2012-2013 Season Info

MERRICONEAG NORDIC SKI TEAM 2012 - 2013

COACHING and TEAM PHILOSOPHY:

The Ski Team welcomes any student who is willing to work hard to improve, regularly participate in practices, and commit to racing. Team members are expected to attend every practice and race unless they have made other arrangements with Coach Tarling.

FEES:

The cost to participate is $200. The fee covers coaching; race uniforms and entries; and some ski wax at races. It does not cover equipment, wax for practices, and costs to attend the Christmas Camp and the State Meet. Please see below for more information on the extra costs.

PRACTICE and RACE SCHEDULE:

The team will meet Monday through Friday beginning Monday, November 26 and ending Friday, February 15. Races are held mostly on Wednesdays, with some Monday and Saturday races. The race and practice schedules will be posted on the Nordic Team blog: http://mwsnordicskiing.blogspot.com/.

Race times, places, and style (classic or skate) are subject to change and often do change right up to the day of the race based on weather and snow conditions. Please check the blog the night before every race! If a change is made on the day of a race, it will be posted on the blog and Susan will notify parents via email.

NORDIC TEAM BLOG:

Skiers should check the blog regularly for updates on practice and race times and locations, wax recommendations for practices and races, and other inspiring information! The blog is THE place for pretty much anything you’ll need to know about the team or its activities. There will be pictures, results, and directions to races too.

EQUIPMENT AND APPAREL:

Skis:    Each skier will need either a pair of “combi” skis for both skate and classic skiing, or one pair for skate and one for classic. Two pairs of poles, one for each discipline, are needed as well as either “combi” boots or dedicated skate and classic boots. A less expensive pair of skis for warming up or for training on poor snow conditions are useful, but not necessary. Please talk with John if you have any questions about purchasing equipment.

Other useful equipment items are:

·       water bottle and holder (to be worn around the waist)

·       ski ties

·       ski bag

·       duffle or other bag to hold boots, hats, gloves, lip balm, etc.

Apparel:

·       socks, wicking type underwear, top and bottom

·       tights or active pants

·       warm up jacket and pants

·       vest

·       jacket for training – not too heavy

·       dry change of clothes – for after practices and races

·       hat and spare hat

·       gloves, light and medium weight

·       warm mittens for sensitive hands

·       buff, adds protection in extreme wind and cold

·       running shoes for dryland training

·       race suit – one is included in the fee - NOTE: THE UNIFORM IS TO BE USED FOR RACING ONLY, NOT AS AN UNDERLAYER FOR PRACTICE OR ANYTHING ELSE - these are very expensive race suits and we need them to last

Team Jackets:

We may do a group purchase of MWHS Nordic Team jackets.  If we put this together, the purchase is definitely optional.  More information to follow if we move forward.

FOOD and WATER:

Skiers will need to bring their own snacks and water to every practice and race. John will give more specific information when the season begins, but skiers should plan to eat a good lunch before practices and to bring a sizable snack to be eaten after practice. Skiers will need to come to races having eaten well earlier in the day, something to keep in mind for those Saturday races when the team will leave in the morning. Skipping breakfast is not a good idea!

PARENT OPPORTUNITIES:

There are many ways for parents to get involved with the team:

·       Help your skier be prepared for practices and races – lists!

·       Come to races to cheer

·       Drive the van to local races

·       Help at the race Merriconeag hosts on  January 16

·       Bring or send extra healthy snacks, hot tea or cocoa for races, Christmas Camp, States, etc.

·       Take photographs and send for posting on the blog and/or keep them for an end of season slideshow

·       Assist with waxing the night before classical races. You can learn how if you don’t already know!

·       Lend or donate an item for the Wish/Needs List…

WISH / NEEDS LIST:

Merriconeag strives to keep the team fee as low as possible and so relies on parents to lend or donate equipment. Below is a “wish list” of items the team needs. If you can help by lending or through donation, please let Jennifer Chace or Susan Sonntag know.

·       Wax benches – double-sided

·       Waxing irons – two or three

·       Waxing tools – scrapers, brushes, etc.

XC Ski Team Christmas Camp 2013!!!

Christmas Camp will be December 27 through December 30 this year. The location is still TBD, but we are determined to find a spot that will require less daily time in cars than last year. The cost will be in the same range as last year (~$200). 

PLEASE email Jennifer Chace (jenchace@gmail.com) to secure your spot by November 16 - THIS FRIDAY.

STATE SKI MEET:

Merriconeag competes in Class C for Nordic Skiing. Our team races against other local teams, regardless of class, throughout the season as a part of the Western Maine Conference. Near the end of the season, all WMC teams compete in a two-day end-of-season competition. These highly competitive races are local, do not involve overnight travel, and include the whole ski team.

Following the WMC races, all Nordic ski teams travel to State Meets based on class. Unlike the WMC races, only 6 team members of each gender are allowed to compete in the State Meet. Coach Tarling will choose the States teams based first on race performance throughout the season. In the case of a “tie”, commitment to practices, attitude, and desire to attend the meet will be considered.  The team will, if possible, also bring an alternate for each gender.

The Class C State Meet will be at The Heritage Center in Presque Isle. The team will travel on Sunday, February 17 and return on Wednesday, February 20. We hope to keep the cost of attending States under $250 and will include transportation, lodging, and food. If your skier CANNOT attend States if chosen, please let Coach Tarling know.

COMMUNICATION:

Questions regarding coaching, practice attendance, philosophy, equipment and the like should be addressed to John Tarling.

Susan Sonntag is the Merriconeag athletic coordinator for the ski team. Questions about transportation, fees, practice and race schedules and the like should be addressed to Susan Sonntag.

Jennifer Chace will again be the “team parent” this year. (If you are interested in taking on this task for next year, please let Jennifer know. You can begin to learn the ropes this year!) Logistical questions about Christmas Camp and States, parent volunteering, wish list donations, the blog should be addressed to Jennifer. Feel free to contact Jennifer with general questions too.

John: johntarling@aol.com, (w) 846-3777, (h) 829-4235

Susan: highschool@merriconeag.org, (w) 688-8989, (h) 353-8800

Jennifer: jenchace@gmail.com, 865-9008