Feb 1 & Feb 5

Hello Skiers-

We had a great ski at Elk Heights Wednesday, and a day at the Jente Loppet Sunday.  Audrey and Isak were 5k champions, with Gavin finishing 3rd.  Gwynnie, Avega, Julia and Ben skied really well in the 2.5k.  They weren't done, as they all skied in the afternoon along Lake Keechelus.   Audrey, Isak, Bryton and Ben made the traverse to Crystal Springs.

This Week:

Tuesday Optional Ski CLASSIC at Manastash.

Wednesday Elk Heights CLASSIC. (Keep alert in case of grooming changes) Meet EHS 3:20, Ski 3:50-5:10, Return to EHS 5:40.  Please Deliver race skis to me this day or Thursday.

Thursday: Optional ski Manastash.  SKATE.

Friday-Sunday: Methow Trip.  Races Saturday and Sunday at Liberty Bell high school.  No race day registration, so sign up online if you want to participate by Thursday.

Sunday:  Scott and Melanie will be doing a SKATE session at Cabin Creek 10AM-noon for those not going to the Methow.  If you are planning to attend PLEASE EMAIL ME SO I CAN TELL THEM HOW MANY TO EXPECT.  Thanks for putting this on Scott and Melanie!

Jan 25 & Jan 29

Well, it is warmer, but the kids will tell you it just makes better snowballs!  The older kids stayed home from California due to a huge storm, and skiing here was pretty good!  The schedule for this week:

Wednesday: SKATING @ Elk Heights (Keep alert in case of grooming changes).  Leave EHS 3:20, Ski 3:50-5:10, Return to EHS 5:40.

Sunday:

We found out late that the Jente Loppet is Sunday.  Many Ellensburg skiers participated in this event last year.  It is a low key and fun race for women, but is open to youth males as well.  Here is the link, including a registration link- signing up online saves $10.  There are lots of pictures of Ellensburg folks on the site- see how many you can find!

The race is freestyle, which means skating or classic.  Most people would skate, but if you think you would be faster classic you can do this too.

The directions on that site are written from the perspective of a Seattle person- don't follow them!  Take exit 54, turn left, go under freeway, turn left at stop sign.  Follow road to snopark in 1/2 mile.

The race starts at 10AM.  I thought it would be great to combine the race with a ski along the lake.  Please come for any part of the day or all:

7:50 Meet at Fruit barn to carpool

9AM Arrive Hyak, registration details, etc.
10AM Race (or just ski)
11AM ish awards
11:30 lunch, snack
12:00 Ski again from Hyak, some skiers might want to make the 8 mile (all flat) ski along the lake to Crystal Springs

2:00 Return to Hyak, drive back to Ellensburg, picking up skiers at Crystal Springs on the way

3:00 Return to Fruit Barn

We hope you will all be able to join, whether you plan to race or not.  Hyak has great terrain for beginners (very flat), and is scenic.

Optional practices:

Tuesday & Thursday after school, skiing at Manastash, Mineral Springs, Taneum or Elk Heights, depending on grooming.  Meet at 3:15 front of EHS if interested, return at 6.

Methow Weekend Feb 4-5.  Race Information Here.  The price goes up Friday night, so register early if you are going.  If additional athletes want to go to Methow, email Jeff.

Jan 18 & 22

Hello Skiers-

What a great week of winter.  We had great skiing at the golf course and then great races at the Gunnar Hagen Youth Race Today.  Below are all the Ellensburg participants, except Kenny (who had an AMAZING ski).  Result are here.

Unfortunately, we have some warmer temps in the forecast... So we will be playing things a bit by ear for Wednesday.  To add to the uncertainty, the groomer told me today that he has one machine down.  I'll update things Wednesday during the day when I know more.

Wednesday PRACTICE CANCELLED DUE TO TREACHEROUS ROAD CONDITIONS: Elk Heights SKATING.  (The location may change, but the times will be fairly close- but throw classic skis in the car just in case.) Meet EHS 3:20, Ski 3:50-5:10, Return to EHS 5:40.

