Bundle Up!

Another change in the weather leaves us with cold temps for Monday's practice.

The recent thaw/freeze cycle has left the snow difficult to work with.  Our groomers are out there making the best of it, but be prepared for some icy spots on Monday.

I will be gone on Monday, but I'll line up a replacement coach for my group, perhaps great grand uncle Sven.


Stoic Skaters "enjoying" last week's powder...

We will ski Monday!

Regardless of the impending snow storm, we will have practice on Monday.  You can expect fresh snow, soft conditions, and buried tracks.  It may be more of an 'expedition style' practice, but it will be fun.

Even if there are school closures, there will be ski practice.  See you tomorrow!
-Dan

Postponed Again

Sunset Skiers - by Coach Nick

Sorry folks; we're going to cancel practice again.  I talked to a few other coaches and we just don't think it would be enjoyable to ski when the high is 2 degrees, with a minus 10 windchill.  On the bright side, we are going to extend the season at least 2 weeks into March (provided enough snow sticks around).

Snow Leopards and Arctic Explorers should try to get into Bluedog this week and pick up their skis and poles.  Your poles should come up to your chin/lips for skating.  If you can't make it into Bluedog, we will bring your gear out to the next practice.  We'll try to get some grooming done so you might be able to get out and enjoy the snow once it warms up around Wednesday.

Welcome back!

Looks like we should have good conditions for today's practice.

A couple notes:
Arctic Explorers (Dan) and Snow Leopards (Bill/Jerry and Nick) will switch over to skating after today's practice.  Make sure your skis and poles get into Coach Dan's car (blue VW wagon with ski box on top) after practice.  I will try to park it right where we take our skis on/off.

Polar Bear parents (Douglas/Andrea and Bryn's groups) are encouraged to stay with their kids during practice.  I understand some kids, like my own, may be tempted to fuss a little more in the presence of a parent.  However, it is fairly common that these little skiers get cold or need a trip inside to use the bathroom.  Last practice one of the coaches ended up shuttling Polar Bears back and forth for most of the practice.  If you can't stick around, at least make sure another parent can attend to your child if they need help.  This lets the coaches focus on skiing with the rest of the group.

Thanks,
Dan

Wax Clinic at Bluedog

Wednesday night at 6:30.  Learn about waxing your classic and skating skis for training and racing.  If you have a race coming up, I'd be happy to wax your boards; bring them along.  No charge.

Practice Cancelled

Too cold to ski on Monday.  We'll have to wait another week.  Hopefully we can stretch the season out into March.

Congrats to Dominic (10km) and Genesee (5km) at the Dam Phunski today.

I will be giving a wax clinic at Bluedog Cycles on Wednesday January 29th at 6:30pm.

Get outside on Sunday before the next frigid blast hits us!

Dam Phunski and Frigid Monday

Thanks to the abundance of winter this winter, the Dam Phunski ski race will be held this Saturday at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. There are distances of 1km, 5km and 10km, based on age.  Categories include classical and freestyle (skating) technique.  For more information, click here.  Friday through Sunday may be the only break we get from the frigid temperatures, so try to get out to the Reserve and ski this weekend.

It looks like we may have to cancel practice again on Monday (forecast high of -6).  I'll update the blog on Saturday.  If coaches are available, and all this snow sticks around, I would like to extend the season for a week or two into March.  Stay tuned...