Youth Skiing Wrap-up Revised

I hope that everyone is enjoying the day off. The temperatures for tomorrow are supposed to be cold so we have revised the Youth Skiing Wrap-up. We will ski on Tuesday from 3:30-4:45. We will then head over to the Memorial School in North Yarmouth for some pizza to celebrate the season. I realize that driving to N. Yarmouth may be inconvenient for some but that was the only place where we could find space. The event will take place in the multipurpose room. We’ll hopefully be done around 6:00.

Please see the note from the previous post about RSVP.

Thanks and see you on Tuesday!

Youth Skiing Wraps Up March 3rd

Next Tuesday, March 3rd, will be the last day of the Cumberland Youth Skiing program for the year. We'll start the session at 3:30. Around 4:15, we'll stop and have pizza and whatever else to celebrate the season. We'll do this under the veranda at the new red building at Twin Brook, where we always meet.

For parents who have not come out to ski, please come, whether by ski, snowshoe, or foot. This will be a great opportunity to observe what we've been doing this winter and I'll think you'll enjoy it.

Please RSVP by calling Cumberland Recreation at 829-2208 on Monday or Tuesday. Also, feel free to RSVP via email to sdavis@cumberlandmaine.com.

Cumberland Rec will supply the pizza, plates, and napkins. If you're interested in contributing,

here is a list of items that we could use to enhance the event:

salad

desserts

juice/drink

etc

In the event of extreme weather, like rain, we'll move it to the gym at the Memorial School in North Yarmouth. As of now, the weather is predicted to be around 30 degrees with some snow showers. This will be conducive to having the event at Twin Brook. If the weather changes, drastically, I'll email by noon Tuesday.

Thanks and have a good weekend!

Youth Skiing is on for the next Two Weeks

I hope that everyone had a great vacation week.  I heard that a lot of families were going on some great trips.  It should be a good week of skiing.  We'll wrap things up next week either on March 3rd or March 5th.  We may try to do some type of get together.  Details will follow.  

Have a good rest of the week and I hope that power has been restored.

Thanks!

Bill Koch Festival

Dear Skiers,
This is a repeat of a message I sent a week or so ago. With a February 1 deadline coming up, I thought I would send out a reminder.

It is time to sign up for the New England Bill Koch Festival to be held theweekend of February 27-March 1 at the Notchview Reservation in Windsor, MA(near Pittsfield). For full information, go to the festival website whereyou can find lots of information about the festival:
http://www.nensa.net/page.php?id=2936

If you are interested in this event, I would encourage you to registerbefore February 20th so that you avoid a late fee. You should also make a reservation at theCrowne Plaza as soon as possible. Be sure to call them directly and ask tomake a reservation for the festival (don't go to central reservations--they will send you back to the hotel).

What is the Bill Koch Festival? It is a fun weekend of skiing for skiersborn after 1994. There are competitive events--an individual classic raceand a skate relay race, as well as non-competitive skiing--themini-marathon. For the youngest skiers, there are the lollypop races.There are kids from all over New England that come together to celebrate Nordic skiing.

The actual events start on Saturday morning, but most people try to arrive at the festival site by Friday afternoon, hopefully in time to check out the courses.

Most people will stay at the Crowne Plaza in Pittsfield--there is a pool there and the Saturday night Pasta Dinner and awards are held there. Inaddition, they set up a waxing room and are essentially the event headquarters. You can find out all of the lodging options at the festivalwebsite.

Our family went to our very first Bill Koch Festival in 2001 at Notchview. I remember the weekend vividly. Jackson skied in the lollypop race and thenskied in a relay as well. Carter spent most of the weekend skiing around avery short loop in the woods where they had decorated the trees with all sorts of trolls. Four years later, we returned and they were both racing in all of the events.

When you register, they will ask you for your club. If you are in the Cumberland, Freeport, Falmouth, Yarmouth, North Falmouth area, I would encourage you to sign up as part of Coastal Nordic. If you are from CapeElizabeth, your club is Cape Nordic. When they ask what district you arefrom, it is SOME (Southern Maine).

