November Greetings NENSA Community ~

Our NENSA #25in2020 Fall into Winter on-line Auction is LIVE! We are thrilled to have over 100 amazing items so far, and more being added daily! Go to www.32Auctions.com/NENSA2020 to check out all the items and start your bidding! With the pandemic, there has never been a better time to "shop local" on items from both our NENSA sponsors and the New England community, and support NENSA at the same time! Just think, you could get all your holiday shopping done and support NENSA too! It's a win-win!!

NENSA will also be announcing our 2020 NENSA Award Recipients over the next month! We are kicking things off this week with the BKL Leadership Award. Check out the box below for this year's winner, and stay tuned as we roll out more Awards each week through December!

NENSA would also like to take this opportunity to continue to welcome back our AWESOME Sponsors as they renew their partnership with NENSA this year! This issue we welcome back and THANK our long time NENSA sponsor partners ~ the Craftsbury Outdoor Center and SIDAS, your footwear company.

Please remember to thank and support all of our NENSA Sponsors ~ they are all such a big part of our NENSA programing continued success!

Here's what we have in store for you in this week's KickZone in the boxes below ~

  • The Auction! Check out some of our great items and the link to bid!
  • Women's Day registration is OPEN for 5 mini-Women's XC Ski Days on 1/24/21
  • Our 2020 NENSA BKL Leader Award winner!
  • Eastern Cup and VT Cup Updates
  • NENSA's new BKL Best Practices COVID document and BKL Leader Forum google survey
  • Bib & Chip purchase/rental OPEN (hold the guacamole and salsa) for our EC/VT Cup Races
  • From our Partners: Craftsbury's Colligate Winter Term applications currently be accepted; the TOKO Ida Sargent interview: and from Salomon, Tyler Kornfield on winter and getting on snow!

Click here for MEMBERSHIP: RENEW or JOIN today, and thank you!
Please take a few minutes to do that and support the organization that supports XC skiing here in New England, and beyond! NENSA is here for you, running programing for you, our ski community ~ we need your support this year, more than ever!

I hope this finds everyone safe and well ~
Best,
Amie

Amie W. Smith
Executive Director
New England Nordic Ski Association
Amie@nensa.net

GIVING: DONATE to NENSA today, and thank you!

Be sure to follow us on fb, Twitter and on Instagram @nensa_nordic
NENSA News from the Field
Highlights and Notes from NENSA and the Nordic World
NENSA's #25in2020 Fall into Winter Annual on-line Auction
is LIVE!!
Go to www.32Auctions.com/NENSA2020 to check out all our amazing items! Thank you in advance for supporting NENSA and supporting our NENSA sponsors and shops all over New England. Shop early for the holidays and support NENSA too! Here are just a few of our favorite things...there are over 111 items in our NENSA Auction, and counting!
A Case of your choice of Hosmer Wines
Hand knit hat by NENSA staffer Kait Miller
Jessie Diggins AUTOGRAPHED Swenor Rollerskis
Kennebec Cheese Gift Certificate
Get this awesome and super comfortable NENSA logo'd face mask with a "buy it now" $30 Donation to NENSA!
~ Thanks to our partner Mountain Road Outfitters in Stowe VT and Maloja
L.L. Bean Boat n' Totes with NENSA logo in Green and/or Regatta Blue
BRIKO helmets and sunglasses
Mad River Valley ski tour, beers at Lawson's followed by dinner out for two!
2018 Pyeongchang US TEAM just moments after the GOLD was won! From the collection of Jim Rodrigues, original framed photo by Steve Fuller
Kate Parrott Receives NENSA’s 2020
BKL Leadership Award
The Bill Koch League Leadership Award is given out every year to someone from our ski community who we feel embodies the fun, community minded, lifelong approach to skiing. This could be a coach, a parent, a club leader, a volunteer, or an official; the New England Bill Koch League is sustained by a large group of adults who give their time and energy to the sport that they love. This year we are thrilled to be giving the award to Kate Parrott of Chesterfield, MA and the Berkshire Trails BKL Club.

If you’ve been to a New England Bill Koch League Festival in the past few years, chances are you’ve seen Kate in the vicinity of the start corral. Whether helping skiers to get lined up in the correct order, or leading those skiers in a group dance or jumping jacks routine to keep them warm before their start – her calm and commanding presence helps skiers feel at ease in what could be an otherwise stressful situation, and has been a welcome addition to the stadium area.

