Greetings Everyone ~
We are winding down March and our winter season, and planning for next year. This past year has been challenging, to say the least, but it also brought out so much of the best in what our sport embodies. Teamwork - and coming together to make something happen. It may not have looked like our normal season, but heck, we had a season!!! Something indeed to celebrate, and one year ago, we were not sure that would actually happen.
We have a short 4 question member survey we sent out to all our members, that we would love you to take a moment to fill out. It would be very helpful to hear your thoughts as we plan for next year's programming, and beyond. Thank you in advance for doing that. See link below.
The season long A Hall Mark of Excellence Award was a tight and fierce club competition, and the final standings and winners of the $5000, $3000 and $1000 cash prizes and SWIX junior poles are announced below! Congrats to the 121 individual clubs that participated ~ over 82,351km's were skied by these clubs this winter!! And most importantly, thank you to Kathy & Marty Hall for their generous donation of the club cash prizes, and SWIX for the 30 pairs of junior poles! Their goal was to get people participating and skiing with NENSA this winter, and I think that was accomplished!
We are also thrilled to announce our Eastern Regional Championship Team - made up of athletes from Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. Had interstate travel between all states been possible, these athletes would have attended an Eastern Regional Championship this March (replacing the usual Junior Nationals). A huge congrats to all those athletes for making that team!
Here's what we have in store for you in this week's KickZone ~
- And the winners of the A Hall Mark of Excellence Award this season goes to...!
- NENSA names our Eastern Regional Championship Team, based off of the top results from athletes from each state.
- NENSA 4 question Member Survey ~ help us be the best we can for our ski community
- BKL BINGO Wrap Up
- Craftsbury accepting applications for their 21-22 season for GRP, biathlon and U23 summer programs
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From our Partners:
- U.S. Ski & Snowboard:
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In the News:
- NNF post on retiring US Ski Team athletes Sophie, Simi and Sadie
- Sadie retires USSS post
- Jessie USSS post
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Hannah Halvorsen - Health Magazine article from 3/17
- VT Ski Museum Red Bench Series with John Morton on April 1st
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One final Voice in Sport March sessions: 3/31
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!
On a final note ~ I want to give a HUGE shout out to former NENSA XC skier Brooke Mooney (sister of Heather & Scott, and parents Tamra & Jim) - who now rows for the US National Team, and last week broke the WORLD RECORD for the women's open 2k in an unheard of 6:21.1 UNBELIEVABLE!! To put that in context, 2k is a distance that thousands upon thousands of people row every week, all over the world, so to break that WORLD record, is incredible. Congrats Brooke!
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
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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!
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NENSA News from the Field
Highlights and Notes from NENSA and the Nordic World
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A Hall Mark of Excellence – Winning Clubs Announced |
As we entered into a season of uncertainty Kathy and Marty Hall reached out to support NENSA, athletes and clubs. “It is with great pride that we give these dollars to join the fray and journey to international success.” Originally, $5000 was earmarked for the top club throughout designated rollerski, Eastern Cup and Popular races, with another $5000 designated for FIS prize money. As the season continued to evolve it wasn’t clear how many FIS races would happen and the money shifted with $9000 ($5000 – 1st, $3000 – 2nd, $1000 – 3rd) to support the club competition. The Kendall Cup FIS race at Craftsbury paid out $1300 for the top-3 men and women in the field.
So back to the A Hall Mark of Excellence – this new award changed the way we scored typical Club Cup. The new system brought together competitions across the spectrum of our racing programs — allowing clubs with junior athletes, colleges and those with robust masters programs to stack up against each other. The intention of the competition is to reward participation as well as excellence. Despite the change in scoring four powerhouse teams, Eastern Mass Nordic (CSU), Craftsbury, Ford Sayre and Mansfield Nordic have been consistently in the top 5 clubs for the past three years — this is a testament to not just their size, but also the breadth of their programming. While travel restrictions affected what races athletes could attend it was really cool to see GMVS, SMS and the Quarry Road Ski Club crack the top ten for the first time because junior racing was included. Dublin XC and Gunstock Nordic also had their highest placing to date. We did score college teams although their participation as teams was perhaps the heaviest hit by pandemic restrictions – we certainly look forward to colleges showing their depth next season.
...click HERE for the full story, and the winners!
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THANK YOU TO OUR ASSOCIATE SPONSORS
L.L.Bean and SWIX!
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The Eastern Regional Championship Team Named |
NENSA is proud to announce the Eastern Regional Championship Team. This list of athletes demonstrated exceptional performances and would have been invited to a regional event that was designed to take the place of Junior Nationals due to the pandemic. Before we roll out the teams, it’s important to note the most impressive performances of the year — it was the actions of clubs and states that allowed for athletes to train, compete and thrive — despite limitations in travel. Not only is it apparent that athletes learned to ski faster in 2021, but also they rallied together and as teams learned valuable lessons of self reliance, while developing a thirst for competition that will only make us stronger when we’re on the other side. The entire New England skiing community should take pride in how it conducted itself this winter — we prospered and now can look forward to a summer of training and adventure — temper your activity this spring because like you, we might be a little excited over-excited to see snow fly again!
