Archive | Masters Blog

NO BK on Saturday, MASTERS ski on SUNDAY (updated 1/17)

By Adam Terko on 16 January, 2015 in BKL Jackrabbits, BKL Race Blog, BKL Training Schedule, Junior Blog, Masters Blog, Masters Training Schedule

UPDATE FOR SUNDAY 1/18: The 9:30 shuttles are full but the center will have another shuttle for us at 10:30 so please be there by 9:15 if you need to wax up prior to getting in the van.

Due to cold and extreme windchill MMU has postponed it’s race until Friday 1/23 back at the range. In light of the forecast:

Partly sunny and cold, with a high near 7. Wind chill values as low as -25, it doesn’t make sense for us to attempt a ski there on Saturday. The fun factor for the kids would be low and the chance of frostbite high.

So if you can safely ski somewhere locally that would be great or head to Craftsbury on Sunday when it will be considerably warmer.

Coach Rick will be classic skiing with the Masters on Sunday from Highland Lodge back to the Craftsbury Outdoor Center (about 25 km). If some of the more experienced BK Racing skiers with their parents want to come along that would be fine. For less experienced skiers an option would be to meet a little later and ski with your parents from the center towards Highland Lodge and meet us when we are a few km away and ski back with us. JRS not going to the Eastern Cup are welcome too!

If you think you may come please let me know ASAP so I can ask the Center if they can accommodate us with another van.

We are meeting at 8:30 to wax and get ready to be on the shuttle
Shuttle leaves at 9:30
They may run a second one if needed but we may have to use some personal vehicles in a shuttle of our own
IMPORTANT – everyone on this trip must be able to be self supported or with help from family along the way as the group may break up after leaving Highland Lodge
Carry water, food, wax, cork, and any extra clothing as needed

Some kids have done this with us in the past with a parent skiing with them. It is best done on classic skis and can take anywhere from 1 1/2 hours for fast skiers under ideal conditions to 4-5 hours for the less experienced.

PS: Masters skier Lindsay Gillette is looking to Car-pool from Burlington if that works for anyone. Contact her at lindsay.gillette@googlemail.com

contact Rick at rtcostanza@gmail.com or text 370-5686

Masters and BK this week UPDATED 1/15

By Adam Terko on 12 January, 2015 in BKL Jackrabbits, BKL Race Blog, BKL Training Schedule, Masters Blog, Masters Training Schedule

THURSDAY: We are skating today. With fun relays in the plan for both BK and Masters

SUNDAY Masters: If you would like to ski from Highland lodge back to the Craftsbury Outdoor Center please email coach Rick. There center has a van leaving at 0930 and can follow with a second if needed. If we have an accurate count we can call ahead BUT we may still need some vehicles to drive up to Highland and shuttle people back up later in the day.

Yes we will try skiing tomorrow but please be prepared for COLD and WINDY conditions.

Everyone meets inside and only goes out with their group. Extra Parent Volunteers to help on skis with Jack Rabbits and Penguins are appreciated.
No one skis alone
Parents need to stay on site incase it’s just too cold for their kid(s) or we quit early
Please dress for cold and windy conditions
Be prepared to do some inside activities if necessary
Please use your own judgement if skiing under these conditions is appropriate for you (or your kids)

For Masters – 3:30 group – sorry to say we do not have a coach for your group on Tuesday but you are welcome to ski at 3:30 or stay for the 6 PM session. If it is extremely cold there will be minimal coaching and talking but we will focus on skiing an staying warm. PLEASE – ALL 6 PM SKIERS MEET INSIDE THE BUILDING. We will start with a warmup drill or two inside after waxing.

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Tuesday is looking a bit on the cold side with wind chills in the -20 range but we will wait and see if forecast changes in the next 24 hours. Our plan is to classic ski on Tuesday and Skate ski on Thursday with a possible make-up ski day on Saturday at Craftsbury if we have to cancel a day due to cold. On Thursday both Masters and BK will have sprint relay races to keep thing fast and fun. If we do ski on Tuesday all BK skiers should report inside the building upon arrival to get there skis waxed and meet up with their coaches. No-one goes out alone for safety reasons when it is so cold. Parents that want to help with waxing please meet Coach Rick in the Walker building as well.

Please check back here for updates.

Tuesday Masters Comp Group – ladder intervals in Prep for Craftsbury Marathon

Looking Ahead for BK

BK MNC Duathlon on Jan 25th at Craftsbury http://www.skireg.com/bkl-duathlon

Mtn Top Paintball biathlon http://www.skireg.com/10th-annual-mountain-top-paintball-biathlon

Masters and BK Ski Practice Canceled for Thursday 1/8/15

By Adam Terko on 7 January, 2015 in BKL Jackrabbits, BKL Race Blog, BKL Training Schedule, Masters Blog, Masters Training Schedule

Sorry folks – No Skiing on Thursday. the wind-chill is going to be about -30 F tomorrow and as tough as all of you are common sense sys we should not ski tomorrow. If possible head to the gym, work on your skis and watch some ski videos instead.

This weekend:

On our schedule we have the Bogburn as a club supported race. That means we will have a couple of coaches on hand to help wax and hand out some always questionable advice. Please email Coach Rick if you plan on racing. rtcostanza@gmail.com

Bogburn registration is at https://www.skireg.com/bogburn-classical-cross-country-race Fun race on “old-time” type forested ski trails.

