Monday, December 29, 2014

Telstar Info

A couple things to know about the upcoming race at Telstar this coming Saturday, January 3.  Because of the less-than-optimal snow conditions, the venue has changed to Gould Academy in Bethel.  Click on the link below for info about location, parking, etc.

Also, we have 15 skiers signed up for this race.   We are expecting all skiers to ride the van unless they let Susan know (via email to highschool@merriconeag.org) by Friday morning that they will be finding their own ride there.

More info to follow about van departure time.

Friday, December 26, 2014

Ski camp, Telstar and other nordic things

Greetings all ~

Ski camp is tomorrow, so hoping everyone is taking some time today to prep skis and get ready for camp.  All camp details (packing list, departure time, etc.) can be found in recent posts.  Scroll down on the Home page to find out what's what.

To anyone bringing a treat for camp - cookies, bars, brownies - be sure remember that all treats should be NUT-FREE.  Thank you!

Only about 1/2 the team has responded about whether they will be attending the Telstar relay race next Saturday.  Be sure to email Susan today (Friday) or be prepared to discuss it on Saturday at ski camp.

Looking forward to a fun few days of skiing!

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Message from John

The pre-competition period is coming to a close.  We have already experienced all the weather one would expect in winter, starting with a Thanksgiving snow storm and now a Christmas rainstorm is due.  Our training to date has included skiing (on the limited snow we could find) and strength training, as well as running and some bounding.  One of the appealing themes of xc ski racing is the challenge we face in training.  Racing is always on snow, but the hard work is often done elsewhere, and staying focused even when conditions prevent on snow training is essential.  It is exciting to be working with a solid group of returning upper class skiers and a great group of first year skiers - it is going to be a fun year.  Also I am pleased that Jason will be joining us at Christmas camp and for Fridays as time permits.  We also welcome Lucy Le Garrec who is helping out a couple days a week and at some races.  Lucy attended  Merriconeag before moving to Freeport schools in 5th grade, her early start at Merriconeag helped prepare her for a successful junior ski career and an even better NCAA career at Colby and U of VT where she earned multiple ALL American results.
Wishing all a happy Holiday Season and think Snow!

John

Monday, December 22, 2014

Ski Camp Info - 2014

CHRISTMAS CAMP INFO ...

Many thanks to the Pierce family for hosting, and to the Phillips/Roeber family for overflow housing!    
  • Camp Central:  Saddleback Mtn Ski Area, Pierce family lodging at Rock Pond Condo unit #34.  
  • Contact information:  There is no landline at the condo and cell phone reception is not very reliable.  We can, however, receive emails/texts so this is the best way if communication is necessary during the camp.  (Sarah 776-4959, Dan 776-0503, John T. 807-1919)
  • We will assess the cost per family upon after camp and families will be billed.  Costs will include food, trail passes and gas.
Pre-Camp:
All skiers should prepare their skis prior to camp.

Classic skis:
  • Clean kick zone
  • Sand kick zone lightly with a 100g sand paper or scotchbrite
  • Wax tips and tails with a cold glide wax (ex. swix blue CH6 or equivalent)
  • Brush
Skate skis
  • Clean and wax with same CH6 or equal
  • Brush 
Having skis ready will save time.  We will add kick wax in Rangeley before skiing.  Skiers should take responsibility for their skis, so everyone should bring a cold hard kick wax and glide wax along with scraper and cork.

Make sure to have cold weather ski clothing, as we may see very low temps at least some of the days.  This includes warm gloves or mitts, neck warmer, extra hat and warm ups are essential.  Also a water bottle and HOLDER are important along with an energy bar/snack to bring during the ski.  We should plan on two skis per day along with a short morning run. The run is to be easy and intended to get us going before breakfast.  We are thinking a morning AM ski to be 10-12 or so and afternoon PM  2-3:30.

Travel details:
We are expecting that all skiers will be riding a van to ski camp unless they have made other arrangements with Susan.  We do have room for everyone.  Please be at Desert Rd at 7:45 Saturday morning, December 27, as we would like to pull away by 8:00.

