Good Morning,

0500 here in Solleftea.  A little misty.I am looking out over a field of dandelions gone to seed occasionally launching little clouds of tiny parachutes into the breeze. Hanging birch, lupen, and a heavy bodied work horse taking his ease or whatever it is horses do when they simply stand and let things happen. He has been there for awhile now.

The camp officially starts today. Short meeting, move in, lunch and then an afternoon of hill bounding, orienteering and circuit strength. Athlete-coaches on hand are Tio Soderhielm, Charlotte Kalla, Emil Jonsson, Robin Bryntesson, and Britta Nordgren. All the real McGoo! Great skiers and having watched them work with kids for the last few years, great people and great coaches. Old guard coaches include Bengt Stattin, Tony Gustafgsson, PO Andersson, Tobias Laangberg, and Kaare Korpela. Erik Nilsson is working directly with the BMA gang this year and will be with us for both the Swedish and Norwegian legs of the trip.

 Yesterday we opted to stay close to town. Minimum driving and it was nice. The kids visited the park on the river and watched their Swedish counterparts graduate from highschool…fun celebration, very traditional…white peaked caps, lots of song, open-bed trucks, the beds bordered by freshly cut birch boughs and blue and yellow Swedish flags and ballons, were signed with various school class logos and not a few had tables set up in the middle complete with champagne and food. At the finish of the formal ceremony a wide blue and yellow ribbon bounding the area where the students stand to receive their diplomas is cut by the headmaster “releasing” the kids to their parents and the world. Trucks fill up, corks pop, and the parade begins. Some of the singing would seem to indicate corks had been popped some time before. The general mood is one that would send most North American school people and the more conservative of us tsk-tsking with disapproval or fleeing in search of another place to lay down stern law, prosper and dominate our fellows and our world.

Later in the day we went up to Hallstaberget to try out the roller ski loops and to get a little exercise. All good…still a little cobbling things together as one or two were still missing gear. “How big are your feet? you can use my skate poles, the wheel just fell off!” etc. The roller ski track in Solleftea is arguably one of the best I’ve ever seen for instruction and technique training; many transitions and opportunities to short-loop back around to keep working on a hill for intervals or on a drop-in and climb for tempo changes.

For dinner we went to a forested park on the island, Hagestaon, in the middle of the river. We walk across the bridge nobody jumps off and set up a fire pit, grill chicken and sausage, have salad out of a bucket, Mitch eats two full baguettes of fresh bread before anyone catches him; ” I only ate four ends!” How many ends do two loaves of bread have? Conversation runs the gammut from serious to absurd…college stories, different schools across New England and bits of news from Alaska. Old man lies. We decide the gang in the shelter across the river for whom the caps have been twisted and thrown away are the “poor-me’s” from the party we hear sub-woofing somewhere downstream. “Even the cat won’t stay with them,” observes Lucy. “Look at him…he’s stalking off in disgust!”

Ten o’clock rolls around and we clean up around the fire and head back for our bunks. The easy day has been a good idea. Later, all of our gang long asleep,  the music dies down and this wonderful stillness settles in with the pale light of northern June midnight. Down in the river valley two geese are black specks over the lemony colored water and make a long curving flight toward the north. A big horse plods into the meadow next to our hotel.

I’ll try to keep the week on record here. It gets busy…wet too I have a feeling. That’s ok. As Bengt says “We aren’t made of sugar or paper. We won’t melt.” Let’s get it out of the way before we head to Sognefjell and the snow.

all the best for a great summer

Pete Phillips

Burke Mountain Academy’s “Green Mountain Run”;

A Tradition Adjusts, Changes and Continues.

Yanked from sleep by a thundering on the stairs above my apartment in Witherell Dorm I land on misshapen old-man feet and sore ankles and scratch my head, staring stupidly about the room. Oskar comes out of his box and does one of those wonderful dog stretches that must feel really good…front legs out straight, head down between them with the jaws in a huge yawn and the butt up in the air, hindlegs almost on tip-toe. It is a little after 5 AM. There is a brief hammering on my door and an Alpine coach charges in; “Pete, where is the back seat of the Mini-van?” Burke Mountain Academy’s Green Mountain Run, the “GMR”, is about to begin.

It is the end of my third year as Head Nordic Coach at Burke, and in many ways I still count myself a new kid…(about the only thing new about me). The particulars of the tradition are not written down but “GMR” T-shirts in the pre-run lunch parade went back to the late seventies, so it has been part of Burke for a long time.

