Greetings Everyone ~
More snow is falling as I write ~ making skiing all over New England wonderful and accessible to all this winter ~ at least Mother Nature is looking out for us! We have a big weekend of racing and events coming up. This Saturday Dublin XC will be hosting an Eastern Cup race, and Craftsbury will be hosting their VT Cup races on Saturday for the girls and on Sunday for the boys. On Sunday, Holderness Nordic will be hosting the final Eastern Cup race of the season, their Cheri Walsh Memorial race. On Sunday, NENSA will aslo be running 5 Mini-Women's Days in four different states. Racing and events continue to be happening successfully, state by state, in person and virtual, which is SO wonderful to see! We hope you will take advantage of a local race near you!
Here's what we have in store for you in this week's KickZone ~
- Recap of last Saturday's MA State U16 & EHS Championships held at the Weston Ski Track on 2/13 (Maine, VT and NH to follow in the coming weeks!)
- Wonderful BKL Mini-Festival planning material available for any club in any state!
- Maine launches it's Mini-Festival at Quarry Road on March 6th & 7th
- Racing opportunities as of 2/18 ~ including a new NH Cup now scheduled for 2/28
- There are stilll two days left for the virtual Race for Snow which ends 2/20 ~ join the fun ~ it's all for a very good cause ~ climate change!
- NENSA is hosting 5 mini-Woman's Day clinics in 4 states this Sunday 2/21
-
From our Partners: from U.S. Ski & Snowboard, U23 World Championship updates & results, AND, two more NE athletes ~ Ben Ogden and Sophia Laukli added to World Champs Team!
Thank you to all of our NENSA Sponsors ~ they are such a HUGE part of our NENSA programing continued success, and we appreciate their support, even in these very difficult times. I want to be sure we all acknowledge the businesses who support us and cross country skiing!
Be safe and be well!
Best,
Amie
Amie W. Smith
Executive Director
New England Nordic Ski Association
Amie@nensa.net
GIVING: DONATE to NENSA today, and thank you!
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!
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 MA Eastern State Champs Recap |
Massachusetts was the first state to hold their Eastern State Champs race this past Saturday at the Leo J Martin Ski Track in Weston! In light of the pandemic, a combined EHSC and U16 Championship Event–Eastern State Champs 2021 - is being held in every regularly participating state possible.
The MA event consisted of a 6k individual start skate race under the lights with over 170 athletes from across the state toeing the line and competition was stiff! We’ve highlighted the top three finishers in each category below and full results from Bullitt Timing are available here (official Massachusetts team naming to follow along with updates to the Junior Ranking List). A big congratulations to all the racers!
U16 Boys
1. Alexander Scopinich-Burgel, Concord Carlisle High School
2. Nathan Doughty, Lincoln Sudbury
3. Quinn McDermott, Mount Greylock
U16 Girls
1. Mirra Payson, Lexington High School
2. Francisca Feist, Concord Carlisle High School
3. Emily Appleby, Lincoln Sudbury
High School Boys (U18 and U20)
1. Justin Levesque, Hoosac Valley High School
2. Linden Niedeck, Brookline High School
3. Sam Gallaudet, Phillips Academy Andover
High School Girls (U18 and U20)
1. Amelia Tucker, Dexter Southfield
2. Sofia Scirica, Wellesley High School
3. Evelyn Walton, BB&N
And last but not least… a huge shoutout to every volunteer, staff member, and coach who worked tirelessly to make this event a success! A lot more work goes into hosting an event during a pandemic to keep everyone involved as safe as possible, and this crew did a fantastic job!
|
|
Amelia Tucker (photo: Andrew Dankwerth) |
Alexander Scopinich-Burgel
(photo: Andrew Dankwerth)
|
|
Justin Levesque
(photo: Andrew Dankwerth)
|
Mirra Payson (photo: Andrew Dankwerth) |
|
THANK YOU TO OUR ASSOCIATE SPONSORS
L.L.Bean and SWIX!
|
|
|
|
NENSA's Annual Woman's Day
to be held this Sunday 2/21
|
NENSA's annual Women’s XC Ski Day is this Sunday February 21st. Our priority is keeping everyone as safe and healthy as possible, so we are having 5 mini Women's Days in four different states!
Thanks to UnTapped, we will be offering pre-packaged Maple Chai Waffle snacks, and thanks to Cabot, we will be offering pre-packaged cheddar cheese snacks at Women’s Day this year! And don’t forget about the fuzzy logo'd LL Bean flannel shirt also included in registration for free...! SKIDA has also made our awesome Women's Day hats, available for purchase on SkiReg. And, if that was not enough goodies, our sponsor ALLAGASH Brewing sent us some gorgeous stainless pint glasses, and SIDAS and TOKO have sent us some fantastic raffle prizes for lucky participants from each state! Yeah to SWAG and thank you to our sponsors!!!!
|
|
RACING Opportunities as of 2/18 |
reDue to your resilience and compliance to Health Protocols we continue to build race opportunities. We could not be pulling this off without amazing venue support and your compliance to Health Protocols. A big piece of hosting successful events in a pandemic is planning for who will be at the event. Thank you to everyone - athletes, coaches and volunteers for filling out all the required health screens prior to these events and races.
Eastern Cup Racing:
The remainder of the schedule is currently moving forward as planned.
This weekend, we have our next round of Eastern Cup and VT Cup racing, with Eastern Cup races in Dublin NH on 2/20 and Holderness NH on 2/21, as well as a VT Cup in Craftsbury on 2/20 and 2/21.
The following weekend, on 2/28 Ford Sayre will be hosting a Fast and Furious 5k skate NH Cup race at Proctor Academy (Eastern Cup 5) ~ info can be found HERE *Masters will be scored for Zak Cup and A Hall Mark of Excellence*
We ask for your continued patience and understanding as we work to provide the highest quality races.