We will ski upon arrival, before heading to the condo, so everyone should:
  • Come dressed in your ski gear
  • Bring a snack to eat in the van
  • Keep your SKATE boots/skis/poles handy
  • Have your water bottle-belt handy
Other things to remember:
  • Wax skis
  • Bring lunch
  • Check the packing list
Return travel info:
We will ski on Tuesday and hope to return by dinnertime.  We will post return info on the blog on Tuesday morning.

Friday, December 19, 2014

Telstar Relay Info

The first scheduled race of the season is coming up on Saturday, January 3.  This is a skate relay race where each leg is 3K.  Each relay team will consist of 2 boys and 2 girls.  Races are at 11:00 and 12:40 at Telstar High School in Bethel.  Exact info about departure time, return time, etc. will follow, but plan on a full day.  Everyone should be thinking about whether this fits into your schedule (this is the last Saturday of vacation), as we will be registering soon.  Send Susan an email at highschool@merriconeag.org by Friday, December 26 to let her know if you will be attending this race or not.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Christmas Camp Packing List

See below for the packing list for the upcoming Christmas Camp.  Camp logistics and a note from John will be posted in the next few days.  For now, plan on departing on the morning of Saturday, December 27 and returning late in the day on Tuesday, December 30.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHRISTMAS CAMP 2014 PACKING LIST...

Plan to bring classic and skate skiing gear and running gear.

LABEL ALL THE GEAR AND CLOTHES YOU DON'T WANT TO LOSE.

Must have:
• LUNCH for the first day
• Snacks for the 4 days (to be stashed in your water bottle belt). Bars are ideal.
• Sleeping bag + pillow (not everyone will need a pillow, but we'll need a few).
• Towel
• Workout clothes for 4 days for the activities listed above.
• Multiple pairs of socks
• Hats, gloves, etc. - you will need WARM gloves
• Neck warmer
• Plan on layers!
• Warm snow boots
• Apres-ski clothes for evenings + indoor shoes or slippers if you want something on your feet inside
• Pajamas
• Toiletries
• Headlamp
• Classic AND skate skis, poles, boots - packed as compactly as possible.
• Water-bottle holder with a water bottle - ideally the kind that you can wear around your waist that also has a pocket for a snack
• Basic wax equip
o   Scraper
o   Cork
o   Small amounts of cold, hard kick wax and glide wax

Optional:
• Books, games, etc. - If you have a good group game, please bring it!
• A movie for the group - G, PG or PG-13 (no R movies)
NUTFREE cookies, brownies, etc. labelled with ingredients

A note about electronics ... 
-       Cell phones/ipods may come on this trip
-       Laptops should remain at home
-       Chaperones will be mindful of any cell phones or ipods getting too tired on this trip - after all, it's their vacation too - and so will carefully wrap any over-used cell phones/ipods in a beautiful pink silk and lovingly set them aside for a rest period as necessary.

Friday, December 12, 2014

Ski Team Fees

Ski team fees have been set at $225 per skier and bills are going out this week.  If you acquired a family pass, please deduct $45 per skier from your bill when you remit.  We will let the business office know who these skiers are.

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Pineland Ski Pass

Pineland season pass forms were handed out to all team members this past Monday.  Completed forms (signed by a parent) need to be returned to Susan by this coming Friday, December 5.  In case you lost your form, pick one up from Susan's desk or download one here - Pineland Season Pass Application

Be sure to tell Susan if you are getting a family pass and will not get a pass through the school team.  This will reduce your team fee by $45.

Thanks!

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Upcoming Ski Swaps

Greely Ski Swap/Sale - Saturday, December 6
The annual Greely Ski Swap/Sale will be held from 9am to 1pm on Saturday Dec. 6th at the Greely High School in Cumberland.  New and Used equipment, snowboards, clothing and accessories will be there. Rodgers Ski & Sport  and Carter’s XC will be there with equipment as well.

Consignment drop-offs will be accepted:  Wed. Dec. 3rd, Thurs. Dec. 4th, and Fri. Dec. 5th from 6pm to 8pm.

25% of each sale benefits the Greely Ski Teams.  The teams also accept donations of equipment.  
If you have any questions, please email Liz Otley (eotley1@maine.rr.com).

Falmouth Ski Sale - Sunday, December 7
The Annual Falmouth Ski Club winter equipment sale will be held on Sunday, December 7 from 12:00-3:00 in the Falmouth Middle School cafeteria.

New equipment will be offered from Auclair X-C, Rodgers, and Arlberg at deep, deep discounts.

