Greetings NENSA Community,

NENSA’s 23rd Annual Women’s XC Ski Day gathered 200 participants of all ages and abilities, an original member of the US Women’s Cross Country Ski Team - a pioneer with an enduring vision, some of the top coaches in our region who have returned for many of all of the event’s 23 years, several Olympians, creative entrepreneurs using their platforms for leadership in business and sport, a champion of equality in sport who delivered an inspiring presentation about advocacy and activism, and a benefit organization providing critical services to victims of domestic and sexual violence in Maine and promoting social change. As I consider the elements of the day, I think it is fair to say that it was inspiring and empowering to all, leaders and participants alike. I would especially like to recognize and thank Trina and all of the instructors who shared their knowledge, experience, and passion. Please see below for a full recap.

There is so much more to share in the height of the season...

In this week’s KickZone

John Ogden Endowment Campaign
JO Classic | February 4
Henchey Eastern Cup and Harvard Carnival
Bill's Blastoff BKL Races | February 4
2024 NENSA Women's Day Recap
Para Nordic Intro Clinic held at Weston over the Weekend
Lake Placid Junior National Staff and Updates
Caribou Bog Classic Ski Race | February 3
Silver Fox Trot | February 3
Ski the Beav 5k & Concord Learn-to-Ski Clinic | February 4
NENSA Nordic Rocks 2023-24
NENSA Membership
Canadian Ski Marathon
Scenes from the NENSA Community

From Our Partners

Paradis Sport: BPA free
Cross Country Skier Magazine: Tour de Trail
Toko: Latest eNews

In The News

Nordic Insights: Tabor Greenberg Wins Bronze in Skate Sprint at Winter Youth Olympics
NNF: U18 Nordic Nation’s Cup: Amelia Circosta on Valuable, Race-filled, Experience in Falun, Sweden
Monadnock Ledger: Dublin Consolidated Students Learn to Cross County Ski in Collaboration with Dublin School
New England College: New England College Adds Nordic Skiing to Its Athletics Offerings

Have a wonderful week!

All my best,

Heidi

Heidi Lange

Executive Director

New England Nordic Ski Association

heidi@nensa.net

www.nensa.net

NENSA News From the Field

John Ogden Endowment Campaign

L>R: John Ogden Youth & Introductory Program Director Mackenzie Rizio with

former Y&IPDs Kait Miller and Amber Dodge Freeman at the 23rd edition of

NENSA's Women's Day in Bethel, ME last weekend. Tips and tales were shared

and John's mentorship remembered and celebrated.

JO Classic | February 4

This Sunday, February 4th join us at Wild Wings for the John Ogden Classic.

This race will honor the memory of our dear friend John Ogden, whose passion for cross country skiing included racing, coaching, timing, and serving for many years on the boards of directors for both the local Stratton Mountain School professional team as well as the New England Nordic Ski Association. He fostered an enduring love of skiing and biking in all three of his children, always cherishing opportunities to watch them race or to spend time with them on skis or on a bike…

John’s request was that everyone spend a little extra time outside, be it on foot, on a bike, or on skis, in his honor.

At our Wild Wings Classic race we will aim to do just that!

More HERE

Henchey Eastern Cup and Harvard Carnival

Eastern Cup skiing resumes at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center this weekend! EISA College skiers and junior racers from all over the Northeast will gather to compete in this combined event. The weekend is an all freestyle affair, with interval start races on Saturday and pursuit action on Sunday.

Bill's Blastoff BKL Races | February 4

You may have heard we’re hosting the Harvard Carnival/Henchey Memorial Eastern Cup this weekend, but the premier event starts at 2pm Sunday, Feb 4 with Bill’s Blastoff BKL Races! Freestyle technique. Bring your glitter and costumes, and see you there!

THANK YOU TO OUR GOLD SPONSORS

2024 NENSA Women's Day Recap

The 23rd edition of NENSA Women’s XC Ski Day has come and gone, and what a fantastic event it was! We are very thankful to Inland Woods + Trails for hosting the event in Bethel, Maine this year as well as welcoming 190 participants, 26 instructors, NENSA staff members (past and present!) and some of our wonderful Women-led sponsors for a day on their trails. We also want to thank the NENSA Women’s Committee for their continued support to pull off this event every year.

Full Recap, Photos, Video, and More HERE

Midge Eliassen Photos HERE

Para Nordic Intro Clinic held at Weston over the Weekend

Para Nordic skiers were out in force at the Weston Ski Track last Saturday when U.S. Paralympics Nordic Ski Team coach BethAnn Chamberlain organized a skills development clinic in cooperation with Adaptive Sports New England and the Weston Ski Track.

