Photos from the Festival

It was a long drive to Maine, and then a long drive each morning to the ski races. But everyone had a great time. Here are some photos to give you a little flavor.

This Sunday's Session and Potluck for March 7th

All,
The Bill Koch Festival is this weekend, in Maine, so several families will be away for that (including mine). In the past we have not had a session on the weekend of the festival (and last year the festival was at Notchview), but I don't see why that should be the case. It looks like it could be great conditions at Notchview. So unless you hear otherwise from any of the coaches in response to this email, you should plan on skiing on Sunday.

The games this past Sunday were a lot of fun, and I will ask Notchview to groom the field for us if the conditions allow, so it would be great to try to group up again to play after a little skiing.

Potluck - We are planning to have an end of season pot luck on Sunday, March 7th. Details will follow, but the plan will be to ski a bit if we can and then stick around for a potluck after.

Thanks.

Photos from Costume Day on Sunday

Here are a few photos from this Sunday's costume day. After a little skiing (in costumes), everyone gathered on the small patch of snow in the field for group games. It was great.

Silver Fox Trot

We had another great showing at the Silver Fox Trot in Hanover, NH, this weekend. Nine Berkshire Trails kids skied through the slushy corn snow.

I think this picture does a great job of showing what youth skiing is all about. Lily Z. is finishing the race up a tough hill, and three teammates are running up the hill alongside her, screaming and cheering with all their might!

Suits Are In! Online Festival Registration Closes Tomorrow Night

Our team suits are in - better late than never. Here is Oscar sporting his new team kit (which he will clearly be wearing for several seasons). If you ordered a suit and want to pick it up before the Silver Fox Trot, let me know.

Please note that online registration for the Festival closes tomorrow night.

-Chris

Silver Fox Trot BKL Race/Costume Day Sunday

That was a nice session we had on Sunday, with surprisingly good skiing. Two announcements for this coming weekend.

Silver Fox Trot Bill Koch Race - This will still be held in Hanover, but a mile or so farther north up Rte. 10 from where it is usually held. Only the Eastern Cup is being moved to Gunstock (just big kids/adults). Still a freestyle race as far as I know.

Costume Day - Let's all where costumes, funny hats, or any other goofy get-up for the session on Sunday. I am hopeful that we will get enough snow for Notchview to groom the field, in which case we will play some games with all ages.

-Chris

Very Cool Video on U.S. Wax Technology at the Olympics

Check this out. Not too bad for NBC. Here is a little look into what it takes to have fast skis at the elite level.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=8945ce2d-fdd4-4481-9181-9002d0733809.html#technology+nordic+combined

If you hunt around on the NBC Olympics site, they are posting lots of video coverage of all sorts of events, including nordic skiing. Last night I watched a video of the women's biathlon event, which was otherwise covered with about 2.5 minutes of time on the television.

Slideshow from Propect Olympics

Everyone had a good time and skied fast at the sprint races at Prospect Mountain last week, and then they went out and skied the 7.5k scavenger hunt for olympic rings.

Sunday, February 14 - Happy Valentines Day

Another Clinic! The report is that the clinic Heather Bergeron offered for parents and coaches last week was a big success even with limited attendance. So, Heather has offered a repeat for this Sunday at 1:00. Don't miss it.

So Much Going On

Saturday is Prospect Olympics! The Prospect Mt. BKL group has put together a great event for this Saturday. Classic sprint races followed by a bunch of fun and games, including a scavenger hunt on skis and a slalom course. Check out the details and registration info here:

http://www.nensa.net/calendar/index.html?id=878

Ice Cream Social. This Sunday will be the ice cream social! Ice cream at the Trela Shelter and/or at the lodge depending on weather and skier age/ability. Thanks to all the parents who have volunteered to help make this happen.

It looks like the classic skiing might finally be pretty good (or at least by Sunday). Older/more advanced skiers should be prepared for classic or skate depending on conditions.

CLINIC! Heather Bergeron - former BKL parent, expert skier, and denizen of Notchview - will be offering a classic skiing instructional clinic for parents and coaches at 1:00. Don't miss it. Heather has also offered to teach a few games for the parents of the youngest children at 1:45. For the games instruction to work, it should be parents only (we understand this may make it difficult for some parents to attend).

Paintball Biathlon at Mt. Top

Below is a video clip from this weekend's paintball biathlon at Mt. Top Resort in Chittenden, Vermont. This was a really fun event, and I recommend it highly for any ability of skier (lots of kids at the event were novice skiers).

Skiing at the biathlon were Oscar and Luke in the boys 3rd/4th grade division and Amelia, Lily H., and Maggie in the girls 5th/6th grade division. They all did great.

Maggie "Annie Oakley" Swomley was 12 for 15 shooting targets, which gave her a 2:oo time bonus. Combined with her strong skiing, that put her on the podium - 3rd place overall out of roughly 35 girls in that division. Congratulations, Maggie!

Bring Skating Skis

I thought tomorrow would be good for classic skiing, but it may be the conditions are not great snow-wise, so bring your skating skis and your classic skis if you have two pairs just in case. Otherwise, be prepared for either. Thanks.