I know that western Massachusetts sounds like it is a long way away fromsouthern Maine (and it is about a four hour drive) and you might bewondering about snow in Massachusetts. Well, the best snow we have had atthe festivals were the two festivals at Notchview, the one at Stowe and lastyear at Gunstock.

Hopefully, we will have a good group of skiers from southern Maine attendingthis year. Morgan Laidlaw will join us as well for coaching and support!

Ted Hall846-4872

Update for Week of 2/9

Practice is on this week. We will freestyle both days this week. No practice next week on the week of Feb Vacation.

Thanks!

Some photos from the Scavenger Hunt

Sunday, 2/8 Youth Skiing Event

Wow--what a time we had out there at Twin Brook today. Forty-eight youthskiers ranging from 4 to 14 years old skied all over Twin Brook's trails ona scavenger hunt. The kids picked up tokens and candy in the woods andturned them in for all kinds of prizes at the end.
It was great fun seeing everyone out there skiing--kids and parents!

Thanks to everyone for bringing the prizes and special thanks to PeakPerformance in Portland for donating ski ties, water bottles and posters tothe prize table. Thanks to all of the parents who helped out on the courseand at the prize table.

Next week's event--the 2nd annual Tennis Ball Biathlon, Sunday, February8th. Registration between 11:00-11:45; race begins promptly at noon.Registration fee is $2.00.

Skiers will ski a short loop, stop and shoot tennis balls through a hulahoop, ski a second loop, come in and shoot tennis balls again and thencomplete a final loop. This is a SKATE ski race.
Anyone eighth grade and younger is welcome. There will be a special coursefor the lollypop racers (under 8 years old).

Ted Hall
846 4872

Week of 2/2 Update

We had a great turnout on Saturday for the parent skate clinic.  17 people took part with skiers of varying ability levels.  Everyone had a good time and thanks for the turnout.

The rain originally schedule for tomorrow appears to be snow.  If classes end early, check the blog.  The snow that is coming appears to be insignificant.

We are skating both days this week.

Thanks!

Lots of Snow today...Classic Thursday

There will be a lot of soft new snow at Twin Brook, challenging to skate on. We'll classic on Thursday, we had planned on skating. If you have Swix purple put on a couple of thin layers. We'll apply wax otherwise.

Thanks!

1/25 Race..Next weekend's event

Dear Skiers,

Thanks to everyone for coming out on a cold day today (Sunday). There was some great skiing by everyone. I hope you had fun! I have attached the results from today's race. Please let me know if I didn't spell your name right or anyother mistakes I might have made.

Next week is our first annual scavenger hunt at Twin Brook, open to all youth skiers 8th grade and younger. Please gather no later than 11:45 on Sunday, February 1 at the shelter on the Tuttle Road side. We will get organized and then skiers will go off and ski all over Twin Brook for an hour. At 1:00, we will all come back to the starting point and hand outprizes for the scavenger hunt. Depending on the age, skiers will either skiwith a partner or an adult.

SINCE WE HAVE TO DO SOME PLANNING FOR THIS ONE, PLEASE RSVP TO ME (Ted Hall ted_hall@earthlink.net), BY FRIDAY NIGHT SO THAT WE CAN GET EVERYTHING WE NEED. The idea of prizes is NOT to present big things, but simply to have little prizes for each of the stations they visit. For every skier participating, please bring at least three small prizes (more if you want to--we will need more than that). Some examples include:--books that you no longer want at your house that you think someone elsemight want--ski posters--a couple of cookies in a bag--if you decide on this one, please cook abatch and bring a bunch of prizes--small toys that you think kids would like--Halloween size candies--pieces of fruit

The idea is to have fun with this. You can ski any style you want at this one--you could even snowshoe if you would prefer. Let me know if you have questions.

