Wow, what a great day for a ski race! Thanks to Sleepy Hollow, Skirack, Toko, Rossignol, and all our volunteers and racers.
You can find results below. This post will either be updated/retitled, OR you will see a new post forthcoming with photos as well!
Wow, we have SNOW and things are looking awesome for the Skiathlon on Sunday. This is a classic race, followed by a skate race, all together (switching skis in the “exchange zone” in the stadium). It can be overwhelming, but the weather looks stable and perfect for nice classic skiing and smooth skating.
Be sure to start with clean skis: that means glide zones, too! Make sure to use a dedicated glide zone cleaner (not to be confused with a more potent chemical kick wax cleaner).
With bases all cleaned, a great paraffin layer would be Toko Red, Swix 7, Rode R30/40, or any other simple mid-range glide wax. If using a Toko or Swix spray, put this on the night before and let it sit until race morning, then scrub with a nylon brush.
For kickwax, it looks to be hardwax in the purple/red range. Start with a hardwax binder like Toko Base Green ironed in, and then feel free to stop by the MNC bench for help with the wax of the day…coaches will be testing and helping application.
See you at the race!
Thursday 1PM Update: Practice is on, but it is snowy out there, so please feel free to stay home if you come from farther away and don’t want to venture out. The trails are getting groomed just before practice and the Thursday plan below for more details.
Tuesday Update: Practice is on and we will classic ski in the powder. It’s snowy out there, so if you come from farther away or don’t feel like venturing out in the weather please feel free to stay home. At home you can get out in your yard for a ski, go sledding or play in the snow.
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. On Thursday we’ll practice with skate boots and both skate and classic skis and poles.
It looks chilly and snowy this week – To stay warm wear warm layers, use hand warmers and eat a big snack before practice.
Tuesday 1/7: Penguins, Jack Rabbits, Arctic Foxes & Racers
Location: Tomasi Meadow
Details: Classic for ALL – Racers are practicing at Sleepy with Peter Davis. Devos are also at Sleepy with Coach Kristen – check the juniors training doc for technique.
Practice Waxing Info: If you raced this past weekend at the Bogburn it would be good to use a putty knife and some wax remover to clean-off our kick zone before putting on some new kick wax. Forecast is for mid teens and something like Swix Blue, Swix VR 40/45, Toko Red should work well. We’ll have the wax bench setup on the side of the parking lot near the trailhead. Please come a few minutes early if you need wax.
Parking: The Tomasi lot on Mountain Rd. Please park tight, so there is space for everyone. Please don’t park on Pinnacle Ridge (it’s a private driveway). Underhill Central School is an overflow parking location.
Reminder: There is no inside space or bathrooms (go before heading over). Wear a headlamp!
Thursday 1/9: JackRabbits, Arctic Foxes, Racers & Devos
Location: Tomasi
Details: Skate for some and Skiathlon Practice for kids signed up to race this weekend.
Skiathlon Practice for Racers, Devos, Jack Rabbit Red Group and any Arctic Fox or Jack Rabbit in Grades 3 or 4 that are 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 is practicing Skiathlon.
Parking: The Tomasi lot on Mountain Rd. Please park tight, so there is space for everyone. Please don’t park on Pinnacle Ridge (it’s a private driveway). Underhill Central School is an overflow parking location.
Reminder: There is no inside space or bathrooms (go before heading over). Wear a headlamp.
Sunday 1/12: Skiathlon at Sleepy Hollow
Online registration closes Saturday 1/11 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
We do need some parents to Make Cookies for Finish Line Prizes and help feed hungry racers Bring Something for our Team Snack Table
MNC Team Info will be updated here on Thursday and will also be email it to everyone on our Racer Sign Up List.
The end of one year/start of a new year is often thought of as a time for family, friends, and gathering away from sport. Unless you’re a nordic skier or biathlete, that is. For those groups, the holidays signal “trials season” where athlete from across the country gather to race for spots on championship teams like World Juniors, U18 Scandinavian Cup, Junior IBU Cup, and more.
As MNC has grown, more and more of our athletes have made long journeys over this timeframe. Not to mention all of our alumni competing for various colleges and post-grad programs that also continue to race.
Biathlon trials took place in Soldier Hollow, UT where Seven Bowen earned the chance to compete in Poland and Germany this January in the IBU Junior Cup! She’ll do 6 races in 11 days, and travels out across the ocean in a short week’s time. Pat Frazier also competed for the Pugs out in Utah, where familiar faces like Taylor Carlson and Virginia Cobb were also making waves!
Right after biathlon trials ended, US Nationals began in Anchorage, AK. If you’ve ever been to Alaska, you likely haven’t forgotten it…if only for the immense amount of travel required to get there. Can you believe that Alaska and Florida both exist in the same country? It’s actually a bit wild to think about.