ICE CREAM SOCIAL CANCELLED FOR THIS SUNDAY

Several of you have noted that it is going to be pretty cold this Sunday. Not too cold to ski, but too cold to enjoy skiing out to a shelter to eat ice cream. So this event has been postponed until further notice.

I think classic skiing is in order for Sunday given the fresh snow. If you have waxable skis, you must show up early if you want help waxing them.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU PLAN ON GOING TO ANY RACES, INCLUDING THE BILL KOCH FESTIVAL!

Please let me know by email if you plan on going to any ski races remaining on the calendar, including the Bill Koch Festival. I need to know for several planning reasons, including for wax at the Festival and to think about relay teams. If you are still deciding on the Festival, let me know that. Email me at cdefrancis@babsoncapital.com.

Thanks.

Sunday Ice Cream Social - Looking for Another Coach

We would like to have an ice cream social on Sunday, especially since the skiing may be iffy. Sheila Niedeck has graciously volunteered to gather up all the stuff, but she is going to need some help in order to pull this off. If you would be willing to help (ski ice cream and supplies out to the Trela Shelter, scoop, clean up , etc.), please email Sheila at sjniedeck@hotmail.com.

Also, I will once again be with some of our racers at a race at Mountain Top Resort in Vermont. My group (Rainiers) should look for Christina Peterson (one of the Annapurna coaches), who has volunteered to be their leader this week.

There are other races coming up that will overlap with our Sunday sessions, including the Bill Koch Festival. So if there is anyone who would be willing to coach the Rainiers each week, please let me know. Unfortunately, the other parents in that group who would be natural candidates also have kids who race.

BILL KOCH FESTIVAL!

Registration for the Bill Koch Festival is up and running. You can link to it from the NENSA website, where it is on the "Major Events" list. The Festival is being held at Pineland Farms, Maine, on February 27th and 28th.

Meanwhile, here is shot of the Annapurna's working with their coaches Linden and Christina on Shaw Road (I think).

Slideshow of Grafton Ponds Skate Race 1.24.10

SKATE RACE ON SUNDAY IN VERMONT/SUNDAY SESSION

Several of us will be heading to Grafton Ponds Outdoor Center in Grafton, Vermont, for a BKL skate race on Sunday. Registration is morning of the race and is $5. First race goes off at 10:00, so arrival by 9:00 makes sense. For directions and other information, here is the link to the Grafton Ponds website:

http://www.graftonponds.com/

As for Sunday, I do not know if those of us who go to Vermont will make it back for the session. Enjoy skiing if I don't see you Sunday.

CAPS FOR SALE!

We now have fabulous Berkshire Trails hats available for the unbelievably low price of 10 bucks. Here is expert skier Maggie Swomley proudly modeling her new hat. We will have them at Notchview on Sundays. See Emily Swomley if you would like to buy one (or two).

Noon Ski Tomorrow for Racing Group

I will do a short skating technique session and then a long easy ski with any of the advanced skiers who want to (and are able to) tomorrow at noon. We will probably ski circuit trail with the skating loop.

Plan for Sunday, January 17

Let's continue our work on skating tomorrow for the older or more advanced groups. The temperatures should be much warmer, with very little wind. Might be nice to do a little technique work, like practicing V2 for older kids or practicing gliding on a flat ski.

Suggestions:

For the kindergarten group, the weather should allow for playing some games. For that group, here is a simple plan - no poles for any of this:

1. stomp on your skis like an angry giant
2. turn around while stomping on skis like an angry giant (little bit of turn each step until full circle is achieved)
3. play "simon says," incorporating skis, like "simon says stand on one ski"
4. practice getting up after falling down - I like to have little kids roll onto their back once they are down, put their skis in the air (to untangle them), and then gently let skis fall to the side, keeping them untangled. then stand up from being next to the skis (not behind them)
5. play "fishy-fishy cross my ocean" in an open space (adults are the sharks initially, joined by children as they get caught)
6. practice stomping up the little hill in front of the lodge and then gliding down with hands on knees, showing how to snowplow if balance is good enough

1st and 2nd Graders:

In addition to the above games, try "predator and prey" - children stand in two groups, facing each other, about 10 feet apart. Leader (adult) points at one group and says the name of a predator (e.g. wolf) and then points at the other and says the name of prey (e.g. rabbit). Prey group turns around and skis away to the safety point (identified by a pole or another adult), predators chase and try to tag the prey. NO POLES.

See you all tomorrow,
Chris

P.S. If you have a camera/video device, don't be shy. Take pictures and video and we'll get it up on the blog!

RACING CALENDAR

Here is a list of BKL races to consider. We will provide club support (coaching/waxing for classic races) at the races that are asterisked. Registration for these is either through skireg.com or through the NENSA website.

