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January Events – MNC BKL

By on 6 January, 2025 in BKL Race Blog, BKL Training Schedule

January Mansfield Nordic BKL Events- Starting this weekend

Hi BKL Families-

To celebrate what looks like the return of winter, I wanted to let you know about some upcoming weekend events. This weekend is our annual Skiathlon Race at Sleepy Hollow. It’s a fun team event and everyone is welcome!

Thanks to support from a couple families in our program we have custom neck gaiters for all our skiers! Coaches started handing them out last week and we hope to hand out the rest this week. They are perfect for cross country skiers.

 

BKL Beginner Waxing Clinics and Open Waxing Time – Sat, Jan 11 and Sat, Jan 18 from 2-3:30pm

Location: MNCC in Jonesville

We’ll start with a short beginner waxing clinic followed by some open time where you can wax your own skis. Bring your own wax and tools or use ours. Coaches and volunteers will be around to answer questions and help with waxing. Suggested for kids grade 4-8 and their parents. The waxing clinic is open to all BKL Families, but there is limited space for the open waxing time at the end. Sign Up Here

 

Backcountry Film Festival – Saturday, January 11

Our friends at the Underhill Recreation Committee are hosting a movie night at the Underhill Town Hall. See their Facebook Page for more info and tickets.

 

MNC Skiathlon Race at Sleepy Hollow – Sunday, January 12

This is our “home” ski race for all ages and proceeds go to support the MNC scholarship fund. Everyone is invited to race or come cheer and check out the scene.

The day starts with adult racing from 10-11:00 am followed by BKL racing from 11:45am-1:15pm. It’s classic skiing only for Lollipop and Grade 1/2. Then Grade 3/4, 5/6 + 7/8 all race the Skiathlon, which starts with a classic loop and skiers change equipment midrace and finish with a skate loop.  More Info/Registration (online closes 1/11 at 5pm and there is registration on the day of the event)

We will have a team waxing setup and coaches skiing the course with small groups to explain how the race works. We’ll also practice the Skiathlon equipment transition this Thursday at practice for anyone that is planning to race.

Most of the event volunteer jobs are filled, but we could use a little help for BKL.

Make Cookies for Finish Line Prizes or Bring Something for our Team Snack Table

 

SkiRack Ski Swap and Winter Sale- Gear intake Jan 8-10 and the Swap Jan 11

This weekend is also the SkiRack Swap and Winter Sale.  More Info

Sleepy Hollow BKL Race – February 2

Mark your calendars for this fun event. The event includes kids races, speed runs and a ski tour. More info coming soon.

 

If you want to look ahead to more events this winter please check out the MNC BKL Weekend Race and Event Schedule

Lollipop racers on the start line

Bogburn Wax Rec

By on 2 January, 2025 in BKL Race Blog, Junior Blog, Masters Blog

Some snow has fallen in the hills, and it looks like moderate temperatures for the Bogburn on Saturday.

Just a quick note, however, that this wax recommendation is coming to you from 5F and dark Anchorage, AK so please take all notes as a “best guess” scenario without knowing the actual snow condition. MNC coaches never apply kickwax for a race before the morning of the race itself, when we’ve had a chance to size things up!

Look for the MNC tent and team area with coach Liz, coach Sara, and coach Kristen on race day up at Rikert!

The snow report indicates very little new snow from the recent storm system. Therefore expect a mostly machine-made/transformed base with temps in the 20s, meaning snow could start icy and become sugary.

For glide wax, a simple warm/mid-range option like Toko Red or Swix HS8 would be safe. For kick, klister could very well be involved so please hold off on applying a hardwax binder. Coaches will likely be able to apply a quick spray klister or roller klister binder job if it is called for.

BKL Info Dec 30-Jan 4

By on 30 December, 2024 in BKL Race Blog, BKL Training Schedule

Thurs AM Update: Tomasi received 6″ of new snow overnight, so we are going to classic ski today at Tomasi. See below for full details.

Happy New Year! We are hoping that January will bring the return of winter. There are a bunch of different things happening this week and regular practice resumes this Thursday. (I had mentioned a possible family ski on New Years Eve, but we’re going to cancel that due to snow conditions.)

Sub-Groups and Coach Info

Parent Meeting Notes

Season Long Schedule
Weekend Race and Event Schedule

Tuesday, December 31: Devos Practice at Sleepy Hollow. See the Junior Training Doc for details and check before you head out (the weather might require plans to be updated).

