Greetings NENSA Community ~
A HUGE thank you to all our donors for helping us meet our challenge of 100 donations in the final 10 days of our April Fund Drive ~ we succeeded and unlocked the Board match! It was a bit of a nail bitter - the 100th donation came in at 11:42pm on 4/30!! Thank you all for helping us wrap up another successful season and fiscal year.
It is now the merry month of May - the official start of our new season and new membership year. Once again, we are offering a special discounted $25 membership at the BKL, junior, adult and coach level for the entire month of May! There could not be a better time to renew your membership, or join NENSA. Why not sign up the whole family! RENEW or JOIN today, and thank you!
May also kicks off the official "off-season ski season" ~ please join us for the fun #25kinMay 3.0 version and rollerski (or run, hike, bike...) your way to 25k's this May ~ read all about it in the box below.
We are still looking for nominations for people in our NENSA community who might be deserving one of our annual NENSA Awards. We ask our ski community to nominate people they think might fit the award categories found in the box below.
Here is what we have for you in this week's KickZone:
- NENSA is a finalist for the FIS SnowKidz Award for our BKL program (!)
- #25kinMay is here ~ it's free and we have some fun prizes to give away
- Save the date ~ 1/22/23 for Women's Day in Jackson NH
- See if you are a lucky raffle winner from our April Fund Drive
- Accepting Nominations for our NENSA Community Awards 2022
- NENSA's Executive Director Job Posting
- First L100 Coach Developer course set for July 7th in Craftsbury VT
- For Sale ~ NENSA's custom fabric SKIDA hats & neck warmers
- From our Partners and in the News ~
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The Nordic Approach ~ An Intro to Rollerskiing Part 1
Be sure to check out all the great summer camp listings at the bottom of this newsletter ~
Best,
Amie
Amie Witten Smith
Executive Director
New England Nordic Ski Association
Amie@nensa.net
GIVING: DONATE to NENSA 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
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NENSA News from the Field
Highlights and Notes from NENSA and the Nordic World
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#25KinMay Returns for the 3.0 Edition |
Back by popular demand, this is the event that gets people thinking about rolling every spring. We want to shift the paradigm of rollerski from being just a training mechanism — reach out to friends or connect with new ones to plan an adventure. Ever see a road that was just calling for a ski? Or maybe there is a bike path that you had always wanted to check out. We want you to challenge yourself and utilize rollerskis as a fun tool and build the social energy of our summertime programs. We love the stories we’ve shared for the past two years!
#25KinMay is free – simply get out there and report your ski (or ski walking or biking) data to us here. The event is for everyone and based primarily on participation. There will be raffle prizes and awards for fast times, exceptional routes and reporting. The number one rule remains: BE SAFE out there. Skiers must select terrain suitable for their skill level.
NENSA’s mission is to provide excitement to our broader cross country skiing community and continue the momentum of NENSA’s Rollerski Programming. We look forward to unveiling our 2022 Rollerski Race Series this month and visiting clubs throughout the East this summer!
Recruit friends to join you – use #25KinMay for motivation to get rolling!
...click HERE for the full story and to see the categories
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Congrats to our lucky random Raffle Winners for the April Fund Drive ~ watch your mail soon for your prize to arrive!
Susan McKenna, Bennington VT
Jessica Snyder, Woburn, MA
Elke Hanna, Westmoreland, NH
James Drew, Sugar Hill NH
Peter Harris, Derby Line VT
Ian Henry Li, Acton MA
Margie Prevot, East Hardwick, VT
Steve & Deb Fuller, Freeport ME
Bud Fischer, Brooksville ME
Everett Ingalls, Portland ME
Michelle Smith, Burlington MA
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Thank you to our NENSA sponsors ~
LL Bean, SWIX & TOKO, SKIDA, Fischer and Rossi (and others) for the VIK swag they provide us with throughout the year to use as prizes that support our programing and mission!
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THANK YOU TO OUR ASSOCIATE SPONSORS
L.L.Bean and SWIX & Salomon!
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NENSA as a Finalist for the 2022
FIS Snowkidz Award
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NENSA is excited to share that our Bill Koch Ski League Program is a finalist for the 2022 FIS SnowKidz Award. 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.
NENSA's BLK program was named as one of 8 world-wide finalist on May 1st. The top-3 award winners will be announced live at the FIS Congress on May 26th so stay tuned!
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We are looking to YOU for Nominations
for our 2022 NENSA Awards
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These awards are given annually to honor the achievements and contributions of our members who work to support NENSA’s mission of sustaining a vibrant and active Nordic skiing community in New England.