Used Equipment drop off will be Saturday, December 6 from 5:00 to 7:00 at the Falmouth Middle School cafeteria (follow signs and enter through cafeteria door towards the back of the school).

Monday, November 24, 2014

First practice notes

Please be prepared to practice Monday 12-1-14. We will have an introductory meeting followed by a practice on foot. Please review your ski equipment prior to the meeting and let John know next week if you need help with ensuring you have the equipment you will need. For the dryland practices be sure to dress appropriately: bring extra layers, hats and gloves as the temperatures are often much colder at the end of the day. You will need a pair of poles for ski walking/bounding - they should be sized about the same as your classic ski poles or slightly shorter, long poles will not work! We will do some roller skiing but we will go over the needs before we actually have a roller ski practice.
For those who spent the fall XC running - take an easy Thanksgiving week, however a few easy trail runs would be appropriate.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Ready for practice?

Practice begins Monday, December 1.  We will have a late van back to Desert Rd for van riders, arriving at Desert Rd around 5:00.

Everyone should come prepared for running and should bring ski poles.

As always, we expect that van riding skiers will be on the late van.  Whenever there is a change in plans (orthodontist appointment, injured, etc.), make sure to tell Susan that you want to ride the early van instead of the late van, or no van at all.

Friday, October 31, 2014

Welcome to the 2015 Ski Season!!!

Hard to believe that ski season is right around the corner!  However we may see some snow this weekend, so it's timely to start sharing ski news.  Local ski swaps are coming up soon, so be sure to check out the dates below for various happenings.  Think snow!

Thursday, November 6
L.L.Bean Team Night
6:00 - 9:00 PM
Waxing demo
Reps from Salomon, Rossignol, Fischer and Swix
Info on sizing and choosing equipment

BNS
200 Anderson St
Portland
541-7438
Team discount available - ask!
Will have weekly wax clinics beginning in December

Ski Swaps

Sunday, November 16, 9:00 - 2:00
Auburn Ski Swap
Auburn Middle School
Falcon Dr

Saturday, November 22, 9:00 - noon
Yarmouth Ski Swap
Yarmouth Elementary School
121 McCartney St

Important Dates
December 1 - Team practice begins (dryland until we have snow)
December 27-30 - Ski camp (optional) - additional fee
February 16-17 - States races in Presque Isle (team travels February 15-18) - additional fee

Also note
Anyone joining the ski team MUST have a current Sports Permission Form on file at school.

Monday, March 3, 2014

EHSQ Results

Congratulations to all seven of our skiers that participated in the EHSQ race at Sugarloaf.  Every one of our skiers that raced either qualified for the team or qualified as an alternate.  Samantha, Carlin, Forrest and Graham will be traveling to Vermont March 14-16 as part of the Maine Team and skiing in the Eastern High School Championships.  Well done everyone!

A very special thank you to John Tarling for going above and beyond the call of duty, coming to Sugarloaf to wax for and support our skiers.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

John's Season Wrap-up

With such a winter feel today it is hard to believe the HS ski year has ended.  It is great that we have a number of racers participating at the J2 Festival and the EHS Q and Championships.  This year has been unique with the early and consistent snow.  Despite a few warm ups, we never had a long interruption and successfully completed all the scheduled races.  A big thank you to the school community and parents for all the support during the season at the races and the Christmas camp.  The team exceeded my expectation thanks to all the hard work and focus through the year.

A few highlights from the results sheets are Samantha winning the Classic race at Class C Championship, after finishing as runner-up at both WMC championship races. Forrest and Graham also both earned a podium finish at the State Championships.  The team had a very strong result at the WMC Championships, with the Boys' team 2nd and the Girls' team 3rd.  The team also is well represented on the WMC ALL Conference Team by Samantha, Fiona A., Forrest, Graham and Tucker, with John not far off ranked in 14th.

