June Greetings NENSA Community ~

NENSA was honored to received 4th place recognition for our Bill Koch Youth Ski Program from the FIS 2022 SnowKidz global awards announced on May 25th at the FIS Congress in Switzerland. This international award is presented every second year and “aims to recognize and promote the best examples of bringing children to the snow, in varying national circumstances.” The success of our NENSA BKL Youth program is due to all the amazing volunteer BKL leaders and coaches, current and previous NENSA staff members, as well as the commitment and energy Bill Koch himself has put into this program over the past 45 years ~ inspiring generations of skiers and the lifelong love of cross country skiing!

The other big news out of the FIS Congress last week was they voted that all World Cup cross-country skiing races are set to be the same distances for women and men next season. Women have historically had shorter races, outside of sprints. The International Ski Federation (FIS) cross-country committee, made up of members of national federations, approved the change by a 57 percent vote. This will have a trickledown effect on equal distances at the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Sr. National and Jr. National Championships and Supertour races, as well as our own Eastern Cup races next season. More to come on that soon!

Be sure to check out all great events already on our summer calendar at the bottom of this newsletter - including the upcoming learn-to-rollerski clinics in Bethel ME on 6/11 and Craftsbury VT on 7/3, the Lost Nation Roll rollerski race also on 7/3, and a L100 coaching clinic on 7/7. There is full listing of all summer camps, and a peek at dates for next winters Championship events too!

Here is what we have for you in this week's KickZone:
  • NENSA's Bill Koch League Youth Ski Program places 4th overall for FIS SnowKidz Awards!
  • NENSA Eastern Cup Venues for the 2022-23 season announced
  • NENSA Learn-to-Rollerski Clinic at Gould Academy June 11th
  • L100 Coach Developer Date Set ~ NENSA Regional Coaches Clinic – US Ski & Snowboard L100 ~ Craftsbury, Vermont. July 7th
From our Partners:
From U.S. Ski & Snowboard:
  • New Incentive In Cross Country Skiing Aims To increase Number Of Female Staff
  • Cross-Country Skiing World Cup Sets Equal Distances For Women, Men
  • Diggins Uses Platform To Combat Climate Change
  • Olympian And Afton Native Jessie Diggins Getting (Got) Married On Sunday (!)
From the Women's Ski Coaches Association (WSCA):
  • Free WSCA Membership for Volunteer Women Ski Coaches

I hope you are getting outside be it hiking, biking, roller skiing, paddling, or just sitting on your porch or deck at the end of the day watching the sunset ~ summer is short ~ enjoy!
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!

Thank you to all our NENSA Sponsors ~ they are such a HUGE part of our NENSA programming continued success, and we so appreciate all their support. I want to be sure we all acknowledge the businesses who support us and cross country skiing!

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 places 4th in
2022 FIS SnowKidz Award
NENSA is truly honored that the Bill Koch Youth Ski League earned 4th place in the 2022 FIS Snowkidz Award announced at the FIS Congress on May 25th. This international award is presented every second year and “aims to recognize and promote the best examples of bringing children to the snow, in varying national circumstances.” This honor is truly a testament to the vision and dedication of Bill Koch himself, the tireless work of our member clubs and past NENSA staff members, and the support of our partners in Eastern ski community who have made the program what it is today.

Congratulations to the top-3 award winners: Shred Kids (Germany) in 3rd, Lumilajit Liikuttavat (Finland) in 2nd, and Alla på snö (Sweden) in 1st. Check out the FIS Snowkidz website to learn about the many wonderful organizations getting youth on snow across the globe.
THANK YOU TO OUR ASSOCIATE SPONSORS
L.L.Bean and SWIX & Salomon!
NENSA is excited to announce the venues for the 2022-2023 Eastern Cup 
Full event details will be added to the Eastern Cup pages over the coming weeks. These four race weekends constitute NENSA’s highest level race series bringing together junior, senior, and master skiers. They also serve as qualifying races for the New England Junior National Team. Race distances will be determined by the final formats of Junior and Senior Nationals and the Equal Distance movement decisions by FIS and U.S. Ski & Snowboard.

We would like to extend our thanks to the many venues that bid for this year’s events and we look forward to a competitive and snowy winter. 

Eastern Cup #1: Rikert Nordic Eastern Cup Opener Ripton, Vermont. December 17-18, 2022

Eastern Cup #2: Chisholm Ski Club Eastern Cup and Bates Carnival Rumford, Maine. January 14-15, 2023

Eastern Cup #3: Roy Varney Memorial Quarry Road Eastern Cup, Waterville Maine. February 4-5, 2023

Eastern Cup #4: Dublin Double Eastern Cup Dublin, New Hampshire. February 18, 2023: Freestyle Sprint February 19, 2023: Individual Classic 

...Link to story in Breaking News HERE
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.
Learn more about reporting and try the QR Code:

Thank you for your diligence in maintaining sport safety and protecting our athletes. 
NENSA Learn-to-Rollerski Clinic
at Gould Academy June 11th
Saturday, June 11, 2022 | Gould Academy | Bethel, ME

Join NENSA and Gould Academy for the second annual Bethel-area rollerski clinic! All clinic participants will use NENSA’s Swenor Rollerskis, but remember to bring your own boots, poles, and helmet! We can accommodate SNS and Prolink/NNN bindings. Following the clinic, participants and their families are encouraged to explore the surrounding trails on foot or bike.