Sunday: Cabin Creek 10AM-noon SKATING.  Let's try to organize carpools for Sunday- meet at Thorp at 9:00?

Tuesday (optional- all ages welcome): We may do a Lincoln after school ski, followed by a bit of agility and technique work at Lincoln SKATING.  We will finish about 4:45.

Thursday-Sunday: Isak, Magnus and Uhuru will be heading to California for a big time race called the "Supertour."  The Supertour is the top race series in the United States, so many national team and Olympians will be there (but they won't be racing the same category.) Wish them luck!

Jan 11 & Jan 16

Wednesday Manastash SnoPark CLASSIC.  Carpool from EHS- meet at 3:15, depart 3:20, Ski 3:50-5:00, Return to EHS 5:30.  It was great up there today!  Dress for cold.

Monday MLK Washington Cup #2 Youth Race- Cabin Creek.  Arrive 10:00 to register and prepare.  Races start at 11:00.  No charge- please bring signed waiver if parent is not coming.  We will have awards after all races finish at 12:30.  These races are meant to be low key, and to encourage skiers of all levels to participate.  Families welcome.  Carey and Jeff are directing this one, so should be a busy day for us.

If you don't want to race, please come up and ski.

OPTIONAL Additional Activities:

Tuesday: Skating after school

Thursday: 3-4PM- help with Lincoln Elementary skiing, 4PM depart for Skating at Elk Heights.

Sunday: Gunnar Hagen 7.5k.  10AM.  This is a mostly adult focused race, but skiers 14 and older can race the 7.5k.  Information here.  This one costs $15.

What a wonderful winter!

Jan 4 & 8

Hello Skiers!

Winter is here!  We are officially starting this week, with "Rec" Skiing Wednesday & Sunday and our racers heading to Bend this weekend.  The groomer is getting Elk Heights ready for us this week, so we are going to head there Wednesday.

Wednesday: CLASSIC*Manastash SnoPark (Updated 1/4, 9AM).  Meet at EHS 3:15 to carpool, will return to EHS 5:30.  Or families can provide their own transportation.  *Directions: Drive Manastash road until the end (about 7 miles from Cove.)  Park on the South side of the road in the designated Snopark area.

For those attending EHS, you can leave skis and clothes in my prep room during the day.  Bring them by before school, or if you are feeling ambitious, throw skis into my roof rack (just make sure you've got the right car..) Ask Uhuru, Audrey, or Isak for help.  I recommend leaving ski clothes and boots inside, so they are warm when you put them on.  We will try to roll out of EHS at 3:20, so we can ski from 3:50-5:00, and return to town at 5:30.

Manastash was BEAUTIFUL this afternoon!

Sunday: CLASSIC* Cabin Creek 10AM-noon.  Possible meet at Thorp (South side of interchange 9AM for carpool).  *Directions: Drive I-90 to Exit 63, park on South side, walk back to north side of freeway to ski area.

OPTIONAL SKI FOR OLDER GROUP: TUESDAY Manastash SKATING Depart EHS 3:20, return 5:30.  Bring headlamp and RSVP.

BEND JNQ: Be sure to register at MBSEF site.  More info about the races here.  We will depart Friday from EHS- possibly in time for a short ski Friday afternoon.

Washington Cup Series: Jeff and Carey have been involved in planning the Washington Cup series of races in collaboration with other teams in the state.    These are "low key" races that are open to anyone.  Check out the site for more information.

NOTE FOR FIRST TIMERS:  Classic skis are the ones with the pattern on the base.

Finally, bundle up- it will be cold this week!

Suits, Jackets, and Snow

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It is starting to look and feel like winter.  This year we have some new jackets- featuring snowflakes and the Stuart Skyline.  They are custom made by Podiumwear, a company in Minnesota. Check them out and order online here.  The password is "elkheights."  They are awesome!

The way the order works is:  you submit what you want and pay by credit card.  Podiumwear makes the jackets and suits and ships them to me Jan 10th.  You can get them from me when we go skiing. It will make a good "late" holiday gift.  Check the size charts.  My experience with the suits- they run a little small.  I wear a medium in almost everything, but like a large suit top.  

