Training week of 1/1
EVERYONE:
Attendance form: do this EVERY week!
Training plan: still here. This week we’ve started color-coding the groups since there are so many and people seemed to be reading the wrong line a lot. It’s the colors of the rainbow, starting youngest (Cats are red) and working to the oldest (all Masters groups are blue) except biathlon is its own special flower at the end of the rainbow (purple).
Slack: is how we send out updates now. Not email. If you aren’t on Slack, you won’t get those updates. Holler at us (jrskiing@craftsbury.com) if you need Slack directions.
Good luck to several of our juniors and the GRP out at US Nationals in Utah this week!
JUNIORS:
Invoicing for EC #1: if you went to Eastern Cup #1 with the team or joined for dinners, etc., please check your email for an invoice and pay at your earliest convenience. Thanks.
EC #2: we’ll get some info out soon. You haven’t missed the boat. Or anything vaguely resembling a boat.
U14s:
Middle school race on Thurs 1/4: do it with your school if you can! If you don’t have a school team, email Anna about joining.
BKL:
Extra clothes and stuff: we have a dresser in the clubhouse where we keep extra clothing: gloves, jackets, pants, etc. You do not ever need to suffer through a practice being cold because you forgot something. Just run in and grab something from the white “I forgot” dresser. But ALSO, please return things to that dresser when you’re done with them (wash them if got you got them gross; otherwise hang them by the fire/just put them back). Things taken from the dresser need to come back in order to be there for the next kid who needs them. Please don’t consider stuff yours permanently just because it’s cool or whatever.
COMPETITIVE MASTERS:
Holy klister, mister, we’re gonna classic ski: Anna and Rick are excited to classic ski with you on Thursday. Unless something changes with the forecast, we’ll be on violet klister. Wax rec: thin klister binder (KX20, Rex blue, etc), then a kicking layer of violet klister (we like KX35 or Rex violet; Rode violet is often a little slick) over the top. If there’s some new fluff, we’ll cover it with violet hardwax. If you want help waxing, we’re happy to give you a hand. Just email or Slack message Anna/Rick.
INTERMEDIATE MASTERS:
Welcome! The Tuesday group starts up this week on Jan 2nd with Rick and Kara, but the Monday group won’t start until next week, on Jan 8th, due to Gina traveling back from Montana. Both groups meet at 2:30pm on their respective days.
Technique: this week’s Tuesday group will start the season with skate technique. The technique will always be posted in the training plan on the club updates page. Here is a good basic video to start the season. The session will include several drills along with some agility training.
Equipment: if you need to rent equipment from our Touring Center, please arrive ~20 mins before the session to get set up.
BEGINNER MASTERS:
Welcome, Beginner Masters! We start on Tuesday, 1/2, at 9:30am. This season is going to be all about skiing with smooth confidence - think Lovely Day by Bill Withers while on skis. Practices are every Tuesday at 9:30. We'll meet just off the porch of the Touring Center. Practices will run about an hour. You'll see us, we are a group of 17 skiers and 2 coaches.
Practice techniques will vary depending on progress, desire, and conditions. Our goal is to spend an equal amount of time on both Skate and Classic. We'll get everyone comfortable on Classic before we tackle Skate. This means we'll likely ski on Classics the first 2 weeks at least. Technique for the week will be posted on the same club updates page, but in the spreadsheet form that is half way down that very same page.
Gear: Bring what you have! We'll spend some time on the first practice talking about how/why these slippery boards work and look at the different types of equipment. If you need gear, you can rent from the Touring Center. Arrive in the Touring Center 20 minutes prior to practice so you have time to gear up and be on the snow on time. Day Rentals (that's boots, poles, and skis) cost $15 per day for Adults, $10 per day if you are under 18 or over 65.
Attendance form: this is always linked at the top of the weekly blog. Please do this so Amy and I can plan which games to play at the end of practice. For reals, we'll play games. Games are fun, and fun is fun.
Questions?! Shout out to Kara via Slack or email anytime!
BIATHLON:
Racing: if you are interested in racing at all this season please read the email we sent last week and fill in the goggle form. This will help us plan. There are even a couple Craftsbury races that will be suitable for beginner BKLers if you are interested.
Cuffs: for those of your who wear cuffs (experienced crew), please try one on and make sure it fits BEFORE you ski to the range so we don't have to send you back to find one.
Extra gloves: with humid weather it's a good idea to bring an extra pair of dry gloves to change into before biathlon practice.
Biathlon and classic skiing can mix. Biathlon and klister (or very sticky kick wax) do not. If necessary please switch to fishscales/skins/skate skis before coming to the range.
CATAMOUNTS:
Great job this week, everyone! Winter has returned, and our amazing groomers work hard every day to make sure we have places to ski - please thank them if you see them out!
Skate this week! If you need to borrow gear for the duration of practice, there will be a coach out on the TC porch with a rack of skate skis to loan. Skis will need to be returned right after practice ends. Use the same boots and poles that you already have. PLEASE come 15 minutes early if you need to borrow skate skis.
Mittens: now that winter has actually returned, and temps are cooling off again - please dress those little fingers in mittens so we aren't distracted during practice.
Attendance form: PLEASE o please fill this out (always linked from the top of the blog and training plan). Every week gets better and better, thank you so much!
See ya this week,
-coaches