The NENSA staff is accepting nominations for folks in our New England ski community who fulfill the ideals for our Annual Awards. Click HERE to submit a nomination in any of these Award categories. THANK YOU!
John Caldwell Award: One of NENSA’s finest traditions is presenting the John Caldwell Award. This award annually recognizes a single individual, or entity, which embodies the spirit, dedication, innovation, and pride of John Caldwell, and NENSA!
Coach of the Year: This award is given annually to honor a NENSA coach for their achievements and contributions in working with athletes, in support of NENSA’s mission to sustain a vibrant and active Nordic skiing community in New England.
Club of the Year: This award is given annually to honor a NENSA club that is making great strides in supporting the NENSA mission to sustain a vital and active Nordic skiing community in New England.
Chummy Broomhall Award: This award is named after Chummy who embodied the spirit of being a volunteer as he was a man who gave his time to generations. It is in this spirit that this award be in his honor for the unsung heroes of ski racing.
Bill Koch League Youth Leadership Award: The Bill Koch League Leadership Award is for those community members who embody fun, community, and a lifelong love of the sport.
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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.
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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.
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Reports to the Center - SafeSport hotline at 833-5US-SAFE (587-7233) or CLICK HERE to complete an online reporting form.
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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.
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NENSA is looking for it’s next Leader ~ Executive Director Job Posting |
The New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA) is looking for its next Executive Director to lead this vibrant and thriving XC Ski Non-Profit Organization. Founded in 1995, NENSA is a member-supported service organization that promotes the culture of cross-country skiing by creating opportunities for youth, athletes, coaches, officials and skiers of all levels. NENSA also provides the support structure necessary to bring cross-country skiers to their highest potential at regional, national and international events.
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FOR SALE!
NENSA's custom fabric SKIDA Hats & Neck Warmers will be for sale on www.NENSA.net
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This custom fabric was designed by Kait Miller, NENSA's Youth & Introductory Program Director. Each snowflake contains one of 5 Northeastern states that NENSA had our programing ~ Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and New York! We are excited to offer these great new custom NENSA hats and neck warmer to our ski community!
Link to purchase HERE. Thanks for supporting NENSA this way ~ $40 for the fleece lined alpine hat and $30 for the fleece lined neck warmer ~ this includes shipping & handing. |
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Field tested and NENSA Staff approved! |
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2023 Women’s XC Ski Day
to be Hosted at JacksonXC
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NENSA is pleased to announce that the 2023 Women’s XC Ski Day will be hosted by JacksonXC in Jackson, NH on Sunday, January 22nd. This event was last held in Jackson in 2016 and we are excited to return to this fun venue.
New England Women’s XC Ski Day was started in 2002 by former Olympian Trina Hosmer of Stowe, VT. Trina was inspired by her “Sisters in Skiing” in Anchorage, Alaska, who started the Alaska Ski for Women in 1997. Like the Alaskans’ original event, Women’s XC Ski Day chooses a non-profit women’s organization to benefit, and gathers as many participants as it can for a day of cross country skiing which includes lunch and a raffle. The highlight of the day is learn-to-ski clinics with women instructors; the emphasis being on relaxed, fun learning in a supportive and encouraging environment. All ability, skill, and experience levels are welcome. In addition to this event being open to all women, we also encourage and support the participation of nonbinary people who are comfortable in a space that centers the experience of women. NENSA hopes that Women’s Day helps bring more folx together to enjoy this wonderful sport.
Full event details and registration to follow this fall. Stay tuned to our event webpage HERE for updates.
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THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS: |
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First L100 Coach Developer Date Set ~
NENSA Regional Coaches Clinic – US Ski & Snowboard L100 ~ Craftsbury, Vermont. July 7th, 2022
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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.
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THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA SUPPORTING SPONSORS: |
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From The Nordic Approach ~
AN INTRODUCTION TO ROLLER SKIING: PART 1
For cross country skiers, the melting of the snow each Spring is a bit of a sad milestone, marking the end of the Nordic season. Sure, there’s biking and hiking to look forward to, but there is just no warm weather alternative to skiing—or is there?
As cross country skiing was coming into its own as a competitive sport in 1950’s Scandinavia, athletes realized that to maintain peak performance, a way to train during the snowless off-season was necessary. So, the roller ski was invented. Early models were a set of three-wheeled contraptions that would strap to each foot, in which socket would mimic the grip of kick wax on a skier’s classic stride. Since then, as with most 20th century sports inventions, technology has honed the roller ski to a level of precision that mimics closely the feel of the snowy version...read the full article HERE
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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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Full NENSA.net Calendar Listing HERE
May 15: NENSA Spring Board Meeting ~Hanover NH
Looking Ahead to 2023:
Link to our COVID Protocols 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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