The gist of it is that as a year end wrap-up and a time to work together at a long and fun physical adventure BMA students run the North-South, or more exactly the South-North length of the State of Vermont on State Route 100. From the start at the Massachusetts’ line to the Canadian border at North Troy, the route winds along the spine of the Green Mountains. It takes just about twenty-four hours. Athletes run 4-5 mile legs in relay fashion and the crowd grows as parents, alumni, and vans bringing fresh runners join into the convoy. Along the way athletes who have finished their runs, hop out and run in support of those who are completing their segments. Times are kept and everyone is trying for a new fastest leg for “Jamaica Dipsy Doodle”, “Terrible Mountain”, “Killington Pass”, “Mt. Norris Descent” and the final “Run to Canada”. The run continues through the night gliding along, sometimes not quietly enough, past darkened farms and villages, along rain-slick roads through miles of fields and woods. At sunrise the run is in the vicinity of Waterbury and all nine vans are in the convoy, some pulling in to join again after a mandatory rest stop. The crowd thins at night, but no one ever runs alone. Around ten in the morning all the vans except the Mini, the pace van, pull ahead of the final runner and meet in North Troy where the athletes and ‘roadies’ ….parents, alumni and friends…form an arch of arms. The “Run to Canada” runner charges through the arch and it folds in upon itself and the whole school joins in to complete the “GMR”.

Athletes pick the run they want to do, with seniors given first pick and so on through the classes. People are divided up among vans and schedules are set. Van One leaves the Burke Campus in the Northeast Kingdom with the first five runners and two drivers at 6:00 to make the 10 o’clock start time, Van Two follows at 7:00 and so on through the day. This year I am driving Van Six and we leave at 7:30 PM to join the run around Stockbridge.

It is raining this morning and coming down pretty hard right now. That’s too bad. It doesn’t faze the runners but part of the tradition is that every van team picks a theme and mixes poster-paint with dish soap (so it washes off easily) and decorates the van. So far this morning the first Van took off in a livery of black and white checks and “Check Out our Vans” as the slogan…it even had wedge-shaped panels to imitate the popular “Vans” shoe. The second went out with a very good reproduction of “Starry Night” and “VAN GO (sic…of course)” painted on it and Don McLean’s song drifting into the morning. The rain is sad because it doesn’t take long until road-speed, soap and paint leave the vans looking like a senior girl with a little too much make-up and way too many sentimental Prom tears. No Matter. The Run runs.

Over the years traditions grow. Change comes hard and among the hardest people to convince that change is necessary are the youngest. Tradition is the stuff of stories. It is the connection to a past they have heard about, and of which they want to be part. Things around us change though and this year we have had to make some adjustments. Traffic is building on Route 100. It used to be on a sunny afternoon that 30 runners may have been supporting the athlete going for the run record on a given stretch. Even in the dark of night we have had as many as ten or twelve pushing the pace, trying to beat last year’s time. There is always a pace van with flashing lights and “Runner’s Ahead” moving with the runners. Reflective vests have been added and this year, sadly, we decided to limit the number of support runners. It is simply a matter of safety, and it is the right decision. Of course we can’t get in the way of family members wanting to jog along, or alumni that appear out of the blue to take part again in a favorite run, but we are trimming our own numbers to keep the show safely on the road.

Another change has been added that kids are swallowing a little more easily, because of why they are here and what their goals are. BMA is a ski academy. Athletes come to improve at Alpine and Nordic skiing, and to continue to develop academically at a level that makes them more than competitive for admissions to the college of their choice. In the past kids have hopped out of a van whenever they had caught their breath to run with a friend; coaches have determined to run a little with every one their own athletes; by the end of the run not a few have chalked up 30, 40 or even more miles. The kids are fit, but for what we need to do next, for the demands of summer training that is planned to be a progression into the work of the next season, 40 miles of pavement isn’t a good idea. Caught up in the enthusiasm and camaraderie of the event a Nordic athlete last year left himself unable to effectively train for much too big a part of the summer. A lesson. The Nordic training year, the building up for next season began in mid-May. The summer months have some of the most hours of the year and are among the most important for the returning athletes, the ones who have chosen to chase skiing as the main sport. It is a shame to let an over-use injury put one on the sideline. The Alpine teams will be on snow in two weeks, and several of the Nordics will be in a training camp both on and off snow in Sweden and Norway for the last three weeks of June. We have limited total running to 12 miles per athlete to keep wear and tear down and bodies ready to charge into the summer. BMA athletes have big projects ahead of them and because of that a tradition changes shape a little. But it is still a BMA tradition and I am guessing from the care and creativity of the van-painting, and the happy sounds of the stampede down the stairs this early morning that in one form or another, the Alpine and Nordic skiers of Burke are going to keep the “GMR” running along just fine!

At the first break in the rain we have to Paint Van Six and hit the road.

The Start. May 24, 10:17.