Ted Hall

846-4872

Twin Brook Skate Race, Southern Maine Bill Koch Youth Ski Leage, 1/25/09

Lollypop race approx .5k

J5 approx 2k, J4 approx 3k, J3 approx 4k

Lollypop Division:

1. Stapler, Zeb Cumberland

2. Gagnon, Elizabeth Cumberland

3. Mulling, Natalie Cumberland

J5 Girls

1. Wilbraham, Jenny Bath 11:27

J5 Boys

1. Olins, Yacob Freeport 9:08

2. Menz, Henry Cape Elizabeth 21:23

J4 Girls

1. Nolin, Mikela Yarmouth 18:09

J4 Boys

1. Laukli, Evan Yarmouth 12:01

2. Hall, Nicholas Cumberland 12:22

3. Menz, Daniel Cape Elizabeth 13:38

4. Humphries, Ethan Freeport 14:22

5. Jepson, Camden Scarborough 16:00

J3 Girls

1. Hatton, Dana Cape Elizabeth 15:03

2. Lesnikova, Ihilia Yarmouth 16:06

3. Laukli, Katrina Yarmouth 18:39

J4 Girls

1. Jacobs, Chester Yarmouth 12:53

2. Hall, Carter Yarmouth 14:23

3. Elder, Jack Yarmouth 14:48

4. Jepson, Anders Scarborough 16:07

5. Maurer, Max Freeport 16:33

6. Mullin, Mitchell Cumberland 19:14

Week 1/26

Youth Skiing

We are skate skiing both days this week.  There could be some snow on Wednesday which should keep the conditions great.  Both days were great last week, we skated on Tuesday and classic skied on Thursday.  On Thursday, there was a 120 racer middle school race which kept things interesting.

I'll have wax remover on hand to remove any kick wax from Thursday.

Learn to Ski

For any parents who want to learn more about skate skiing, come to Twin Brook on  Saturday morning at 9:00-10:30 am.  I have a bunch of equipment with the exception of poles.  So if you have poles, bring them.  I have skis and boots that I can lend out.

I'll be at the red building around 8:45am, I'll do a boot fitting and we'll start skiing.   We'll finish at 10:30.

Youth Ski Events

Dear Ski Families,

For the next three Sundays at Twin Brook in Cumberland, we will be hosting Bill Koch events for youth skiers.

Sunday, Jan 25--Bill Koch skate race begins 12:00 with sign up from 11:00-11:45 right by the shelter on the Tuttle Road side. There will be races for the following age categories and ribbons for all participants:

Lollypop (born after 2000)
J-5 (born in 1999 & 2000)
J-4 (born in 1997 & 98)
J-3 (born in 1995 & 96)
Also, if there are any 8th graders who were born in 1994, we will have a J-2race for them.

Sunday, Feb 1--Bill Koch Scavenger Hunt at Twin Brook. This will be open to all youth skiers. Please meet right by the shelter by the Tuttle Road entrance between 11:30 and 11:45 to sign up. Each skier will ski with a mapand a list of possible clues. Full directions will be given that day. THIS EVENT DEPENDS ON EVERYONE BRINGING AT LEAST TWO PRIZES PER SKIER. The prizes should be inexpensive--perhaps a used book that you don't use any longer, some kind of treat, a hat, poster, pin, etc. The idea is that for every station the kids visit, they pick up a small prize when they return. Skiers will go out for 45 minutes and can go all over Twin Brook to look for prize certificates.

Sunday, Feb 8 Bill Koch Tennis Ball Biathlon begins 12:00 with sign upfrom 11:00-11:45 right by the shelter on the Tuttle Road side. There will be skate races for the following age categories and ribbons for all participants:
Lollypop (born after 2000)
J-5 (born in 1999 & 2000)
J-4 (born in 1997 & 98)
J-3 (born in 1995 & 96)
Also, if there are any 8th graders who were born in 1994, we will have a J-2race for them.

Skiers will do one short loop and then come into the "shooting range" where they will need to put three tennis balls through a hula hoop. Then, they will ski another lap, come in and shoot again, and finally ski one final lap.

Please let me know if you have any questions. These events rely on help from parents. If you can come and be prepared to help out, that would be great.

Ted Hall
846-4872

Week of 1/19 Update

It should be a great week of skiing! We will skate on Tuesday this week and we'll classic ski on Thursday. The air temperature is much more mild this week and everyone should be comfortable.

One thing on the logistic side: prior to departing Twin Brook, please ensure that name have been returned to the check-out area.

Thanks again!

