EnjoyWinter, the purveyors of Swenor rollerskis, Bliz sunglasses, and Start poles and wax, have continued their partnership with MNC this fall and winter!
Use the discount code “MNC2021” for a 30% discount on all products on www.enjoywinter.com
What’s more, 10% of each purchase made using this code goes back to the club for use on the site. That means your purchases can, in turn, help our club purchase wax, tools, and more from EnjoyWinter!
Check out the options online.
August is now here, and we’ve had relatively dry weather for quite some time now (the incoming tropical storm remnants notwithstanding). Earlier this spring, COVID-19 and wet spring weather forced the closure of the Long Trail as well as many popular hiking destinations. Thankfully, we are all able to enjoy the outdoors a little more now if we are responsible.
While some teams have taken trips recently to the Presidential Range in NH, the suggestion this week is to keep it within our state, supporting the local economy while also checking out some great trails in the area. The Masters workout this week is to get in a traditional hike, or even a trail run, on a big mountain!
Big can be defined many ways, from Mount Philo to Mount Mansfield. But there’s plenty to choose from. Here are a few helpful hiking resources:
Bring poles to make your workout a bit more ski-specific, bring some food and water for a long workout, and get in some time away from busy roads, neighborhoods, and parking lots!
Always searching for a bigger climb! (June 2019)
A note from Coach Adam
When we first began training amid this pandemic, we did a great job of following guidelines. Most everyone showed up to practice with a buff on, or at least in their bag. I kept a handful of buffs washed and packaged in individual ziplock baggies to give out, lest anyone forget. We pulled our masks up when we passed people on a trail or bike path.
But concern faded, complacency set in, and our groups grew in size along with the permitted group size that the state put in place. At this point almost the only skiers wearing buffs or masks at practice are the coaches. We haven’t strictly enforced any rules, we haven’t sent skiers home from training, and while we check temperatures and request personal safety and common sense with sickness, we have drifted into the deep end of the pool of responsibility.
I am as accountable as anyone here, as it is literally my job to provide a safe training environment, not just a fun and productive one. I think we’ve succeeded on those latter two goals this summer, and now it’s time to close the gap and stay safe from the virus just as we’ve stayed [relatively] safe from cars, pedestrians, crashes, injuries, and phone calls from angry town residents.
The State of Vermont has now issued a mandate that masks must be worn in public places where 6’ separation cannot be maintained. Newsflash: we are kidding ourselves if we think we spend the entirety of every training session (whether running, skiing, or biking) 6’ apart from each other. Are we engaging in “vigorous exercise”? You could call it that. But we’ve had a simple solution since day one, the same one we began with and have steadily drifted away from: wearing a buff around our necks.
We got too comfortable, and it’s not fair to ourselves, our teammates, or the rest of the population that we see on a regular basis. We pass MANY pedestrians on the streets and paths near Allen Brook School. We ride around families of beginners and shredders alike on the trails at Cochrans. And we never know when we might have to stop and help a teammate who broke a pole, got a flat tire, or needs an extra package of gummies…these are all situations where we should be covering our faces for the same of ALL PARTIES.
How do I know we’ve strayed so far from both the mandates and the suggestions? When I post something on our social media accounts, I have to always check twice: if people seem too close, the photo doesn’t go online. If there aren’t masks in a situation where there should be, the photo doesn’t go online. The sign of a safe club training environment is one where I can snap a photo at any time and publicly distribute it!
A buff is non-intrusive, it can be work with a helmet on and easily pulled up or down (as opposed to an ear-loop face mask), and it’s really not that hot…on Saturday afternoon in the warmest part of the day I went for a mountain bike ride with a tank top on and a buff around my neck. Ten minutes in, I had forgotten the buff was even there, save for the fact that I was able to pull it up over my face if I approached another rider on the narrow trail.
That’s the mentality and the action we should all be striving for. We’re lucky to be in the state that currently has both the lowest positivity rate, AND the lowest total case count, in the nation. But we only got here by being diligent, and we’ll only stay here by remaining diligent.
Now that we have entered a new month, a chance to reinforce strong habits is here. Please wear a buff around your neck at every practice. I have a supply of around 6 extras that I will keep on hand should athletes forget. I will try to both be more accountable myself, AND hold the team accountable.
Coming soon: MNC custom facemasks for school!
-Adam
The situation in our world is continually evolving. NENSA has released a page describing the potential outlook for Eastern Cup races this season. It is well-worth a read just as a way to get familiar with what we might be seeing for a structure this winter.
Recently we completed the Bolton Uphill Run Test in an individual-start format (1 racer every 30 seconds). At the top I told the team the following:
When it was first announced that this race was individual start, there was grumbling and whining for about 30 seconds before everyone just accepted it, re-focused, and worked hard with what they had…there’s going to be A LOT more of that this coming fall, winter, and spring (if not longer). So please keep that mentality strong: we need to be ready for anything, and motivated to work hard no matter what comes our way.
A few notes about Junior training for this day, which features several options! On top of that, we need to be aware of the weather…check the Junior Training Doc often for any updates!
Group A (Advanced): Meet at Cochrans for a skate rollerski with 3 sets of 30/30 speeds
Group B: Meet at Allen Brook for a traditional day with skate drills, distance skiing, and speed challenges
Northern Option: Open to all ability levels (we have 2 coaches on-site). Meet at Georgia Beach for a scenic roll on the shoreline…please wear bright clothes!
Make-up DP Test: For Mini Mountain Camp participants, Group A skiers who did not attend last Tuesday, or others by invite: bring classic gear for a session concurrent with Group A that includes the DP test.
Click through to check snow conditions at Tomasi Meadow in Underhill. Submitted by on-the-ground reports, as current as possible. Read More about “Snow Conditions”…
Our summer training is OPEN for 2026! Come join us as we work to improve and grow as skiers. Summer kickoff BBQ on June 20th! Read More about “Summer”…
A piece sharing memories and photos of MNC’s dynamic and inspiring founder, Murray Banks, who passed in February 2026 Read More about “Tighten Your Boots: A Murray Banks Remembrance”…