturday morning for the Sleepy Hollow BKL Race and FUN! Everyone stopped inside the round barn for registration and emerged wearing the green bibs of Sleepy Hollow. Coaches leaned into the wax benches working to apply klister and greet MNC kids as they arrived.

Sleepy Hollow BKL did a great job pulling off an event that included several skiing activities. The first was Fun Park Speed Runs and it was a huge hit! Each run was timed and skiers could attempt it multiple times. The Fun Park Course included some huge snow making rollers, a very steep descent followed by a 270 degree turn into a tight tunnel. The final feature was skiers choice- over or under the picnic table. The second event was a self guided ski tour loop on Lower Saddle and Liberty Meadow trails with snacks and BKL trivia along the way.

The final one was the main racing event, a classic ski race for skiers from lollipop to Grade 7/8. All the races used the same 1km course, which started in Molly’s Meadow and went straight out the long climb of Potato Farmer before turning the corner at the top of the hill and heading back down to Acadia Mania and returning to the finish line (or lap) in Molly’s Meadow.

The races started off with the lollipop race. Grant Gillan and Daisy Tremble both skied the classic race on Acadia Mania trail and were rewarded with a lollipop and cookie at the finish line.

Grant and Daisy on the start line.

Ollie Laber, Bodhi White, Ronin White and Nora Johnson raced in the Grade 1/2 classic race. Ollie, Bodhi and Ronin raced neck and neck all the way to the finish line. Nora showed her mom what BKL racing is all about!

Ronin, Ollie and Bodhi skiing hard up the last hill.

Bella Altadonna, Mazzy Merritt, Oliver Tremble and Rory Dillon all started within a minute of each other in the Grade 3/4 classic race and got to see each other out on course. Their course did two laps around the 1km loop and they all had fun sharing stories of the race at the finish line. Oliver and Rory finished 1st and 2nd in the boys race and Mazzy and Bella finished 1st and 2nd in the girls race.

Bella and Mazzy on the start line.

Charlie Sterner and Finn Laber raced the 3km Grade 5/6 race. Both Charlie and Finn skied great races. They each skied hard the whole way and right through the finish line to take 1st and 3rd place.

Charlie and Finn getting a few words of encouragement from Coach Nancy on the start line.

At the last moment the race director decided to start the Grade 7/8 boys and girls together (instead of 1 minute apart), so Ansel Sprague and Fiona Repp lined up with a handful of other skiers for the tricky and fast start. Ansel skied a strong 4km race and was happy with his finish. Fiona skied great and worked her way past other racers the whole way.

Ansel showing his BKL Race Ribbon

Fiona cruising along with some powerful double pole.

Thanks to all the MNC racers and families that came to Sleepy Hollow. It was great racing and lots of FUN!