The State races this year were at historic Black Mountain and the team successfully defended both the Boys and Girls titles.  For the girls, it is the fourth year running as State Championships!  Congratulations to Carlin and Lily - their four titles may be matched but not surpassed. The Boys' team this year was very strong and deep.  Unfortunately this year our two freshman ended up as alternates for the State races.  Davis and Dylan would have been solid scorers on most other teams, but had to settle for wax testers in Rumford.  Thanks to their efforts we were able to find the best wax combination, so they really contributed to the team win.  Lars and Zach were solid at the State races, with Zach scoring two top 10 results and Lars two top 20 finishes. The Girls' season looked to be in for a major rebuild after graduating three strong seniors last year, however due to the hard work and determination of Samantha, Fiona A., Carlin and Lily, all had very strong results all year, and newcomers Fiona C-D, Fiona L., Emma all had strong days while dealing with injuries and illness.

A fond thank you to our three special seniors - John, Carlin and Lily lead by example throughout the season and are responsible for building a strong and balanced team.
John

Monday, February 24, 2014

Eastern High School Qualifier

The Maine Eastern High School Selection race is this Sunday at Sugarloaf.  Information has been posted on mainehighschoolskiing.com, so take a look there to see information about:
  • This race.
  • How to register for this qualifier race.
  • Eastern High Schools on March 14-16.
Since the regular high school ski season is over, anyone participating in this race is doing so on their own, so make sure you register, arrange your own transportation, etc.

John Tarling says he is intending on attending this race and is happy to help wax, however it would be good to let him know how many to expect.  Be sure and let Susan know if you will be participating in this race and she will let John know.

Good luck to all!

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Class C State Champions!!!

Girls and Boys both finished first!!!

Check out the Race Results tab for detailed race results.  Awesome skiing everyone!!!

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Wednesday Update

We had a great day of skiing today, followed by board games, food and Olympics.

Slight change of plans for Thursday afternoon ...
After awards at Black Mt, we will NOT be returning to our rental house and will instead head right to Freeport.  That will most likely put us back in Freeport around 3:00.

Check out the Race Results tab to see how well our team skied today!!!

It's been a good day :-)

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

We have arrived!

After a nice snowy ski at Black Mt, we have arrived safe and sound at our rental house.  Kids are happily playing pool and ping pong, there's a fire in the fireplace, and dinner prep is happening!  Hope to see many of you tomorrow for the classic race!

Sunday, February 16, 2014

States Information

Black Mt – Here we come!

Here’s everything to know about this week’s trip to Black Mt for States …

Races:
Wednesday, February 19 - Classic Race
Girls Start - 1:30 PM
Boys Start - 3:00 PM

Thursday, February 20 - Skate Race (note updated race times)
Girls Start – 10:00 AM
Boys Start – 11:30 AM
Awards to follow

Transportation:
Leaving –
Arrive at Desert Rd by 12:45 on Tuesday, February 16.  Driving away at 1:00.
Returning –
After Awards on Thursday, we will return to the rental house to pack up, then head home.  We will probably arrive by dinner time, but depending on timing, we may opt to stop for dinner on the way home.
Be sure to let Susan know if you will not be riding the van either to or from this trip.

Food:
Everyone should come on Tuesday either having eaten lunch or bring lunch for the ride.

Everyone should bring their own stash of bars, etc. to eat when they want.

We would like 4-5 families to send along cookies, brownies, etc. for desserts and snacks.  Please let Susan know if you will be sending along a treat.

All other food will be just like Christmas Camp – organized by the chaperones.

Housing:
We are renting a house in Bryant Pond.  All skiers will be in a bed (some twins, some shared doubles).  Everyone should bring a sleeping bag, as it's too much to wash sheets for 20.

There is a phone at the house for incoming calls only.  The number is 207-665-2918.

Skis:
·      - Check the Wax Info tab for wax information.  Be sure you’ve waxed your race skis.
·      - When we leave on Tuesday we will go directly to Black Mt for an afternoon classic ski.  Make sure you have your warm-up classic skis waxed and ready to go for this practice.

What to Bring:
Lunch/snack for Tuesday
Sleeping bag
Towel
Water bottle
Bars/snacks
Your dessert contribution (4-5 families)
Warm clothing (layers!) - including hat, mittens, race gloves, etc.
RACE SUIT
Ski clothes
House clothes
ALL classic and skate skis/boots/poles
Toiletries
Basic wax equipment
· Scraper
· Cork
· Small amounts of kick wax and glide wax

LABEL ALL THE GEAR AND CLOTHES YOU DON'T WANT TO LOSE.

Cost:
Families will be billed for the cost of the rental house and food.

