There is a 100% chance of rain forecasted with gusty winds between 3 and 6 pm today so we will cancel BKL practice today. A good day to make cookies for the Skiathlon or treats for our Valentine’s Mini-marathon on Tuesday.
Eastern Cup 3: Waterville One-Day
It was a compressed weekend for Eastern Cup #3, with 8 races stacked into a single day. Saturday’s brutal cold temps meant no racing could take place, so each age group’s respective mass start classic and skate races were all happening on Sunday. That meant a LOT of ski prep and racer prep…nothing like racing a mass start in one technique, taking a little break, and then getting revved-up to do it all again in a new technique!
The snow conditions were great, and a big 5- or 7.5km loop was used for each race. It was a chilly start to the day, but the sun was out and quickly warming things up.
Mass starts are generally chaotic for more than a few skiers. We had everything from trips to the ditches, to bindings blasted open and skis flying away from boots, to broken poles (sometimes more than one in a single race). The MNC crew held strong though, and the great thing about having two races in a day is that there’s always time for redemption if one race goes awry, or a good one to look back on if the second doesn’t go your way!
Elsa had an awesome skate race, making passes all the way to the line!
Farmer getting forward and powerful
Virginia put the biathlon rifle down to demonstrate her speedy striding
Jonah knows how to “hit those angles” as Devon Kershaw says when referring to technique!
This was an important Eastern Cup for a number of reasons, but chief among them because I (Adam) was not present. I have been at every Eastern Cup race since the 2015/2016 season, and it has been incredible to watch our race presence grow. From the amount of gear and skis we travel with, to the number of athletes competing with MNC, everything has just surged in scale. But from day one, it has always been about the PEOPLE that make a race weekend happen.
While SMS coach Alex Jospe and I were watching live timing from the Salt Lake City airport and getting video messages from coaches and parents on course, the team on-the-ground in Waterville was doing an awesome job keeping things running smoothly despite a weekend of changes, crazy weather, and long drives.
We had a lot of folks step in to help, both regular MNC coaches and special guests. Thanks to Sara, Rosemary, Tom, Dan, Dana, and Kristen for all of their work to facilitate the race weekend. It says a lot about our team and our leaders that we can keep rolling and striding right along even if I may be staring at the race from a screen across the country!
Wonderful coaches and wax techs!
BKL Festival- Register NOW before the price increase!
From our friends at NENSA and Craftsbury:
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BKL Practice Week of 2/06/23 & MNC Skiathlon
After all that brutal cold weather, this week will give us much warmer temperatures, possibly even rain (but hopefully not). We’ll be practicing ski changes this week in preparation for the MNC Skiathlon.
MNC SKIATHLON– Saturday, 2/11. This race is a fundraiser for our scholarship fund. Skiers do a lap of classic, change skis and finish with a lap of skating. Grades 1 & 2 do a Classic lap only. It’s a lot of fun! There is a race for everyone with Adult races in the morning and BKL Races in the afternoon. Everyone is welcomed to race! Check it out:
MNC Skiathlon
Cookies for the Skiathlon:
We need cookies for the BKL Skiathlon Race! If you are planning to come, please bring cookies so we can have refreshments for the kids at our awards party after the race! Drop them off at the Round Barn (Registration). Thanks so much!
We still need a few more volunteers, too: Skiathlon Volunteering
Tuesday, 2/07: Penguins, Jack Rabbits, Arctic Foxes: Classic
Racers, Liz’s Jack Rabbit Group and Any child doing the Skiathlon: Bring both Skate & Classic Equipment for Skiathlon Practice
We will practice ski changes for the MNC Skiathlon race coming up on Saturday.
*If there are any Arctic Foxes or 3/4 Jack Rabbits (1/2 Racers do a classic loop only) who are interested in racing the Skiathlon, they should bring both Skate & Classic skis and they can join Racers and Liz’s Group for Skiathlon practice. Let your coach know and they will help connect you.
Thursday: Everyone Skate.
- Good idea to check the website before you go for cancellation- 100% chance of rain forecasted.
Racers, Liz’s Jack Rabbit Group and Any child doing the Skiathlon: Bring both Skate & Classic Equipment for Skiathlon Practice
Saturday Racers: MNC Skiathlon at Sleepy Hollow
Registration open on SKIREG until Friday at 5 PM. Day of race registration avialable (increased fee).
Let MNC Coaches know you are coming: Racer Sign-up List
All the info: MNC Skiathlon
If you need kick wax, plan to drop off your classic skis 75 minutes ahead of your race time so we can get them kick waxed in time for you to try them out. Check back later in the week and I may post some meeting times for course preview with coaches.
Coming Up Next Week: Valentine’s Day BKL Mini-Marathon!
We will need parents to bring some healthy snacks, and maybe some of them could be Valentine’s Day themed! We will also need a couple of parents to help setup & monitor the snack table & to help count laps. Please email Rosemary if you can help: sheacobb19@gmail.com
MNC Skiathlon Volunteering
Greetings MNC Folks:
Calling all racers and race volunteers!
Mansfield Nordic is hosting our annual race event at Sleepy Hollow on Sat. Feb. 11, 2023. Hope you can join us either as a racer or volunteer at the 2023 MNC Skiathlon. This is our big scholarship fundraising event—and it takes a village!
If you have a couple of hours on 2/11, here are some key volunteer shifts still open:9:30-11:30am Finish Line Recording/Bibs (3x)12:00-3:00pm Photographer (1x)12:00-3:00pm BKL race intersection monitor (1x)(If you’re only interested in an indoor job, contact me. I might be able to swap you into a Race Registration role…)(If you’re available to help build/paint some signs, contact Matt Thomson: matt@roald-thomson.com. “job is…applying hand-written lettering to between 70 and 100 small signs – good penmanship an asset.”)
Thanks so much in advance,
Christine
