Post Winter Trip

For those of you that went on the winter trip, congratulations there was a great deal of quality snow time. For the upcoming days look to skate on Saturday and Sunday, hopefully for 2 hours with some good pickups. Monday we will meet at the school at 8:30 to car pool out to Elm Creek. The plan will be to do some classic skiing.

Note: There was enough snow in Wisconsin to open up portions of the Birkie trail, skate only. Think about going out there if the thought of another set of Elm Creek laps drives you crazy. Another option would be to head down to Theodore Wirth for some time on the section race course.

Schedule For Week of 12/19

Monday - Trollhaugen: Bus picks up at the high school first at 2:45 and then the middle school. Leave Trollhaugen at 6:30.
Tuesday - Elm Creek Meet: High School dismiss at 1:45 leave before 2:00. Middle School dismisses at 1:55. The race is a skate race and will be two laps of the Elm Creek artificial snow course. Start time is 3:30.
Wednesday - Andover: The team will be at the high school for practice, middle school skiers will need to carpool over.
Thursday - Andover: We will be training at the high school.
Friday - Captains practice.

Volunteer Opportunities - Tour de Twin Cities Battle Creek Challenge

On Sat Jan 28 and Sun Jan 29, 2012, the Tour de Twin Cities Battle Creek Challenge SuperTour/College/JQC/Citizen/Youth races will need volunteers to help with races. Saturday is mass start classic and Sunday is pursuit freestyle.

No online signup is available for volunteers. Please send your name and email address to Sue Duijndam at c.duijndam@comcast.net for race updates and further information on volunteer opportunities.

Holiday Relays Schedule

The bus leaves at 6:45 AM for Trollhaugen. The schedule for the day is listed below.

SCHEDULE
    8:00 AM    Packet Pick-up
    9:30        Girls Classic 4x3km
    10:45        Boys Classic 4x3km
    12:00 Noon    Girls Skate 4x3km
    1:00 PM    Boys Skate 4x3km
    2:15        Awards

Wednesday 12/14

The bus will leave for Trollhaugen at 4:30 from Andover High School. Middle school athletes will need to be at the high school for the trip. We will be skate skiing.

Booster Meeting Wed Dec 14, 7PM

A reminder - The next Nordic Booster meeting will be this Wed evening at 7PM at AHS, room A107.

Week of 12/12

Practices will begin at 3:00 PM this week. The change in start time will remain in effect until we move to a busing schedule.

Practice Schedule 12/5

Monday - If you head out for a morning ski at Elm Creek go with classic. For the afternoon practice bring a shovel as well as running and skiing gear.
Tuesday - Be prepared to run and ski.
Wednesday - Currently the meet is off, we will be on site.
Thursday - On site.
Friday - On site.

2011-12 Nordic Schedule

Here is the second version of the schedule. The first meet has been moved to the 7th of December rather than the 5th. Included on this version is the Fundraiser activities on November 17th and February 4th. The Section 5 meet has been moved to Wirth Park and will be held on Feb. 8th.

Start of the Season

It's time to get organized for the 2011-12 Nordic Ski season. Forms need to be turned in and equipment needs to be looked over. Do your boots still fit? The ski swap at Pioneer is coming up and our first practice will be November 14th at 2:45. Meet by the ski room, which is next to the weight room. Drew will be taking over as the assistant coach this season as Ben will be cutting back on his involvement due to his work obligations.

November 14th Schedule
Monday - first practice @ 2:45 (same time all season)
Tuesday - Parent meeting 6:30 Media Center
Thursday - Andover Night @ Pioneer Midwest 6:00

Booster Meeting Nov 2 at 7PM, AHS

The Nordic boosters will meet this Wednesday Nov 2 at 7PM at the HS, Room B109.

Andover Night @ Pioneer Midwest

Pioneer Midwest will be hosting Andover Thursday, November 17th. This is a good time to pick up the essentials, such as ski boots and kick wax. Things get started after practice at about 6:00 PM. There will be more information at the parents meeting Tuesday, November 15th.

Ski Swap - Pioneer Midwest

The ski season is rapidly approaching and with it the annual ski swap at Pioneer Midwest. If you are looking for a good deal on some skis or boots this could be a good opportunity. If you are interested in selling items the drop off is the two days prior to the swap.

