Going Big

October has been huge:

-The first week, testing.

-The second, big volume and the Dempsey Challenge.

-The third, more testing (and fun) at Rangeley Camp.

This past week was yet another serious volume week, and we wish October goodbye this week with an even bigger one, the culmination of which is the Lobster Roll - a rollerski race between the Maine colleges out on the island of North Haven. It's the first time we will have had the opportunity to go head-to-head with other college skiers and as sports psychologist and team idol Jerry Lynch would say we are excited to learn from our competition. 

We are also excited to absolutely tear them apart.

This past Sunday, we took part in the annual tradition of rollerskiing to the ever-generous Fuller's house in Freeport. It was a 25-35 mile ski, and we were received in Freeport with dry clothes and Debbie's famous lasagna. Here are some awesome photos which Steve Fuller took as we neared his house; you can check out the whole set at flyingpointroad and also purchase a print for the mantle!

Stay tuned,

-Filly

The Fam, minus a few.

Made it!

Hello loyal bobcat fans!

While there were no Patrick Dempsey sightings, and no adventures on the tops of mountains in Rangeley, these past few days have been pretty eventful. As far as training goes, everyone on team has been doing a really impressive job staying strong and positive during a week of distance and intensity workouts, despite all of now present academic pressures that seemed so far away in Rangeley. This morning we did a skate rollerski interval workout in west Auburn, and afterwards many people from the team went to cheer on Gabby, who was running in NESCAC’s for cross-country.  

In other exciting news, yesterday we all went to watch the inauguration of Bates’ 8^th president, Clayton Spencer. I think everyone was impressed by the transformed Merrill gym, the speeches, Clayton Spencer herself and by the familiar face of Coach Becky walking in the processional.

Shout out also to INGRID KNOWLES, MEGAN MCCLELLAND AND NATALIE RUPPERTSBERGER who made appearances on campus this weekend!

And good luck to Sam and Nat in their marathon tomorrow!

RANGELEY RAP-UP

Rangeley Lake  

Every year at the beginning of October Break, your friendly neighborhood Nordies hear the call of the wild,  drop the books and head up North to Rangeley to throw down fighting Bobcat-style. After coming out of a big volume week, we ran, skied, and baked our way to success this year at Rangeley Camp 2012. A year for all-time highs and record lows, all three time-trial course records were soundly broken. It’s clear that summer training, determination, positive attitudes, and those extra PB&J’s are paying off. Here’s the following breakdown of each time-trial:

SADDLEBACK UPHILL RUN

Nerves were at an all time high as we drove up to the start of the 3-mile course. But as soon as we opened the doors of the van, sunshine dotting through the trees, the Bobcats put their heads down and got to business. Seany took off from the start with a healthy pace and led the guys to the very top, until Nick took the lead. On the girl’s side, Beth and Hallie led the way to the top, slaying a four-year record previously held by the one, the only, Megan McClelland. All of the returning girls (Beth, Gretchen, and Hal) PR’ed! First-place cheering goes to Gabby and her incredible encouragement at the hardest part of the course.

UPHILL DOUBLE-POLE

After an incredibly successful morning and a HUGE lunch (and some coffee), the colors of the wind were garnet and silver as we strapped on our classic skis for another test of physical fitness. The freshman girls put in some solid times; Jane McLearney was one second off the a Ruppertberger Record, achieving a time of 3:42. Hallie came in right after Janey at 3:43, a solid PR. 

Things continued to get interesting when the boys showed up. Lucas first poled his way to the top, beating Sylvan’s existing record. As news of a new record traveled to the bottom the course, Jordan threw down a time that would ultimately name him the fastest-ever double-poler in Rangeley and possibly the World. As no Bobcat is afraid of a challenge, Filly and Nick ended up breaking Sylvan’s record as well. In the end, Nick and Jordan tied with a record of 2:40. An overall tally indicated that there were 14 personal records on the first day of Rangeley Camp!

10-KM SADDLEBACK CLASSIC SKI

Petey getting ready to take off

Determined to keep this Party-train to Champion Town going, the Bobcats set out the next morning to the base of Saddleback mountain. Possibly on the of the hardest time-trials set in front of the Bobcats, all the returning girls took a bite out of their times from past years (Hallie, Caroline, Beth, and Gretchen), while the boys also put in a great effort with PRs from Jordan, Lucas, Seany, Pete, Connor, and Nick. Beth managed to beat a McClelland record, a true feat. Everyone put in their best effort and skied away full of accomplishment and BOBCAT pride. A big thanks to Nate and Lauren for their undying support and technique advice at the hardest part of the course. Wouldn't have made it without out you two.

Just some casual planking in the middle of the wilderness

Victorious Surprise Tuttle Pie

Rangeley Camp is always a great time for the team in many respects. However, arguably the most important and heated competition is held the last night of camp. After a four days of showing off athletic prowess, the Bobcats get down and dirty in the Apple Pie Contest. The array of culinary brillance included cinnamon sugar with just a hint of cardimon, homemade whip cream, and a crumble-top to die for. The winning team holds bragging right for a full-year. According to Becky, “the pies this year were the best” she had ever had the pleasure to eat. However, with just one taste of the sweet, sweet “Surprise Tuttle Pie” the judges were convinced of that only one pie could take the throne in this Game of Pies. I’m still convinced of foul play and bribery… PIE RJ 4EVER!!!!

