And so it begins...

This coming week we are starting official practice. Thanks to our captains (Megan, Natalie, and Lucas), who have done a tremendous job overseeing daily practices to this point.
We are doing some of our traditional testing this week, starting with a 3000-meter run on Wednesday afternoon. We will follow that up on Thursday with our 5 km SkiErg test, and the strength test on Saturday morning. You can get updates through the week here on the blog, and even more frequent updates on our team by following @Bates_Nordic on Twitter (oh yeah).
Next weekend is also Parent/Family Weekend here on campus. We will be having a ski team (Alpine and Nordic) tailgate on Saturday for all the sporting events going on, as well as the opening of the newly renovated Garcelon Field. Just look for the Bates Skiing tent in the tailgate area. Also, parents and family members will be welcome at our Sunday OD at Pineland farms.

Meet the Bobcats: Natalie Ruppertsberger

In this episode of Meet the Bobcats, we talk to our Senior women's co-captain, Natalie Ruppertsberger. On to the questions...

Where are you from originally?
Plainfield, NH

What are you majoring in?
Biology

What did you do this past summer?
Worked on:
1) My tan
2) My thesis research

The coolest place you've visited?
Being in Sweden in the summer is awesome, the sun hardly sets and its never too hot or humid.

What's the best thing about being a Bobcat?
All-you-can-eat, every day, in Commons

What's your favorite movie?
"Catch me if you can" or "My cousin Vinny." It's a tie, they're both great movies.

What would your dream job be?
Firefighter, I love dalmatians.

What's your favorite place to ski?
My high school club team took a trip to Norway in March. It was sunny all the time, there was tons of snow, and they fed us blueberry soup.

What is your favorite Commons meal?
Thursday lunch: Pad thai, tomato soup, grilled cheese. Although I get a little overwhelmed by the number of delicious options.

When and where did you first start skiing?
I used to have my dog pull me around the yard on skis, pretending I was in the Iditarod. Actually, I still do that when no one is looking...

Thanks Nat!

Meet the Bobcats: Megan McClelland

First up in our exciting new Meet the Bobcats series is our Senior women's co-captain Megan McClelland.

Bates Nordic: Where are you from originally?
Megan McMclelland: Keene Valley, NY

BN: What is your major?
MM: Psychology

BN: Favorite ski team memory so far?
MM: I'm going to have to go with performing "Shirt Off" with Young Ivey as a Carni Crush for the Dartmouth boys Sophomore year.

BN: Classic or Skate?
MM: Classic

BN: If you could visit any place, where would it be?
MM: I've been dying to take a road trip across the Southern USA.

BN: What is your favorite place to ski?
MM: Avalanche Pass, Lake Placid, NY.

BN: What is the sweetest trick you've thrown down at Lost Valley?
MM: I'm a seated rail grinder for the most part, but have done anything from skiing backwards by the base lodge to lifting one ski up on my way down one of the black diamond hills.

BN: What is your favorite meal at commons?
MM: Butternut squash casserole and sesame vegan nuggets, although they rarely occur at the same time.

BN: When and Where did you first start skiing?
MM: Probably sometime between age 2 and 3 at Whiteface mountain.

BN: If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
MM: Definitely the ability to fly.

BN: Thanks Megan!

You can check out Megan's freestyle skills in the movie "Goggles On", featured in this blog's archives under March 2009.