Wednesday, January 1: This is the first Sleepy Hollow Wednesday Night Worlds of the 2025 season! It’s a low key, ultra customizable (distance and technique) weekly ski race that continues through January and February.  Potluck following each race. A great option for kids that love racing, families that want a little more. It’s on your own, but there will be MNC BKL kids there throughout the winter.  $10 kids and $17 adults. More Info

Thursday, January 2– JackRabbits, Arctic Foxes, Racers and Devos
Location: Tomasi Meadow
Time: 3:45pm-5:15pm
Details: We will be classic skiing today.  Come a few minutes early if you need to wax and find us at the wax bench setup on the side of the parking lot near the trailhead. If you wax at home try using Toko Red or Swix Violet.

Parking: The Tomasi lot on Mountain Rd. Please park tight, so there is space for everyone. Please don’t park on Pinacle Ridge (it’s a private driveway). Underhill Central School is an overflow parking location.
Reminder: There is no inside space or bathrooms (go before heading over). Wear a headlamp.

Saturday, January 4 : Bogburn is a classic race hosted by Rikert. BKL races are in the morning and adults races are in the afternoon. This race is open to all BKL Skiers. MNC Team Info – Race Info –  Registration – Let coaches know you are coming

RANGE UPDATES 12/2/24

By on 2 December, 2024 in BKL Jackrabbits, BKL Race Blog, Junior Blog, Masters Blog, Uncategorized

Mansfield Nordic
Range Update and Practice Locations
December 2, 2024

Last week the National Guard announced to Mansfield Nordic Club, Ethan Allen Biathlon Club and local High School coaches that there would be no one allowed to ski at the range in 2025. They later updated this announcement further to inform all groups no outside groups were going to be allowed at the facility after December 9th. This was quite a surprise, because as of August we thought the situation going forward was clear and not impacting our programs.

The Walker Building is scheduled for deconstruction starting December 9th. There is also site work and trail widening that will happen this winter. These projects are part of a larger plan that includes some new buildings and trail upgrades. While we are excited to benefit from infrastructure improvements in the future, it is disappointing to learn of this exclusion from the National Guard right before many groups and teams begin their winter seasons.

MNC’s head coaches and Board of Directors are working together with Ethan Allen Biathlon Club to advocate for use of the Range starting in January 2025.

These immediate changes are challenging for MNC because many members are involved with more than one of our groups: BKL, Juniors, and Masters. We understand that these changes in our program location will be tricky for some MNC skiers.

We have made alternate practice location plans for December and will be reassessing options for January based on any new agreement we are able to make with the National Guard.

December Tuesday/Thursday Practice

BKL – Practice will be in the Jericho/Underhill area. Mills Riverside Park/ Tomasi Meadow

Juniors – Tuesday and Thursday practices will be at Sleepy Hollow. Practices on other days of the week will be at Sleepy Hollow or other locations depending on snow conditions.

Masters – Afternoon Master coaches will hold practice at the same location as BKL practice. Afternoon masters have an option to swap to evening masters, and vice versa. Evening masters will be at Sleepy Hollow.

Masters will be responsible for paying for their own skiing at Sleepy Hollow. Sleepy Hollow has offered a discounted pass at $100 for a two day week option here (also see button below). Pass holders can use this pass for Tuesday and Thursday sessions, or for another day that week if they cannot make a scheduled practice, for up to 2x days total per week. This is not a reciprocal pass, and will not be able to be redeemed at other ski areas. If Masters skiers already have a regular Sleepy Hollow Pass, there is no need for this additional pass.

MNC Masters: Sleepy Hollow 2x/Wk Pass

Range Access Pass Holders– There will not be a Range Access option in December 2024, and we are not sure if there will be a Range Access Pass option in January 2025.

Refunds for Programs and Range Access will be considered after January 1, 2025. More info will be posted once available on the MNC website and in the weekly e blast.

Communicating with the National Guard

While there may be a lot of understandable frustration about this situation, particularly the lack of communication from the National Guard at Camp Johnson (where all facilities and resource access is managed), please hold your calls and emails until we reach any potential agreements for January 2025 onward.

There is certainly a deep well of community support and input that groups like MNC, EABC, MMU Nordic, and other can compile in sharing our frustrations with Guard leadership. But for the time being we are looking to approach this with an eye toward pragmatism and collaboration.

We hope to know more in advance of the new year.

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