On top of being a coach and Club Leader for Berkshire Trails, Kate serves as NENSA’s BKL District Chair for Western Massachusetts, a volunteer position that has her serving on a committee with NENSA staff and other chairs from around New England. The committee acts as a sounding board for NENSA’s decisions on BKL philosophy, a decider for the festival location, and a direct link to the coaches within the different districts and clubs. Kate’s voice on the committee is always thoughtful and focused on keeping the spirit of fun alive within the New England Bill Koch League.

When she’s not serving on the BKL committee, coaching, or parenting (Kate’s daughter Sophie will be an 8th Grader this year, and skis for the Berkshire Trails BKL Club), Kate is a middle school science teacher in the Northampton, MA school district. She also runs a farm specializing in sustainably healthy products, with the intent to provide a platform to share agricultural experiences and demystify food production.

We feel lucky to have Kate in our New England Bill Koch League community – congratulations Kate on the 2020 New England Bill Koch League Leadership Award!
Vermont and Eastern Cup Updates
NENSA is following the recent developments with Vermont, Maine and other New England state regulation changes and as always we are committed to the health of our communities first and foremost. We’ve been diligent with our planning as we knew setbacks could arise. Please know that we are committed to hosting Vermont and Eastern Cup racing that is compliant and safe.

The Craftsbury Vermont Cup Opener on December 19th cannot be hosted under current Vermont Health Guidelines. Vermont will reassess this Emergency order on December 15th. If we do not receive updated guidance allowing us to host in-person this event will be cancelled, however we are optimistic we will be able to host Vermont races later this winter as scheduled, and if need be in accordance with our Covid Contingency plans.

Quarry Road is preparing to host an Opener Race on December 6th as well as the Eastern Cup Opener on December 20th. They like many touring centers across the East have turned on their snowmaking guns to take advantage of this cold weather window.

Registration for all Vermont and Eastern Cup racing will open on December 1st.

One of the cornerstones of our Covid Protocols is the use of a single bib and chip for the season. This program allows venues to have limited bib pickup and reduced volunteer staff, as well as helping with potential race attendance and Health Screening. As expected regulations are forcing us to be nimble – if you intend on racing in December please register before the end of the month. We will reopen a second wave of registration December 2 – 31 to allow for those unsure of there plans. Please note that during registration you will be asked your “race intents” – please check the events you intend to attend. There is no added cost or commitment to the event, but is very helpful to anticipate and if needed be limit the number of competitors at the event.

Keep safe, keep skiing.
Women’s Day 2021 Registration
Now Open
We are happy to still be offering Women’s XC Ski Day this year! We are keenly aware of the pandemic and are following all changing COVID regulations. We will continue to be be adaptable, follow all regulations, and adjust to whatever extent necessary for everyone’s safety and wellbeing. We are currently planning to offer five smaller Women’s XC Ski Day events across VT, NH, MA, and ME on January 24th. We ask that participants register for the event closest to them in their home state. If you are not from one of the four states offering a clinic (or if your state’s event is full), please register in a state that you can get to in accordance with COVID travel regulations. We will be vetting registrants for everyone’s safety and we greatly appreciate your cooperation. Please note that there is no day-of registration this year.
We are excited to share that LL Bean is generously providing every Women’s Day participant with a NENSA monogrammed flannel. Women’s Day Skida hats are available for purchase on the registration page and the pre-purchased hats, along with flannels, will be distributed at every venue. Each Women’s Day event will also include a fun prize raffle and tasty bagged to-go lunches. You can read about changes to our clinic offerings for 2021 HERE and learn about equipment rentals at each venue HERE.

Women’s XC Ski Day 2021 Venues:

Register HERE!!! We recommend registering sooner rather than later. We believe Women’s Day will be quite popular this year and the registration number is capped to ensure we meet gathering size limits and provide a high quality instructional experience. If the event is cancelled, we will offer refunds. If registration is full, you can email Kait Miller (kait@nensa.net) to be added to a waitlist. This year’s event is different than in past years and we want you to be well prepared so please visit our event website (or read the event notes on SkiReg) for full details including important information about NENSA’s COVID Guidelines and health screening requirements.
Hey NENSA members ~ click on this banner ad below from Trapp Family Lodge to purchase your season's pass membership ~ and get ready for a great season of cross country skiing and exploring the trails at Trapps!
NENSA Eastern Cup / FIS - Bib Purchase and Timing Chip Rental

