Greetings NENSA community,

If a theme was to be associated with the New England winter of 2022-23, it could be extreme weather, but it would just as well be agility and resolve.  Leaders in our community - event organizers, officials, coaches, team leaders, NENSA staff - have worked creatively and collaboratively to host high quality events and our ski community continues to gather and celebrate every weekend.  As we approach our final Eastern Cup weekend and the naming of the New England Junior National Team, I find myself reflecting on the fact that the East is known for developing some of the most skilled skiers and that those skills are furthered by the very circumstances we have faced.  Rather than angst about the climatic forces, I’m choosing gratitude this week for the dedication and creativity of our community and for all of the fantastic skiers in New England!

Congratulations to all skiers contending for a spot on the New England Junior National Team! Please see below for important information about the team naming and trip details in addition to...

In this week’s edition of KickZone

• Prospect Mountain Expands on Nordic Rocks Program
• New England Junior National Team Update
• Quarry Road Bliss: Part B
• Mansfield Nordic Skiathlon & Flying Moose Classic Recaps
• NENSA membership
• Scenes from the Community
• Salomon Open Trails Nordic Gear Scholarships
• Stowe Derby 2023 discount codes for NENSA members
• Toko Newsletter
• Canadian Ski Marathon and Canadian Ski Challenge

In the news

• U.S. Ski & Snowboard:
• Minnesota Set to Host a FIS Cross Country World Cup at Wirth Park in Minneapolis in 2024
• 2023 Cross Country World Ski Championships Team Announced
• FasterSkier: Watch Out for Ben Ogden

Have a wonderful week and weekend!

All my best,

Heidi

Heidi Lange

Executive Director

New England Nordic Ski Association

heidi@nensa.net

www.NENSA.net

Thank you!

Memberships directly support all of our year-round programming,

backing us in our mission to nurture and sustain an active cross country ski

community for all ages and levels throughout the East. 

Thank you for taking a minute to join or renew your NENSA membership,

and for the important support that it provides!

Please join me in thanking and supporting our wonderful NENSA Sponsors 

for their generous contributions and the ongoing impact that they have on NENSA programming and cross country skiing in New England!

The following write-up is from former NENSA Executive Director Amie W. Smith who, among many other roles, is now on the Prospect Mountain Association Board and working to bring local elementary school students to Prospect Mountain to ski. Photos courtesy of Shaftesbury Elementary School Principal, Jeff Johnson. We’re grateful to Amie and our other coordinators who are working to bridge the gap between the school-based Nordic Rocks programs and additional local programming offered at ski centers!

Over the past 7 years, The New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA) Nordic Rocks program, a school based introductory learn to ski program, has brought the joy of cross country skiing to several thousand kids all over the Northeast.  

NENSA’s Nordic Rocks program is generously funded by the Share Winter Foundation and the Killington World Cup Foundation and was developed to introduce children in grades K-6 to the excitement of cross country skiing. Nordic Rocks provides elementary school students with an opportunity to experience cross country skiing during the school day with their teachers and classmates, and to learn the health and lifestyle benefits associated with exercise and outdoor fun. The overarching goal of this program is to provide all children with an opportunity to ski.

This winter, the Prospect Mountain Association (PMA), the volunteer lead nonprofit that runs Prospect Mountain Nordic Center in Woodford Vermont, has taken this opportunity one step further. PMA has reached out to elementary schools in the Southwestern Vermont Supervisory Union (SVSU) who have Nordic Rocks program in place, to offer them the opportunity to ski at Prospect Mountain on their 8 half-day Wednesdays during January, February, and March. This winter, students from Shaftsbury Elementary, Monument Elementary, and Pownal Elementary are taking advantage of this free program. PMA has offered these schools free rental equipment, free trail passes, and free instruction for 2 hours on these Wednesday half days. The kids have just loved this program and the opportunity to ski on full sets of equipment at a real cross country ski venue and have lessons from the wonderful group of PMA coach volunteers...read more HERE  

The 2023 Junior National Team will be named following awards at the Dublin Double, Sunday, February 19th. We currently anticipate a team size of 50 athletes, with our 42 quota spots and eight committed Autos and Guests. Unique — and-fitting-for-a-unique-year — NENSA secured 55 airfares for our team last spring. This effort was to secure the best itinerary and hedge potentially escalating costs.

Thank you to coaches, parents and athletes for communication. If you intend to attend JN’s if you are named to the team please fill out this form:

Team Naming is on the 19th — which we encourage the whole community to attend. To accept your position on the team we kindly ask you complete the following steps as soon as possible with a deadline of February 22nd. 