We have done the Stowe Min Marathon in the past but last year it was canceled and we switched our focus to the Bogburn when the schedule conflicted. HOWEVER – If anyone wants to do this, it is a fun ski and a chance to ski longer classic distances with support but in a non-competitive atmosphere. The blueberry soup is delicious and give you a purple smile! You do wear a number but it’s not a race. If there is enough interest Coach Rick will bring wax support and ski with the group. Please email Rick if you are going. rtcostanza@gmail.com

Stowe Mini on Sunday – Registration at https://www.skireg.com/stowe-nordic-bkl-mini-marathon If Stowe picks up some snow in the next couple of days this can be a fun outing

Harmeyer Brothers Racing at Nationals

By Adam Terko on 7 January, 2015 in BKL Race Blog, Junior Blog, Masters Blog

The first week of January features some of the best ski racing in North America: Senior National Championships. The series consists of 4 races: 2 sprints, a distance skate, and a mass-start distance classic. While the series is considered an “open” event in that anybody can register and participate, it is really just the creme-de-la-creme that attend.

Senior National Championships (as opposed to Junior Nationals) crowns our true national champs. In addition, this series serves as a major qualification series to get to race in Europe. Athletes in different age categories are competing for World Cup start rights, as well as positions on the U23 World Championship Trip, the Junior World Championship Trip (U20) and the Scandinavian Cup Trip (U18).

Bill and Henry Harmeyer are currently in Houghton, Michigan for these competitions. The temps are bitter cold, and it is snowing a few inches every single day. At this point, they’ve contested the first 2 events: the 15km skate race and the classic sprint. Bill and Henry didn’t have the best races of their lives in the 15km, but both came back fierce in the sprint. They’ve been targeting that race for many months now doing double-pole intervals in the hills of Williston and all kinds of intervals.

The race was slow and long for a sprint. Usually a sprint takes in the neighborhood of 2:45 – 3:30. But yesterday, the fastest men in the nation came through in 4:23. In spite of the length and difficulty, Bill and Henry both had excellent results. Henry qualified for the Junior Boys Heats (top 30 boys U20) and made it all the way to the A-Final! He finished 2nd in his quarterfinal, then 3rd in his semifinal but he skied fast enough to advance by the “lucky loser” rule. By the A-final he ran out of gas but managed to be 8th junior of the day (including all U20) and he was 3rd in his age-group (U18)!

Bill Harmeyer skied a strong race that he was quite happy with. He said he “romped up some of the hills” and had a strong double-pole into the finish when many others were striding. Alas, he narrowly missed out on the Junior Boys Heats by 0.25 seconds. But his result still put him as the 9th-place U18 boy of the day!!

Henry’s 3rd place performance of the U18 category earned him some major points towards qualifying for the U18 Scandinavia Cup Trip. The top 6 boys qualify for the trip based off of their best 2-out-of-3 races. The 3rd race takes place tomorrow (Thursday) at 10:00am… the 10km classic mass-start!

Bill in the qualifier

Henry in the qualifier. 7″ of snow fell in 3 hours.

Live timing and results are available via SuperiorTiming.com.

The unofficial standings for the U18 Scando Cup Trip are as follows:

Henry currently ranked 7th, Bill in 19th

BK and Masters this week 1/5-1/11/2015 Updated 1/6

By Adam Terko on 4 January, 2015 in BKL Jackrabbits, BKL Race Blog, BKL Training Schedule, Masters Blog, Masters Training Schedule

There is a 700 m loop available for skiing today. Dress warm!

Well, once again skiing is questionable at the range but cold weather comes back tonight so please check here for updates as we find out if there is enough snow to ski on Tuesday and Thursday.

Here’s what we have on the schedule for the week as long as conditions allow.

Tuesday 1/5
BK – skate skiing. Kids 12 and older – BIATHLON DAY with the EABC so make sure you have gloves that you can use for shooting. Mittens don’t work well with biathlon rifles.

Masters – skate skiing – technique work and as much time skiing as possible

Thursday 1/7 – BK and Masters will classic ski. Wax recommendations will be posted on Wednesday.

BK -Classic skiing – Parent waxing helpers that want to continue learning and helping – meet coaches Rick and Anna as soon as you arrive in the Walker Building and you will help kick-wax for the kids today. ALL skiers – please come in and get wax help as soon as you arrive please do not wait until we are already to ski to let us know your wax isn’t working.

Masters – Classic skiing. Wax help inside the Walker Building if you need it. We will work on racing tips to get ready for the Bogburn on Saturday.

BK AND MASTERS: 1/10 – Bogburn Classic Race is ON!!! Just received a message from the Haydock’s. The snow held up in N. Pomfret so make sure you sign up for the race on Saturday. https://www.nensa.net/calendar/index.php?id=1647 Photos of the trails are posted on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bogburn-Cross-Country-Ski-Race/177290886373

Option for the Ladies at Trapps: Ladies Nordic Expo https://www.nensa.net/calendar/index.php?id=1670

Looking Ahead

See NENSA website for Mtn Top Paintball Biathlon Info

Latest Post:
Registration open for Mountain Top Paintball Biathlon!

Register now for the 10th Annual Paintball Biathlon at Mountain Top in Chittenden, Vt on February 1st, 2015. Mountain Top is the originator of Paintball Biathlon and have a spectator friendly site to host this exciting event. This event is open to all ages and includes a 10th Annual Commemorative Buff! Sign up here before January 30th and try your hand at Biathlon.