February 3-7, 2014 Please read it is different than normal!

February 3 thru 7, 2014 -- Practice Schedule

Read carefully as this week is going to be a little different! 

Monday, February 3, 2014

Practice and Bus pickups as usual! 

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

 Ski wax day 3:30PM to 4:30PM  in Coach Brown’s classroom at LJHS-- Monday at practice, Skiers must tell Coach Brown or Coach Hamann  if they intend to wax. Not required.  No bus to this.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Starlight Streak Race. (Classic)   Bus leaves from the JR High at 4:30 PM.  Race starts at 5:30.  Home around 7PM    Bring your headlamp if you have one.  Parents are encouraged to sign up and race as well.   Info on the MBNA web page:  www.mbna.pbworks.com      Entry fee is a donation.   This is our practice and I would like to see all ski it.    Please let a coach know if you will not be there!

Thursday, February 6, 2014 

Post race Yoga.  There will be a bus from LJHS leaving at 3:15 for Blossom Yoga.  Back to school by 5.     Not a required work out but highly encouraged to make this.  We will be prompt and the bus will leave on time!  LAB, IPES students you might want to make arrangements to meet us at Blossom Yoga.  Wear clothes meant for moving and stretching in.  Please no jeans.  Sign up on Wednesday when you get on the bus for the race.

Friday, February 7, 2014

Practice as usual.    

Please read! This is important!

As of Monday, February 3, 2014 we have only 6 days on snow left in this season.   These are important days to be a part of this team.  If you need to miss any of these practices please let a coach know.  Pack your bag the night before.  Make sure you have all your gear. 

As a Coach entrusted with the safety of this team, I am responsible for all athletes during our practice times.   Please contact any coaching staff member or LJHS and get a message to me when you plan to miss a practice.  I will call all parents of unexcused absent skiers and confirm reasons to miss practice.  I know there are many reasons to miss a practice, school, church, illness, etc.  It is not my intention to override any of these things.  I need to know that all on my team are where they are expected to be.  All in their right place.   This is so important that missed unauthorized practice will result in not traveling to our last race in Lander.  MY phone # 307-760-2797 email  chamann63@gmail.com   both go to my phone. I have my phone on me all the time.

January 27-31, 2014 Road Map

Here is a link to the results for the meet in Casper:  https://www.dropbox.com/s/3o52avru33vq557/caspermsrace2.xls

I hope this works.  It does off of the Face Book page.


I do need to apologize to the few (you know who you are) and to the team as a hole.  I have been rather grumpy lately and some of you might have got a dose of stuff that was really not your fault.  I cant elaborate, just know that I will work hard on keeping my personal stuff out of the ski team as much as possible.  Please though, when rules are laid down, they are for a reason and should really be followed.  Your safety is truly my main concern.

Now that all that is out of the way.  We have only 3 weeks left of ski team. That's 9 ski practices and 1 meet. I am getting sort of sad.  But excited to see how you will do in Lander on February 14, 2014.  ( More on that later)

This week:
Monday, 1-27-14
Skate Ski at Happy Jack

Tuesday 1-28-14
TNT (Actually on Tuesday)
Conditioning in the weight room at LJHS
Done by 5pm
No bus to this practice

Wednesday 1-29-14
Skate Skis  at Happy Jack

Thursday 1-30-14
NO PRACTICE

Friday 1-31-14
Classic Day at Happy Jack
Dress is LJHS race wear and smiles.
I am bringing my camera to get a team picture.  ( I don't know if there is a formal one scheduled or not)
Hoping to get candid individual shots as well.
It will also be a game day of sorts.

This weekend
Go ski with your family.  Rest or get your homework done.


Put these dates on your calendar:
February 5, 2014  Starlight Streak  Night race.  We will participate. (Classic)
February 15, 2015  Middle School State meet.  Lander, WY  5k Freestyle (as of info this past weekend),                                   Start  time 11AM . This is the end date of our season all should try to participate!                                         Pajama party on the bus to travel home! Start getting your school appropriate PJs                                         ready!

Saturday, 1-25-14 Casper Mountain Meet

January 25, 2014

Casper Mountain Meet

Departure: From  LJHS Parking lot, by the tennis courts at 6:00 AM.  Home sometime early evening.

Location: Casper Mountain Trails. 

Parking and JR High Race will be past the lodge, toward Beartrap  Meadow.  About  ½ mile  down the road and around the corner, big parking lot on the left of the road.  Over flow parking at Beartrap Meadow,  1/2 mile walk back to race start.