Anyway, MNC is represented on this trip by Jonah Gorman and Emma Crum. Emma is an MNC alum who currently races for Bowdoin, but as that team is not making the journey, we were happy to take Emma under our wing (paw?) for the races. We also teamed-up with Ford Sayre for the second year in a row, making a New England powerhouse squad!
Before the racing started, we dove a ways outside of the city to Hatcher Pass for what was, personally speaking, the best Nordic skiing experience of my life! Bright sun, tons of snow, an epic mountain pass with the sun rising between the peaks to bathe us in golden light, and Pisten Bully-groomed trails through an abandoned turn-of-the century mining ghost town…it was mind-blowing.
Naturally, we actually classic skied for about 20 minutes, and then spent over an hour blasting through powder, whooping with joy, and filming it all:
And then we eventually did have to start racing…a lot! Jonah made the Junior rounds in the classic sprint, which is an awesome accomplishment for a first-year U18. And with one race to go Emma Crum is in contention for U23 World Championships! Ford Sayre athlete Annie Hanna qualified for the U18 Scandinavian Cup, and everyone on the trip has at least a race or two they felt really good about.
Back home, there was great local racing at the Bogburn, and soon all of our Juniors will turn their attention to the second Eastern Cup in Lake Placid, NY!
Jonah and Taylor (who is doing a PG year at Sun Valley)
MNC alums Emma (Bowdoin) and Ava (Dartmouth) both kicking butt!
Brooke Greenberg, who moved to Utah when her dad became the new boss of Salomon USA…but is still a Pug at heart!
January Mansfield Nordic BKL Events- Starting this weekend
Hi BKL Families-
To celebrate what looks like the return of winter, I wanted to let you know about some upcoming weekend events. This weekend is our annual Skiathlon Race at Sleepy Hollow. It’s a fun team event and everyone is welcome!
Thanks to support from a couple families in our program we have custom neck gaiters for all our skiers! Coaches started handing them out last week and we hope to hand out the rest this week. They are perfect for cross country skiers.
BKL Beginner Waxing Clinics and Open Waxing Time – Sat, Jan 11 and Sat, Jan 18 from 2-3:30pm
Location: MNCC in Jonesville
We’ll start with a short beginner waxing clinic followed by some open time where you can wax your own skis. Bring your own wax and tools or use ours. Coaches and volunteers will be around to answer questions and help with waxing. Suggested for kids grade 4-8 and their parents. The waxing clinic is open to all BKL Families, but there is limited space for the open waxing time at the end. Sign Up Here
Backcountry Film Festival – Saturday, January 11
Our friends at the Underhill Recreation Committee are hosting a movie night at the Underhill Town Hall. See their Facebook Page for more info and tickets.
MNC Skiathlon Race at Sleepy Hollow – Sunday, January 12
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.
The day starts with adult racing from 10-11:00 am followed by BKL racing from 11:45am-1:15pm. It’s classic skiing only for Lollipop and Grade 1/2. Then Grade 3/4, 5/6 + 7/8 all race the Skiathlon, which starts with a classic loop and skiers change equipment midrace and finish with a skate loop. More Info/Registration (online closes 1/11 at 5pm and there is registration on the day of the event)
We will have a team waxing setup and coaches skiing the course with small groups to explain how the race works. We’ll also practice the Skiathlon equipment transition this Thursday at practice for anyone that is planning to race.
Most of the event volunteer jobs are filled, but we could use a little help for BKL.
Make Cookies for Finish Line Prizes or Bring Something for our Team Snack Table
SkiRack Ski Swap and Winter Sale- Gear intake Jan 8-10 and the Swap Jan 11
This weekend is also the SkiRack Swap and Winter Sale. More Info
Sleepy Hollow BKL Race – February 2
Mark your calendars for this fun event. The event includes kids races, speed runs and a ski tour. More info coming soon.
If you want to look ahead to more events this winter please check out the MNC BKL Weekend Race and Event Schedule
Lollipop racers on the start line
Click through to check snow conditions at Tomasi Meadow (Underhill) and the Range (Jericho). These conditions are submitted by on-the-ground reports and are as current as possible. Read More about “Snow Conditions”…
Join us on Sunday, December 15th at Craftsbury for our Masters Mini Camp. We’ll work on both skate and classic, gather for lunch, and review video and talk technique! Read More about “Masters Mini Camp @ Craftsbury”…
Masters athletes…are you looking to build strength and train with friends and teammates? Join us at the Mansfield Nordic Community Center on Wednesday nights! Read More about “Masters Strength @ The MNCC”…