Signups are open for Mini Mountain Camp! If you are a U14 or U16 skier looking to get in a few days of Nordic training in the summer, this is a great opportunity. Our original “Mountain Camp” became very popular, and we began offering Mini Mountain Camp in order to provide the same type of experiences for younger skiers.
Some rollerski experience is needed for this camp, but if you are not yet a Junior and eligible for summer training, you can look for some of our intro rollerski clinics popping up in a few months (read some recaps here and here). Be on the lookout for one in May and another in June!
This camp takes place July 21-23, with Coach Sara and Coach Adam. With room for 8 athletes, this is an awesome 4:1 athlete:coach ratio! Camp cost is $299 which includes transportation, lodging, meals, coaching, and a camp/team gift.
This year, Mini Mountain Camp will return to Okemo, where there are great trails and dirt roads for running and hiking, as well as quiet safe roads for rollerskiing. There are also great swimming opportunities and fun non-ski adventures to be had.
You can check out the formal Mountain Camps page on the MNC website here:
If you are still out chasing the last of the snow at higher elevations, way to go!
That said, the spring sun is starting to hit…if you rented some skis from the club and are ready to return them, you can do so by delivering them to Coach Adam’s house in Jericho.
Feel free to leave skis on the front porch; we have a spreadsheet correlating ski numbers/models to renters, so we can mark the skis as returned so long as the info written on the skis remains.
If there’s one event that shows the spirit of New England skiing, well…that would probably be BKL Fest.
BUT, if there was a podium for that spirit, Cochran’s Nordic Cross would probably occupy 2nd place.
The fact that a local alpine area utilizes it’s snowmaking and snow grooming capabilities to construct an absolutely bonkers racecourse of jumps, banked turns, step-down terrain, pond-skim set-piece, hay bale roll, and bicycle pumptrack, all for NORDIC skis, is something to behold.
I’ve seen a few other versions of this pop up, such as one in Duluth, MN and Anchorage, AK, but I’m not sure they have anything on Cochran’s Nordic Cross.
In addition to the racecourse itself you’ve got gigantic, continuously poured-and-flipped pancakes for all. You’ve got a kids race with over 40 competitors. You have the 8th best sprinter (and top U23 skier overall) in the entire world, Ben Ogden, rolling up with a truck that has a built-in grill in the bed to skew kebobs for all to go alongside the pancakes. You have local vendors showing and giving out great products. You have Bullitt Timing on site with chip timing, speed traps, and immaculate professional results. And you’ve got 250 total competitors, and all the fans and parents and teammates that go along with those competitors, and before you know if the entire hill is flooded with bodies all in the name of a crazy skinny ski race.
Many MNC skiers participated, from BKL racers all the way up to some masters unafraid of a few turns, icy corners, and steep drops! Several who were in attendance told me that they “had no idea how awesome this was” and will certainly be jumping in next year.
Our Juniors made it through the day unscathed although crashes were numerous. Racers went off in groups of 5 every minute, and I think event organizer Pennie Rand had a laugh creating an “MNC wave” of myself, Virginia, Julia, Ava, Emma, and Aidan.
Virginia, Ava, and Julia after the madness.
Astrid getting air successfully over the mini pond! To see an unsuccessful pond jump just peep the thumbnail for the Youtube video below…don’t worry, Niko was ok!
Start of a kids wave, led by the creator of this whole thing, Pennie Rand!
Dave Priganc captured many great photos (including some of the above) on his popular Flickr page here.
Taylor Carlson did the whole thing with a GoPro chest mount, and thanks to the wonders of technology we put together a video showing the course. The uphills are a bit sped-up (you’ll be able to tell!) in order to really show you the action on the descents and features (which are in real-time). Thanks for capturing the event, Taylor! Be on the lookout for additional media in the coming days.
Things started out a bit grim, with steady rain and gray skies. A few skiers could be seen slowly traversing the slushy trails at Craftsbury, as indoor setup began for lunch.
Then, as the crowd began to form and some mingling took place, the clouds started to clear. After some delicious lunches and words from coaches, the sun emerged and it suddenly became “real” spring skiing! Skiers had a great time enjoying the sun, whether it was on the trail or just lounging in the chairs outside the building. Sunscreen tubes appeared on the railings and t-shirts came off for some of the first attemps at getting a tan in 2023.
Thank you to everyone who attended this event! If you are interested in written copies of the two “speeches” (loose term there) I have linked them below.
We are really sad to see Rosemary move on from BKL coaching, yet so so grateful for all that she has brought our club. Luckily we will still see her next year, and the culture she has created for our young skiers leaves us in a great place.
Congrats as well to all of our graduating seniors…more to come soon as final college and post-HS decisions are made, and we’ll try to share all the news about what is next for this great group.
Although official programming has ended, we’re in a unique part of the year where folks can embark on any number of activities, skiing still included. Have a great spring outside!
Order your compression shorts, as well as a slim-fit hoody if you like, before Tuesday, April 24. Note that the compression shorts tend to run small…if anyone would like a reference point I (Adam) wear a men’s size L.
The April 24th deadline is created with the intent for these items to arrive by June 1!