Start Time: 11:30AM  Boys first, Girls 5 minutes after boys

Format:   3KM Free Style with a Mass Start.

We will warm up on a designated warm up course and ski on a race course.  The start and finish are close together but not at the same spot.  Please stay on the trails we have been designated as JH race trails.  Do not decide to go watch the High School races.  The Casper officials have been very direct in asking us to stay off the Sprint courses designated High School.  Your safety and my sanity are at stake here.

What to bring:

1.       Load the bus dressed to ski.  You can take warm clothes off in the bus if you need to.  Have ski boots in a bag or something to bring on the bus .

2.       Skis and poles that you are using for the race. Bag them if you can.  They will ride under the bus.

3.       Lunch.  We will have no access to the lodge for lunch.  Bring one!  Breakfast type snacks will be provided.

4.       NO MORE THAN $10 if you must bring money.  We will try to stop at a snack place (gas station) and let you get a snack for the ride home. This depends on time.

5.       Comfy clothes to ride home in.  Sweat pants, jeans etc.  No slippers, you must have shoes of some sort. You can always stay in ski clothes if you want.

6.       Suggested things:  Something to do on the bus.  Kindle, book, ear phones, video games, I pad, etc.  Remember that Coaches and LJHS are not responsible for broken or lost things.   Also a pillow or a small blanket for resting if you want. With all that said, we have 36 people to get on the bus and not a lot of room.  Pack according to this.

SPORTSMANSHIP, SPORTSMANSHIP, SPORTSMANSHIP: Remember that all athletes are there to do their best just like you.  Be sure to congratulate other skiers on their effort.  If you need to, apologize for mishaps out on the course.  Cheer for all especially our team.  Thank the officials, and other adults helping run this meet.  They have volunteered their Saturday to be with us.    Be the best you can be on the race track as well as off.   

Jan 20-25, 2014

I am again so proud of this team!  This past meet all I heard was complements on how well we ski, how nice and respectful our kids are to other teams and officials.  Way to go!  Yes, we had finishers in the top 10 both days, boys and girls, more important I saw some really brave skiers, skiing hard and having fun!

Here is a link to the results:  www.Racessplitter.com

Monday, Jan.20, 2014
No School but we we shall have practice like normal.  The bus will be in the parking lot at LJHS at 3:25PM.  We will be home around 5:45PM.  Skate Skis

Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2104
No School, NO TNT

Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014
Practice, Classic Skis

Thursdsay, Jan, 23, 2104
TNT  Wax Party.  Bring the one pair of skis you want to use for the race in Casper.

Friday Jan, 24, 2014
Practice with the pair of skis you did not wax on Thursday.

Saturday, Jan 25, 2014
Meet in Casper.  I do not know details.  I will let you know as soon as I get them.  I do know the race will be held on the Casper Mountain Trails on Casper Mountain. (about 30 minutes outside of town)

Be prepared to leave very early (6AM)  Bring your own lunch or pay high prices for ski area type food.  Coaches are not responsible to hold on to any money.

Parents it might be nice to provide our skiers with a breakfast type snack while on the bus.  (Burritos, bagels,yogurt sticks, juice, etc.) Would there be any interest in helping make this possible? Let me know.

That is all for now. I promise to keep you informed as I know more.

January 13-18, 2014

Hold on this is going to get busy!

Monday, January 13, 2014
Skate Day
Slow ski the race course
Back to LJHS 5:45PM

Tuesday, January 14, 2014
TNT#1
1/2 team will wax SKATE Skis  in Cafeteria
1/2 team will be in the weight room
There is no bus transportation for this practice.  Please find  your own way to LJHS
Done around 5PM

Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Classic Day
Ski Course, Answer questions about the meet. 
Back to LJHS 5:45PM

Thursday, January 16, 2014
TNT #2
1/2 team wax skis
1/2 Weight room
SOOO if you waxed on Tuesday you are in the weight room, and the other way around. 
No bus transportation to this. Please find your own way to LJHS.


We will assign days to wax and days to workout.  Work out days need workout clothes and running shoes..

We are splitting the team up this way so that we can spend some quality time with our skis and still get a workout in. Both skis and workouts are important.  Plan to come to both if you can! Both will count as team workouts!

Friday, January 17, 2014
Race Day 3K Skate
See previous blog
The bus will pick you up at your schools, you will be dismised with time to get ready. Exact times will be posted  on Monday.  Please dress to ski and be ready to race when you get on the bus. Did I miss a school? I will repeat all this info many times through the week!

Saturday, January 18, 2014
Race Day 5K Classic or 3K Classic (Coaches get to decide your race!)
See Previous blog for info.