• Trip payment can be made in one of two ways:

1. Payment by check to NENSA in Dublin @ $3,165
2. Payment by credit card @ $3,279.96 (includes processing fees) HERE

• Please check your NENSA Membership Profile HERE. Review and Update all appropriate fields, including JN Team specific questions, including the JN Year = 2023. This is our source of athlete and parent contacts, food/drug allergies and any medical conditions we should be aware of as chaperones.
• Upload Vaccination Status here (coming shortly).
• Click HERE to purchase Team Uniform (coming shortly)
• Pre-Travel Covid Test Upload (coming shortly)

While it may only be February, it feels like spring is in the air. And among us nordic types spring usually brings thoughts of late season racing at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center. This year will not disappoint as we will be joined by the nation’s best for SuperTour Finals from March 22-26th. This series includes Freestyle Sprint, Relay and Marathon national championship races.

Those of us that are not elite level racers can also participate – including the New England Club Relay Championships. What better way to end your race season than with some team camaraderie, be it with goofy team names, outrageous costumes, or just some good fun in the sun with your friends. Additionally, NENSA will be handing out their end of season Zak and Club awards on relay day! For registration and more information on SuperTour Finals & New England Club Relay Championships please click on the link to see Craftsbury’s event page:

THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS:

Reporting Misconduct and New QR Code for Reporting

Whether you are a coach, parent, volunteer, or athlete, we all play a role in providing a safe environment for the sports that we love. U.S. Ski & Snowboard  Athlete Safety policies, the SafeSport Code, and the U.S. Ski & Snowboard MAAPP help us support that culture of safety.  

• If you witness or are aware of inappropriate behavior or misconduct - REPORT IT!
• Reports may be made anonymously!
• Child Abuse and Child Sexual Abuse – Report to law enforcement or child protective services in your jurisdiction immediately.
• Reports to the Center - SafeSport hotline at 833-5US-SAFE (587-7233) or CLICK HERE to complete an online reporting form.
• Reports to U.S. Ski & Snowboard - CLICK HERE

You may see QR codes posted at events this season. The QR codes open a page on www.usskiandsnowboard.org for quick links to reporting from your smartphone.

Thank you for your diligence in maintaining sport safety and protecting our athletes. 

Another gorgeous February day graced this year’s Flying Moose Classic. Inland Woods + Trails put in a lot of overnight grooming effort to give skiers the best possible classic tracks for the day. Members of the Bethel Outing Club showed up in force to help host the event in collaboration with Nonstop Nordic who brought live timing to the event for the first time. The event felt like a really community gathering that seemed to go on all day. Kids could be seen playing on the side of the trail while junior and adult skiers socialized throughout the day...read more, see photos and results HERE

Sleepy Hollow strikes a beautiful balance of low key, yet classy and exciting courses. Partnered with the robust support of the Mansfield Nordic Club and sweet weather the 2023 MNC Skiathlon was another big win for all involved.

Eli Enman often signs his courses with some fun terrain — here a BKL’er from Frost Mountain navigating the fun zone!

The 7th and 8th grade boys charging out to the start. Despite a low snow year the combination of manmade snow and cold temps made for fast tracks — with most skiers opting for a klister binder covered with hard wax. Fish scales, which quite a few BKL’ers were on were working very well too!

Tom Thurston makes fun at the Open start, flanked by some “young” bucks including Enman, Justin Freeman (who went on to win), Jake Hollenbach and Chris Burnham.

NWVE was out in force in both the masters categories and the new generation in the BKL races.

The real win of ski events is gathering with friends for some good food and sharing stories from the day.

Huge Thanks to the Mansfield Nordic Club and Sleepy Hollow for hosting such a fun event for all ages....click HERE for results and more!

It is time to renew NENSA memberships. NENSA membership is required for attendance at the BKL Festival, Eastern Cup, U16 and EHS Championship events, as well as for Junior National, Zak, and Club Cup rankings. NENSA members receive discounted entry fees to many of our events as well as exclusive offers from our sponsors that are constantly added and updated HERE. Membership directly supports our year-round programming, backing us in our mission to nurture and sustain an active cross country ski community for all ages and levels throughout the East. Thank you for taking a minute to tend to your renewal, and for the important support your membership provides!



THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA SUPPORTING SPONSORS:

Stowe Derby 2023

Mt Mansfield Academy would like to extend the following coupon codes to NENSA members for the 2023 Stowe Derby:

BKL50OFFSHORT (BKL 50% discount)

BKL50OFFLONG (BKL 50% discount)                 

Remember: NENSA numbers are required for Club and Zak Cup scoring and

NENSA members receive a 20% discount on the entry fee using

the coupon code provided with membership signup/renewal. 

Mathias J. Bartels Community Nordic Ski Race 2023

The 15th annual Mathias Jessup Bartels benefit cross-country ski race and tour will be held on Sunday, February 26th at 11:30 AM at Mt. Greylock Regional School. The event will feature a lollipop race for young children at 11:30 followed by a 3K or 6K (you choose 1 lap or 2) classic race at approx. 11:50. Races are suitable for all ages and abilities.