On limited terrain but good conditions, skiers with a visual impairment were joined by standing skiers with a physical impairment and sit-skiers ranging in experience from first timers to seasoned veterans. Coaches included Paralympic gold medalist Dan Cnossen, Paralympic bronze medalist Joe Walsh, U.S. Para Nordic national team member Heather Galeotelanza, Olympic biathlete Kristina Sabastianski, and a strong cadre of volunteers.

Designed to be both fun and educational, the clinic was a huge success. Skiers returned home with increased skill, confidence and contacts. Chamberlain for her part, was excited about the outcomes and is looking forward to a second trip to New England in March to follow up with clinic participants and to meet more athletes interested in Para Nordic racing. Athletes who have a physical disability or a visual impairment are encouraged to contact BethAnn or Joe Walsh at Adaptive Sports New England for more information. Check out the NENSA Para Nordic Skiing page for more regional Para events this winter.

Lake Placid Junior National Staff and Updates

NENSA is pleased to announce the staff for 2024 Junior Nationals, hosted in our home region at Mt Van Hoevenberg, March 11-16. Full information about the New England Junior National Team can be found here, and a comprehensive Team Guide will be available shortly. We are very excited for our stay at the Ampersand Bay Resort — including catered meals from a well known Adirondack chef!

Staff, Updated Rankings, and JN Updates HERE

Caribou Bog Classic Ski Race | February 3

More HERE

Silver Fox Trot | February 3

The Silver Fox Trot is hosted by the Ford Sayre Nordic team. This year the event returns to Oak Hill in Hanover! This is a long running event with strong BKL participation and a large masters field. It is a freestyle race, except for the 1st/2nd graders, who will ski a classic race. This event is part of the NENSA Zak Cup and Club Cup Series. Folks this will be a historic event. For the first time, machine made snow will supplement the cross country trails on Oak Hill – don’t miss it!

More HERE

Ski the Beav 5k & Concord Learn-to-Ski Clinic | February 4

Local skiers looking to support local trails? Never been on cross-country skis before but curious to try? Whichever describes you the folks in Concord, NH would love to see you at Beaver Meadow Golf Course this weekend. The event pairs a a free Learn-to-Ski clinic for those new to the sport with low-key freestyle community racing! This event is part of NENSA’s Community Tours and Event Series. For those more interested in the Learn to Ski Clinic, equipment loans are included and the Clinics are geared towards people 6 years of age and older of all backgrounds and identities who have never been on cross-country skis before. The hosts aim to create a welcoming, inclusive, and safe environment for people to try a new sport and discover the joy of gliding on snow.

More HERE

NENSA Nordic Rocks 2023-24

THANK YOU TO OUR SILVER SPONSORS

NENSA Membership

Membership revenue sustains our organization, directly supports our year-round offerings, and subsidizes low and no-cost programs that make our New England ski community vibrant and inclusive.

Check NENSA Membership Status

NENSA membership provides...

Access to Eastern Cup, Bill Koch Festival, and U16 and Eastern High School Championship events
Education at Eastern Coaches Conferences and TD/Event Organizer Seminars
Eligibility for the NENSA Development and Elite Teams and the New England Junior National Team
Discounted entry to NENSA events
Scoring and ranking in our Eastern Cup, Popular, and Rollerski series
NENSA Kickzone and Trail Tales youth newsletter subscriptions
Exclusive discounts and special offers from NENSA sponsors, continually updated on the Member Benefits page
Access to the NENSA Gear Swap

NENSA Member Benefits

NENSA Membership Signup/Renewal

U.S. Ski & Snowboard works to provide a safe environment in which athletes can train and compete, free from abuse and inappropriate behavior. Please review U.S. Ski & Snowboard's Athlete Safety policies, the SafeSport Code, and the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies and join us in sustaining a culture of safety.

If you are an athlete who has experienced inappropriate behavior or know of an athlete who has experienced inappropriate behavior, report a concern:

The U.S. Center for SafeSport

Hotline: 833-587-7233

Report: CLICK HERE

U.S. Ski & Snowboard

Report: CLICK HERE

We all are part of promoting a culture of safety through education, listening, and speaking up.

Canadian Ski Marathon | February 9-11

Scenes from the NENSA Community

THANK YOU TO OUR BRONZE SPONSORS

Partnership Corner

WHAT MAKES OUR BPA-FREE UNDERWEAR SO SPECIAL?