...click HERE to read full story and see the named ERC Team!
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IMPORTANT TIMING CHIP RETURN PSA:
If you are done racing this season, and you still have your rented timing chip in your possession - you must mail it back to Bullitt Timing ASAP, to avoid the $50 replacement cost fee.
Please send your chip to:
Despard Design
1027 Winhall Hollow Road
South Londonderry, VT 05155
If you have any questions regarding the return of your rented chip, please reach out to Ed Despard directly at: edwarddes@gmail.com
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This past winter, young skiers all across the east from Buffalo, NY to Waterville, ME participated in NENSA’s XC Ski Bingo game completing activities ranging from night skiing to backcountry skiing to obstacle course skiing. Each state had a unique card and forty-seven skiers completed at least one full row of their state’s Bingo card collectively skiing at 43 different ski areas! In this especially challenging year, the smiles and stories shared by participants were inspiring and heartwarming, and we are so impressed with how many young people got outside to play on their skis! The creativity and enthusiasm you all brought to this game was contagious.
I’ll let some of the comments and stories we received from players and their families speak for themselves:
“Best ski of the year so far was skiing to the high point with BKL friends. It was fun and crazy skiing down!”
“I liked skiing up all the hills so I could go fast down the hills at Great Glen.”
“I like going down the big hill at Great Brook Farm!”
“We loved skiing as a family.”
“I skied the longest race I’ve ever done by far a 22+k. There was so much climbing in the Long Haul Loppet up at Jackson. I skied to the high point at Jackson twice.”
“I convinced my whole family to get season passes so we could all ski as much as possible this winter! I’m going to learn how to skate ski!”
“Bingo’s very fun! It makes skiing more fun and it’s already fun.”
“I got to ski across the road to the other side of the Rusty Nail Trail! I used my duck walk like I do uphill.”
“The backcountry ski in Grafton was a lot of fun and the slalom ski activity at the base of Mt. Abram during break was awesome.
...Click HERE to read more and see some great photos!
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THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS: |
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Craftsbury now accepting Applications for GRPSki & Biathlon 21-22 and
U23Ski Summer Training
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GRPSki & Biathlon are now accepting applications for the 2021-22 training year as well as for their summer U23 training program. Applications for what is likely to be limited spaces in either the ski or biathlon program will be due by end of day March 31 and decisions will be made by April 15.
In exchange for coaching, travel support, room & board, year-round GRP skiers, biathletes and summer athletes are asked to take on projects that contribute to work of the Center. Projects in the past have included: ski trail mapping and improvements, construction of single-track trails, coaching of youth and junior skiers, outreach to area schools, growing vegetables and raising animals to help provide food for the Dining Hall, organizing events and programs at the Center, design of the GRP website and clothing, blogging and writing articles, helping develop a regional trail system, and working to bring more local food into the Center’s Dining Hall.
If this sounds like work you would enjoy, while taking your skiing and/or biathlon to the next level, then you may be a good fit.
Athletes applying, or thinking of applying, should email and schedule Facetime or a Zoom call with Pepa or Mike. Contact Pepa at the skiing@craftsbury.com address, or call 802-586-7767 ext 33. Biathletes may address questions to Coach Mike Gibson at biathlon@craftsbury.com.
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THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA SUPPORTING SPONSORS: |
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Congratulations Sadie, Simi, and Sophie: Passing the Torch
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Sadie Maubet Bjornsen, Simi Hamilton, and Sophie Caldwell Hamilton have each announced their retirement from the U.S. Ski Team as professional cross-country skiers. These athletes have had an immeasurable impact over the course of their careers and their presence on the U.S. team will be sorely missed. We can't thank them enough for their incredible drive and spirit, each helped shape this great sport in the United States and each helped pave a path for the next generations. What stands out most in all the kind words their teammates shared after their announcements is that Sadie, Simi, and Sophie are not only outstanding athletes, they are also incredibly kind hearted people and notable leaders. We know they will continue to find success in their next endeavors and wish them the best of luck!
"Thank you [Sadie and Sophie] for helping me find perspective, balance, and optimism in sport and in life. If I can impact people even half as much as you both have impacted me as teammates, friends, and mentors, I will have done something right!" -Hailey Swirbul
"Simi you are one of the most humble and respectful athletes I know." -Ben Lustgarten (after Simi announced giving his World Championship sprint start to Ben Ogden, who proceeded to qualify in 11th!)