Other Info:
On Tuesday, we will ski upon arrival, before heading to the house, so everyone should:
·  Come dressed in your ski gear
·  Bring a lunch/snack to eat in the van
·  Keep your CLASSIC boots/skis/poles handy
·  Have your water bottle-belt handy
Other things to remember:
·  Wax skis
·  Check the packing list one last time!

Friday, February 14, 2014

Preliminary States Travel Info

There will be more information put up here later this weekend, but for planning purposes, we will be leaving Desert Rd at 1:00 PM on Tuesday.  We will go directly to Black Mt for an afternoon ski, and then head to our rental house in Bryant Pond.

Check the Race Schedule tab for race times, being sure to note the updated time of the skate race on Thursday.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Revised start time for States SKATE race on Thursday

Be sure to check the Race Schedule tab for updated start times for the Skate race on Thursday.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Leaving for WMCC Skate

Skiers will leave school at 12:45 p.m. on Monday, February 10, for the WMCC Skate race at Libby Hill.  This means that at lunch time (12:00-12:45) you will need to eat AND get ready for the 12:45 departure.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

UPDATED - Friday/Saturday Info

FOR FRIDAY PRACTICE ...
  • Clean race skis
  • Mark the wax pocket
  • Race ski tips and tails should be glide-waxed 
  • Bring race skis to practice for additional waxing
  • Bring practice skis to practice for skiing
Check the WAX INFO tab for wax recommendation.

UPDATED Plans for Saturday are:
  • Arrive at Desert Rd at 6:50 a.m.
  • Depart Desert Rd by 7:00 a.m.
  • Arrive at Stark's Hill by 8:30 a.m.
  • Races at 10:00 and 11:30
  • No awards, so we may depart Stark's around 12:45-1:00?
  • Back to Desert Rd around 2:30???
Tell Susan today if you are not riding the van to Fryeburg in the morning.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

General Info

  1. There is officially no race today (Wednesday) at Libby Hill.  Today's skate race will now take place on Monday at Libby Hill.  We are still on for classic at Stark's Hill in Fryeburg on Saturday.
  2. Classic practice tomorrow (Thursday) after school.
  3. Classic practice and waxing (for Saturday's race) on Friday at 11:00 at Pineland.  Plan on staying around 2 hours.
  4. Skis will need to be waxed on Thursday night/Friday morning, BEFORE coming to wax on Friday.  John will put out a wax recommendation tomorrow (Thursday).
  5. Plans for Saturday are:
    • Arrive at Desert Rd at 6:15
    • Depart Desert Rd by 6:30
    • Arrive at Stark's Hill by 8:00
    • Races at 10:00 and 11:30
    • No awards, so we may depart Stark's around 12:45-1:00?
    • Back to Desert Rd around 2:30???

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

WAXING

Check the WAX INFO tab for wax information for Wednesday's WMCC Skate Race at Libby Hill.

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Races, States and General Info

Hard to believe that the school ski season ends in just a few weeks.  See below for general information about these upcoming next few weeks.  More details will follow as the dates get closer.

1.  For those that attended Christmas Camp, the business office will be billing $106.

2.  Our next races are Part 1 and Part 2 of the WMC Championships.  Part 1 takes place next Wednesday afternoon (February 5) at 2:00 PM at Libby Hill in Gray and is a skate race.  Part 2 takes place the following Saturday (February 8) at 10:00 AM at Stark's Hill in Fryeburg.  This Saturday race is a classic race.  We will be leaving Desert Rd early in the morning, most likely by 6:30 AM and will return around 3:30 - 4:00 PM.

3.  In anticipation of this Saturday's (February 8) classic race at Fryeburg, everyone should be sure to have cleaned their classic skis since the Sassi race at Black Mt.  Also know classic skis may need to be waxed by Thursday night so everyone's skis will be ready in case John wants to put on a binder for the Saturday race.  More wax info this week ...

4.  Our final races of the season are the Class C States races at Black Mountain in Rumford.  Races take place on Wednesday, February 19 (classic race) and on Thursday, February 20 (skate race).  We expect to leave on Tuesday morning, February 18 (time TBD) and return home around dinnertime on Thursday, February 20.  Note this return date is a change from our original plans.  We are renting a house in the Bryant Pond area, one that is large enough such that all kids on the team can attend, whether or not they will ski in a States race.  In the next week John will be figuring out who will be skiing in what races and will share that information once determined.  Those not scheduled to race are still alternates, and may end up racing if necessary.

