Greetings NENSA Community ~

What an incredible weekend of NENSA events and races we just had ~ from the White Mountain Classic in lovely Jackson, NH to Women's Day with 178 women participating in morning and afternoon clinics from beginners to advanced at the Rikert Nordic Center, Gunstock's Freestyle race in NH, and the club sprint races held at Prospect Mountain ~ winter is in full swing, and we were blessed with perfect snow conditions all weekend.

Our Team USA Olympic Cross Country Ski Team was also announced this last week and it includes 5 New England athletes - both born and bred and/or who train here now. I for one can not wait for February to cheer on our athletes!

NENSA is partnering with SWIX through the month of February to help spread the message of the importance of fluoro free waxing. Enter to win a $1000 in SWIX waxes next season for any individual who watches their 8-minute video, the Responsible Waxing Project. Coaches will also have an additional opportunity to win $5000 in SWIX waxes for their team, if they complete a 45 minute on-line course on Responsible Waxing. This course will also provide 1 credit towards US Ski and Snowboard continuing education. See box below for full details and links. NENSA has committed to be flour-free at all our events and races (since November 2019) and we hope these great SWIX videos and coach courses will help give you the tools and tips to wax safely and responsibly, and maybe win some great new wax too!

Up next ~ two back-to-back NENSA Eastern Cup and U.S. Ski & Snowboard Supertour race weekends. This weekend 1/29-1/30 we will be in Lake Placid. Registration closes at 5pm on Thursday 1/27 so be sure to register if you have not done so already! Next week we head to Craftsbury for three days of racing 2/4-2/6. This Eastern Cup/Supertour race weekend will also be combined with the UVM Carnival. Registration on SkiReg.com

Here is what we have for you in this edition of KickZone:
  • SWIX Responsible Waxing project ~ including chances to win $1-$5k in SWIX wax!
  • Recap of NENSA's wonderful Women's Day held on Sunday at Rikert, VT
  • Recaps of the White Mountain Classic, Gunstock Freestyle race and the Prospect Mountain Sprints
  • Our next two Eastern Cup/Supertour Race weekends in Lake Placid NY 1/29-1/30 and Craftsbury VT 2/4-2/6
  • Registration is open for the 2022 BKL Festival
  • NENSA's BKL BINGO
  • From our Partners & In the News: From U.S. Ski & Snowboard ~ Team USA Olympic cross country ski team named! Jessie graces the cover of Sports Illustrated; from SWIX, Responsible Waxing Project and chances to win $1k and $5k at their virtual learning center: From Salomon: article from Salomon and GRP athlete Hallie Grossman

NENSA continues to do all we can to host safe outdoor races and events this winter. We are proud of and continue to count on all of you to do your part in helping us keep our ski community well this winter. Please follow our COVID guidelines and stay home if you are not feeling well.

Be safe and stay well -
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!

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
SWIX Responsible Waxing Project
Competitive skiing programs around the country are moving away from fluorinated waxes as we learn more about their negative impact on the environment. NENSA in 2019 was among the first to adopt a fluoro-free policy, which continues today, and as of Jan. 17, fluorocarbon waxes are banned at all FIS-sanctioned cross country races in the United States.

We encourage all our skiers to learn more about skiing fluoro-free. One new option is the Responsible Waxing Project at the Swix Education Center. 
For a limited time, Swix is offering coaches a chance to win $5,000 of Swix fluoro-free wax and products for their team just by completing an online, 45-minute course on responsible waxing. Every coach who completes the course will earn one entry into the giveaway. And … there’s more:  Coaches who complete the course also earn a continuing education credit from U.S. Ski & Snowboard.

For all skiers, you can earn a chance to win $1,000 in Swix fluoro-free products by watching a responsible waxing video at the Swix Education Center website. Swix will have multiple drawings so the sooner you sign up and watch the video, the more chances you’ll have to win.

To participate, start at the Swix Education Center. Under available courses, coaches should choose “Responsible Waxing Project.” You will be prompted to register for the course. Skiers should choose the video option listed as “Enter for a Chance to Win $1,000 of Swix Products.” You’ll be promoted to register. Once you complete the video, you’ll be entered in the drawing.

And if you have just been wondering how to use the new updated SWIX line ~ how their new fluoro-free waxes replace the old CH, LF and HF waxes we all had in our wax boxes ~ just check out this quick video below!
THANK YOU TO OUR ASSOCIATE SPONSORS
L.L.Bean and SWIX & Salomon!
2022 Women’s XC Ski Day Recap
The 21st Women’s XC Ski Day is in the books and what a day it was! It was extra special to all be back together after last year’s small state-based clinics, although perhaps a mix of both will be the way of the future. We are so grateful to Rikert Nordic Center and their excellent staff for hosting us and sharing their fun trail system with the 178 participants and 18 instructors. They did a fabulous job with the grooming and we really lucked out on the weather front with plenty of snow. We are also grateful to the women at Frost Mountain Nordic as well the NENSA Women’s Committee for their support of this event.

