This is designed for BKL kids aged 10-14 who have prior ski experience, want to try rollerskiing, and want to get some fun ski specific exercise this fall to get ready for ski season. If you were on the MNC Race team last year, you can definitely do this! If you are new to the Race Team or new to MNC, email Coach Rosemary (sheacobb19@gmail.com) to see if this would be a good program for you. We will spend time getting used to rollling safely, do some fun agility and play some socially distant games.
Dates: 9/23/20- 11/18/2020
Days/Time: Wednesday afternoons, 3:30 – 5 pm
Meeting Location: Allen Brook School Parking Lot
Cost: $99
Equipment Needed: Bike Helmet, Rollerskis (Skate are best, classic are fine too), skate poles (change the tips to rollerski ferrules), high visibility shirt/vest/jacket, waterbottle, a mask that you can put on and take off easily with your bike helmet on and carry with you while you ski.
Note: Mountain Camp Participants all received NEGATIVE test results for COVID-19 and quarantined prior to the start of camp. No out-of-camp-group activities other than trails and roads for training were involved during this camp, and additional groceries were only purchased with online order/curbside pickup.
The 2nd edition of Mini Mountain Camp just wrapped-up, and there wasn’t much that was “mini” about it in terms of vertical climbs, hard work, and strong skiers. This young crew is going places…the U16 NENSA field is going to get a lot more stacked with strong MNC suits this coming winter!
I can’t say enough about the professionalism of this group, which means a lot since I feel like that was a primary topic of my post on the OLDER Mountain Camp group too. These skiers were up before the alarms, cooking breakfast and preparing for the day ahead. They were ready to train half an hour before they needed to be, and they were spending their downtime playing around on bikes and messing around outside, training more without even realizing it.
What’s more, the vibe is fun and quirky. Picture a Nickelodeon sitcom with a cast of zany characters and personality types that all somehow mesh. Mini Mountain Camp is a type of “Holiday Special” episode where these characters are thrown into a new environment with a new set of unique circumstances outside the norm. It’s an Emmy-winning recipe, for sure.
This squad undertook many of the same workouts as the older group, with some new adventures as well. One thing that remained consistent was the classic sprint held on the challenging and net-uphill course by the golf links. Here’s some video! We learned a lot about working on our striding this day, as fatigue can really bring out some tips to work on. Our big goals as a group are to stay more upright, strengthen and lock-in that core, and read the terrain to best decide on running vs striding vs double poling vs kick double poling.
We also took to the bike trails for some riding. Mountain biking has only grown with every passing year…at this point we’re borrowing an open-bed trailer just to be able to stuff all the bikes in and make sure we can get everyone on two wheels! As more and more of the team gets introduced to mountain biking, the level keeps rising. It was especially tough for Brady and Taylor to constantly see downhill bikes driving by, with rippers off shredding berms in the distance as we were stuck keeping it low-key. Those two had done some lift-serve riding at Killington only a week prior and boy did we hear about it!
Of course, there was plenty of hiking and trail running to be done. We had some slightly better (sunnier) weather for our Pico->Killington hike/run, and we even did a Facetime with the MNC crew at home who was on top of Mt Mansfield at the exact same time…the things you can do with technology these days.
2 groups and the 2 tallest in VT
BUT we weren’t done with this mountain just yet! We all woke up at 4am on Sunday, the final day, for a sunrise hike up Killington. Under cover of darkness, with one bear spotted on the drive up and one porcupine spotted on the trail, we got to the top and awaited a sunrise that…well…sort-of appeared. A faint line of clouds kept it from being totally iconic, but what can you do? It was quite an experience and there was zero hesitation from the group when it came to the early rising and early workout. Pretty sweet way to end a camp.
Pretty exciting to think of what this crew will accomplish over the next 4-5 years as they begin their journey into the world of Junior skiing. They have a great trail ahead of them!
You can find all photos from camp at this Flickr Album.
We are opening up the order window from MNC Summer Apparel. New this season is an MNC Bike Kit from Mt Borah with design courtesy of Place Creative. Also, back by popular demand are MNC Compression shorts. See below for order details and dates.