5.  Please put Tuesday, March 4 at 7:00 PM on your calendars for an an end-of-season ski team gathering.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Mid-season Update from John

The Merriconeag nordic team has remained focused the last few weeks, despite the difficult snow conditions at Pineland, our home training venue.  Even with the lack of snow and cold days we have found skiing opportunities at local golf courses and have not yet missed a scheduled race.  On the 15th we traveled to Stark's Hill in Fryeburg for a WMC freestyle race.  Forrest and Samantha lead the team with a first and second respectively, and both the boys' and girls' teams finished in second place.  Tucker, Graham and Zach also scored for the boys, and for the girls, Fiona A., Lily and Carlin all scored.  The following Monday it was back to Stark's for a holiday Relay Race featuring a Boys' and Girls' four person relay, as well as an open race.  The boys and girls both came out on top - the boy's team of Tucker, Graham, John, and Forrest bested a field of seventeen teams, the second MWS boy's team of Zach, Dylan, Davis and Lars finished ninth.  Samantha, Lily, Fiona A, and Carlin topped the girls field.  Fiona L. and Emma were our finishers in the open race having good results of 17th and 22nd place.

This past Saturday we traveled to Rumford for the historic Sassi Memorial Race hosted by the Chisholm Ski Club.  This race always draws a large and talented field from around the state.  This year we had a cold but pleasant day of racing at Black Mt, the boy's and girl's teams both finished in fourth place, a very solid showing against the strongest teams in Maine.  It is a good sign for the school when this result is not a surprise and the name of the school is being recognized around the state for a solid Nordic program. In the J2 class qualifying race, Forrest had a very strong race in fifth place, followed by Tucker in ninth.  Both will represent the school and Maine at the NE J2 Festival later this winter. Dylan and Davis also placed well in the J2 race in 36th and 49th respectively.  Graham and John had very strong open races in 17th and 31st place, followed closely by Zach in 44th and Lars in 81st. These results are impressive given the large field of 228 finishers.  On the girls side in the J2 race, Fiona L. and Emma both had solid races in 33rd and 56th place.  Fiona's place was not far off from the girls J2 team, and both are improving every practice. In the girls open race, Fiona A. skied to a very impressive 17th over all in a field of nearly 200. Samantha has had a very solid year finishing near the top in all her starts and was named an "honorable mention skier of the week." Unfortunately she was not at 100% physically and had misfortune in a couple of falls, leading to a 28th place - a very solid finish place although I am sure we will see more in upcoming races. Carlin was next in 35th, also a good finish but not what she is capable of in classic, better wax and dialing in the prep will pay off before year end.  Lily was the final scorer in 48th place, a good job in classic for her. Next up is this week's WMC race at Libby Hill in Gray.

Monday, January 27, 2014

Practice at Pineland

Practice today will take place on the Oak Hill trails at Pineland.  Van riders will be brought to Desert Rd after practice.

IMPORTANT:
IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE SNOW AND TRAILS, NOBODY IS PERMITTED TO WALK ON THE SKI TRAILS - ONLY SKIS ON TRAILS!!!

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Clean your skis!

Everyone should clean their classic skis from Saturday's race and put on a coat of glide wax.

Friday, January 24, 2014

Sassi Last Minute Details

Start Lists:
Go to http://mainehighschoolskiing.com/ and check out the Start Orders, shown under the Super Sassi Saturday section.

If you are riding to Sassi with your family and NOT taking the van, you must tell Susan by Friday 8:00 PM.

Also, be sure to check the 2 posts immediately below this one for general team Sassi information and J2 information.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Sassi Information - 1/25 Race

SASSI Race - Saturday, January 25

Skiers born in 1998 and 1999, be sure to check out the J2 information in the post just below this one.  It's important!