*Jan. 24: Grafton Ponds, Grafton VT - 10 am skate race

*Jan. 31: Mountain Top Paintball Biathlon, Chittenden VT (near Killington) - skate

*Feb. 6: Prospect Mountain, VT - 10 a.m. skate - low key race/event with Olympic theme, torch lighting - Bill Koch is supposed to be there

Feb. 7: BKL race @ the Eastern Cup - Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe VT

Feb. 13: Putney Team Sprints - 10 a.m. classic - at Putney School or the Putney Grammar School

*Feb. 20: Silver Fox Trot, Hanover NH - BKL races and high school and up - lunch for Berkshire Trails families at the Swomleys' cabin again after

*Feb. 26-28: BKL Festival, Pineland Farms, New Gloucester ME (our club is staying at Holiday Inn Express in Freeport)

*March 6: Bread'n'Jam Classic, Notchview - 9 a.m.

Registration Form and Waiver/Club Ski Leasing

REGISTRATION

Now that I know how to post documents to the blog, here is a link to the registration form and waiver. Please fill out the registration form and waiver and mail to James as soon as possible. We need to register your children with NENSA from the information on our form.

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B9JbsJzdGmDKNTRiNmY5MzAtNDdmMS00NTdkLTg4MzYtNGE4YjEyZjE3NDBk&hl=en

Please note that the clothing order has closed.

CLUB SKI LEASING

We still have some skis, boots, and poles available for lease from the club. These are combination skis that require waxing to be used effectively, including glide waxing for skating. To keep them in decent shape, we require the child to be at least 7 years old to lease skis. If you are interested or have questions, please contact Sheila Niedeck at sjniedeck@hotmail.com.

Group List

Here is a link to the group list as of today. You will see that the groups are named for mountains. I will give a lollipop to each child who can tell me which country (and for the U.S., which state) each mountain is in.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AtJbsJzdGmDKdE01ZndDZ2p3N0xzVmg3VnVoWXh2dHc&hl=en

Moosilauke Group Skating Circuit Trail

Here is Clarissa on her new skate skis (club lease skis!) rocking circuit trail. Bill Bither did a great job with this group of beginning skaters. By the end of the day, he could barely keep up with them!

Video of Moosilaukes Skating - check it out

What a Great First Day!

Wow! That was a great day. I hope you all (or at least your children) had as much fun skiing today as Oscar, Amelia, and I did. I really appreciate all of your patience and flexibility. I will post more tomorrow (including a video clip Bill Bither sent me and some info on ski leasing). If your child's group didn't work out well, send me an email at cdefrancis@babsoncapital.com.

Also, if there is anyone who is willing to lead the kindergarten group, let me know.

Cheers,
Chris

First Day - Again

Oscar and I skied today, and there were a number of Bill Koch families up at Notchview enjoying the beautiful day. It was bit chilly in the wind, which will probably also be the case tomorrow.

See you all tomorrow. It would be great to be able to be getting into our groups to ski by 2:00 (in other words, not putting skis on or arriving at that time). Older groups/more advanced skiers will skate tomorrow.

I will print a bunch of group assignments and bring them with me. They will be preliminary as we see which children belong in which groups.

-Chris

A Cold, Cold Classic Ski

The weather stayed cold and windy, as predicted, but a small group of skiers had a good first day. We started with a quick group kick-waxing session, getting the older kids to do their own waxing - three or four thin layers of Swix Blue, corking well between each. Then we headed out in two groups. The older skiers, all girls today (Lilly, Lilly, Maggie, and Claudia) took off up the hill with their mother/daughter coaching duo Linden Rayton and Christina Peterson and coach Katherine Wood. Following them up the hill was today's younger group, Luke and Oscar, who did a great job "smashing bugs" and gliding all the way to the top of Circuit Trail. After some skiing along the top of Circuit and the adjoining trails, we all headed back down together via Ant Hill and enjoyed hot chocolate back at the lodge.

One brave little one was also out there today having fun gliding down the lower sections of Circuit and skiing the Magic Woods.

Hopefully next week will bring friendlier weather and we can kick off the season together.

-Chris

Today

It is really cold and really windy at Notchview at the moment. I just spoke to the crew, and it is 3 degrees with the wind blowing hard. Probably currently somewhere around -20 with the wind chill. So, if you have beginning skiers or younger skiers, you may want to stay home. We don't want their first day to be miserable. I will be up there, and we will try to get in at least a short ski in the woods, out of the wind. We will ski classic style.

I will also bring a wax bench and supplies and do a little waxing clinic after we ski for anyone who shows up.

-Chris

Really Windy and Really Cold (with wind chill) Tomorrow

The weather does not look like it is cooperating with us for tomorrow. Temperatures are expected to be in the low teens to high single digits, with winds of 20-30 mph. That makes for a sub-zero wind chill. It could be especially tough for younger children to be outside for very long. I will post a message tomorrow morning by 10:00 announcing whether we will meet or not.
-Chris

Skiing on New Year's Day

It was a beautiful day at Notchview, where the crew has worked their usual magic to create some great trails. Amelia, Oscar and I enjoyed a skate around the skate loop, working that long uphill!

See you all on Sunday at 2:00!