The Sweden “Spring Series” trip is ON! Between the racing opportunities, the Spring skiing, and what is developing into a fun group of athletes it was impossible to say “no.” We do have two spots still available, and are actively hoping to fill them to round out the group.

Here is a quick run-down of the trip:

Note: Except for the “Knallcrossen” at the end of the trip all races are FIS scored.

Flights are being suggested but not arranged. People can use miles, or points and fit departure points best to individual needs.

The first races are in Northern Sweden in Pitea (Peet’-eh-oh) on the weekend of the 4^th and 5^th of April. Most of the Swedish National team will be racing. I will leave for Stockholm on the 31^st of March, arriving on the 1^st (no foolin’!), and will pick up a van and drive north. Athletes are welcome to follow this schedule. I’ll stop in Solleftea to pick up some wax benches and gear and take a visit with the coaches at the Ski Gymnasium there. On to Pitea on the 2^nd. Athletes could arrive from North America on the 2^nd and connect through to Lulea, a short drive to Pitea, and I can meet them there. This gives departure flexibility, and avoids a long road trip right after a long flight. The 3^rd is for course inspection and shaking off the inevitable jet-lag. On the 4^th a short freestyle, 3km wos and 5 km, men followed by pursuit start 10 and 15 classics the next day.

We will stay in Pitea through the 8^th to unwind after travel and two race days. Ski and train there and in Lulea. We’ll make the decision about the Finnish races as a group before we go. The first of these is in Tornio, an easy drive from Pitea. Races are a 5 and 10 Free on the 10^th. Next is a choice of another 5/10 in Pello or a 15/20 in Rovaniemi on the 11^th. We could do none, one, or both. After the Finnish races we will take the drive down to Ostersund, arriving on Easter Sunday. If you haven’t fired up Google earth to help you with this geography I would do so. It is kind of fun.

If people decide to take more training and rest instead of the Finnish races we will head to O-sund sooner and spend the Easter Weekend somewhere in the mountains…Norwegian border, Lappland, somewhere fun. Local races would be on the plan for that time or a special longer tour.

We will arrive in Bruksvallarna on the 13^th and stay at Walles Sport Hotell which lies right on the trails. The first race there is a full sprint protocol on the 17^th. On the 18^th is a 26 km free. The 19^th, is a fun race called the Knallcrossen. It starts with a downhill (helmets required, which we can rent there) on xc gear. Finish time determines a place in a ski-cross with heats and ski-downs against members of the Swedish National team. Fun to do or watch.  Non-FIS.

On the 20^th I will drive down to Stockholm, spending the night there and flying out on the 21^st.

Two spots are open. Ground price in $USD is $2300. This includes lodging, meals except on the road or on-your-own excursions, van rental, fuel, and coaching help. It does not include race entry fees.

There are good flights right now on Continental out of Newark, and Icelandair out of Boston. Very reasonable connections from Stockholm to Lulea are available on Norwegian Air www.norwegian.no

Feel free to call with any questions or better yet to fill out the group!

Pete Phillips

Head Nordic Coach

Burke Mountain Academy

pphillips@burkemtnacademy.org

gamlefisken@yahoo.com

802-626-1516-ext-1010

Over the holliday break, we had a time trial scheduled before we depart for Nationals in AK.  Lucas and I did the very limited organizing and a over a hundred racers turned up for the start (7 actually.)  We were hoping to classic ski but with the heat wave that came in over Christmas the tracks were mostly worn away, so skating won out.  We skied the Oak Hill race loop at Pineland in New Gloucester, ME, which many might remember from the Eastern Cup held there two years ago.  Without the loop in the field it was 6.5km, short but hard. 

We had the same time-trial last year but there was a 10km and a 5km race. I didn’t right the times down but I believe Graham Egan (Midd) won the 10km for men Kate Barton (Midd) for women and Lucas Milliken (Burke) won the 5km.

This years results were

Sam Tarling (Burke) 16:20

Walt Shepard (Bowdoin) 16:21

Lucas Milliken (Burke) 16:25

Coleman Hatton (Bowdoin) 17:18

Tom Reagon (UNH) 17:24

Nate Niles (Maine Coast) 18:14

Nat Herz (Bowdoin) 18:28

Thanks to Ben Niles for the Timing!

We will most likely be doing this TT again next year, so if you are in the area join in.  Half the Burke Nordic team will be heading to Anchorage tomorrow while the younger kids will be staying at Burke for some good training for the next Eastern Cup.

