Liz Hollenbach | Mansfield Nordic Club

Welcome Letter to BKL Families

By Liz Hollenbach on 15 October, 2023 in BKL Jackrabbits, BKL Race Blog, BKL Training Schedule

Hi BKL Families,

I wanted to take a minute to say hello and introduce myself as the new BKL Head Coach. Over the past couple years I’ve been coaching first with Penguins, then Jack Rabbits. Coach Rosemary stepped down from BKL last spring and is working with MNC Masters and Juniors this winter. Read more about our new MNC Coaches here.

I hope you had a great summer and a good start to the school year! In preparation for the ski season, I have a few updates to share. It’s also a great time to start reading MNC E-blast, so you don’t miss out on any important info.

BKL Winter Registration Opens Monday, October 16th!
You can check out all the programs on the BKL Winter page of the website. Once registration opens the links will be updated on the registration page.

Registration is a two step process- first you need to renew your MNC membership and get a membership number, then register for programs using the membership number. If you don’t see your membership confirmation, check in your junk folder.

Skiing at the Range this Winter
We are planning to primarily use The Range, Jericho and Tomasi Meadow, Underhill for BKL practice this year. You might have heard that The Range was scheduled to be closed for construction projects around the ski trails, but last week we received an update that they will allow training this winter.

BKL and Adult Puffy/Parka Jackets
We are doing an order of puffy jackets for both children and adults. Order your own jackets online and we will bring them all to get embroidered with the MNC logo. We have found a couple different jacket options. Details and links for ordering can be found HERE.

Order your jacket now, then drop it off with Adam or Liz at the MNC Ski Swap or the first Fall Friday and we will bring them all for embroidering.

MNC SKI SWAP
Sell your old gear and/or buy some new gear!
Gear Drop Off: Saturday October 28 4-6pm
Sale: Sunday, October 29 12-5pm. First hour is MNC families only! (Public: 1-5pm)
Location: Community Center of Jericho, 239 Browns Trace, Jericho, VT
Info and details: MNC SKI SWAP

-We will have a rental station set up to rent the MNC no-wax classic ski sets (skis, boots, poles). These are best for Penguins and younger Jack Rabbits.
-Volunteers will be on hand to help you fit ski swap gear.

The swap is all volunteer run and fundraisers for the club. Please consider volunteering. Volunteer Signup

Important equipment information and how to decide if equipment from last year still fits. BKL Ski Equipment 101

BKL Fun Fall Fridays
We had a lot of fun on Friday’s last year, so we are going to have a few this year too. Look for a post on the BKL Weekly Training Schedule with more info as they get closer.

We’ll play games, hike, do some dryland ski exercise and get outside for some exercise. It’s a great chance to meet coaches, other skiers and parents. These days are for parents and kids and everyone is encouraged to join the groups!

November 3 at Cochran’s in Richmond
November 10 at Mills Riverside Park, Rte. 15, Jericho
November 17 location is TBD

Time: 3:45 to 4:45. Bring your headlamp!
Fun Fall Fridays are FREE!

Feel free to email me if you have any questions. I am happy to help!

Sincerely,

Liz Hollenbach
Mansfield Nordic Club
BKL Coach
bkl@mansfieldnordic.org

BKL Ski Equipment 101 and Getting Ready for the Gear Swap

By Liz Hollenbach on 13 October, 2023 in BKL Jackrabbits, BKL Training Schedule

October is a great time to pull out ski equipment and see what fits and what new equipment is needed for the upcoming season. Pull out all the ski gear and size it all up, then make a list and pile of what you have to sell and a list of exactly what you need (for example: classic waxable skis size 120 or classic boots size 34). Before you start below to see what equipment is needed for each program.

Don’t forget to bring all your outgrown and unused gear to the MNC Gear Swap. Let’s clean out the basement gear stash, raise some money for our scholarship fund and keep our ski equipment in the community. Still have questions about equipment? Feel free to reach out with any questions to bkl@mansfieldnordic.org.

What does my Child Need for Equipment?

It depends on which program you are planning to register them for. (You can find complete Program Descriptions HERE.)

Penguins 1-Day: Pre-K to 1st Grade:

Equipment needed: No-wax classic skis, boots, and poles. THESE ARE ALL AVAILABLE TO RENT THROUGH THE CLUB at our Ski Swap (October 29), or if you miss that, through the MNC REGISTRATION PAGE with an alternate pick-up.

Jack Rabbits 2-Day: Grades 1-4

Equipment needed: Classic no-wax or waxable skis, classic length poles, skate skis, skate length poles and combi boots.

Arctic Foxes 2-Day: Grades 5-8

Equipment needed: Classic no-wax or waxable skis, classic length poles, skate skis, skate length poles and combi boots.

Racing Team 3-Day: Grades 5-8

Equipment needed: Classic waxable skis, classic length poles, skate skis, skate length poles and combi boots.

How Do I Know If My Child’s Equipment Still Fits?

We have found that typically for BKL kids skis last 1-2 years, and then they are too short or soft. For ski boots and poles most kids need bigger and longer ones every year.

As kids grow they will have a better ski experience if they are using equipment that fits them correctly. Ski equipment can be expensive, but kids don’t need all the newest gear. The most important part is finding gear that is the correct size and can grow with your child through the season.

Boots:

Have your child put on a ski sock (a heavy, synthetic or wool hiking type of sock) to try on boots. They should fit like sneakers. A little room to grow is good- it’s October now and we’ll be skiing into March! Nordic Ski boots are usually sized in EU sizes.

Boots come in combi (ok for both classic and skate skiing), classic and skate.

Skis:

Ideally, you fit skis by weight and height of the skier. Skis are measured and sized in centimeters.

Keep in mind that if waxless skis are too short for your skier the flex will most likely be too soft and they will be really slow even if the skier is working hard and skiing well.

To measure ski length: Have your child stand with sneakers or ski boots on and put the tail of the ski on the floor and the top of the ski near the child’s head.

HERE is a chart by Fischer that will give you a good idea of what length of ski your child should be skiing on. Look for the Junior Nordic chart at the bottom of the third page.

Classic: The general rule is that no-wax skis should come to the top of the head. Waxable classic skis should be 10-15cm over head height.

Skate: Skate skis should come to the top of the head and are also sized by weight. There are usually a couple of different length options for a specified skier weight. If your skier is a beginner, go for the shorter option. If your skier is more advanced go for the longer option.

Poles:

Classic: Standing in shoes on a floor you want classic poles to reach all the way up to the top of the shoulder or just under it. Once in ski boots on skis and snow, those poles will reach just under the armpit. The exception is young beginners. It’s OK for them to have poles that are shorter- sometimes it’s just easier for them to learn if there is less pole there.

Skate: In shoes on a floor, skate poles should reach up to the skier’s upper lip or nose. Once on snow, they will be at upper or lower lip level.

When looking at poles make sure skiers can get the straps on and off wearing their ski gloves/mittens. If the strap is too complicated it might not be the right choice.

Err on the longer side with poles if you are getting them in October or November! Kids sometimes outgrow their poles by mid-February!

Looking to lease equipment for the year?

MNC offers lease equipment (boots, poles, and no-wax skis) for young skiers! This equipment is best suited (and sized) for skiers in the Penguin and Jackrabbit programs.

You can check out our lease info/payment form below. If you lease skis before the MNC Ski and Gear Swap, you can pick them up on-site at that event, and get any fit adjustments you may need (such as boots) in-person!

BKL Ski/Gear Lease 23/24