Here we go!!!

Hello, Sleepy Hollow Bill Koch Junior Racers!

Our first meeting time is just around the corner - 3:45pm at Sleepy Hollow on Tuesday January 5th!

In lieu of a parent meeting I am going to use this as a forum to provide you with the basics of what you need to know for the start of the season.

PRACTICES:
Yes, the first day is Tuesday January 5th - This is the last day to get in payment/registration for the program, but in looking at the roster, I think we are in good shape with this group. I am going to plan on the first day being classic. We will be trying to alternate skating and classic practices, but may also change up according to races and, if necessary, weather conditions. I will notify of changes to the schedule via the blog and e-mail, other less crucial things, I'll just put on the blog so as to not clog your e-mail inbox.

Skiers should make sure they have all the necessities. Layers! Hats! Gloves or mittens! Skis! Boots! Poles! Snack! WATER! We will be moving, but may also be stopping to work on technique or may be doing drills where there is both active time and some down time, so layers are important. Skiers will probably want to change into street clothes before leaving practice and Sleepy Hollow has changing areas to do this so bring extra clothing. If your skier has any special health conditions - allergies, asthma, diabetes, etc. please remember that we are out in the elements, being active, and they should be bringing medications like inhalers, epi pens, glucose tabs, etc. for use if appropriate. Please contact me if there are any concerns.

On some Fridays, which are yet to be determined, but will be announced in advance, we will be having special guests or clinics where our session will go later. With only one hour and then accounting for time for everyone to get organized or waxed if it's a classic day, we will be pretty crunched for time if we want to do anything besides ski so I am planning for extra time so we can really address important topics properly - waxing, race prep, nutrition, training principles, etc. If this is a problem for people, please let me know. You can see our current guest list on the blog.

RACES:
As you know, we will be meeting twice a week - Tuesdays and Fridays. We will also have several races that are optional and that skiers may travel to and participate in as part of our team. Most are races that are put on by local high school ski teams so they are a high school race, but they have added middle school categories/races as well. I will have more information about these races as it becomes available and will get it out to you. From what I have heard, registration info is sent out about a week in advance, but certainly mark your calendars for races your skier would like to attend. At a race, I will be there for support and coaching - for classic races we will be waxing and this is something that I will do in conjunction with skiers and we are very fortunate to have access to race wax for those days.

THE BLOG:
I have never been a blogger before, but have known people who have been able to utilize blogs to track progress and share experiences from races and training with others. It is my hope that we can use the blog as a form of communication and to share what is going on in practices and races. It will also be a place for you to check if there is a question about scheduling, etc. as I will post there with updates. I will be looking for a note or permission slip from parents that allow their skier to be featured in the blog - I expect that we'll have pictures from practices, with special guests, and at races and that we'll have some race reports posted. I imagine that if parents have pictures they want to share of other skiers in the group, I can post those, too, and they can be distributed in that format. If there are questions about or problems with this, please let me know.

THE SCHEDULE:
This is our schedule thus far. As skiing can be determined by weather conditions, this schedule is subject to change as far as races and technique for the day goes. I do expect that we will practice in all weather, though, so our Tuesdays and Fridays most likely will not change unless driving conditions limit us.

Tuesday Jan 5 - classic
Friday Jan 8 - classic
*Saturday Jan 9, classic, SB at Sleepy Hollow
Tuesday Jan 12 - freestyle
Friday Jan 15 - freestyle
*Saturday Jan 16, freestyle, U32
Tuesday Jan 19 - classic
Friday Jan 22 - freestyle
Tuesday Jan 26 - classic
Friday Jan 29 - freestyle

Tuesday Feb 2 - classic
Friday Feb 5 - freestyle
*Sat/Sun Feb 6/7 NENSA at Trapps, J2 – some skiers may be of age to race, others encouraged to go watch! Most likely, I will not be providing race support and coaching at these races.
*Tuesday Feb 9, Colchester, freestyle
Friday Feb 12 -classic
*Sunday Feb 14, Ichabods Revenge, classic at Sleepy Hollow
Tuesday Feb 16 - freestyle
Friday Feb 19 - classic
*Saturday Feb 20, classic at the Range
Tuesday Feb 23 - freestyle
Friday Feb 26 - classic or freestyle choice

*Feb 27-28 Bill Koch Festival – Pineland Farms, ME

CARPOOLING:
While we have a much smaller group of skiers than the overarching Bill Koch program at Sleepy Hollow, carpooling may still be possible depending on where your skier is coming from and where they need to end up. If you are looking for carpooling, let me know - I can send an e-mail out and you can be contacted from that. Also, there are many more skiers who will be coming out to Sleepy Hollow after school on Fridays - carpooling with those skiers on Fridays is a good idea even if they aren't in the Junior Racer program as we will be ending at the same time (except for days where we are staying later for clinics/guests, etc. as mentioned above).

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? ISSUES?
I am available for you and your skier to contact via e-mail and by phone. Also - if your skier has any health requirements or conditions that I should be aware of - allergies, asthma, diabetes, please let me know. I would like to have a plan in place with you should any emergency arise or if your skier needs help administering any medication on a regular basis.