Author Archive | Liz Hollenbach

We’re looking forward to a FUN first race of the season tomorrow at Craftsbury. It’s a skate race. Link to race flyer with all the race info.

Please note**** All races will start 15 minutes later than shown below. There are morning biathlon races at Craftsbury and those races need a little extra time.

1:00 PM – Lollipop (Kindergarten/pre-K) ~.5km (classic)

1:15 PM – Grades 1/2 ~1km

1:45 PM – Grades 3/4 ~2km

2:15 PM – Grades 5/6 ~3km

2:45 PM – Grades 7/8 ~4k

Plan to arrive at least an hour before the race. This will give time to pick up your bib and get settled. I will be there to help kids warm up and we have a couple other coaches that will preview the course with age groups.  If you would like to preview the course, meet at the start line 45 minutes before your race.

Race Course: We will have course maps available at registration and everything will be marked with stakes and colored arrows. If  you were at the BKL Fest last year the courses are very similar and go out in the direction of Murphys Field and Duck Pond.

Volunteers: We are still looking to fill a bunch of volunteer jobs – if you are going to be around please volunteer. The most important jobs that still need volunteers are Course Marking Change Over and Start Finish Line Helpers. Sign Up Sheet

Skis: Forecast is for about 30 degrees tomorrow afternoon. Hot Wax with a warm glide wax like TOKO Yellow (you can also add on a couple drips of toko red), then scrape and brush.This makes them faster and glide better.  If you don’t have time, equipment or know-how, don’t worry- It will just be good to get your child out there skiing!

Cookies: I’m bringing cookies and rice krispy treats for the end of the race. Feel free to bring some to add to the cookie table. But I know this is last minute, so don’t worry if you don’t have time.

If you have questions, feel free to shoot me an email or text!

Find your child’s Sub-group & coach info here:  BKL Sub-Groups

Please make note of your child’s coach’s contact info. Let coaches know if your child will be absent. If it is last minute, please text Coach Liz (802-922-1843).

*Remember that groups are not static and we may switch kids if we find they would benefit from being in a different group.

Practice Plans will be posted on Sunday nights or Monday mornings on this site (BKL Schedule).

Please check the website for any last minute changes, especially this time of year or if the weather looks bad. I will post a change by 2 pm the day of.

If you expressed interest in doing a volunteer job at practice- I’m working on it and will send an email.

Practice Plans Dec 5 & 7

It’s our first week of practice. We’ll be at the Range doing games, fun dryland activities, hiking and running. We will meet our groups in front of the Walker Building.

Bring your drivers license to check in at the front gate at the Range as MNC.

Written directions to get to the Range  and Range directions from the MNC Website

Tuesday: Penguins, Jack Rabbits, Arctic Foxes and Racers

Location:  The Range for dryland practice

Gear: wear running shoes or sneakers and dress in layers  (if it’s cold and wet penguins might want to wear boots)

Racers: bring classic or bounding poles (all other groups no poles)

Devos: with the Juniors, check the Junior training plan

Thursday: Jack Rabbits, Arctic Foxes, Racers and Devos

This is a good time to label all the ski equipment with a piece of masking tape and name and show your child how to tell which ones belong to them.

Location: The Range

Jack Rabbits + Arctic Foxes: dryland practice, bring classic ski poles and wear sneakers or winter boots (label ski poles with child’s name)

Racers + Devos: bring skate skis and sneakers and classic or bounding poles (we will have to see if they get any more snow pushed out)

Saturday: Racers Practice 10:00-11:30am at Sleepy Hollow. Classic- bring both waxable and no-wax (if you have them).  It is supposed to warm up on Saturday, so we are anticipating warm hard wax or klister. Coach Kristen will meet the group for waxing under the pavilion (next to the round barn) between 9:50 and 10am.

Sleepy has the 400m snow making loop with Acadia Mania added on.

Upcoming Events

Trying out new ski equipment at Sleepy Hollow.

It is starting to feel like winter and we are looking forward to the start of practices.

BKL Parent Meeting Tuesday, November 28th at 7pm

Our annual Parent Meeting is virtual and everyone is encouraged to join.  In case you missed the meeting here is a link to the presentation.

Sub Groups

Please fill out this form to help place your child in a fitting sub-group. Groups are flexible, but it’s nice to get an idea of your child’s experience before we start. One for each child. Skiers in the Racers and Devos groups don’t need to fill out this form. Link to BKL Sub Groups Form

Start Date

Racers will start with a practice on snow December 2, 10am-11:30am at Craftsbury skate technique.

Devos are also practicing on snow December 2  at Craftsbury with Coach Kristen.

All other groups start on Tuesday, December 5. Location is TBD, depending on snow. Tuesday/Thursday Practices are from 3:45pm-5:15pm

Thanks to everyone that came out to our Fun Fall Fridays this year. Over the past three weeks we have enjoyed exploring Cochran’s Ski Area and Mills Riverside Park. This year our favorite game was Everyone is it Tag. On our weekly trail adventures we ran, hiked, skipped, galloped, practiced ski walking, and ran fast downhill. It was fun to meet new skiers and families and reconnect with winter friends.

Fun with friends at Mills Riverside Park for our third and last Fun Fall Friday.

As we transition from fall to winter flexibility is the name of the game in December. In recent years, there has not been enough snow to ski at the Range until later December. If there is no snow, we will do Dryland activities at Mill Riverside Park in Jericho and possibly Tomasi Meadow in Underhill.

Sub Groups: We are getting close to the start of our BKL program- please fill out this form to help me place your child in a fitting sub-group. One form for each child. Groups are flexible, but it’s nice to get an idea of your child’s experience before we start. Thanks! Link to BKL Sub Groups Form

MNC Apparel for Youth and Adults- Orders due online by November 24th 11:59pm Great for BKL skiers, parents and all MNC Club Members. This order includes sweatshirts, sweatpants, shirts and hats. Some items have fun bright colors. Our goal is to have orders distributed before the December school break. Order Here We are also planning a second order in January, so stay tuned for that.

BKL T-Shirts: We have some exciting news! We are getting MNC t-shirts for all skiers in BKL this year (thanks to a donation by some friends of the program). If you haven’t already please fill out this form and let us know your child’s size.  For your reference this is a link to t-shirt size chart

BKL Parent Meeting Save the Date: Our annual Parent Meeting is Tuesday, November 28th at 7pm. The meeting will be virtual and everyone is encouraged to join. I will send out a link and post on the MNC website (on the  BKL Training Schedule under BKL) after Thanksgiving.

More Info on Ski Equipment : We have a new BKL Equipment 101 page on the MNC website. Lots of information there and links to the BKL Equipment Swap Spreadsheet, Season Lease for no-wax skis/boots/poles and details about the equipment needed for each of our BKL ski groups.