This year’s event offered 9 clinic options ranging from Introductory Classic to Skate Uphill/Downhill and everything in between including guided ski tours. We are eternally grateful to the many women instructors who share their expertise, enthusiasm, and love of skiing with the participants.
...click HERE for full story and more photos!
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. 
Recaps of the White Mountain Classic, Gunstock Freestyle & Prospect Sprints
The White Mountain Classic Recap
provided by Damian Bolduc (NWVE)

Results: 21km – 14km)
The White Mountain Classic picked up where last weekend’s Popular Racing left off. It was another bluebird ski day, this time in Jackson. Clear skies prevailed with little to no wind. Although frigid, skiers were excited for the day, the return of the Marathon Series, and were prepared to put their best foot forward for their home state in the Northeast State Championship. A mass start classic half-marathon was just the thing to energize the mostly Masters field...click HERE for the full story and photos

The Gunstock Freestyle:

On a calm Sunday morning, skiers gathered at the Gunstock Nordic Center for a decidedly warmer race day compared to the day before. It was interval start day – you versus the clock. Skiers took off at 30 second intervals and made their way around the very nicely prepared 4.4km loop, which featured rolling terrain, modest climbs and good cruising flats. The open men skied three laps, while the open women and U16 boys did two laps, and the Bill Koch skiers did one...click HERE for the full story and photos

The Prospect Sprints:

Prospect Mountain put on an awesome sprint competition on Sunday with a “Royal Court” format. This format allowed for all skiers to ski in a qualification followed by three rounds of head to head racing. With a diverse field of ages and abilities — the first year of this annual event — allowed for a lot of fun for all the competitors. The sprint course at Prospect is challenging with two major climbs...click HERE for the full story and photos
Start of the White Mountain Classic
Upcoming Eastern Cup/Supertour Races this weekend and next ~
Our next Eastern Cup and Supertour races are this weekend in Lake Placid NY and next weekend in Craftsbury Vermont! Click on the links below to register. Please keep in mind registration for this weekend EC/ST races in Lake Placid close at 5pm on Thursday 1/27.

Upcoming Eastern Cup & Supertour Race Weekends:


You can also download the @sharepastimes app to find the events there. Mark yourself at attending and see who else is going. You could even make some new ski friends in your area and plan training adventures to prepare for your next NENSA event!
THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS:
2022 BKL Festival Registration is Open!
The New England Bill Koch Youth Ski League (NEBKYSL) Festival is the marquee event of the 
Bill Koch Youth Ski League. This fun annual festival features races as well as a wide variety of exciting non-competitive winter activities for skiers of all skill and ability levels from kindergarten up to 8th grade!

This year’s Festival will be held March 5-6, 2022 on the beautiful trails at Quarry Road in Waterville, Maine. The dedicated folks at Quarry Road are planning fun races and exciting activities with the theme Soar Over Snow!

...click HERE full information on the Festival and to Register
2021-22 BKL XC Ski Bingo
is in full swing!
NENSA is psyched to be offering a new version of Bingo for the 2021-22 season!! Download and print your own 2021-22 Bingo Card and be sure to fill out the BINGO ENTRY FORM when you finish. Activity descriptions included in the Bingo card download.


Rules of the Game:
  1. Must be under 14 years of age to play. Game runs from December 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022.
  2. Get “Bingo” by completing the activities and skiing in the states in a full row, column, or diagonal.
  3. Mark your Bingo card as you complete squares. Remember to take at least one activity photo or a picture of you where you skied!
  4. Fill out the Bingo entry form HERE once you’ve completed Bingo. You’ll include your activity or ski location photo and a picture of your marked Bingo card.
  5. Get outside and HAVE FUN!!!
  6. Direct any questions to kait@nensa.net.
What can you win?

