BFA Alumni/Citizens Race
BFA Alumni Race
12/28/2024
Dickinson Farm
A joyful crowd assembled at the Dickinson Farm for the annual BFA Alumni/Citizens Race. Many traditions of the event have endured over the years, with new ones introduced as recent graduates join the alumni ranks, injecting new energy into the event. Each generation passes the torch to the next with the hopes of steady improvement. This year was no different, but the fruits of the many generations of the event were on full display in a remarkable race.
After a week of cold weather, a major warmup hit the region. The frosty weather provided an opportunity to reinforce the course with big equipment for the race. The course was determined in advance, and with daily grooming, the BFA Nordic Team was able to ski it in, creating a firm base. The race day temperature crossed over freezing, softening the snow a bit, but the course held up well. One of the longest traditions of the race is to hold it on the cusp of losing the snow. The wisdom and experience of the Race Director, Scott Magnan, have made him confident about what needs to be done to pull off the race. This year, while thin, the coverage was good, and skiers were opting for their top race stock.
The course and format vary year by year, utilizing the best possible snow to ski on. Being held early in the season, the course looped through the grass meadows of the Dickinson Farm. We started in the stadium near Button Road and skied down the First Meadow along the Olympic Banner to the Second Meadow. A single-lane climb led to the Second Meadow Loop, which tends to be a fixture of the race as it holds the best snow at the venue. Skiers looped through the Second Meadow and back down to the first, taking a right to ski a loop in the Back Meadow before returning to the First Meadow and making their way to the Lap/Finish area in the stadium via a hairpin midway through the First Meadow.
The rolling course challenged the participants with climbs and short recoveries. Most skiers could take everything at speed, though some areas had grabby snow that could spin out unsuspecting skiers. The warming conditions made the snow slow, but a good flat ski glided well, making good technique a significant factor. Skiers found themselves right on threshold, with a couple of downhills each lap to catch their breath but not finding enough recovery to carry them beyond the next section of the course. So, it was not a slog; it had the potential to be if you scrambled or turned your edge in shortening the ride provided by the glide. Courses and conditions like these tend to be watt-sucking and quickly drain the batteries of the athletes, which is excellent conditioning for the Bogburn!
Before racing got underway, Scott called up all the past Alumni Race winners—an advantage for the alumni. Scott gave a shout-out to each former champion and the year they graduated from BFA. Scott ’94, Tyler ’01, Damian ’95, Cipperly ’96, John ’18, and Brook ’19 took coveted positions on the line. Instructions were given, and Tom Cleveland gave the start command. Alumni Racing was underway in a flurry of action. Due to the nature of the race and the width of the trails, position is critical.
John Thompson (NWVE, BFA ‘18) got a jump on the field with unmatched reaction time and some quick double-poling. The previous champions' faces showed expressions of “well, here we go,” except for defending champion Brook Hodgeman (NWVE, BFA ‘19), who had a much more determined look. Brook
proceeded to gap the field with the fastest lap of the day. A small chase group was formed with Tyler Magnan (NWVE, BFA ‘01 ), Scott Magnan (NWVE, BFA ‘94), Teddy Tremblay (BFA ‘25), Eli Hazen (BFA ‘27), Max Ronner-Bland (UVM), and Ethan Mashtare (UMass Lowell, BFA ‘22) responding to the pace set by the leaders. Behind that was the main pack led by Caroline Dodd (Bates) and the Hurteau brothers Toby (BFA ‘26) and Porter (UNH, BFA ‘24).
The race field was the deepest we have seen in Alumni Race history. While it is not uncommon for one or two athletes to run away with the race, the organization of the main field was something of another level, keeping the gap close. The pack was not well organized, but the grit of the athletes within held it together with a continuous rotation of attacks. Joining the Hurteaus and Caroline were Jacob Tremblay (UVM, BFA ‘22), Adrian Owens (Craftsbury), Will Gochberg (NWVE), myself BFA ‘95, Sarah Pribram (NWVE), and Jessica Bolduc (NWVE). Brook’s full-throttle strategy also helped as the main field was energized to swallow up those who could not hold his initial pace.
Chasing the field was Sam Hurteau (BFA ‘26), Meridith Mashtare (NWVE, BFA ‘19), Mike Mashtare (NWVE, BFA ‘77), and Andre’ Bolduc (NWVE, BFA ‘06). Here, the tradition was running deeper than just family as Mike was racing in his signature late 1980s hot pink uni-suit and schooling the newest addition to the BFA
coaching staff, Andre’, on the 1980s torso rotation skating technique. While Mike was a little quicker, Andre’, known for his polished technique, did not break form. Cipperly Good (NWVE) was in a similar situation. She was happy to be hanging with Logan Hughes (UConn, BFA ‘22). While Logan thrashed, Cipperly settled in with solid skiing. Mike Elmore (Unattached, BFA ’85) held on, skiing his first race in a long time. After lap one, athletes took measure of what was unfolding, and the race was hardly settled.