"Bib & Chips" (hold the salsa and guacamole)
Available now on SkiReg.com
NENSA and our venues are working tirelessly to produce a schedule of high level races that will keep competitors, officials and volunteers safe during the COVID pandemic. As per our Eastern Cup COVID-19 Contingencies we identified a system that will allow for touchless registration and timing systems by purchasing a race bib and assigned timing chip for each competitor to use throughout the season. Each competitor's bib and chip number will follow them throughout the season as a NENSA, USSS and/or FIS number does. This effectively eliminates the need for typical registration / bib pick-up - eliminating a touch point and gathering point at events. This purchase will also help subsidize the cost of vetting participants: athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers - including health screenings and adherence to state and county travel guidelines.
These bibs and chips will be used exclusively for the FIS competitions hosted at Craftsbury and all Eastern Cups.  In order to compete in these events, you need to purchase your bib (you will keep it at end of the season) and rent your Zone4 chip. Eastern Cup fields (Eastern Regional Qualifiers) will have unlimited field size. FIS races at Craftsbury will be limited to racers with current FIS licenses and the field size is currently capped at 120 participants.  If you intend to race in any of these races you need to purchase your NENSA bib and rent a chip.
Hey NENSA members ~ check this new offer out ~ subscribe to Cross Country Skier Magazine for just $12!! Click on the ad below for the offer, and to enjoy a years worth of gorgeous photos and wonderful articles!
BKL COVID-19 Best Practices Guide 

We put together this BKL COVID-19 Best Practices Guide with the goal of providing some direction and guidance to you and your club as you plan for the upcoming season. We know that many clubs have different limitations and functional set-ups, and we are keenly aware that some new changes are not yet reflected in this document and that some states cannot hold practice at this time. This is a living document and will be updated accordingly. We hope that this Guide will provide some useful ideas if and when your club can practice. Included in this Guide is a collection of No-Contact Game recommendations. Please reach out to NENSA with any questions and concerns at staff@nensa.net and we will do our best to address them or point you in a helpful direction.
BKL Coach/Leader Forum

NENSA would like to host a Virtual BKL Coach/Leader Forum for club leaders to share their thoughts, ideas, experience, and expertise on the topic of operating BKL practice during this pandemic with the goal of learning from one another. We also hope leaders can share fun and creative ideas for activities and games, and perhaps connect for future virtual or in-person activities between clubs. If you are interested in attending this forum, please fill out this brief survey so we know what evening works best for most people. All coaches and leaders are welcome and the more the merrier!
NENSA COVID-19 Considerations ~
Contingency Planning
for our Events and Races
this coming season
The Covid-19 pandemic poses significant challenges to NENSA’s 2020-21 winter event schedule. We are committed to hosting races and will make every effort to safely put on events in whatever form they might take. Our first objective is to ensure the health of our community in New England. Our second objective is to host our major events: Eastern Cups, Popular Races, U16 and Eastern High School Championships, the Bill Koch Festival, and Women’s Day as scheduled. To further foster excitement and an inclusive and community-centric atmosphere around skiing, NENSA will also be organizing some new fun season long challenges and goal-oriented activities.  Skiers are encouraged to limit their travel and attend events that are within their region and state.

....click HERE for the current NENSA plans for Eastern Cups, Popular/Citizen Racing, U16 & EHS Camps, BKL Festival and Women's Day

Venues, event hosts and event organizers check out:
From our NENSA Partners
The Craftsbury Outdoor Center is excited to offer a Collegiate Winter Term training program in 2021. Designed for college ski racers affected by the pandemic, our Winter Term is a residential program that will provide structured training and racing opportunities within the bounds of COVID regulations. Candidates include students who are either learning remotely or taking time off from school and can therefore commit to living full-time in Craftsbury. These athletes will live and train as a collective “pod” for approximately 2 months. Craftsbury coaches will work with the athletes and their college coaches to structure and execute training plans. Training sessions will be scheduled around the academic schedule of the group whenever possible. 
 
