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Bogburn!

Another year and another memorable Bogburn ski race. This year the event was moved to the Woodstock Nordic center which ended up really changing the character of the course quite a bit. Last year’s conditions and the nature of the traditional course made double poling at any point nearly impossible. This year, it seemed like skate skis and double-pole-only racing was the method of choice for many. Those that went on klister probably still felt it in their upper bodies because there was no escaping the long stretches of open field on this course.

One thing that stayed consistent about the race, regardless of location, was the fun atmosphere and real old-school vibes even amidst the posh country club setting. The fact that most of us got to race in a T-shirt was an extra bonus!

Things got going with the BKL contingent and while it was a bit of a bummer to not see more of our BKL crew in attendance for this one (I think fatigue, both athlete- and parent-based, is lingering from the early BKL Festival this season) Virginia and Julia tore it up and even got to ski together into the finish. In a running series of close finishes rarely more than a second apart, Virginia got the better of her rival Sarah Glueck on this day! Then it was time for the open races, where MNC coaches and athletes alike raced through the slush.

Many MNC folks raced in the open races, from athletes like Dakota and Baxter, to all the coaches, to stalwart Masters competitors like Karen who has scored tons of Club Cup points for MNC this year with her super attendance at races far and wide!

Dakota went with the vintage suit which was the right call, but unfortunately lost a pole basket right after the race started and decided to soldier-on without it for the rest of the way. I told him people would’ve given him a new pole but he said he wanted to be polite since it wasn’t an intense Eastern Cup race! (photo by Camille)

 

Opting for the double pole, and also for the lemon-lime color scheme (photo by NENSA)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before us older races got going, I entrusted Julia and Virginia with the GoPro for the remainder of the day, and thanks to their hard work interviewing and capturing race footage I was able to put together the first-ever “BKL Mini-Vlog”. So, without further ado, enjoy some footage of the 2018 Bogburn as seen through the eyes of these two:

Stay tuned for a full-length vlog of this past week, including the Bogburn and the adventures around Woodstock that Dakota, Sara, Magda and I had after the race ended. A few more photos from Camille below…check out the NWVE recap for links to the full album.

This was a fun day where every coach actually raced as well! Adam, Sara, Rick, Rosemary and Tom all competed! (photo by Camille)

Not sure what type of post-race cooldown method Magda is going for here, but good knee-drive and hip activation! (photo by Camille)

Results can be found on NENSA!

 

Masters All Over NE

 

Women’s Gold Medal Relay Team @ World Masters

Our MNC Masters could be seen all over New England this past weekend, participating in various races and social events.   The weekend kicked off with a headlamp ski and potluck, graciously hosted by Jim Fredericks and JoAnn Hanowski at their home.  Despite the chilly temps, many  Masters went for a great evening  ski on the freshly groomed trails,  See more photos of the evening here.

Also, Jim and JoAnn had recently returned from a trip to World Masters in Minneapolis,  where JoAnn was part of the Gold Metal US relay team!

Jarlath the Iceman

Closer to home, several MNC members made an appearance at the John Roderick Marathon in Maine.  Jarlath O’Neil-Dunne skied the 50k in the threads of our local affiliate ING and posing for the classic frosted beard photo.   Also, representing MNC was an ex-Junior, now college aged skier Charlie Cobb who skied the 25k.   Great job gentlmen!

John Roderick Marathon Results

Mike reflecting on the race.

Andy feeling the spirit and a little something extra on the skis.

Not to be outdone, a group of Masters joined the Juniors at Craftsbury for the 10/15K FS event on Sunday.  MNC Masters laying it on the line were Joann Hanowski, Andy Bishop, Mike Millar and Michael Gaughan.  More Photos

Results can be found here:Eastern Cup 10k/15K FS

After a great showing by our Masters these past two weekends you can tell winter is in full swing.  But don’t stop now, there are more events to come including the Bretton Woods Marathon as well as the  MNC Skiathlon and MNC’s  new racer friendly NENSA Club Relay Championship.

Ooops.. swapped poles.

A few instances of swapped poles this week…

Found:
> Tues: A pair  silver Swix Poles ~170cm, presently left with Coach Adam at the Range.
> Thurs: A pair of  black & white Swix 140cm poles.  To be brought to the range next Tues.

Looking for:
> Pair of Black & Silver 155 cm Swix poles (if found bring to range and Coach Adam or Liam).
> Pair of red/black/white Swix skate poles – They say “Katz” on a small white label. (info text
Jennifer 802-373-0893)

Staying Warm on Skis

We’re in the midst of a bitter cold stretch of weather, with below-zero temps the new norm and frozen mornings the usual start to the day.

At the Fort Kent races, the Juniors ran into some of the same conditions. We had a couple of rough situations with the cold, and since then I’ve been (for the most part) super impressed with how everyone has taken the lessons learned and been able to ski consistently and train well over the Holiday break.

Gotta get that double poling, no matter the temps

Given the weather forecast this week, which remains cold, it seemed like an appropriate time to share some strategies for handling cold weather!

1) Dress warm

This one should probably go without saying, but you’ve gotta start at the beginning! These are the kind of days when it pays to start a little too over-dressed and shed layers if needed. Socks need to be wool, no exceptions! Full baselayers are ideal, and a vest is really clutch for keeping mobility while retaining core temps.

2) Buffs and Hats and Gloves

Hats for your head (not headbands!) and buffs are both great. A buff can cover your ears, keep your neck warm, and in a pinch cover your mouth/nose…all at once! Donning TWO buffs at once is not unheard of.

With gloves, go big or go home! I’ve skied in nothing but my Toko Arctic Gloves for the past two weeks. The mitten version would be even better but I admit I can’t stand not having independently-moving fingers.

3) Face Tape

I’ll admit, I didn’t give this concept a chance until the past few weeks, and I am now a convert. You can buy specially-made “face tape”, but all it is is KT tape in a different package. This stuff can be found at any drugstore, or the pharmacy isle of grocery stores. Three strips are perfect: two for each cheek, one for the nose. It’s amazing how much a little wind buffer can do for your face and head temperature. There will be a roll at the Range on Tuesday available.

4) Vaseline/Dermatone

Much like “Face Tape” is just a fancier, more packaged version of KT Tape, “Dermatone” is really just a fancier, more packaged version of Vaseline or even the store-brand chemical mixture known as Petroleum Jelly. A little bit of this has the same effect as face tape although the residue is a bit more to handle.

5) Boot warmers/hand warmers

Something else that can seem silly but really be worth it’s weight in fluoros when the time is right. The best trick I ever heard of with these (from an article by Brian Gregg) is to put them on TOP of your toes when skiing. This lets you still feel the natural flex of your skis a boot (no bumps or lumps) but still keep your feet from freezing. It’s best to warm them up before using…holding them under a hand-dryer or next to a fireplace for 30 seconds will jump-start their chemical-warming contents!

6) Overboots

Again, something I never considered until I was given a pair by Rossi one year. These things are GREAT. It’s amazing how much warmer your feet with be with just a simple neoprene shell. You can find pairs made by your favorite boot brand, or other options not tailored to certain brands. Rossi Overboots at Skirack

Juniors ready for a below-zero ski at the Range

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