Information

Saturday, November 12th
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
415 County Road 81
Osseo, MN
763-420-8981

Roller Ski Pick-up

If you are planning to use the booster club roller skis for summer training, here are the specifics.

• Pick them up Sunday, June 12th after 7:00 PM.
• The roller skis will be at Coach Clark's house.
• The rental fee is $50 and the check should be made out to Andover Nordic Skiing.

Photos To Share

Here are a couple of links to photos from meets.

Pastry Relays - Thanks Charlie!
http://rebelsnordic.smugmug.com/CPHSNordic20010-2011Season/Pastry-Relays/15801080_4krJC#1184717539_dbExQ

Section Meet - Thanks Jeff and Others
https://picasaweb.google.com/AndvrCC/20110208?authkey=Gv1sRgCIGs7aH1l5uGRA&feat=directlink

http://www.skinnyski.com/racing/results/

Conference Meet
http://www.skinnyski.com/racing/results/

Michigan - Thanks Jeff!
https://picasaweb.google.com/AndvrCC/20101228?authkey=Gv1sRgCPje4-fB-5_gRA&feat=directlink

State Meet Week

This week will be a busy one. Make sure that you are getting your rest.

Tuesday
2:00 PM - Send off for team. all members should sit together on North bleacher.

Wednesday
8:00 AM bus leaves for Giants Ridge.
1:00 PM Girls Relay
2:00 PM Boys Relay
3:00 PM Awards

Thursday
10:00 AM Girls Freestyle
11:00 AM Boys Freestyle
1:30 PM Girls Classic Pursuit
2:00 PM Boys Classic Pursuit

Notes: Athletes will need a lunch on Wednesday to bring on the bus. We will need a meal planned for Wednesday evening, Thursday morning, and Thursday lunch. Equipment turn in is Wednesday, Feb. 23rd allow at least an hour and a half. Thursday, Feb. 24th is the team banquet.

State Meet Directions and Carpooling

If you are interested in attending the State Nordic Ski Meet at Giants Ridge you can find directions by visiting this link to Bing Maps. Or visit the Giants Ridge web site: http://www.giantsridge.com/about/getting-here.

Some of you may want to car pool and you can use this post to organize rides. Just add comments to this post if you are looking for, or can provide, transportation.

Section Meet Start Delay

The start of the meet will be delayed due to the wind chills for the morning. Here are the new start times.

11:30 boys classic
12:10 girls classic

Nordic Banquet Feb 24th!

Please see the attached flyer for the 2011 Nordic Ski Banquet. Captains will hand out hard copies or you may print and fill out the form. Thanks!

Directions to Camp Ripley - Section Meet

Follow Hwy 10 North to Little Falls. Once you get to Little Falls there should be signs to Camp Ripley which take you north on Hwy 371. From there follow signs to the Section Meet. (I called and verified with the Camp that there will be signs). Please drive with care and observe speed limits within the camp.

Add 30 min to your planned driving time. Camp Ripley advises 30 min drive through camp due to gravel roads, check point and 30mph speed limit. Picture ID needed to enter the grounds.

If you would like to explore in more detail, follow this link to Bing Maps.

Sections Meet - Camp Ripley

Currently the race schedule for the meet is below.

10:30 Boys Classic
11:15 Girls Classic

1:30 Boys Skate
2:30 Girls Skate

4:00 Awards

The present plan is to leave Andover HS at 6:15 AM. Return will be after awards. Bring warm clothes as the race temps are going to be cold with some wind.

Conference Meet - Wednesday

A little heads up on the plan for Wednesday.

Bus leaves at 7:30 AM for Baker.
We are responsible for two workers for each of the 4 races.

Race Schedule:
10:00 Girls Skate
11:00 Boys Skate

1:30 Girls Classic
2:30 Boys Classic

4:00 Awards

Practice Saturday 1/29 and Races Next Week

Saturday the varsity skiers, and those interested in going to Baker, will meet at the high school to carpool. Baker does not allow buses on the weekends so we will have to caravan down.