Every player who completes Bingo gets a rainbow NENSA sticker. Each Bingo line completed gets players a raffle entry. At the end of every month we will raffle off NENSA monogrammed LL Bean flannel shirts and gift cards! You can get a bonus raffle point if you do any of the activities in costume.
THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA SUPPORTING SPONSORS:
From our NENSA Partners:
IN THE NEWS:

January 20:
U.S. Ski & Snowboard Nominates Cross Country Team Roster For Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022

U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced today its nominations for the U.S. Olympic Cross Country Team to represent Team USA at the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 from February 4-19, 2022. Nominations are to be confirmed by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee when it formally announces the U.S. Olympic Team. Fourteen athletes were nominated to Team USA, including the 2018 Olympic gold medalist and defending World Cup overall and distance champion Jessie Diggins, and two-time World Cup winner Rosie Brennan. Brother and sister Caitlin and Scott Patterson, both 2018 Olympians, are also nominated to return to the Games. The 10 remaining nominated athletes will be competing in their first Olympic Winter Games. ...READ MORE

Women
  • Jessie Diggins, Afton, Minnesota and Stratton, Vermont; 8/26/91; Stratton Mountain School Elite Team (2014, 2018)
  • Rosie Brennan, Park City, Utah; 12/2/88; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center (2018)
  • * Julia Kern, Waltham, Massachusetts 9/12/97; Stratton Mountain School Elite Team
  • * Hailey Swirbul, El Jebel, Colorado; 7/10/98; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Center
  • * Sophia Laukli, Yarmouth, Maine; 6/8/2000; University of Utah
  • * Novie McCabe, Winthrop, Washington; 12/15/2001; Methow Valley Nordic Team
  • * Hannah Halvorsen, Truckee, California; 2/19/1998; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center
  • Caitlin Patterson, Craftsbury, Vermont; 1/30/90; Craftsbury Green Racing Project (2018)
Men
  • * JC Schoonmaker, Tahoe City, California; 8/12/2000; University of Alaska Anchorage
  • * Kevin Bolger, Minocqua, Wisconsin; 4/11/93; Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation
  • * Ben Ogden, Landgrove, Vermont; 2/13/2000; University of Vermont/Stratton Mountain School Elite Team
  • * Luke Jager, Anchorage, Alaska; 1/7/2000; University of Utah/Alaska Pacific University
  • * Gus Schumacher, Anchorage, Alaska; 7/25/2000; Alaska Winter Stars
  • Scott Patterson, Anchorage, Alaska; 1/28/92; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Center (2018)
*Denotes first-time Olympian 

January 22:
Sports Illustrated Released Its Iconic Olympics Issue, And All Four Cover Athletes Are Women
The Beijing Olympics are nearly upon us. Sports Illustrated has released its iconic Olympics issue spotlighting the competitors representing Team USA ahead of this year's winter games. And in a historic move, all four athletes selected for the cover are women, featuring Mikaela Shiffrin and Jessie Diggins. ...Read More at Insider.com

Live SuperTour Streaming
Watch top athletes from cross country clubs across America compete in the National Nordic Foundation U.S. Ski & Snowboard SuperTour this season. ...WATCH NOW

Welcome to the Swix Virtual Learning Center
Welcome to the Swix Learning Center, a portal to cutting edge online courses, technology and resources for the Nordic and Alpine skiing and snowboarding community. 
The learning center will offer web-based courses, videos and visual learning experiences to enhance your skills as a coach, a technician, a competitive skier or snowboarder or someone who just wants to improve your winter sports experience.
Start by signing up for a free account to browse our free course offerings and enter for a chance to win $1,000 in Swix products.
Many of our courses will qualify for US Ski & Snowboard continuing education. 
These courses will be marked with the US Ski & Snowboard logo.

As Skiers and Snowboarders, we are privileged to call mountains and trails our workplace and our playground. It is our responsibility to ensure that these beautiful landscapes remain healthy and clean for the next generation. 
On the Road with Salomon and
GRP Biathlete
Hallie Grossman

You hear it all the time in the little world of sport we live in, “So and so is in Europe all winter!” or “So and so is gone for three months, even though she came home for Christmas this year.” For the last several years I have fallen into the “so and so” category and have spent the majority of the last five winters in Europe living out of a duffle bag. There are a few things that make it into my bag every year, alongside my rifle, a dozen pairs of Salomon skis, two pairs of ski boots, and training clothes that help me feel at home. 
Most importantly, Pony. She is my stuffed horse that my little brother “gave” me when he was born. He is now 21. A yoga mat. It’s amazing how this little piece of foam makes core, yoga, and, these days, hotel room strength so much more enjoyable. A collapsible electric tea kettle. This was passed down to me by a teammate when she stopped racing and gets used many times a day. Knitting. My first year on the road was the year of the mitten, two years ago was the year of the baby sweaters, and now we are on to toddler sweaters. Kindle. I thought that I was too “pure” of a booklover for a screen, but boy oh boy, was I wrong. This now seems like the only conceivable way to keep up with the voracity of my reading during the winter.
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

January 29-30: Craftsbury Marathon Ski Festival - moved to last weekend of February

March 5-6: NENSA BKL Festival

Link to our COVID Protocols HERE
Link to our NENSA Equality & Diversity Policy HERE
Link to our Health & Nutrition Resources Page HERE
Link to our NENSA Inclusivity Resource List 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!!