"You know you've been lucky to have some truly incredible people in your life when you think about them retiring, and you realize there's going to be a huge hole left behind that's just impossible to fill." -Jessie Diggins
Career Highlights:
Sadie Maubet Bjornsen
- 12 World Cup podiums
- Bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships
- Two-time Olympian
- Six-Time World Championships Team member
Simi Hamilton
- 4 World Cup Podiums
- 1 World Cup victories
- Three-time Olympian
- Six-Time World Championships Team member
- 2010 U.S. Champion
Sophie Caldwell Hamilton
- 14 World Cup Podiums
- 2 World Cup victories
- Two-time Olympian
- Five-Time World Championships Team member
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March 20:
Jessie Diggins Caps Off Historic Season With World Cup Title
Jessie Diggins was crowned the International Ski Federation's World Cup winner over the weekend. The 29-year-old cross-country skier is a Minnesota native who trains at her adopted home in Stratton, Vt. But simply noting that Diggins won the World Cup just scratches the surface of her accomplishments in a record-setting season. ...Read and Listen To The Full Story at VPR.org
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March 21:
Bjornsen Retires From Pro Nordic Skiing Career
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March 26:
Maubet Bjornsen Finds Perspective Amidst Retirement From Racing
Sadie Maubet Bjornsen has retired from ski racing, but she is not hanging up her skis. She is simply moving on to new challenges and opportunities in life and to spend more time with her husband Jo, her family, friends, and to enjoy the simple pleasure of gliding across the snow on cross country skis. ...READ MORE
March 17:
Halvorsen Featured In Health Magazine's Celebrity Deep Dives Series
Davis U.S. Cross Country Ski Team athlete Hannah Halvorsen is featured in Health Magazine's Celebrity Deep Dives series, placing her alongside celebrities such as Mindy Kaling, Leanne Rimes, Alex Morgan, and Katie Couric to have been featured in this series. As an Olympic-level athlete Halvorsen, 23 was used to being "on" all the time. "It's not in my nature to be patient. I ski race—I'm always trying to go fast," Halvorsen tells Health. ...READ MORE
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Thursday, April 1 at 7:00 PM
Join author and Nordic ski racer John Morton on Thursday, April 1st at 7:00 pm for our free Virtual Writer's on the Red Bench; Celebrate Winter, An Olympian’s Stories of a Life in Nordic Skiing
Celebrate Winter is a collection of entertaining stories by Olympic biathlete and US Ski Team member, John Morton. John will join us on the virtual Red Bench to discuss his most recent book and share his insights and reflections of more than fifty-five years of competition and coaching. Nordic skiers and anyone with an appreciation of winter sports and competition will enjoy this discussion.
John Morton has attended ten Winter Olympic Games in various roles; athlete, coach, team leader, chief of course, and U.S. Biathlon Team fan. John is the author of three books about Nordic Skiing: Don’t Look Back, A Medal of Honor, and his most recent book, Celebrate Winter; An Olympian’s Stories of a Life in Nordic Skiing. In 1990 John founded and continues to operate what has become a premier competition and recreational trail design company, Morton Trails. He has completed more than 230 projects across the United States and abroad.
RSVP here to receive a ZOOM invite. Virtual doors to the Museum open and the discussion begins at 7:00 PM. The event is complimentary, but a $10 donation from each guest is encouraged and greatly appreciated. Series sponsors include Sisler Builders and Vermont Ski + Ride.
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Voice in Sport ~ One last March Session ~ TODAY!
Please spread the word to all females 13-22! It's free, but you need to sign up ahead of time.
3/31: Different Paths: Skiing in College, Skiing Post-college, Skiing for a club team, all the options to find success
Voice is Sport is a (free) membership platform that provides mentoring for females ages 13-22. There are collegiate and professional athletes from all sports on the platform providing mentorship sessions inaddition to some field experts that have more education based sessions on various topics. Athletes need to become members to sign up for a session, but once a member, they have access to all sessions. I will be doing 2-4 sessions a month on a wide range of topics. 1 on 1 sessions are also available and athletes can write us directly through the platform if they have specific questions.
So when you go to voiceinsport.com you will have to click become a member or join us, once an athlete is a member, then they will be able to access a calendar that has all the mentorship sessions that are available this month and sign up. It does take a bit to become a member because the platform must approve each person for security reasons, however, once a member, sign up for sessions is quick and easy.
Rosie Brennan
2018 OLYMPIAN and US SKI TEAM ATHLETE
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THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS: |
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Upcoming Events
A Look Ahead at the NENSA Calendar
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Summer CAMPS are starting to schedule dates ~ here is what we have so far!
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
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If you already shop Amazon ~ please link to Amazon Smile
with NENSA as your beneficiary!
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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!! |
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New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA)
49 Pineland Drive, Suite 301A
New Gloucester, ME 04260
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