Monday is the JV Conference meet at Woodland Trails in Elk River. The meet schedule is listed below. The team will be leaving the high school at 1:50 with dismissal at 1:40. Each racer will select the race they would like to ski in, skate or classic. Varsity skiers will not be going to the meet in Elk River. Instead they will be going to the Skijoring park. There will not be a bus, so if carpooling is an issue, then the skier would need to travel with the team to Elk River.

Start times:
3:31 boys skate at 1:00 on the clock. One skier per school at a time every 20 sec.
3:45 girls skate at 15:00 on the clock
4:05 boys classic 35:00 on the clock
4:20 girls classic 50:00 on the clock

Wednesday the competing skiers will miss the entire day of school for the meet at Baker. JV skiers will have to ski on their own after school. Girls go first at 10:00 AM with the skate leg.

Meet January 20th Canceled

Wind chills are too cold to hold a meet today. As a result we will have a normal practice at 3:00 PM and go to the Skijoring trails in Bunker.

This Weekend

For those of you in town this weekend, I would encourage you to come and watch at least one of the race days at Theodore Wirth. This is a Supertour/Collegiate/JNQ race and it will have some of the best skiers from the cities, midwest, and nationally. I'm sure there will be at least 2 olympians racing (Garrott Kuzzy, Caitlin Compton) and this is a nice opportunity to see them perform.

http://www.mayorsxcchallenge.com/

Here's a video of last years start & some racing:

Keep in mind that it was slushy, rainy, and slow that day. This year it should be much faster since it will be cold & hard.

Coach Dubay will be at the race waxing for the Minneapolis Ski Club, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, and Sisu Ski Club. Look for him under a Swix tent, possibly by the Gear West waxmobile.

Waxing Benches

I know a number of people were talking about wishing to have a wax bench of their own. Here's the most economical one out there: http://www.waxbenches.com/. You can get the stand with it if you're so inclined, but otherwise it is easily clamped to an old table or sawhorse.

Meet Schedule V2

Bumping this for easier retrieval!

ABC Relays Info

ABC Relays are held at Theodore Wirth Park located north of Hwy 55 between 100 and 94. From Hwy 55 follow Theo Wirth Pkwy north and you can't miss the ski area. As mentioned in the previous post, parking is VERY limited so plan accordingly.

Info for 1/12 & 1/15

Team pictures are planned for Wednesday at Bunker. Full uniforms will be required for the team pictures, warm-ups are fine for individual photos.

ABC Relays
7:30 Bus leaves Andover (load at 7:15)
10:00 Boys Race
11:30 Girls Race
1:00 Awards

Note: Parking is very limited and it is highly suggested that people car pool. The race consists of teams of 4 skiers where two classic and two skate. The first two legs of the relay classic.

Tuesday, January 11th Meet

This meet includes two separate races. The top 4 boys and girls from each team compete in an elimination sprint race while the rest of the team competes in a 5 km classic race. Each sprint racer competes in the qualifier sprint. The top 24 qualifiers move on to the heats where each qualifier is guaranteed two additional sprints. Below is the schedule for the afternoon.

5 km Schedule
3:30 Boys Waves
4:00 Girls Waves
4:30 Non Qualifying Sprinters

Sprints Schedule
3:30 Qualifiers, boys on the lower course, girls on the upper course
4:00 Heats begin and will go off every 5 minutes with alternating courses.
5:00 Girls Final
5:10 Boys Final

All sprint races are Freestyle technique and will begin with a double pole section. "Tracking" is NOT ALLOWED IN THE SPRINTS. False starts in the sprints are an immediate disqualification. Starters will begin each sprint heat with the commands "Starting with-in 10 seconds" and "GO". It is the TOE of the athlete that counts at the finish line.

A Peek @ the Week 1/3/11

Monday: Classic @ Elm Creek bus at 3:00

Tuesday: Race 7.0 km classic @ Elm Creek - Leave school at 1:50 out at 1:35
3:30 Boys 7K
3:45 Girls 7K
4:00 Boys 5K
4:15 Girls 5K

Wednesday: Skate
Thursday: Skate
Friday: Classic

Note: The conference sprints are on Jan. 11th.