Greetings Everyone ~

We kicked off this month with our annual April Fund Drive - a time when we ask each of you to think about how NENSA has enriched your lives this past year and help us continue to do that this coming year. Please help us move NENSA forward and grow as an organization so we can continue to provide an array of opportunities ~ educational, recreational, and racing here in New England. We have heard so many wonderful stories about how cross country skiing was the saving grace of so many peoples pandemic year. To be able to XC ski outside, be a part of a team, to be able to interact with others socially distanced while skiing made all the difference for so many. The chance to participate in NENSA programing - even if it did look a bit different from other years - be it a virtual challenge, state and EC races, Women's Day, local and/or virtual citizen races, mini-BKL Festivals, BINGO, or state by state U16 & EHS Championships. The NENSA Staff is very much looking forward to a more "normal" year this coming season. We hope you will join us in supporting the organization that supports XC skiing here in New England and give as generously as you can! We have some great incentive gifts and a raffle for our donors this month ~ see the box below and thank you!

Here's what we have in store for you in this week's KickZone ~
  • Our NENSA April Fund Drive needs your support!
  • NENSA's 4 question Member Survey ~ help us be the best we can for our ski community
  • Ava Thurston named Athlete of the Year by the Times Argus
  • From our Partners:
  • Craftsbury Outdoor Center accepting applications for a Junior/BKL Coach Intern
  • EnjoyWinter is looking for its next Athlete Force Members for 2021
  • Hebron Academy is having an informational session for their Nordic Ski Program on Thursday 4/15 at 7pm
  • The Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks (NSCF) is looking for an energetic and enthusiastic Head Coach to lead its junior racing and training program, Fairbanks Cross Country (FXC)

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, especially this past year. I want to be sure we all acknowledge the businesses who support us and cross country skiing!

Best,
Amie

Amie Witten 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
Please help support NENSA
during our 2021 April Fund Drive!
Annual Gifts and Donations are a huge part of NENSA's annual operating budget. We rely on these to help us continue to provide services and programming to our members and New England ski community.
Here is some of what NENSA does:

Coaches & TD education and symposiums
Virtual events and programing ~ regardless of where you live!
Bill Koch League
Eastern Cup racing
Popular Citizen Racing: (Zak Cup, Club Cup & Marathons Series)
New England BKL Festival
U16 Championships
Eastern High School Championships
NENSA Elite & Development Teams
New England Junior National Team
Eastern REG Camp
Nordic Rocks programing - an introductory ski program in elementary schools targeting underserved communities
Event Organizers - trainings - and year round ongoing venue support/consulting for all races and events
Women’s Day
Rollerski Race Series
Supporting Clubs
www.NENSA.net is a resource for all things Nordic in New England

All of these wonderful programs are run by NENSA, and the NENSA staff. Without NENSA, these programs for all ages, and top notch racing in New England would not exist.

Click HERE if you are a NENSA Member
to give to NENSA

Click HERE if you a NENSA Supporter
(non-member) to give to NENSA

Prefer to donate by check? Make your check payable to NENSA and mail your gift to:
New England Nordic Ski Association
49 Pineland Drive, Suite 301A
New Gloucester, Maine 04260

~ Incentive GIFTS for our April 2021 Fund Drive ~

** A (super comfy) Maloja antiviral NENSA logo'd face mask with each donation of $250-$499**

** NENSA/SKIDA 25th Anniversary Hat, OR, a NENSA/SKIDA snowflake fleece buff, AND a Cabot $25 gift box of cheese with each $500-$999 donation**
 
**Large L.L. Bean NENSA logo'd Boat and Tote with all donations of $1000 or greater, AND, a L.L Bean NENSA logo'd flannel shirt (women's size M, S and XS available) if you would like one of those too!**

PLUS: An end of month Raffle of some great gifts for ANYONE who donates $25 or more during the drive. Gifts include:
THANK YOU TO OUR ASSOCIATE SPONSORS
L.L.Bean and SWIX!
NENSA's end of season Member Survey ~ please take a few moments to give us your thoughts on 4 questions ~ help us be the best we can be for our
New England ski community!
Thank you!
THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS:
Ava Thurston named Skier of the Year by the Times Argus
Times Argus Skier of the Year Ava Thurston is that once-in-a-generation athlete who works tirelessly for everything she earns while raising the standard of excellence for everyone else.

It’s easy to spot the Harwood junior’s talent and drive, especially on race day. Three cross-country running individual titles and six Nordic crowns are a not-so-subtle reminder that Thurston has dominated those two sports for the past three years.

What Thurston does during non-race days also says a lot about her work ethic and future potential. Less than 24 hours after her final competition this winter, she headed out for long training session with the Mansfield Nordic Club. One-hundred kilometers later, Thurston packed up her skis around 5 p.m. and drove home to Waterbury. She spent some extra time stretching that night and it wasn’t long before she was ready for another workout.

