Norway 2011

Greetings from Norway!

We have been here for just about a week now and have been training lots, eating lots, and trying to rest during the time in between. Originally we stayed as the only guests in Hotel Hornsjo. We had the entire place open to us including the sauna, ping pong table, miles of beautiful trails for running/hiking, and the big lake for which the hotel is named. Every night we were served a different Norwegian dish and were given second and third helpings as we wished. I think that everyone is happy to have some solid and hearty Scandinavian food for a while; there is a big difference between the type of energy you get from eating Cheerios's and from eating a variety of cold meats, cheese, and bread in the morning. Trust me, the latter is better and the energy actually lasts.

And we have needed that energy! Just yesterday the group did an uphill high intensity skate rollerski. The workout was not meant to be at race pace, but it was still meant to be hard and we all found it pretty difficult. The younger athletes skied a 5.5 km course and the older group started 2.5 km below in order to make their course a solid 8 km of hard climbing. From talking to the others, I think that everyone enjoyed the workout in some sense and if they couldn't call it enjoyable they at least felt like it was productive. That workout was difficult but from what the coaches have said it looks as though there is harder stuff yet to come.

Excepting the rain we have been extremely lucky with our training. We have done a couple training sessions with a Norwegian club including a skate rollerski, run, and strength session. We also met up with the NTG (which is the Norwegain Academy of Elite Sport) for a timed uphill run. It was great to see the type of focus that the Norwegian skiers have during training and we all enjoyed the opportunity to train with and talk to them. We have also gone to the rollerski track a few times and ran a bit on the trails surrounding our hotel, which are practically unlimited. Overall we have had lots of time for good training and enjoyed every minute of it.

We are staying in Lillehammer for the next few days and will still benefit from the good rollerskiing and running before we head off to Sognefjell to get on snow. We are all looking forward to the next leg of our camp!

Burke Offers Two August Training Camps

Team "Beast" nearing the finish of the mountain run leg of the 2009 Adventure Race

In August Burke Nordic is offering two training camps here on the BMA campus. The first runs from the 11th through the 14th and is designed for ages 12-16. The emphasis will be on "Fun that Makes You Fit" and will introduce xc ski training through up hill runs, orienteering, kayak races on Lake Willoughby and an all-day team adventure race that will keep people thinking, panting and laughing. Athletes will be introduced to some of the tools they need to be ready for the demands of the sport later on; balance work, base strength training and other things they will be able to take home with them. Athletes will live in Burke dorms and we will do our own good cooking at the dining hall. Attendance is limited to 14 athletes. Cost is $325.

The second camp runs from the 14th through the 18th. It is designed for more experienced skiers in the J1 - OJ categories. and is required for the members of the BMA Nordic Team. We will be on campus for this camp as well, taking advantage of the great training opportunities we have here in the Kingdom. Again, a goal of the camp is to provide the athletes with information and training ideas they can use when they leave the camp. We use a set of XC specific tests that can give a good picture of places needing work, and areas that are on the mark with good skiers of the same age. Roller skis are required for this camp. Again a full day event will keep people challenged. The second camp cost is $425 and it is also limited to 14 athletes. An older J2 could do both camps and the cost would be $600.

Burke offers two August Jr. Camps!

Team Beast approaching the finish of the Mountain Run leg of the August 2009 Adventure Race!

BMA is offering two Junior Camps this August. The first, from August 11th through August 14th is for ages 12-16 and takes place on the school's campus on the shoulder of Burke Mountain. Campers stay in the Burke dorms, and we'll build our meals (great ones!) in the campus dining hall. The emphasis for this camp is on "fun that makes you fit". Traditional xc dry land workouts are combined into hikes, orienteering, kayak races on Lake Willoughby, and an all day adventure race that will keep everyone thinking, panting, and laughing. The camp is limited to 14 athletes.

There will be rollerski workouts for those that are already familiar with them and an introduction to them as training tools for athletes who have not yet used them. Camp cost is $325.

The second camp runs from the afternoon of the 14th through the 18th and will also be on the BMA campus. This session is for J2-OJ age groups. The program is more ski specific and includes a series of Nordic specific tests that will give athletes an picture of improvments that have been and that need to be made. Roller skis and bounding poles are needed here. This camp is required for all BMA team members, and would be wholly appropriate for any junior athletes who want to get a jump on the fall's work. Camp Cost is $425.

J2's can sign up for both camps. Cost for both is $600.

Coaches for both camps include Burke Coaches Pete Phillips, and Matt Johnson, as well as several Burke alumni athletes.

Burke Winners!

Congratulations to Sam Tarling '09 on winning the NCAA championship skate race! Burke alums Lucy Garrec, Catlin Curran, Lucas Milliken, Jordan Butow and Janey McClelland have also been proving that Burkies are in it for the long haul, and they only get faster!! Tom Rabon and Mitch Prevot recently competed for the New England in the Junior National Championships in Minneapolis, MN. Tom placed 6th overall in the Classic mass start out there, which is a real accomplishment! From here the team is finishing up the season with Spring Series in Sun Valley Idaho. The blog will be updated lots while we are out there.

Catching Up

Sognefjell in June. Can't Wait!

Long time. It has been busy and we apologize for the silence. It isn't because nothing has been happening. It has been a fun season and even though Junior Olympics in Minneapolis, and the Eastern High School Championships are over we are still in full swing. On the 23rd of March we head for Sun Valley, Idaho and the US Super Tour Finals; four race days with distance, sprint and hill climbing competitions. The field is coming from as far away as Sweden, and it promises to be a challenging show.

The current Burke team had a solid season with everyone showing improvement and putting down some good results. There were podiums, top tens, and personal bests. Three of our ten qualified for the New England JO team, and one was first alternate. We helped athletes from other teams to a slot on the US Scandinavian Cup J1 squad, and came home with distinction in numerous regional races. Most importantly the lessons of training independence and resilience are sinking in. The vets are building strength and technique on top of increasingly good foundations and that shows in the performance of our alumni.

BMA alums have been tearing it up on the EISA curcuit, nationally and internationally. Sam Tarling and Lucy Garrec have been regulars on the podiums at the College Carnivals, and a lot of other Burkie Nordics have also been in the upper reaches of the first page of results; Curran, McClelland, Buetow, Gill, to name only a few. Liz Stephen won the US Nationals middle distance title in January and went on to a 16th place at the world championships in Oslo in late February.

Lucy G finished in 8th in the NCAA champ skate finals and Sam Tarling ended up as the NCAA Champion in Skating. That is a major accomplishment for any American as the field usually includes some hot rods from Europe, and an even bigger accomplishment for a sophomore!

We have skiers on the teams at every major eastern school and it is always great to see them on the road. They ski well, they are having fun, and they are sticking with the game

There is a new "Sweden Trip" gearing up for June, and it looks as though there will be considerable alumni participation. It is really a "Norway" trip this year and will focus on a higher level of training both on and off snow. We will keep you posted on that one. There are not many spaces left.

The Northeast Kingdom BKL cutting it up at BMA!

The winter saw BMA as a frequent venue for the new NE Kingdom Bill Koch League. The gift of a grooming roller and comb from alum Andrew Smith has allowed us to have good tracks here on campus, and the little guys loved it! In the hands of the Kingdom Trails crew and a bunch of enthused parents no program at all turned into one with 60 kids! The Burke Nordic
Team helped out with the kids when we were not away at races, and that was a hit. Maybe one day in the future, we'll start seeing some townies flying BMA colors, and in any case they are out there skiing and we have been able to help 'em get there.

More later, and we promise to do a better job on the updates.