Popular Racing:
Current virtual events include the winter long Virtual Craftsbury Marathon which is open to all. The student led Race for Snow also provides a race experience for all and has a wonderful environmental mission, and it runs February 7th-20th.
And for all you race fans out there...
The Hall Mark of Excellence and the Zac Cup standings will be updated at the conclusion of the Race for Snow! Hang tight - updates are coming!!
Enjoy the Snow – Stay Safe. We hope to see you out there!
|
|
THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS: |
|
NENSA BKL Mini-Fest Offerings
for any Club in all States!
|
Since we cannot all gather in one place for our annual Festival in 2021, NENSA is working with clubs to support family, club, district, and state-based BKL Mini-Fests. Visit our Mini-Fest Homepage on the NENSA website where you’ll find support materials, information, and ideas for organizing a Mini-Fest as well as information about upcoming Mini-Fest events. Be sure to check out the BKL Mini-Fest Guide (which has links to state-themed Scavenger Hunt images) for ideas and info to help you create a fun celebratory event in as safe a manner as possible whether you are celebrating skiing with your family, with your home club, or with multiple local clubs. All BKL skiers can participate and fill out the BKL Mini-Fest Activity Entry form to be eligible for raffle and contest prizes from NENSA’s wonderful sponsors. You can also use this form to let us know you’re a 2021 BKL Graduate so we can ensure you receive your BKL Graduation Certificate! And don’t forget to download and print the Activity Booklet if you like trivia, word searches, and coloring. Clubs can also special order special Mini-Fest themed Fishy Fish Skida Tours (buffs). We will add information to the homepage as Mini-Fests get added to our Youth Calendar. If you are a Mainer, be sure to check out the NENSA Maine Mini-Fest at Quarry Road on March 6-7!
This year’s Mini-Fest theme is State By State, United We Ski. While we cannot all gather at one festival, we can still celebrate skiing at home in our own state. We can focus on what makes our own state unique while celebrating our shared love of skiing that knows no border.
If your club would like to organize a multi-club or district-wide event with additional NENSA support including registration and health screening, you can review this 2021 BKL Mini-Fest Manual and reach out to Kait (kait@nensa.net) for more information.
|
|
THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA SUPPORTING SPONSORS: |
|
Maine’s NENSA Mini-Fest at Quarry Road: March 6-7 |
We look forward to welcoming and hosting friends from Maine on the beautiful trails at Quarry Road! The theme for the weekend is State by State United We Ski! While we cannot all gather at one festival, we can still celebrate skiing at home in our own state. We can focus on what makes Maine unique while celebrating a shared love of skiing that knows no border.
...Click HERE for full story, guidelines and schedule for this weekend
|
|
NENSA COVID-19 Considerations ~
Contingency Planning for our
Events and Races this 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, BKL Club Leaders check out:
|
|
U23 Word Champs Updates ~
and Ogden & Laukli add to Davis World Championship Team!
February 12:
Laukli, McMullen, Schumacher Lead U.S. At World Champs
Sophia Laukli finished fifth in the U23 women's 10k freestyle, and Gus Schumacher was ninth in the U23 men's 15k freestyle to lead the Americans at the 2021 FIS U23/Junior World Cross Country Championships in Vuokatti, Finland Friday. ...READ MORE
February 13:
U.S. Fifth in U23 Mixed Relay At World Champs
The U.S. team of Hailey Swirbul, Gus Schumacher, Hunter Wonders, and Sophia Laukli finished fifth in the 4x5k mixed team relay at the 2021 FIS U23/Junior World Cross Country Championships in Vuokatti, Finland Saturday. The top five teams were separated by just 16.7 seconds with Norway winning the gold, followed by Russia taking the silver at 3.9 seconds back, and Sweden earning the bronze 7.7 seconds off the winning time.
In the junior men’s 4x5k relay, the U.S. team of Michael Earnhart, Zander McMullen, Will Koch, and Johnny Hagenbuch finished eighth. The U23/Junior World Championships conclude Sunday with a 15k classic mass start for the junior and U23 women, and a 30k classic mass start for the junior and U23 men.
RESULTS
February 14:
McMullen Leads U.S. in Junior Men’s 30k at World Champs
Zander McMullen was the top U.S. finisher in Sunday’s final event of the 2021 FIS Junior World Cross Country Championships, finishing 14th in the 30k classic mass start. Johnny Hagenbuch was 23rd, followed by Michael Earnhart in 27th; and Wally Magill in 59th.
In the junior women’s 15k classic mass start, Nina Seeman was the top U.S. finisher in 50th, followed by Waverly Gebhardt in 51st.
RESULTS
February 16:
Ogden, Laukli, Wonders Added to World Champs Team!!
Ben Ogden, Sophia Laukli, and Hunter Wonders have been named to the Davis U.S. Cross Country Ski Team that will compete at the 2021 FIS Cross Country World Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany, Feb. 22 - March 7 following the competition of the Junior/U23 Cross Country World Championships. ...READ MORE
|
|
THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS: |
|
Upcoming Events
A Look Ahead at the NENSA Calendar
|
|
Eastern Cup/VT Cup Race Series Calendar HERE
Popular/Citizen Racing: Zak Cup Race Series Schedule HERE
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
|
|
If you already shop Amazon ~ please link to Amazon Smile
with NENSA as your beneficiary!
|
Did you know that NENSA could benefit from the Amazon purchases you are already making??! Please link your Amazon account to Amazon SMILE (with /smile) and choose NENSA as your non-profit beneficiary! All the purchases everyone is already making, all add up, and we would love to be able to benefit from that! Thank you!! |
|
New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA)
49 Pineland Drive, Suite 301A
New Gloucester, ME 04260
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
