Well it was an interesting season, things started our slow but are ending with some great snow. We are glad you joined us, so please take the time to fill out our MNC End of the Season Survey below.
Archive | BKL Training Schedule
BKL Practice 3/14 & 3/16- Last Week
Tuesday, 3/14, Everyone Classic, Penguins’ Last Day
A Leprauchan came and hid some things for BKL kids to find! Let’s just say, these are funny looking shamrocks! But then again, you never should trust a leprauchan! We will go for a tour and hunt down those items and may the luck of the Irish be with us all!
Penguins will also do a hunt, play some games and have a little last day celebration.
Thursday, 3/16. Skate. Awards day for Jack Rabbits, Arctic Foxes, Racers & Devos
It’s our last day of BKL for the season. We will play some games and then do our end of season Awards (4:45 pm).
Parents: Does anyone have a metal, transportable fire pit they can bring for Thursday and set-up? Email me at sheacobb19@gmail.com. I have some bags of marshmallows and I thought it would be fun for the kids to roast them today. There is firewood at the Range but not a lot of kindling.
*There is a possibility that the Range may be open for open skiing on 3/21 & 3/23. Open skiing means that you can bring your kids and ski with them that day (kids may not ski un-accompanied). Keep an eye on our website & the e-blast for news of this.
BKL Fest. Is. Awesome.
Marshmallow roasting in Reid’s stove
Not many places can do it like New England can! The BKL Festival was an amazing experience this year, and I don’t think it’s a stretch to say it may possibly be the best event on skis in the country. There was a snowstorm dropping plenty of new snow on an already-good base, perfect temps in the upper-20s, bright sun on Sunday, an impeccable venue with the perfect layout for hosting, and 600+ young skiers all taking it in.
We’re often used to Craftsbury utilizing their deep resources of lodging, snowmaking, grooming, buildings (“campus”), and extensive trails to put on the highest quality races around. But when all of those resources are leveraged toward a giant party on skis it’s quite the scene.
In fact, it reminds me of our weekly BKL practices at MNC, but on an hugely expansive scale. Games? Activities? Jumps? Races? Maple Syrup? Nature experiences? Radar speed trap? Parade? Often on a weekly basis the trails at the Range are abuzz with different groups of kids playing and cruising around on skis.
This festival was no different, and my challenge for future years is for more of our own members to get out and experience the vibe of this thing! There was plenty to do for families and skiers alike, and racing isn’t even a prerequisite to participation or enjoyment.
You can check out some great photos from the event, spanning all the age groups and various activities/race happening all weekend, via Phillip Belena’s album here. If you choose to buy a print, 25% of proceeds will go to NENSA! Here’s a couple “action shots” from MNC’s end:
Astrid in the 7/8 classic race!
Isaiah in the classic race
It doesn’t matter if it’s a race or a casual ski…if you see a tutu on the trails, you KNOW it’s Bella!
Be sure to keep an eye on the NENSA calendar and announcements from them, and MNC, as the location and details for next year’s festival come out! Here’s a great video recap from NENSA themselves:
BKL Practice 3/06- 3/12
Tuesday, 3/06: Everyone: Classic at the Range
It is going to be a little colder than the weekend and we are supposed to get some fresh snow in the afternoon into the evening.
It will be OLYMPIC GAMES DAY for Penguins! Other groups will be doing some classic touring by a majority vote (in the tradition of town meeting!)
WAX: If you skied at the Festival, please clean the wax off your skis. I am not sure if we will be on klister or hardwax but it is definitely going to be colder, so you don’t want that warm sticky wax on your skis!
Thursday, 3/08: Skate at the Range
It’s BKL OLYMPIC GAMES DAY! We will put everyone on a team and do some fun and not-so-traditional Olympic events!
Weekend Racers:
We are finished with our weekend practices for the season.
BKL Craftsbury Day 3/01
This is a family event! Parents are encouraged to ski with us as we will have all different abilities and speeds and only a few coaches. If you have never been to Craftsbury, you are in for a treat! Impeccable grooming and beautiful trails at an incredibly affordable price make the drive well worth it. Craftsbury Outdoor Center Website
Getting There: In google maps or your map ap, enter: Craftsbury Outdoor Center, Craftsbury Common, VT
Meeting Time: 10:00 outside the Activities Center.
Kick Wax: If you need kick wax, come early (9:30-9:45) and find me in the wax room.
Ending Time: It’s a little fluid. we will ski from 10- about 12, have lunch, change to skate skis and then and play some games and do some relays, probably ending about 2 or 2:30. You are welcome to stay as long as you want!
Technique: We will classic in the morning and change to skate in the afternoon.
Lunch: Bring lunch! They do sell hot drinks and snacks but they are not selling lunches at the Activities Center.
Tickets: Everyone who skis needs a pass or membership. Purchase them online HERE . It’s very affordable at $5 for kids and $10 for adults.
Conditions: Craftsbury Trail Conditions
