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