On lap two, Brook settled in while those who were biding their time on lap one got on the move. Tyler Magnan disposed of a fading John Thompson and set out to chase down Brook. Teddy Tremblay was also skiing well and dropped Scott Magnan, setting his sights on John. Eli Hazen held position with a steady pace, keeping Scott honest. Max Ronner-Bland and Ethan Mashtare were absorbed into the main field, which was gaining on the leaders as the race progressed. Will Gochberg, Adrian Owens, and I made our way to the front of the pack and kept the tempo high, pacing with the America East All-Conference XC runner Ethan Mashtare and his UNH rival Porter Hurteau. Sarah Pribram held strong in the unenviable tail gun position at the back of the pack, eventually linking up with Caroline Dodd. Jessica Bolduc’s skis were not so hot on the second lap, and she slowly fell off the pace of the main field.
Many changes occurred during lap two as pacing and racing unfolded, setting up a grueling third and final lap. Ski speed was a major factor in the slowing snow, but as is tradition, the BFA Alumni Citizens race is about guts and bragging rights. This year was especially true as instead of spreading out, the race was tightening. There were also several two-way sections, and being that it was held in open meadows, everyone had a good sense of where everyone else was with no place to hide. For those who had not burned all their matches yet, the racing was on!
Brook Hodgeman noticed that the threat of John Thompson had been replaced by Tyler Magnan, who was rapidly closing. Brook knew it would be difficult to hold the lead if Tyler made contact. Teddy Tremblay has been having an outstanding senior year and patiently chased down John Thompson, making a move for the overall podium. Eli Hazen made a move, dropping his coach, Scott Magnan. Porter Hurteau and I were also too close for comfort when Scott looked in his rearview mirror to assess if he could hold position after being passed by Eli. In an “OH SHOOT” moment, Scott did not panic but resorted to his strengths to hold us off.
Adrian Owens and Toby Hurteau led the main field after Porter, and I made a small break with fast skis. Will Gochberg, Jacob Tremblay, Caroline Dodd, and Sarah Pribram held the field together, all finishing within 10 seconds of Adrian and Toby as the main pack crossed the line. Ethan Mashtare and Max Ronner-Bland got shelled off the back of the main field as the fatigue of their hot lap early in the race set in. The course had no free ride, so the consequences of blowing up early were severe. Jessica Bolduc ran out of course before she could catch the two.
Mike Mashtare gained a spot, overtaking Lucas Mckenzie (Wheaton, BFA ‘22) late in the race. Mike skied away from Andre’ Bolduc and Meredith Mashtare on the final lap. Andre’ and Meredith stayed solid holding position as the race closed out. Logan Hughes made a move to drop Cipperly Good and Mike
Elmore over the final stretches of the race. The move worked on Mike, but the Huskie only pulled Cipperly to the line, who came up beside her to tie after the incredible effort.
While the 6km race unfolded, traditions were carried on in the 4km event as well. Perry Bland (NWVE), who is responsible for nurturing more lifelong skiers of all abilities than anyone can count, was doing what he loves to do most. Perry was guiding his grandson Oscar Ronner-Bland, who is in that tough spot of getting started in the sport, showing him the ways to receive enjoyment in what initially seems like an unfulfilling sport. Perry was joined by Sara Heth (BFA ’91), and Kennedy Heth (BFA ’28), doing much the same thing. Michele Bouchard (BFA ’92) was also on course, with Emmitt Bouchard adding to the family affair.
Athletes collapsed with exhaustion as they crossed the line. The course was lined
with friends and family supporting the racers. Most notable was Wally Good in his tie-dye attire and Dan Ronner-Bland giving individualized encouragement. While it may seem that the less technical and shorter races should make things easy, you have to leave it all on the course when pride and bragging rights are on the line. All you need is healthy competition to have a great time, and this year's BFA Alumni Citizens Race delivered!
It was wonderful to see participation across generations. It was truly exceptional to have so many of the key players in the region's cross-country skiing heritage together in one place doing what they love. A lineage from Perry Bland to Martell to Mashtare to Magnan to
Hodgeman was almost fully present, with those they have influenced well represented. Brook is starting up a robust BKL with the support of the former generations to grow the sport in the region solidifying future Alumni Races.
There was a brief awards ceremony, during which Brook retained the Alumni Champion Rotating Ski, and Meredith was tasked with finding the Women’s Championship Ski, which has gone missing. Tootsie Pops were given to the podiums in the respective races, and a few pies and jars of salsa were raffled off. Skiers took an extended cool-down, discussing the race and plotting for the future before heading their separate ways for recovery. Thank you to all who worked long hours to host and pull the race together, as well as all who participated, making this race one for the history books!
Damian
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