We prioritize YOUR health by ensuring that our underwear is free from harmful chemicals like Bisphenol A (BPA), commonly found in plastic products and activewear - which can be a hormone disruptor.

It makes sense to have gentle and safe natural fibers in the clothing that is closest to your skin.

NENSA members always save 20% on all products at Paradis Sport.

NENSA Member Benefits

Who’s ready to demo some skis for free? Tour de Trail hits Jackson XC this Saturday, Feb. 3, and Carter’s XC Ski Sunday, Feb. 4. Buy raffle tix to benefit NENSA and get the chance to win skis and more!

More HERE

Latest Toko News

In the News

Tabor Greenberg Wins Bronze in Skate Sprint at Winter Youth Olympics

by Nordic Insights | January 29, 2024

Coming into Monday, the U.S. could claim two cross-country ski medalists all time at the Winter Youth Olympic Games, which were first held in Seefeld in 2012 and have continued every four years since. That total has now grown to three, as Tabor Greenberg (Green Mountain Valley School) took a bronze medal in the boys skate sprint at Alpensia Biathlon Centre in Pyeongchang earlier Monday. Gold went to Federico Pozzi of Italy and silver to Jakob Elias Moch of Germany (yes he is Friedrich’s brother).

The Americans had three men in the race; all three qualified. Landon Wyatt (Bridger Ski Foundation) qualified in 30th, then was fifth in his quarterfinal to place 25th overall on the day. Benjamin Barbier (Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club) led the trio in qualifying with the sixth-best time there, then was sixth in his quarterfinal to end the day in 26th.

Greenberg won his quarterfinal, the fifth, then advanced out of the second semifinal as a lucky loser after coming in third in a three-way boot throw at the line.

U18 Nordic Nation’s Cup: Amelia Circosta on Valuable, Race-filled, Experience in Falun, Sweden

by Amelia Circosta | January 30. 2024

This is Amelia Circosta from the Craftsbury Ski Club in Vermont! I’m reporting on my recent trip to Falun, Sweden with the U18 Nordic Nation’s trip, made possible by NNF. In short, the entire week was incredible, with a emphasis on a great finish to a week full of new experiences for me and my teammate’s from across the country.

Saturday the 20th started out with disappointment, but it just got better from there: The temperature for the 10 k Classic distance race hung precariously around the legal minimum to race, and when the thermometer dipped below the limit, the race had to be delayed until the next day. We had all been rearing to get on our skis and go fast, but, on the bright side, the cancellation gave us a chance to discover what Sweden was like outside of the ski venue and to feel well-rested for the last race day.

Dublin Consolidated Students Learn to Cross County Ski in Collaboration with Dublin School

by Kayla Rochon | January 24, 2024

DUBLIN 一 Superintendent Kimberly Rizzo Saunders and Principal Nicole Pease are pleased to announce that Dublin Consolidated School recently partnered with the Dublin School for a workshop to teach students how to cross-country ski.

On Jan. 19, Dublin School Head of School Brad Bates and Nordic Ski Coach Lindsay Matterson visited Dublin Consolidated to teach students how to cross country ski using a variety of techniques outside on the DCS field.

Students learned how to stay on their feet by practicing skiing with one ski, and how to travel over different types of terrain. Students also had the opportunity to play skiing games such as sharks and minnows and soccer to practice their newfound skills.

The program was made possible when Dublin School Director of Advancement Erika Rogers and student Clint Macy wrote a grant for the skis from the Killington World Cup Foundation and the New England Nordic Ski Association Nordic Rocks Program.

New England College Adds Nordic Skiing to Its Athletics Offerings

Henniker, N.H. – The New England College (NEC) Athletics department announced today that the College is adding Nordic skiing to its varsity athletic offerings. Competition will begin in the 2024–2025 academic year.

"We felt it was a natural fit to add Nordic skiing since we already function in the Alpine skiing realm," said Dave DeCew, Director of Athletics at NEC. "Thanks to the great partnerships we have with Dublin School and Pats Peak, we have tremendous facilities nearby to help support this initiative. We see a great opportunity for this program to thrive. Our student-athletes will receive all they need to develop and succeed, and we will embrace the program within our overarching departmental philosophy of holistic student-athlete development."

Steve Kraytenberg, NEC's current head coach of men's and women's Cross Country, will have a key role in the program's implementation. He will take on the role of Director of Endurance Sports and will serve as the lead recruiter and manager of on-campus operations for the Nordic program. Kathy Maddock will serve as the team's inaugural head coach, bringing a wealth of experience to the program.