Archive | BKL Race Blog

MNC Skiathlon Recap

We had bright sun and amazing conditions for this year’s MNC Skiathlon! Racers from lollipop age to seasoned Masters all competed on Sunday in one of the club’s premier events. The day began frigid, but the clear skies and abundant sun warmed things up and the atmosphere was fun and exciting. Icy klister and fast snow were the conditions on-hand, and our racers all did great.

7th/8th grade girls heading out on course

Thanks so much to our great events supporters: Skirack, Toko, Rossignol, and of course Craftsbury for putting together an immaculate venue as always. We also had an army of MNC volunteer making sure things ran smoothly! Whether in the timing booth, the registration table, or on the snow, our club pulled off another successful day.

Carl showing the Lollipop skiers the way!

Mike and Kort racing up the steep Chip Hill

Results can be viewed HERE

Photos (including above) from Dave Priganc can be viewed HERE.

Photos (from Paul Bierman) can be viewed HERE.

Skirack/Start FIRE SALE 2/11 ONLY

By Adam Terko on 11 February, 2019 in BKL Race Blog, Junior Blog, Masters Blog

MNC Members,

Skirack has learned that the Toko/Swix LF and HF waxes will not be able to ship this year 🙁

HOWEVER, they recently received an inventory of Start brand HF and LF wax. Until the end of the day today (Monday, 2/11) they are offering MNC members 30% off these waxes! Simply download the order form below, and email it to spikec@skirack.com

The order will be ready in a few days for you to pickup/pay in-store.

In addition to this special sale, Skirack will also be receiving additional Start and Vauhti brand HF and LF waxes at 15% off for MNC members!

Coach Adam recommends Start HF10 green, as well as the “BMR” (“Black Magic Racing”) line of molybdenum races, which are especially good in slushy, dirty spring snow during late February and March.

Start/Skirack Order Form 2/11

Range Trails Closed – BKL going to Catamount

By Rosemary Shea-Cobb on 5 February, 2019 in BKL Race Blog, BKL Training Schedule

2-pm- They just closed the Range trails. We will go to Catamount. $6 tickets for kids paid inside, or use your reciprocal trail pass if you have one.

BKLers: Time to sign up for the Mansfield Nordic Skiathlon!

By Rosemary Shea-Cobb on 31 January, 2019 in BKL Race Blog, BKL Training Schedule

The Mansfield Nordic Skiathlon is coming up on Sunday, Feb. 10th. It’s a mass start by age class wave. Grades 1/2 ski one loop classic. Grades 3-8 ski one loop classic, change to skate skis and ski one loop skate. Distances vary depending on age class:

Grades 1&2: 1.5 km

Grades 3&4: 1km classic, 1 km skate

Grades 5 &6: 1.5 km classic, 1.5 km skate

Grades 7 & 8: 2 km classic, 2 km skate

This is our club race so we hope we have lots of MNC BKL kids there! Everyone gets a lollipop at the finish and a ribbon at the awards. In addition, there is always a great raffle after the BKL awards with awesome prizes from Ski Rack!

We’ll be practicing the ski change/transition at BKL practice all next week!

We need people to bring cookies and snacks for all the BKL kids to have after the race. Sign-up Here if you can bring something.

If you can’t get on the sign-up, email Rosemary and I will put you in!

Mt. Top Paintball Recap

By Rosemary Shea-Cobb on 30 January, 2019 in BKL Race Blog

Kate takes aim at the Mt. Top Paintball Race

Nine MNC BKL racers made the trip down to Mt. Top in Chittenden, VT for the annual Paintball Biathlon race. This race is always a blast and the folks at Mt. Top do a fantastic job hosting it. It follows a traditional biathlon format: racers ski a loop, stop to shoot five shots at the range, ski another loop, shoot five shots, etc. Your age class determines how many loops you do and how many times you shoot, ranging from the 1-2’s who ski one loop and visit the range once (five shots), to the 7’8’s who ski 3 loops and visit the Range 3 times. Music, an announcer, the “hotdog special”, and a paintball range situated right outside the Nordic Center all help to make this a fun event for racers and spectators alike.

Temps were in the twenties when we arrived, but a fierce wind was blowing and it started snowing just before the race got underway, making shooting conditions a little challenging. The MNC parents were prepared and everyone got their kids to the Range while it was open for rifle practice. There is a lot going on for kids in this race. Not only do they need to learn how to site and shoot the paintball rifles, they also have to decide things like “Should I take off my poles to shoot, or not put my pole straps on at all? Should I actually try to aim and hit the targets or just shoot as quickly as possible?” Everyone needs to figure out what is going to work the best for themselves and make a plan!

Shooting the paintball rifles is a little different than shooting a .22 biathlon rifle. “I aimed and one of my shots hit the roof! When I didn’t really aim, I hit 4 (out of 5)!” said Taylor, one of our biathletes. Taylor actually was the MNC sharpshooter, hitting 8 out of 15 shots. Our biathletes: Liam Vile, Virginia Cobb and Taylor Carlson were all amongst the top shooters in their age classes, so it definitely helps to have some experience with biathlon.

Great job to all our racers!