The Bus will load from LJHS at 7:45AM 


Entries for the race are being sent in Friday after practice.  If you know you cannot make one or both races tell a coach, email Coach Hamann, text her FB her.  

Home Meet Fun

Laramie Team Nordic Meet
This is info for the JR High team.  High School Info may be a bit different. 

Friday, Jan. 17,2014
3KM Skate race for all JR High Skiers
Meet starts with High School skiers at 11:30AM
Predicted Start for JR High 12:30 PM

Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014
5KM Classic for all JR High Skiers (High School 10KM)
Interval start (2 people every 30 seconds) start at 9:30AM, no break between High School and Jr High skiers.  

We will have a bus to take the team to the race,  Friday it will pick up at your child's school.  Saturday we will all meet at JR High parking lot.  Exact  pick up times will be announced next week. All Nordic Team members must ride the bus to the meet. 

Parking- Only team buses and race officials will be allowed in the parking lot at Tie City.  All other vehicles will park at the Headquarters Rest Area.  Catch the shuttle bus from there to the area.

The race start is staged 1/2 mile up the trails.  You have to make your own way in from the parking lot.  Skiing is the preference but you may walk or snowshoe as well.  Please stay off the set classic tracks.  Your footprints hurt your child's chance of a great race.  Dress for the weather.

You are welcome out on the course to cheer. Move with traffic.  Be always on the look out for racers. Yield to them at all times.  Stay out of set tracks. Stay on the side of the trails.  Yell your heads off for your kids. 

Volunteers needed in many ways!
Thank you to those who have all ready contacted me.  We still need help in many areas.
Simple things like collecting numbers after the race to staffing concessions to sweeping the trails for stragglers.  Team Snacks or sliced oranges for the end of the race are always needed.  Also Gatorade and chocolate milk.  Please let me know if you can help out.  Your name and contact info.

Concessions:
We will be combining efforts and resources with the High School Nordic Team to provide home baked goodies and hot chili at the meet.  Money generated from this will help the skiers participating in Nationals pay their way.  LJHS is officially sending  at least one Skier this year. ALBERT STEINER Lets help him represent LJHS while he is in Vermont. 

We are asking for donations of baked goods. Individually wrapped  ready to be sold.  Also we need 2-3 people to make large kettles of Chili that can be sold by the cup full.  There will be a way to keep it hot up there.  You can bring these with you or put them on the team bus to get them to the concession area. Chili can be dropped off  Thursday LJHS Cafeteria during wax party.  Specs of wax party to be announced later.

Happy New Year!

Hope all had a great break.  It was great to see many of you out skiing with families.

With all the new snow the trails are in really good shape.  Classic tracks are being set and Nordic Skiing could not get much better.  (OK the wind and snowbanks in the parking lot are a little challenging!)

We will start right off on Jan.6, 2014 after school.  If you filled out training logs or skied with  parents or adults please have them sign off on those times. By state mandate you need 10 practices to participate in meets.  We could possibly use some of these parent skis as practices.  If you joined the team after we started these will be important.

Orders for team shirts are due Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014.  These are only if you want to.  We will provide a team uniform shirt for meets. Different in style than these you can order. (Skiers provide their own pants, or tights for races.)

Here is this weeks plan.  As always plans have a way of changing so keep that in mind.

I would like to lengthen our daily workouts by 15 minutes.  This would get us home around 5:45PM .

Monday, Jan. 6, 2014
Classic Ski Technique Day

Tuesday, Jan.7, 2014
TNT at  Scout Park
Classic Skis WE WILL BE SKIING IF ENOUGH SNOW
Dress to be outside
Done by 5PM

Wednesday Jan. 8, 2014
Tshirt orders due
Skate Ski Day

Friday Jan.10, 2014
Skiers Choice for skis
3k time trial


Our first race is a 2 day event, January 17 &18. ( Friday and Saturday)
I do not have specifics yet.   When I get them I will post.

I do know that volunteers are always needed.  We will partner with the High School families as this is a combined meet.  See list below.

Every day we will need:
Timers
Spotters
Medical Support (EMT or Ski Patrol)
Team Snacks (Oranges, cookies, Gatoraid etc.)
Help waxing LJHS team members
And so many more places that I cannot think of right now.


Please let me know if you can help, what day(s) and if you want to be out on the course skiing or in a non ski position.  Names and phone numbers would be helpful so I can pass it in the the race organizers.  (LHS Coaches)

Also parents please feel free to cheer, ring cow bells and blow horns just as loud as you can for your skiers.