Author Archive | Liz Hollenbach

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!

There are two good events this coming weekend- Feb 3rd (Sleepy BKL Race and Silver Fox Trot in Hanover) We are planning to go to the Sleepy Hollow BKL Race. It looks like it will be an really fun day and is close to home. Everyone is welcome to come to race or check it the race scene, ski around and cheer on ski friends.

Last Thursday at the end of practice we watched a ski movie called The Cross-Country Experience with Bill Koch. It’s a neat movie- click here to watch it again.

And we just posted a FAQ Blog Post for the BKL Festival to help answer questions. With both the Races and Nordic Adventure there is something for everyone! Check it out here.

Neon Pink and Yellow Sweatshirts are available! We’ve reopened the online MNC Apparel Shop for youth, men’s and women’s clothing. Orders due by February 7th. Order Here

Tuesday: Penguins, Jack Rabbits, Arctic Foxes & Racers
Location: The Range
Details: Skate for JR, AF and Racers – Classic for Penguins – Devos check out the Junior training doc

Thursday: Jack Rabbits, Arctic Foxes, Racers & Devos
Location: The Range
Details:  Classic

Practice Waxing Info: We’re watching the weather for Thursday and will post more info here on Wednesday evening. To start it would be good to clean off any old kick wax you have on your skis.

Saturday– Sleepy Hollow BKL Race      Race Info and Registration

Let us know you are coming to Sleepy and we’ll send out team info before the race

MNC Info for the race at Sleepy Hollow

Sunday– Devos at the Craftsbury Eastern Cup- see coach Kristen’s email with details

Liam and Oakley skied the Craftsbury Marathon 25km option with Kristen and Adam on Saturday!

The BKL Festival is a great way to celebrate the ski season. We are lucky to have the festival so close to home this year. This event is hosted by Frost Mountain Nordic. The weekend is full of skiing adventures, activities, races and fun!! Coaches will be there and we’ll have a MNC tent and hang out area.

March 2 + 3 – BKL Festival at Rikert, Ripton, VT

BKL Fest is Awesome! Check out this blog post from last year to get psyched.

BKL Festival FAQ

 My child loves racing- what are the races like at the BKL Festival?
And we love it when kids race! Everyone is welcome to race at the Fest. There are options from lollipop (preschool) to 8th Grade. The lollipop race is a classic race on Sunday. For all other age groups Saturday is the classic relay race and Sunday is an individual skate race (one racer starts at a time). In general there are lots of kids racing from all over New England, so there is lots of cheering and spectators on course.

Fun ski adventure with a horse drawn wagon ride on the return!

My child isn’t interested in racing- will there still be things to do?
Yes! The BKL Festival is so much more than racing. There are fun skiing (and non-skiing) activities all weekend including Laser Biathlon, Bump Jump, Story Book Ski, Fixit Station, UnTapped Terrain Park, Mini-Marathon, Glitter Station, Mural Painting. Register for the Nordic Adventure category and you can participate in all the activities. Racers also get to do all the activities.

Should I bring my skis  too?
Yes, parents and families can ski too. Being on skis is a great way to get out on the race course, do the Mini-Marathon together and just get around at the event.

Should we stay at home or find a place closer to Ripton?
It’s totally up to you. Ripton is close enough that you can make it a day trip or stay over. There are lodging options in Middlebury and other towns in the area.  Some MNC families will drive from home each day and others will stay over.

What kind of MNC support is at the fest? How can our family get involved?
MNC will have a tent and waxing for racers. We will also plan to make a group home base with a fire pit, chairs and our food tables. As the fest gets closer we’ll organize families to bring food to share.  We also need family support in setting up and taking down our tent, etc each day.  Oh and glitter! We’ll have team glitter for all! The Fest is also a great opportunity to wear any MNC gear that you have.

Getting lined up for the Parade!

Ok, we’re in! How do we sign up?

Registration is on SkiReg.com and once you register you will start getting updates and info from the event organizers. This can be helpful in planning for your weekend.

Where can I find the basic festival information?
It’s all on the New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA) website. There is a full schedule of events and descriptions of the Nordic Adventure activities. Fest Info

Does it matter if we sign up now or later?
You can register any time, but there is a deadline coming up to motivate you. Registration increases by $15 on Feb 10th. A current NENSA Membership is required to register, so do the membership piece first. Click here to join or renew. If your child has never been a NENSA member before, and is only registering for Nordic Adventure, reach out to mackenzie@nensa.net.

What is our club name and what is our New England District?
We are Mansfield Nordic Club and our New England District is NWVT (Northwest VT). It’s nice to have everyone register consistently as Mansfield Nordic Club. Our district includes Frost Mountain Nordic, Mad River Valley BKL, Sleepy Hollow BKL and Mansfield Nordic Club.

We’re going to sign up for Racing- how do relay teams work?
Relay team will be assigned once every one is registered- you don’t have to know your team ahead of time. Our teams are put together by the NWVT District Chair and coaches. Coaches try to make teams with members from our club and sometimes teams are made up of kids from other clubs in NWVT. Each relay at the Fest includes two kids.

If you have more questions please reach out (chances are other families have the same questions) and we can share more info here. Email bkl@mansfieldnordic.org

Races for all!

Thursday Update- We’re on for practice today (see below for full practice plan). Despite the rain last night the snow at the Range will be good for practice. *We need a couple parents to help make hot chocolate today at the end of practice- sign up here and come to the Walker Building at drop off for details.

This week looks like great conditions tomorrow before a little bit of a warmup at the end of the week. We are already noticing the daylight returning at the end of practice! Thursday is hot chocolate day at the end of practice – you can sign up here to help or bring some supplies.

Waxing Clinic at the SkiRack with Jacob Huseby- Tuesday, Jan 23  6-7 pm  More Info

We’ve got a couple wish list items this week:
BKL Photos – We thought it would be fun to have some pictures of BKL in action playing games and skiing. We’re looking for volunteer(s) to take some pictures at practice. Email coach Liz if you are interested in helping. bkl@mansfieldnordic.org
Mtn Bike tubes needed– Do you have a stash of old tubes? We’d love to take them of your hands and use them for fun towing games at BKL practice. If you have a couple bring them to practice and we’ll leave a box out in the Walker Building for them.

MNC eBlast Update– Every Monday/Tuesday MNC sends out a club wide eBlast including info for all programs. The blast goes to the person that registered for MNC membership. If you aren’t getting the E-blasts, but would like to click here to sign up.

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

Tuesday: Penguins, Jack Rabbits, Arctic Foxes, Racers & Devos


Location: The Range

Details: Classic for all groups, We’ll do some classic touring today on all the loops at the range. Don’t forget to bring water. Devos are with BKL on Tuesday this week.

*Penguins- Tuesday is hot chocolate day. Penguins will ski and then go inside for a hot chocolate and a snack a the end of practice.

Practice Waxing Info: Temps in the mid 20s and new snow. It will be in the range of Swix extra blue. If you have waxable classic skis you can wax at home or meet at the wax bench in the Walker Building 10 minutes before practice. If you have wax on your skis from last week you can just add a the wax of the day right on top.

Thursday: Jack Rabbits, Arctic Foxes & Racers

Location: The Range

Details: Skate, All groups will get together for relays at the end of practice followed by hot chocolate. Devos are with Juniors on Thursday this week.

Saturday: Racers Practice is TBD

Saturday: Devos skiing the Craftsbury Marathon 25k Tour with Coach Kristen