EVERYONE:

1. Attendance form: you know the drill!

2. Training plan: still here - you gotta scroll down on that there page

3. Congrats to coach Audrey: on Saturday, coach Audrey Mangan was publicly recognized for the 2023 NENSA Coach of the Year Award that she received last year. Go Audrey! We’re so proud.

4. One more race day coming up @ COC: on Sunday, 2/11, we’re hosting the Qualifier races for the VT teams for New England U16 Championships and Eastern High School Championships. These races are only open to U16s + high schoolers—just giving you a heads up that COC will be busy. If you want to volunteer, sign up here or email volunteers@craftsbury.com!

JUNIORS:

1. EC #3 done and dusted: whew! Sometimes racing at home is hard. Sometimes it’s not. We can talk more about it in person any old time, but for now, pat yourselves on the back, eat a snack, and go to bed.

2. Qualifier on Sunday 2/11: on Sunday we have the VT U16/EHSC Qualifier @ Craftsbury. Prices go up at midnight tonight!

3. Waxing for Qualifer: leave us your race skis when you reasonably can; ideally Weds/Thurs but we’ll take them whenever. A layer of PS6 won’t hurt if you races on them a bunch recently. We’ll get ‘em race ready. And yes, we’ll do all the race-day kick waxing for the qualifier.

4. Waxing fee for races: if you’re registered as a full-time junior, your waxing fee for Eastern Cups is included in the fee you paid. If you’re registered for fewer days, we charge you a waxing fee for Eastern Cups. This is $25/day and we will invoice you post-race. Everyone registered in our junior program, regardless of number of days, has waxing for the qualifier included as part of their program registration fee.

5. Volunteers for Qualifier: parents, we need you. If you can volunteer, sign up here.

6. Wax boxes: bring them to classic days. Yeesh. And be prepared to buy some basic supplies at the Touring Center if you don’t have them.

U14s:

1. The BKL Festival is coming! As U14s, you are still in BKL! Remember how fun the Festival was last year? This year the Rikert Nordic Center in Ripton, Vt., is hosting the very same event on March 2-3. Register here. Coaches are going to cheer, coach, and help wax skis. Discounted registration ends on February 9, and online registration closes on 2/17. A reminder that NENSA membership is required for participation at the Festival.

2. Qualifier: onSunday 2/11, we have the VT U16/EHSC Qualifier @ Craftsbury. Some of you are actually U16s (born in years 2008-2009), which means you have a shot at qualifying for the VT U16 team going to New Englands! Those of you who are younger than that can choose to do this as a practice race if you want. Or you can join the BKLers for practice Sunday.

3. Wax boxes: bring them to classic days. Yeesh. And be prepared to buy some basic supplies at the Touring Center if you don’t have them.

BKL:

1. Mega shout-out to everyone who raced today! It was so fun to watch y’all go out and rip. We hope you’re proud of yourselves.

2. The BKL Festival is coming! Remember how fun the Festival was last year? This year the Rikert Nordic Center in Ripton, Vt., is hosting the very same event on March 2-3. Register here. Coaches are going to cheer, coach, and help wax skis. Discounted registration ends on February 9, and online registration closes on 2/17. A reminder that NENSA membership is required for participation at the Festival.

COMPETITIVE MASTERS:

1. Keep an eye on Slack re: Sunday. We need to locate some coaching help but we’re optimistic we’ll find it!

INTERMEDIATE MASTERS:

1. Classic this week for both groups.

BEGINNER MASTERS:

1. Skate this week!

2. Coach notes: great job with skate intro last week, buddies!  More of the same this week.   We'll review, fine tune, add a bit more, and then of course play a game!

BIATHLON:

1. Weekday practices: Tuesday and Wednesday practices will happen as normal. Thursday practice will NOT be happening at Craftsbury because we are sending our coaches to support athletes racing at Jericho. (See notes below if you want to join on that excursion).

2. Sunday: We should be back to our normal practice schedule on Sunday.

3. Jericho Race on Thursday evening: If you plan to come and haven't told the coaches and if you haven't received an email from Susan with details, please reach out. It is still possible to register. There are novice and experienced categories. And we do have a van going from Craftsbury for those who need a ride.

4. Other upcoming races

• Bayley-Hazen Biathlon Races- there are beginner-friendly home races on Feb 17 and March 17.  There are novice and expert categories. Go ahead and sign up if you are interested and do it early as we expect these to fill up. The novice race is appropriate for BKL Beginners and for anyone ages 9+ who has never tried biathlon before and would like to.  (Parents, that includes you!) The expert race category is appropriate for BKL experienced and our U14/Junior group.  If you are a junior racing in the expert category and not sure whether to try the kids division or the adult division, come talk to us. To sign up, check out the events listings on the Craftsbury website.  

• Nationals in Fort Kent March 22-24. Detailed information has now been published! We will send coach support for those interested. You would need your own ride and lodging. There will be U13/15 categories included.

CATAMOUNTS:

1. Mega shout-out to everyone who raced today! It was so fun to watch y’all go out and rip. We hope you’re proud of yourselves.

2. Timeliness reminder: this is a fun week everyone!  We've got sunshine coming out our ears, and amazing plans to match that.  Practices this week will require every second of our short little hour together. We'll be leaving the fields right on time and will return exactly an hour later - we'll be adventuring farther away than usual!  Thanks for being timely and ready!

3. Jackets, hats, and mittens: are a must.  We won't take anyone adventuring that doesn't have all these items on for practice.  We'll be skiing farther afield.  The woods and the darkening skies by the end of practice are not quite as snuggly feeling as that nice sunny field just outside that warm Touring Center.   Remember that you as the parents are the boss, and even if your kids say they'll be "warm enough" - they won't be.  The coach boss says so.  No warm gear = no ski. 

4. The BKL Festival is coming! Yes yes, you’re all BKLers! Did some of you go to the Festival last year? Wasn’t it fun?! This year the Rikert Nordic Center in Ripton, Vt., is hosting the very same event on March 2-3. Register here. Coaches are going to cheer, coach, and help wax skis. Discounted registration ends on February 9, and online registration closes on 2/17. A reminder that NENSA membership is required for participation at the Festival.

See you all this week!

-coaches