For Thurston, everyday life involves a constant balancing act of pushing the limits and knowing when to scale back the intensity. And her racing season involves plenty of extra juggling every winter. In addition to competing for Harwood and Mansfield Nordic, Thurston was also one of six females selected to represent the U.S. at junior world championships from Feb. 9-14. She wound up 14th in the 5k freestyle, 36th in the classic sprint and 40th in the 15k classic while racing against some of the fittest athletes on the planet.
...read full story HERE
THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA SUPPORTING SPONSORS:
From our NENSA Partners:
Junior/BKL coaching intern for 2021
The Craftsbury Outdoor Center is seeking a coaching intern to work with its Junior & BKL Nordic skiing programs for the summer of 2021. This coach/intern would join the Center’s current coaching staff and help manage summer programming. 
Summer job responsibilities include but are not limited to:
  • Running regular practices for various groups: summer programs serve ~60 participants ages 8-20, split into 2 BKL groups, 2 junior/high school groups, and one collegiate group.
  • Helping develop practice plans for any given group; assisting with communication and program planning/organization
  • Assisting in managing and maintaining equipment
  • Coaching at and helping to organize camps
Requirements include the following:
  • Experience cross country ski racing at a collegiate or equivalent/higher level
  • Outstanding communication skills
  • Ability to work with varied age groups and abilities
  • Certification in (or willingness to obtain certification in) CPR/First Aid, SafeSport
  • A high level of comfort rollerskiing and mountain biking
  • Willingness to perform other tasks as needed
  • Consistent availability on weekends; willingness to put in long days and busy weeks
The ideal candidate:  
  • Is highly knowledgeable and passionate about skiing
  • Loves working with kids and has lots of energy and enthusiasm
  • Is interested in coaching long-term
  • Is organized and can maintain order in chaotic settings
  • Can adapt on the fly to adjust for inclement weather and other unexpected obstacles
  • Is capable of keeping up with speedy juniors on a variety of training expeditions
This position is expected to run from approximately June 1 - Aug. 31, with some flexibility on start and end dates. The position provides housing (though lodging accommodations may be rustic!), most meals, and a small weekly stipend, as well as access to trails, the gym, and other facilities. This position is not a training opportunity for those currently pursuing their own ski racing. It is an excellent opportunity for current or aspiring coaches to develop their skills and knowledge. 
Applicants should send a brief cover letter and resume to coach Anna Schulz (anna.schulz@craftsbury.com) by April 20, 2021, and are encouraged to reach out with questions. 
The Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks (NSCF) is looking for an energetic and enthusiastic Head Coach to lead its junior racing and training program, Fairbanks Cross Country (FXC)
 
Salary starts at $40,000 and up depending upon experience. The FXC Head Coach reports directly to the Director of Skier Development and the Skier Development Oversight Committee.
 
Ideally, the candidate who is selected would arrive in Fairbanks by June 1st and be leading the program by late summer.
 
Interested parties should send letters of interest and resumes to fxcmasters@nscfairbanks.org. Applicant packages should provide a summary of coaching experience, personal competition experience, and experience waxing for competition. The position will remain open until filled. A selection committee from the NSCF will conduct interviews via zoom with qualified candidates. Please submit applications by April 19th, interviews will begin by April 26th.
 
Information about the program, the club and the community:
FXC has been in existence for 15 years, growing in that time from a program with less than a dozen skiers to a program with 100 or more skiers ages 10 - 18 involved in seasonal and year-round programs at the Competition, Prep, and Junior Development level. Along with the head coach, FXC also has one year-round assistant coach as well as part-time coaches. In addition to FXC, the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks also runs a Junior Nordic program for skiers up to middle-school age, Adult Lessons program, Biathlon program, and Masters’ Training program.
 
Fairbanks is blessed with one of the longest ski seasons in the nation on natural snow -- from late October to late April -- at an elevation of under 1000' above sea level. The home venue for the program is Birch Hill Recreation Area, known around the US for its outstanding trail network and world class facilities.
 
FXC has dedicated space in buildings at Birch Hill. FXC also owns a 2016 passenger van and trailer for hauling gear. FXC skiers participate in a full schedule of local races, as well as JNQ races elsewhere in Alaska. Top skiers in the program participate in US National Championships. FXC coaches are part of the coaching staff on the Alaska Junior National Team.
 
The SO-year-old Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks has approximately 1000 members and is in sound financial condition. It has provided strong support for cross country skiing in general and for FXC in particular since FXC's inception in 2006. Fairbanks also has a strong tradition of high school cross country skiing.
 
The supportive and warm community is what truly makes Fairbanks special. Before you know it, you will not be able to go grocery shopping without bumping into someone you know! While Fairbanks has the small-town feel, it boasts some big opportunities for outdoor recreation! From world class Nordic ski trails, to running, mountain biking, road biking, and endless fat biking and mushing trails, you will not be bored here!
 
Along with ample outdoor opportunities Fairbanks has a thriving arts and music scene and is the home of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, which has a cross country ski team. Fairbanks has excellent connections by passenger jet to major airports throughout the US. The population of the Fairbanks North Star Borough is approximately 100,000.
 
For more information or questions please email: fxcmasters@nscfairbanks.org
THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS:
Upcoming Events
A Look Ahead at the NENSA Calendar
Upcoming NENSA Events:
Summer CAMPS are starting to schedule dates ~ here is what we have so far!
August 9-12: SMS BLK Camp
August 12-15: SMS Junior Camp
August 12-15: NH Dublin Devo Camp

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!!