Burke skiers took part in a fun and competitive sprint race a week ago and two great races this past weekend. Great Glen Nordic Center in New Hampshire held the sprint race on the 6th of December.  A lot of eager skiers came and it was a fun gathering of familiar faces and teams from all around northern New England. Vermont’s Bolton Valley hosted a frosty 5 k skate race on Saturday the 13th, and Craftsbury Nordic and the Craftsbury Outdoor Center held a 10 k classic show on Sunday. All were pulled together with the help of Nature to be sure, but more like rabbits out of hats by enthusiastic race crews and groomers. Each course was challenging…no easy early season strolls. Training, skill and tactics were tested and not a few  “Wake up! It’s time…” reminders went out to bodies thinking about sliding slowly into the season or a little sluggish kicking into gear. 

Some Burke skiers are entering their first seasons as J1’s and others are headed with high hopes for the US Nationals in Anchorage, so every chance there is to get in a start and work a course is fun and valuable. Thanks from all of us up on the shoulder of Burke Mountain to the organizers, volunteers, groomers, and other wizards at Great Glen, Bolton Valley, and Craftsbury for providing first class season openers! A super way to start the year and we are grateful!

Burke Mountain Academy

Nordic Ski Team

Here is a slew of pictures from the Fall to make up for the lack of blog posts.

Our fall started with a tough academic block at school and then a camp in Keene, NY in October. We did Lactate/Vo2 Max testing at UNH and returned to school for another intense academic period. On the 20th of November we drove up to Stoneham, QC and have been here since. We are training at Foret Montmorerency where there was a 500m loop of man-made snow. Four days in, it snowed! It has been snowing since then and we have many many kilometers to ski on. Happy Thanksgiving!

The Burke Team saddled up on the Montmorency Merry-Go-Round again on the morning of the 25th. The plan called for level 4 intervals and we hid them inside a two-skier team relay. We had five teams and each skier did two laps of the course, tagged off, kept moving in active rest and then hopped on again. Four legs per athlete. It worked well and best of all it got harder and harder because it was snowing and adding up. It snowed all afternoon and then blew like no tomorrow all night. Down here in Stoneham it warmed up a lot and was spitting the good old “wintry mix” of rain and something else this morning, but by the time we reached Montmorency it was still snow.

The wind had eased and the crew from the lodge had been out and laid in some beautiful tracks. Most of it was perfect given that the cover was still not deep. Tricky classic wax…it took me a minute or two…don’t let anyone tell you that old minds don’t slow down…to realise the remark ” Man, my arms are tired!” was directed at my choice of kick wax and was not a compliment. I’d gone about a K before a little voice said “Hey! …smart — punk …wax your own damn skis…grumble grumble,” slip, slip, clog. Actually I did have pretty good luck with both of my trial waxes which this trip were a Ski-go Yellow, and Start Moly. Not too bad either one.

Skating firmed up and was fast and good for the afternoon session. Folks are showing up from all over New England and we all might pull together a time trial over the weekend. TG day is “OFF” for the Burkies. It has been a good week for us so far, and we are grateful to the crew at Laval University’s facility at Foret Montmorency. Great spot to ski!

the old fish

Burke’s coin landed on Quebec for the November training block this year. We reserved condos in Stoneham, and with snow iffy just put our heads down and drove. The first morning we drove up to Le Foret Motnmorency and I scouted while the team ran on the roads around Laval University’s Pavillion. Not far from the lodge I found a sweet, short loop of man-made and carefully groomed snow. Short. 500 meters. Classic and skate.  The post-run head count came up one short and visions of holes in the ice or the dripping fangs that populate the North woods sinking in to hapless Vermont flesh launched a brief and succesful search. After that we headed back to the condos to get ready for the next day’s training on snow.

It was a near thing. When we arrived this morning and I was busily setting up the wax bench, one of our French speakers came running out ot tell me we were being told “Non.” Understandable. The loop is indeed…short. It won’t tolerate too many people and give anyone quality, and much of the cost had been borne by the University so wanting to save it for guests of the lodge was reasonable. We gently persevered with our cause and as we waited in came the cancellation from UVM! We were in. Thanks, Paul! Hope it is great over in NY.

Skiing is good. Both skating and classic tracks are well groomed and hard. No rocks. Flat enough to keep a nice gentle pace and work on getting back to the game. The crew at the Foret have done a great job with very little resoursce. It won’t take much snow to open up a lot more terrain but for now, were here and we’re skiing. “You can’t always get want you want, but if you try sometimes you just might find…”. We may get dizzy but we’ve got what we need.

the old fish 

After reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan in my week of wisdom-tooth woes, I was inspired to write this essay on the health choices of young athletes, namely my peer group of nordic skiers. Since at Burke we strive to not only be the best athlete’s we can be but also the best students, I have decided (or dared) to post a snippet of academia on Fasterskier, with the full acceptance of our readers’ scrutiny and discern.