Author Archive | Rosemary Shea-Cobb

Mt. Top Paintball Recap

By Rosemary Shea-Cobb on 30 January, 2019 in BKL Race Blog

Kate takes aim at the Mt. Top Paintball Race

Nine MNC BKL racers made the trip down to Mt. Top in Chittenden, VT for the annual Paintball Biathlon race. This race is always a blast and the folks at Mt. Top do a fantastic job hosting it. It follows a traditional biathlon format: racers ski a loop, stop to shoot five shots at the range, ski another loop, shoot five shots, etc. Your age class determines how many loops you do and how many times you shoot, ranging from the 1-2’s who ski one loop and visit the range once (five shots), to the 7’8’s who ski 3 loops and visit the Range 3 times. Music, an announcer, the “hotdog special”, and a paintball range situated right outside the Nordic Center all help to make this a fun event for racers and spectators alike.

Temps were in the twenties when we arrived, but a fierce wind was blowing and it started snowing just before the race got underway, making shooting conditions a little challenging. The MNC parents were prepared and everyone got their kids to the Range while it was open for rifle practice. There is a lot going on for kids in this race. Not only do they need to learn how to site and shoot the paintball rifles, they also have to decide things like “Should I take off my poles to shoot, or not put my pole straps on at all? Should I actually try to aim and hit the targets or just shoot as quickly as possible?” Everyone needs to figure out what is going to work the best for themselves and make a plan!

Shooting the paintball rifles is a little different than shooting a .22 biathlon rifle. “I aimed and one of my shots hit the roof! When I didn’t really aim, I hit 4 (out of 5)!” said Taylor, one of our biathletes. Taylor actually was the MNC sharpshooter, hitting 8 out of 15 shots. Our biathletes: Liam Vile, Virginia Cobb and Taylor Carlson were all amongst the top shooters in their age classes, so it definitely helps to have some experience with biathlon.

Great job to all our racers!

Kate heading out on course. She was on fire today!

Tessa all bundled up against the wind.

Pippa decided to ski without her pole straps so she didn’t have to spend time getting them on.

Dylan did a great job tucking the downhills today!

Virginia shows how to keep warm while waiting in line for your start.

Taylor skiing the extra loop that made the 7/8 course a longer distance.

BKL Practice: 1/29-2/03/19

By Rosemary Shea-Cobb on 27 January, 2019 in BKL Training Schedule

Tuesday 1/29: SKATE (Penguins: Classic)

Jack Rabbits: Coach Andy is away, Coaches Peter, Emilie and Amanda Repp will lead the show! Count on some fun games, a little agility and lots of skiing!

Arctic Foxes: It’s time to learn some V-2 Alternate and play a game of “Stones”

Racers: Older racers will practice some sprints. Younger racers will work on V-2 alternate. Racers will join the Foxes for “Stones” at the end of practice.

Thursday 1/31: CLASSIC

Bundle up today, it is supposed to be in the single digits! Hats instead of headbands, mittens instead of gloves, buffs, hand warmers and insulated jackets are good ideas!

All groups will keep moving today and we’ll try to get some hot chocolate going inside to help kids warm up when they come in. You can count on some touring, but we may stick to some shorter loops so we don’t get too far from shelter.

Weekend Racing: Craftsbury Marathon 2/2 & 2/3

It’s a crazy weekend of racing for Middle School Racers with the Tour de Chittenden and for Biathletes with the Jericho NorAM. No regular BKL races, but there is the option of doing a BKL 15 km Craftsbury Marathon. Classic on Saturday or Skate on Sunday, your choice. BKL skiers need a chaperone to ski with them. If your child plans to do it, register on SKIREG by 1/30 (Wed). Great post race meal included!

Range Closed 1/24/19

By Rosemary Shea-Cobb on 24 January, 2019 in BKL Training Schedule, Juniors Training Schedule, Masters Training Schedule

Unfortunately, they closed the Range Trails at about 3:00 today- too late for us to get the word out to everyone. Juniors are skiing the fields at MMU, BKL & Masters cancelled. Our sincere apologies to everyone who got turned away at the gate. Frustrating day!

Great Conditions at the Silver Fox Trot!

By Rosemary Shea-Cobb on 20 January, 2019 in BKL Race Blog, Uncategorized

Dylan Torizzo on the course.

It is always a treat to race on the beautiful trails at Rikert Touring Center and this past Saturday was no exception. Conditions were perfect and the course was well marked for both the BKL and Citizens races. It was a bit on the cold side (single digits), but the lack of wind made it very tolerable.

Kate and Ryley show us one of the most important pre-race rituals: getting your face glitter on!

Everyone agreed that the race courses were very challenging. The race was held on Rikert’s homologated course which was made for Division I college races. The uphills are substantial and the downhills are fast with lots of turns. Our MNC skiers definitely rose to the challenge, conquering the uphills and ripping the downhills! Congratulations to Ryley, Astrid, Ripley, Tessa, Kate, Pippa, Niko, Dylan, Gillian, Esther, Julia, Virginia, Mia and Carl who all looked strong and did a great job racing.

Special kudos to Astrid Longstreth and Ripley Boyden (above) who both did their first race for the year- way to go guys!

Congratulations to Kate, Niko and Esther who all won their age class races!

Riley, Kate and Pippa getting ready for the start.

Special “Shout-out” to Pippa who decided that her race goal was to put on a surge up the last hill and sprint to the finish. Holy cow, did she stick it! She was in fifth place at the bottom of the hill, turned on the steam, and finished in third! Way to go girl!

Just before the Citizen’s race, the Ford Sayer Chicken Race got going. Most of us Citizen Skiers had to miss it because we were warming up, but I heard that skiers had to don chicken suits and race to collect eggs- what a hoot!

The MNC Masters had a strong showing in the 10 km Citizen’s Race and may of them proved they could hold their own skiing against the young and the fastest. The race started in one big mass start: U16’s, Seniors, Masters, Women and Men. Coaches Rosemary, Tom Thurston and Emilie Dillar all raced along with MNC Masters Steve Crafts, Mike Millar, Michael Gaughan, Michael Coleman, Andres Torrizo, Joanne Hanowski and Jim Fredericks. Many of the kids stayed to cheer us on and just as we finished, the snow started falling. Results below.

RESULTS

BKL Practice 1/22- 1/27/19

By Rosemary Shea-Cobb on 20 January, 2019 in BKL Training Schedule

Tuesday 1/22: Classic for Everyone

It’s going to be a perfect classic day- cold with lots of powder! Get ready for some fun touring and downhills! If the trail to the alpine hill is groomed, Arctic Foxes and Racers will head there for some downhill practice in the powder.

It looks like the high will be about 11F, so bundle up. I am looking for a parent to monitor the Walker Building so we can send kids inside to warm up. If you can help, email Coach Rosemary.

Wax will be Toko Blue or Swix Green or Blue.

Thursday 1/24: Skate

Hopefully the groomers at the Range will be able to pack out the fields by today and we’ll be able to play some games. Arctic Foxes and Racers may play a game of Stones!

Older Racers skiing up with the Juniors should check the Junior Training Doc to confirm technique for today.

Sunday, 1/ 27: Mt. Top Paintball Race

Racers and anyone who wants to race! This race at the Mt. Top Touring Center is always a blast. See the Event Listing for all the details. Coach Rosemary will be on hand to help kids warm up and get oriented. Registration on Ski Reg is open through Friday. Email Coach Rosemary if your child is going.