1/15/09 Practice

To everyone involved with the Cumberland  Youth Skiing Program:

Nordic Skiing is a tough person sport and Maine is a tough person state.  BUT with the cold temperatures and high winds today it is in the best interest of everyone to cancel practice.  Thanks and we'll see you next Tuesday.

Have a good weekend!

Week of 1/12 Update

It should be a great day of skiing tomorrow.  Be sure that everyone is prepared attire wise.  Also please try to mark your child's equipment with name or some type of unique identification. Other than that, everything should be pretty straight forward.

Thanks and have a good week!

Bridgton Biathlon Sunday, January 18th

The Bridgton Biathlon, sponsored but the Southern Maine Biathlon Club and Maine Winter Sports Center will take place on Sunday, January 18th.  

This is an air rifle biathlon where the guns are provided by the race organizers.  You do not ski with a gun, instead you ski a lap and then come into the shooting area to pick up a gun to shoot the target.

The total race distance is 4k.  Each skier will do one lap, come in and shoot, ski another lap, shoot etc..

Event Time: Clinic will take place from 10:00-11:30am and its required that all racers take the clinic.  The race begins at noon.

Location: Five Fields Farm, Bridgton. www.fivefieldsski.com for  directions.

The race is open to young skiers and adults.  It's a great introduction to biathlon.  Last years several racers were 10-11 years old.

Price: 15.00

Race Results: 1/11/09

Race Results: Pineland Race, Southern Maine Bill Koch Youth Ski League

Technique: Freestyle

.5k

Lollypop Division

1 Lauklia, Sophia Yarmouth                         

2 Hester, Niklas Falmouth                         

3 Hester, Annika Falmouth                       

2.5k

J5 Girls Barbara, Gretchen Yarmouth 20:34 

J4 Girls None

2.5k

J4Boys

1 Laukli, Evan Yarmouth 10:10

2 Jones, Henry Yarmouth 12:40

3 Humphries, Ethan Freeport 13:11

4 Pietropaoli, Timmy Freeportt 13:44

4K

J3 Girls

1 Hatton, Dana Cape Elizabeth 17:14

2 Bell, Ihilia Yarmouth 18:38

3 Laukli, Katrina Yarmouth 22:37

J3 Boys

1 Jacobs, Jacob Yarmoth 14:54

2 Hall, Carter     Yarmouth 17:08

3 Jones, Sammy Yarmouth 19:29

4 Smith, Colin Cape Elizabeth 24:28

5 Shedd, Nicholas Cape Elizabeth 28:29

J2 Girls 

1 Pidden, Emma Yarmouth 20:01

Some Photos from Thursday

Thursday 1/7

We had a great day on Tuesday.  We had an enjoyable dryland session and we're excited about the snow today.  On Thursday we will ski.  Parents, please mark all ski equipment with something that identifies your skier.  Masking tape with a name will probably work best.  Everyone  seems to have black poles and Rossignol skis.  This can create problems when equipment is being taken on and off.  Also ensure that hats and gloves are brought to the session. 

Also, please ensure that your skier has signed up through your rec program or Cumberland Recreation directly.

Coaches, if anyone can bring a camera tomorrow that would be great.  It should be a pretty day out there.  

Thanks and see you out there!

Youth Ski Program starting Tuesday-Dryland

The Cumberland Youth Ski Program will begin tomorrow as scheduled, minus the snow.  We walked the trails on Saturday and found there was a layer of crust with ice underneath.  The trails are skiable, however it would not be an enjoyable experience.

For Tuesday, we'll have a dryland session.  We'll break the group into subgroups.  We'll do some hiking, various drills, trivia questions (very successful the last time this happened) and some general adventure.  It won't be skiing but we'll have a good  time.  The kids will get some good exercise.   Have the kids come with cold weather attire, sneakers, ski poles, and a sense of adventure.

Coaches, I'll send you out an email on Tuesday morning and I'll give you a plan when the session starts tomorrow.  Remember to have the kids dropped off on the Tuttle Road entrance of Twin Brook at 3:25.  We'll be finished around 4:30-4:45.

Thanks!

Hopefully the snow will come through on Wednesday and we'll ski  Thursday.