Marge, Sam, Tchen, and Gabby at the top of soggy Saddleback Mtn.

This week was truly inspirational. The fighting Bobcat is dancing within us. We can try to reign it in but it’s too strong! YIP YIP MEOW!!!

<3 Gretch

A Special Guest Blog from PRO SKIER Beth Taylor

Heyo everybody, this is Beth Taylor, guestblogging from the couches of Alumni Gym in Lewiston, Maine. First of all, I guess I should explain what I am doing here. Back in early September, I realized I would never make it through my first fall as an alumni without Tollhouse pie, Commons' apple cider, and of course my bobcats and kittens. I caved, bought a plane ticket, and made Becky promise to keep my return a secret. Fast forward to this past Friday, when I strolled into the ski room like I had never left.

My first few hours at Bates were everything I could have imagined and more. After several hours of double takes, hugs, and getting slide tackled in Commons (Hallie...), I was skiing through postcard-worthy New England scenery, getting caught up on everything I had missed in Bates life. My welcome to Maine was completed with fresh apples and cider donuts at Becky's house post-ski. By 7:30 PM, I found myself in an electric yellow, blue-flowered pair of snowsuit overalls, surrounded by equally stylish teammates, strapping on rollerskates and trying to do the Gangnam Style dance on wheels without falling on my face. Stars of the evening were Mr. Nick Michaud, gettin frisky with gender boundaries in a kimono and matching hat; Ms. Sally Ryerson, whose dinosaur suit inspired a young fan to ask for her autograph; and Mr. Jordan Buetow, whose skating skills cannot be matched.

Taking over the Rollodrome in a storm of neon.

Sally and Britta's biggest admirer

Early the next morning a squad of Bobcats and I got up early for the annual Dempsey Challenge charity run. Highlights of the day were several 10k titles (Filly for the men, Hallie and I for the women), a lot of awesome Bobcat spirit as everyone cheered for everyone else during overlapping points in the run, and the discovery that Patrick Dempsey was repping a Bates Skiing hat (thanks to Avril Dunleavy). That afternoon I got introduced to Lucas' new core workout (very simple: do core for thirty minutes, straight up), and began to understand the abundance of six-packs on the team.

Beautiful Bobcats with some average-looking dude

Yesterday while some of us did a skate roll/run workout around Pineland, most of the men's team, plus Hallie, Jane and Caroline, braved the rainy conditions to bike anywhere from 25 to 100 miles for the Dempsey ride. Overall sounded like a pretty awesome ride (shoutout to Filly, who broke his chain within six miles and had to trek back to campus), with a pack of Batesies leading the century just behind the lead car. 

At this point everyone is studying hard to get midterms done before we head out to Rangeley Wednesday morning for some serious uphill time trials and some even more serious apple pie baking and football playing. (check twitter for live updates on the annual and highly anticipated Rangeley Bowl.) as always, it's a good day to be a bobcat....and it's good to be back.

The very illustrious and very professional Beth Taylor.

The Team That Was a Family

School and training are now in full swing here in western Maine and the past few weeks have been filled with hard work,  euphoria, foliage, and family. Veteran members of the Bates Nordic Ski Team gathered last week to solidify our ideas of what it means to be members of the Nordic team. We dispersed into groups to brainstorm and develop lists of words. After converging, it was no surprise, although magical, that every group listed the word ‘Family.’ 

Our immediate family

In the past weeks members of the team have been mindful of this and more cognizant  of the positive and productive atmosphere we have constructed. Like a family, we have been attacking our tasks in full force. We began with a week of testing including a 3000m track test, a 15k classic time trial, and an endurance strength test. Some smashed personal records while others may have faced disapointment, but at the end of the week we had each other to tell tales of feat, or be there with positive support. 

Girls attacking a hill in Auburn

Seanie attacking MATH

As brothers, we took a short vacation in Acadia consisting of sailing, 'SUP'ing, card games, an extensive hide and seek game, and lobster by the beach.

Brothers finding bliss in Acadia

The girls group is really large this year and with numbers comes competition. Expect big things from these ladies.

Lots of sisters on Crocker Mountain

Two of our sisters, Andrea and Gabby, have been running cross country this fall and have already been pushing each other to compete with Bobcat Pride. Andrea and Gabby have been setting personal records.

 We hosted a 5K run/walk as a fundraiser for the Nordic Team and the Lewiston Adult Learning Center.

We had a remarkable turnout!

The start

Pete forerunning around our picturesque campus

 Family is not only really important to help push and motivate each other, but to help relax and have fun.

Dropping in on a local skate park during a skate ski

Captain Lukey getting rad on a pile of remnants from...a recent snowfall in Lewiston?

Thanks for checking in!