Application deadline: December 1, 2020
Acceptance notifications sent: December 10, 2020
Program dates: January 10, 2021 - March 10, 2021
Program cost: $3600 (includes room, board, coaching)
From our partners at Salomon:

Getting on Snow!
by Tyler Kornfield

Whether a beginner or a pro, early season skiing can be very beneficial to the progress one can make over the year. Depending on where you live, skiing may start in October, November, or December. Where I am from in Alaska, we are lucky and usually get snow within a two-hour drive from home by the end of October. With man-made snow systems becoming more prevalent, many places around the country have caught up to us.
For those who are already jumping on snow and even those that have a few more weeks/months, I have a few recommendations that will help keep all the gains made this summer:

1.     SLOW IT DOWN – I haven’t touched snow in seven months. I am excited and so are my friends. Everyone is ready to prove how much they have improved this summer. Relax.
 
Skiing on snow is hard. It is physically demanding, and it will take a lot more out of me than I think if I am not careful. If I want the most out of my first week, I need to ease into it, find my rhythm and start nailing my kick. If I am doing intervals, I try not to rush, focus on using power in my arms and my legs rather than rely on a high tempo. This way, I can ingrain a more natural gliding phase that will carry through the winter.
 
2.     KEEP UP THE “DRYLAND” TRAINING – Just because there is snow on the ground, does not mean I disregard everything I’ve been doing all summer. This means keep up my running and strength work. Through the entire year, I usually ski in the morning and run every evening. It feels good to mix up the muscle groups and you never know when you arrive somewhere that doesn’t have snow and you still must get outside and train. 
 
I also try to maintain my strength through the season with a gym session at least once a week. This keeps my muscles engaged and my body aligned and injury free. It is a tricky year for getting into gyms, especially when traveling, so I am planning to bring enough equipment (TRX and bands) to get creative while on the road. At home, I created a rudimentary garage gym that has just about the same functionality of the best gyms I have found.
 
3.     JUMPING (PLYOMETRICS) GO A LONG WAY – Along the same lines as running, I try to maintain plyometrics the whole year. This means, once (or twice if it is not a race weekend) I spend 10-15 minutes alternating between single leg, double leg, and skate jumps. I try to get creative and make up new ones to keep things interesting. They may feel like a chore at first, but I have learned to love them once I started to see my power was more accessible in races.
 
4.     COME PREPARED – After a long summer, it is easy to forget how much ski gear I need. Usually the first day, I am a mess. My skis aren’t waxed, my boots are somewhere in the back of my closet, and I can’t seem to find any of my hundred buffs. In the days leading up to my first ski, I try to gather everything I need, scrape my skis from my summer wax, and put binder on my classic skis. Prepping skis is always undervalued in pre-season skiing. Putting in a little effort in the warmth of my garage makes a huge difference in my enjoyment. 
 
5.     LASTLY, DON’T STRESS – There have been many years that the weather will not cooperate. I have had seasons with drastically differing amounts of on-snow time in the month before racing begins and it does not correlate with my results. The stress of a lack of snow, in the end is just a distraction, and if I keep doing the same as I have the whole summer, I know I will be fine.
 
Tyler Kornfield is a professional Nordic skier and skis for the APU Nordic Ski Center in Anchorage, Alaska. He will be starting his season on the World Cup and is actively fundraising for his season racing at https://www.gofundme.com/f/tyler-kornfield-world-cup
The Ida Sargent Interview
Ida Sargent has represented the US 159 times in WC, WM and OWG. She has 59 individual top 30 finishes including 9 top 10s. Her best finish was 3rd place in the preolympic World Cup Classic sprint in Pyeongchang. Additionally, Ida finished 3rd twice in World Cup team sprints. Ida, a two-time Olympian, won the US National Championship Classic sprint in 2019. Ida is retired after the 2019 season and is 32 years old. Ida lives in Kirby, VT and teaches at Burke Mountain Academy. Ida is clearly one of the most successful ski racers we have ever had in this country. We discussed growing up near Craftsbury, having a super strong training group, the Kuusamo WC, and a few of her favorite race experiences, the amazing progress of the women's team while Ida was on it.
The quality of the internet connection on Ida's end (Vermont) was poor, so this podcast is audio only. Here is the link.
Upcoming Events
A Look Ahead at the NENSA Calendar
Upcoming NENSA Events:
Please Note: Winter events/races and dates are subject to change as per NENSA's COVID-19 contingency plans:

Eastern Cup/VT Cup Race Series Calendar HERE
Zak Cup Popluar Race Series Tentative Schedule HERE

January 24: NENSA's New England Women’s XC Ski Day (State by State)


Full NENSA.net Calendar Listing HERE

Link to our NENSA Virtual Resources Page HERE
Link to our NENSA BLM Resources Page HERE
Link to our NENSA Equality & Diversity Policy HERE