Schedule:
8:45am: Gather and hand out equipment
9:00am-11:00am: Youth/BKL Rollerski Clinic * and High School Clinic **
Lunch time TBD.

* Youth/BKL Rollerski Clinic
This two hour learn-to-rollerski clinic is open to skiers 8-13 years of age and their parents/caretakers/coaches. We will go over some basic skills in both classic and skate technique before focusing on agility, including the ramp bumps, and games.

** High School Clinic
This two hour learn-to-rollerski clinic is open to skiers 14-19 years of age. Previous rollerski experience not required. We will review some basic technique before focusing on agility, including the ramp bumps.

Please direct any questions to justin@nensa.net or kamilewiczb@gouldacademy.org.
THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS:
First L100 Coach Developer Date Set ~
NENSA Regional Coaches Clinic – US Ski & Snowboard L100 ~ Craftsbury, Vermont. July 7th, 2022
Please note: Coaches can register at any time as long as they have a current coach membership and those basic membership requirements have been met. The U.S. Ski & Snowboard membership season runs from July 1 through June 30 annually. However, we open registration for the upcoming season the first week of May. Memberships become valid July 1. 
For more information on how to sign up for the first scheduled practicum follow this link: http://usskiandsnowboard.org/sport-development/coaches-development/welcome-cross-country-level-100-coach-certification
THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA SUPPORTING SPONSORS:
From our NENSA Partners:
May 27:
New Incentive In Cross Country Skiing Aims To increase Number Of Female Staff
With three-time Olympic medalist Jessie Diggins leading the way, the U.S. women’s cross-country team has made major strides in recent years. But outside of the athletes competing, the world of cross-country skiing remains something of a boys’ club. A new proposal submitted to the FIS cross-country committee by U.S. Ski & Snowboard aims to change this paradigm. ...READ MORE

May 27:
Olympian And Afton Native Jessie Diggins Getting (Got) Married On Sunday
Olympic medalist Jessie Diggins is used to hearing cowbells cheering her to the finish line at cross country skiing competitions. This weekend she may be hearing wedding bells. The Minnesota native will be marrying her longtime boyfriend Wade Poplawski on Sunday, on a private farm in the Twin Cities area. ...Read More on Yahoo.com

May 20:
Cross-Country Skiing World Cup Sets Equal Distances For Women, Men
World Cup cross-country skiing races are set to be the same distances for women and men next season after women historically had shorter races outside of sprints. The International Ski Federation (FIS) cross-country committee, made up of members of national federations, approved the change by a 57 percent vote. All committee decisions are subject to approval by the FIS council on May 26. ...Read More at NBCSports.com

Diggins Uses Platform To Combat Climate Change
American cross-country skier Jessie Diggins explains how her love for outdoor sports created her passion for fighting to protect our planet. ...Watch the Full Piece at NBCSports.com
Free WSCA Membership for Volunteer Women Ski Coaches

The Women Ski Coaches Association (WSCA) celebrates all women who coach, including volunteers who work so hard to keep programs running. To honor all this hard work, the WSCA is extending free membership to all volunteer women ski coaches. If this is you, reach out HERE. If this is not you but you’d like to support the work of the WCSA with a membership, you can sign up HERE.

A little bit about the mission of the WSCA (from their website):

The Women Ski Coaches Association (WSCA) works to develop, retain, and advance women in ski coaching leadership.

DEVELOP EXEMPLARY WOMEN SKI COACHES QUALIFIED FOR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS BY:
  • Recruiting female athletes that exhibit coaching potential
  • Sharing knowledge, experience, and expertise within WSCA network
  • Funding professional development opportunities to ensure all coaches have access in lieu of employment status

RETAIN WOMEN SKI COACHES BY:
  • Collaborating with existing organizations to share research and stories that demonstrate why women coaches matter and facilitate a conversation around this challenging topic
  • Supporting strong female leadership at all levels of sport (local, regional, national, international governance)
  • Promoting professional standards in ski culture and attempting to change workplace norms that prevent equal opportunity

ADVANCE WOMEN SKI COACHES BY:
  • Connecting women coaches and encouraging mentorship through the WSCA network
  • Educating employers on the bias women face in the hiring process by teaching people to hire women based on potential
  • Discussing career goals and providing experience based career counseling within the WSCA network
  • Stewarding career pathways for qualified women candidates in skiing leadership at all levels (local, regional, national, international) and advocating for women to fulfill crucial decision making positions when hired

Read more about the WCSA and their meaningful work HERE.
THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS:
Upcoming Events
A Look Ahead at the NENSA Calendar
Upcoming NENSA Events:
Full NENSA.net Calendar Listing HERE

July 6-10: 2023 FKOC Ski Camp
December 17-18: Eastern Cup #1: Rikert Eastern Cup Opener Ripton, Vermont

Looking Ahead to 2023:
January 14-15: Eastern Cup #2: Chisholm Ski Club Eastern Cup and Bates Carnival Rumford, Maine
January 22: Women’s XC Ski Day
February 4-5: Eastern Cup #3: Roy Varney Memorial Quarry Road Eastern Cup, Waterville Maine
February 18-19: Eastern Cup #4: Dublin Double Eastern Cup Dublin, New Hampshire
March 11-18: U.S. Junior Nationals - Fairbanks, AK
March 22-26: Supertour Finals - Craftsbury VT

Link to our COVID Protocols 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!!