For advanced skiers looking for training, I will drive up to Cabin Creek on Tuesday and/or Wednesday, depending on conditions (both road and grooming- no word on Cabin Creek tomorrow yet... I will bring ski clothes to school and will go if conditions are good and people are interested.)  Please email back if you are interested and which day would work.  You will need to bring (or borrow) a headlamp.  We will return to Ellensburg about 6:30 or 7.

I will be taking Magnus, Isak, and Gavin up to Canada for the weekend, so I will not be around then.  There might be some pretty good skiing at Cabin Creek this weekend!

Lastly, if you have not signed up online, please do so.  I am still sending this to last year's email list, but will stop soon.

-Jeff

Ellensburg Ski Team 2016-2017 Overview

Ellensburg Ski Team 2015-2016

The purpose of the Ellensburg ski team is to introduce youth ages 7-18 to cross country skiing and competitive cross country ski racing.  We instruct both classic style and skating techniques.  Participants are able to compete in youth races in the area.  Skiers can work towards racing at the regional and national level.  We welcome skiers of all levels from beginners to expert.

The “Standard” program is two times per week (Wednesday afternoons and Sunday mornings).  The “Race” program adds other days.  These distinctions are not rigid- anyone is welcome to come to any practice and any trip. 

“Standard” Schedule

Wednesday afternoons (Jan 4-Feb 22)- wherever there is snow

·      3:30-4:30 at West Ellensburg Park if there is snow in town

·      3:30-5:30 at Elk Heights if there is good snow there

·      3:15-6 or 7PM if we have to drive to Cabin Creek or Salmon la Sac for snow

Weekends: Sundays 10AM-noon at Cabin Creek Jan 8- Feb 22nd, except for special events.

·      Jan 16^th Monday Youth Classic Race @ Cabin Creek Meet at 9:00AM.  If you don't want to race come out and ski and help.  No practice Sunday Jan 15th.

·      Feb 11^th Saturday Youth skate Race @ Cabin Creek Meet at 9:00AM-   If you don't want to race come out and ski and help.  No practice Sunday Feb 12th.
March 4th-5th: Youth Weekend at Cabin Creek- featuring relay races, obstacle courses, food and fun with athletes from around Washington and Oregon!

“Race” Schedule

Additional practices will also be held Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays most weeks.  Dryland training will begin in December.  On snow training (Tuesdays, Wednesdays and weekends) will begin as soon as there is snow.  The race team will occasionally travel to Leavenworth to benefit from a larger training group.  Follow the blog for specifics.  The race group will have the option to travel to Bend, OR, Methow, WA, Spokane, WA, and Truckee, CA for races (participants will need to pay their share of expenses for these trips.)

Cost- there is no charge for participation in the program.  We have discussed changing this policy, but we have decided to keep it free of charge because our primary goal is to introduce people to nordic skiing.  Please recognize that comparable programs around the region charge between $300-$5000.  People (you) often place more value in a program if you are invested financially. There may be a charge for specific races or trips.

Transportation- You will need to arrange transportation for your child.  You will need a Snopark permit with the groomed trails sticker to park at Cabin Creek ($80 for the year).  Participants are encouraged to carpool and there have always been enough seats in the past if parents do not want to drive.

            Please arrive a few minutes early as it takes time to get equipment organized.

Equipment- Participants will need skating and classic skis, boots, and poles.  Packages are available for season rental at a discounted price from Mountain High Sports. Please mark your child’s skis/poles – they tend to look similar.  Race participants should consider waxable classic skis and 2 pairs of poles.  Equipment scholarships are available through the Ellensburg Cross Country Ski Club. E-mail with scholarship requests.

Communication- Weekly updates will be sent out by email and posted on the eburgski.blogspot.com.  Email is our primary form of communication. 

First Time on Snow? Beginners can start on January 4^th or on January 8^th

Sign Up- access the web form here.

Questions: email jeffhashimoto@gmail.com