MNC Bike Shirts & Shorts: Order by July 6
Both Men’s/Unisex & Women’s version available. For those people seeking a looser fit Mt. Borah recommends ordering one size larger based on their fit guide on the item order page.
As of 5/14, Mountain Camp and Mini Mountain Camp are STILL ON.
Dates remain the same
Mountain Camp July 8-12 (Wed-Sun)
Mini Mountain Camp July 16-19 (Thurs-Sun)
However, in light of COVID-19 several changes have been made. Please read on:
Location Change
In order to eliminate travel across State lines, both Mountain Camp and Mini Mountain Camp have been relocated to Killington, VT. Lodging for both camps will be located at the base of Killington Resort, with training to take place on the numerous roads and trails of the area.
With Killington marking the intersection of the Long Trail and Appalachian Trail, hiking and trail running options are vast.
With two of the top mountain biking areas in the state (Green Mountain Trails and Pine Hill Park) there are great options for riding
Quiet roads in nearby Mendon, Chittenden, Bridgewater, and Pomfret are ideal for rollerskiing
Participation Restrictions
We ask that all participants at camp be Vermont residents, or athletes (for example college-age skiers) who have been living in Vermont for at least 2 weeks.
Pricing changes
Good news! Lodging and location changes have not increased costs. Camp pricing will remain equal or less than originally-planned.
Can I register and reserve my spot?
You can register for Mountain Camp and Mini Mountain Camp on the Registration page of the MNC website. The cost to register is currently still $0.00 as we will wait until June 1 to confirm that camp is still “on” pending and further COVID-19 developments or restrictions. Thank you for your understanding!
As of Wednesday, May 6th, Governor Scott has established Addendum 13 to the Coronavirus Executive Order. This addendum is known as “Play Smart, Play Safe”.
“Vermonters may leave home to get fresh air and exercise and resume limited social interactions and gatherings of 10 or fewer, preferably in outdoor settings, provided that physical distancing and protocols for hygiene consistent with guidance from VDH and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), are observed.”
To keep disease from spreading this means:
Always staying home and away from others if you are sick with COVID-19, have recently been exposed to someone who has COVID-19, or just don’t feel well.
Keeping a 6-foot distance from others when you meet people outside of your household.
Frequently washing your hands (hand sanitizer is acceptable when soap and water are not available).
Coughing and sneezing into your elbow (even if you are wearing a facial covering).
Wearing a facial covering over your nose and mouth, as set forth further in Section 2 below.
What does this mean for MNC training?
We will cautiously and carefully resume minor spring training activities, while following these guidelines. Typically, our Spring training occurs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. With the recent updates from Vermont and the COVID-19 response, we will transition to a modified schedule to reduce group numbers and remain within the 10-person limit.
Keep in mind, this means ratios of 1 coach and 9 athletes or 2 coaches and 8 athletes.
Junior Spring Training will take place on Tuesday-through Saturday, but 2 days at a time will be identical.
Sample schedule
Tuesdays and Wednesdays will be the same training session, at the same location
Thursdays and Fridays will be the same training session, at the same location
Saturdays will be divided into AM and PM options of the same session, at the same location
How to train with MNC
Junior athletes should refer to the Junior Training Doc for a signup form indicating which days they intend to participate. Choose either Tuesday or Wednesday, choose either Thursday or Friday, and choose either Saturday AM, or Saturday PM. This will help determine coach numbers and session plans.
All sessions will take place at locations where group divisions can be made easy. For example Williston Central School for rollerskiing, where athletes can be split into different groups with the same primary meeting point.
Training rules to remember
Please wear a buff at the very least (and a true cloth or medical facemask if you have one)to every practice. Even if not worn on your face during heavy exertion, we will try to have face coverings whenever we meet to start training, especially at trailheads and parking lots.
Please also use good distancing. If we are in an open parking lot, leave space between cars unless absolutely necessary. Don’t gather as a group, even if you may be with friends you have spent time with during quarantine.
Our behavior is critical not only to ourselves and our health, but the health of others AND the desire to show that our club is an organization that can adhere to these Government regulations and help work toward even more opportunities to train together as all of us move toward better health and safety.