Race location:
     Black Mountain, Rumford

Start times (approximate):
     11:00 am J2 WOMEN 
     11:45 am OLDER WOMEN
       1:00 pm J2 MEN 
       1:45 pm OLDER MEN
     -------------------------
       3:15 pm AWARDS and BIB DRAWS

Transportation (updated!):
     7:45 AM - Arrive at Desert Rd to load vans
     8:00 AM - Prompt departure from Desert Rd
     9:30 AM - Arrive at Black Mt.
     5:00-6:00 PM - Return to Desert Rd (skiers can call from the van with more precise arrival time)


What to bring:
  • FOOD!  - Everyone will be gone from early until late, so all should come with an ample supply of snacks, lunch, etc.  Black Mountain does have a cafeteria in the lodge with standard ski mountain food for purchase.
  • Water bottle (extra water is available in the lodge)
  • CLASSIC ski gear
  • Warm clothes and layers
WAX:
     Wax info will be posted on the blog within the next couple days.

Van:
     *Any skiers need to tell Susan if they will be riding with their family and NOT riding the van.
     Also, we may have a few extra seats on the van, so if parents want to ride to Rumford on the van,
     get in touch with Susan to discuss.


Skiers born in 1998 or 1999

J2 Information

If you (your child) was born in 1998 or 1999, they count as a J2 skier.  The Sassi race at Black Mountain this coming Saturday, in addition to being a race for all Maine high school skiers, is also the qualifying event for Maine J2 skiers for the J2 festival held March 7-9, this year in Vermont.  Maine creates a team of 20 J2 boys and 20 J2 girls to make up the Maine team.  Click on the link below for much more specific information regarding this event.

You will note that this J2 festival is an expensive weekend ($325), with the cost entirely borne by the skier and his/her family.  Also, in addition to the $325 for the festival, skiers must also have a NENSA membership (cost $35).

Should a J2 skier be in the top 20, they need to come to the race this Saturday knowing whether or not they will attend the J2 festival in March.  Registration and payment will take place during the few days following the race, but skiers MUST report their intentions after the race itself on Saturday.

It is not uncommon for skiers to not attend the festival because of the significant cost, so nobody should feel badly if they decide to not attend because of the price tag.

Ask Susan if you have any questions, and please be sure to come to the Saturday race knowing what your plans will be.

Click here for Maine J2 Information

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Fryeburg on Monday, January 20

Here are the details for heading to Fryeburg on Monday, January 20 …

Depart Desert Rd: 8:00 AM

Race details:
     Skate race - 3.93k/leg
     Relay teams of 4 (either 4 boys or 4 girls)
     Those not on a relay team will be in an individual mass start race

Race times:
     Girls Relay - 10:30
     Boys Relay - 11:35
     Boys Individual - Mass Start 12:45
     Girls Individual - Mass Start 12:50

Return home:
     Looks like we could leave Fryeburg around 1:30, which would put us back at Desert Rd
     around 3:00ish.  Skiers can call home from the van when we have a better idea of timing.

What to bring:
  • FOOD!  - Everyone will be gone 8:00-3:00, so all should come with an ample supply of snacks, lunch, etc.
  • WATER! - There is not water available at Fryeburg, so be sure to bring enough for yourself.
  • Ski gear
WAX:
     Wax info will be posted on the blog within the next couple days.

Van:
     *Any skiers need to tell Susan if they will be riding with their family and NOT riding the van.
     Also, we will have a few extra seats on the van, so if parents want to ride to Fryeburg on the van,
     get in touch with Susan to discuss.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

RACE/PRACTICE CHANGES

Due to the poor snow conditions, a number of changes are taking place this week.

Practice:
Today's practice has been cancelled, as the Pineland trails are closed.  Van riding kids will be brought to Desert Rd on the regular 3:00 van (arrival 3:20) today.

Thursday's practice may move to Val Halla in Cumberland.  Stay tuned ...

Race:
Tomorrow's race at Pineland has been cancelled.  Instead we will go to Fryeburg for a SKATE race.  Start time remains 3:30 for girls, boys to follow.

Transportation to Fryeburg:
We will have 14 skiers, so we need 1 van (11 skiers) and 1 car (3 skiers plus coach).  If any parents are available to either drive the van or drive their car to Fryeburg for the race, please call Susan to discuss.

Return from Fryeburg:
The skiers will return to Desert Rd (passing by Pineland to drop off kids with cars), probably around 5:45-6:00.  Kids can call parents on the ride back.

* * * Think Snow! * * *

Monday, January 13, 2014

Race Day Status

Given the current snow conditions and the forecast, it is uncertain whether or not we will have a race at Pineland this Wednesday, January 15.  This will be determined sometime on Tuesday, January 14.