Prizes will be awarded to overall and age category winners. A $15.00 donation is requested at day-of-race registration beginning at 10:30 AM. All proceeds benefit the Mathias Jessup Bartels Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Mt. Greylock Nordic Ski Team. Checks can be made out to: Mt. Greylock Regional School - M.J. Bartels Scholarship Fund.

In the event of limited snow coverage or for more information, please email Hilary at hgreene@williams.edu.

Can't make the race, but would still like to participate? Check out the details on how to participate virtually here: https://forms.gle/ubFXy89KCDkgAUn36

Mathias was an outstanding young man - a scholar, athlete, and leader of his class. He was a high school junior and standout member of the Mt. Greylock Nordic Ski Team when he died in his sleep on January 31, 2004 of sudden cardiac arrest due to a heart arrhythmia of unknown cause. The Mathias Jessup Bartels Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to a graduating senior who exhibits the integrity, kindness, and commitment to excellence shown by Mathias.

Minnesota Set to Host a FIS Cross Country World Cup at Wirth Park in Minneapolis in 2024

February 15, 2023 | by U.S. Ski & Snowboard

MINNEAPOLIS, February 15, 2023 — The Loppet Foundation, Share Winter Foundation and U.S. Ski & Snowboard will welcome the best cross country ski racers in the world to Minneapolis, Minnesota’s Wirth Park for the COOP FIS Cross Country World Cup over President’s Day weekend, Feb. 17-19, 2024.* The Loppet Foundation and Share Winter will serve as hosts of the Loppet Cup, taking place on the Loppet’s world class cross country ski trails - setting the stage for one of the only World Cups to be held in a major metropolitan area - and the first on U.S. soil in two decades. 

The FIS Cross Country World Cup Tour is the annual global tour for elite athletes, comprised of a series of distance and sprint races over the course of each winter season. Expected to be present at the Loppet Cup is three-time Olympic medalist Jessie Diggins. Diggins is a native of nearby Afton, Minnesota and was the first American athlete to win a gold medal in Olympic cross country ski competition. She was key to securing this international competition for Minnesota. Other U.S. and Minnesota-local athletes will also be representing the U.S. Cross Country Ski Team in the Loppet Cup, a unique chance to ski in front of a hometown crowd. 

“I’m excited to give ski fans from around the U.S. a chance to see the action up close for the first time in over 20 years,” said Diggins. “I am so proud to represent Minnesota as one of the first American athletes to win Olympic gold in cross country, and now to bring the sport I love to the state I call home.”...read more HERE

2023 Cross Country World Ski Championships Team Announced

February 9, 2023 | by Leann Bentley

U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced the 18 athletes of the U.S. Cross Country Ski Team that will compete at the 2023 FIS Cross Country World Ski Championships in Planica, Slovenia, Feb. 22 - March 6, 2023.

The 2023 World Championships will take place in the Julian Alps at the Planica Festival Arena, a venue that features both cross country and ski jumping venues. Throughout the 12 days of competition, more than 2,500 athletes and staff members from more than 60 countries will be present.

“We are very excited to bring this group of talented athletes to the World Championships in Planica,” said U.S. Cross Country Program Director, Chris Grover. “We will be arriving at the World Championships with a lot of momentum after finishing the previous period of World Cup with multiple podiums and a ranking of third overall in the World Cup Nation’s Cup. We also will be bringing a very experienced and knowledgeable staff that is dedicated to helping these athletes achieve peak performances at the Championships. Planica has been one of our favorite venues over the years and we are really looking forward to coming back to the Julian Alps.”...read more HERE

Watch Out for Ben Ogden

February 9, 2023 | by Madshus

Only in his third season at the senior World Cup level, Ben Ogden (USA) recently posted one of the best results for an American male in a distance race. At the 2023 Tour de Ski stage race, the 22-year-old from Vermont was sixth in the 10-kilometer classic event in Oberstdorf (GER) and the top U23-skier. Additionally, Ogden has also been in the semifinal at the World Cup four times so far this season.

Madshus caught up with the talented American cross-country skier on his ambitions for the upcoming 2023 World Championships in Planica (SLO), the keys to his rapid success and his passions outside of skiing. Oh, and his mustache.

Before we even get into your skiing, racing, goals and passions: is there a story behind the mustache?

“Not really. But I had it at the 2021 World Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany. I was totally a rookie, and the older skiers in the team like Simi Hamilton and those guys thought the mustache was so funny. I don’t think it looks good, but it goes with my personality. I’m kind of a goofy guy,” Ogden says, adding that the mustache is here to stay.

“People kind of expect me to have a mustache now. And Klæbo has none, so I guess that’s one thing I have that he doesn’t. He always looks so polished. I can’t compete with that.”

Having parked the mustache issue, we moved on to business: Skiing, racing, goals and passions....read more HERE

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