If the weather and snow conditions end up in our favor, we will be co-hosting the race with NYA and will need a number of parent helpers to assist with handing out bibs, organizing the start, collecting bibs at the finish, keeping the finish area clear, assisting the timer, and helping any racers that need assistance.

If we are not able to hold a race at Pineland, we may travel to Fryeburg on either Wednesday or Thursday, or we may have no race this week.

Stay tuned for news on Tuesday about what's happening, and be parents should be ready to help out if we do end up hosting.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Start of Season note from John

The Nordic Team opened the race season at Telstar High School Saturday. The popular relay always draws a large field and gives teams the chance to start the year in a fun event featuring three different races. Merriconeag entered two teams in the mixed relay, one team in the mixed school relay and a single racer (Davis) in the individual race.

It turned out being a perfect day to race - sun, cold, little wind and packed powder tracks.  In the opening race we had two strong teams, Samantha, Graham, Lily and Forrest raced well and finished a very close 4th, while our 2nd team of Carlin, Dylan, Fiona A and Tucker finished 14th out of 69 teams. Fiona CD and Emma raced in the mixed school race with a pair of Portland skiers and both had the chance to get in and race.  Fiona CD completed her first race in a while and looked strong, and Emma skied well in her first High School race. Davis was our lone racer in the individual race and finished a strong 11th.

The team was fortunate to hold a Christmas camp in Rangeley thanks to the generosity of the Pierce family. Their trailside condo was very convenient, allowing us to ski two workouts each day and have a relaxing mid day lunch, letting the kids recover between sessions. Although the RLTC was not fully open, the tracks we did ski were in good shape and we were able to do a fair amount of good classic skiing. The camp featured a fun team relay and a few intervals, some drills, but mostly just continuous skiing - a good way to start the year. Thanks to Susan and Jason, along with the Sarah and Dan, for making the camp a huge success.

The dryland phase of the year was short this year thanks to an early season snow storm, allowing the team to get on skis early.  Unfortunately this cost us our roller skiing workouts, but not a bad trade however.


The WMC races start Wednesday at Pineland on the 8th and we will host the next race on the 15th, also at Pineland.  All are welcome to come out and support the team. Complete results for high school races along with articles can be found on the website mainehighschoolskiing.com.
John

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Friday, January 3, 2014

*** TELSTAR UPDATE ***

In hopes that the temperature will warm a bit more, the Telstar Relays have been delayed by 1 hour and will begin at 12:00, not 11:00.  We will push back the departure time by 1 hour as well, so everyone should now come to Desert Rd at 9:00, we will leave by 9:15, planning to arrive at Telstar by 11:00.

Arrival time back to Desert Rd at the end of the day is difficult to predict (maybe 4:30-5:00?).  Best plan is for kids to call from the road (kids without phones can borrow).

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Telstar on Saturday

Race Info:
Saturday's race at Telstar begins at 11:00 AM.  This is a 3k skate relay race.  There are 4 skiers/team, with each team having 2 girls and 2 boys.  Race location is Telstar High School in Bethel.  We can go into the school to stay warm.

Travel Info:
Everyone should plan on being at Desert Rd around 8:00.  We will leave by 8:15, with travel time of about 1.5 hours.  Return time is unknown, but skiers can call parents on the way home (maybe around 3:30 - 4:00???).  Please let Susan know by Friday noon if you are not taking the van but taking your own transportation instead.

Notes from John T:
Once we have exact team start times, those racing next need to do a full warm up.  Later starters can do a course preview and go inside if it is extremely cold due to wind chill. In cold conditions a good breakfast and hydration is very important.  Also important - hand warmers, neck and ear coverings and good warm ups. We want to keep warm by moving, not standing still long; once cold it is difficult to warm up. 

Wax info:
The wax will be easy ... cold snow and low humidity call for a cold glide wax.  A base wax can be a graphite or a first layer of the race wax. Race wax Swix CH or LF 6 or equivalent with a good brushing will work.

What to bring:
Skate ski equipment - skis (race and practice), boots, poles
Warm clothing (layers!) - including hat, mittens, race gloves, etc.
Race suit
Water bottle
Lunch
Snacks