Greetings NENSA Community ~

Despite the multiple meltdowns, rain and warm weather we have had over New England is month, skiing is still happening! We have a great weekend of Citizen Popular races still planned, from the Silver Fox Trot at the Rikert Nordic Center, the Race for Snow at the Weston Ski Track outside of Boston, the fun team sprints in Craftsbury, and the iconic Geschmossel classic race in Bretton Woods ~ lots of great opportunities to get out there and have fun this weekend! That said, you much check out the very poignant and thoughtful video message from Bill McKibben in the Bogburn box below. Our skiing is so fragile these days, and as Bill says, we can not take a single snowfall for granted ~ so get out there and enjoy it, when and where we can!

Check out what's in this weeks issue in the boxes below:
  • Bogburn Recap with so many great photos!
  • Preview of the 4 Popular Citizen Races this weekend
  • A poignant and thoughtful video message from Bill McKibben ~ a must watch!
  • Sign up on SkiReg.com for next weekend's Lost Nation Cup: Eastern Cup, Suptertour and UVM Carnival in Craftsbury Vermont
  • World Cup and Updates from US Ski & Snowboard
  • Sign up for NENSA's Women's Day! Sunday February 23rd in Bethel ME
  • The latest Zak and Club Points Updated after the Bogburn!
  • NENSA's 2019-20 Wax Policy
  • SafeSport Information
  • NENSA's Calendar of Events (click HERE to see all the January events coming up!)

Check out our full calendar with links to all of the races this season at the bottom of this newsletter. NENSA is looking forward to our next Eastern Cup weekend, The 2020 Lost Nation Cup in Craftsbury which will be a combined Eastern Cup/Supertour and the UVM Carnival weekend 1/24-1/26. See you out on a snowy trail soon! And in the meantime - do a Snow Dance!

Best,
Amie

Amie W. Smith
Executive Director
New England Nordic Ski Association
Amie@nensa.net

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
A Recap of the Bogburn and preview of upcoming Citizen Popular Races this weekend: Despite conditions New England
skiers thrive!
For many in Central New England Saturday morning started with a gray dawn — the beginning of a second meltdown of a so-far-mostly-forgettable snowpack of a winter — but as one climbed and twisted their way into the hills of Pomfret, Vermont they found a surreal sight. Perfectly placed amidst deep snow, full snowbanks, and just enough parking spots – a ski race was being staged that had the atmosphere of a familial afternoon cookout. Bob Haydock’s trails have always greeted skiers of all ages — 228 this year to be exact — with rolling and challenging single track terrain. The timing of the event could not have been better for the 2020 edition, with ample snow to ski on throughout the day, yet unseasonably warm weather that had many racing in short sleeves or even shorts. A mere twelve hours later and the event would not have been possible.

Before we recap the racing action at the Bogburn – we want to introduce this weekends upcoming citizen racing options under the perhaps the most aptly titled event of the weekend – the “Race for Snow.” For the fourth year in a row, Madeline Kitch and her high school friends in Boston have led this ski race to draw attention to climate change – this year’s addition drew the attention of Bill McKibben.   Listen to a thoughtful message from McKibben here.

There are two Zak and Club Cup events including Sunday’s –  350.org Race for Snow  in Boston – and Monday’s  47th Annual Geschmossel Classic  at Bretton Woods – both of these races need a positive report on Thursday to pull off the events (stay tuned). Don’t be discouraged – every effort will be made to host these races. There are also two alternate events on man made loops, the  Silver Fox Trot hosted by the Rikert Nordic Center  Saturday and  Craftsbury Team Sprints  on Sunday. Have no fear – you will have the opportunity to ski!

Click HERE for full recap of the Bogburn, including a link to Jamie Doucett's smug mug gallery of photos for both senior and BKL races, and the latest Zak and Club rankings
Race director Bob Haydock with intern and “Race for Snow” director, Madeline Kitch, just before the start of the 2020 Bogburn.
NENSA Announces our GET SKIING
FREE Membership
for First Time Members
2019-2020 NENSA  GETSKIING  MEMBERSHIP: FREE!!!!
Good for First-Time NENSA Members only
Yes, you heard that correctly ~ we want everyone to  GET SKIING , so we are offering anyone, of any age ~ Youth, juniors, seniors, masters, parents, grandparents, a FREE membership to NENSA  (if you have never been a NENSA member before) . This is a great way to try our NENSA programing this coming season and join in all the summer, fall and winter fun! You can try out that rollerski race, BKL program, an Eastern Cup race, a Citizen’s race or a coaching clinic, and your NENSA membership is FREE! 
Click here to   JOIN NENSA TODAY
If you are already a NENSA member ~ THANK YOU! Click here to  RENEW   your membership today. June is the official start of our new membership year, so take a few minutes to renew, or join for free, and GET SKIING today!
NENSA's Women's Day Registration is OPEN
Don't miss out on all the fun ~ sign up today! Women's Day will be at the Bethel Village Trails at The Bethel Inn, Bethel, ME, on Sunday February 23, 2020

Link to more info and registration page click HERE
Zak and Club Points Update!
Click HERE to see all the latest rankings for the Zak Cup and Club points so far this season!
Special Savings and Offered from our
NENSA Sponsors on NENSA.net
NENSA is so grateful to all our Sponsors for their support of our non-profit organization and our sport! They also have some special offers for YOU, our NENSA members. Be sure to check out the Members Only Benefits page on NENSA.net. There you will find savings on UnTapped Maple nutritional products, Concept2 SkiErgs, Nokian Tyres, TOKO wax and savings from ShareWinter.com and the Trapp Family Lodge. It's another way we can say thank you to you all for being NENSA members and supporting us too!
NENSA WAXING POLICY
2019-2020 SKI SEASON
Mission Statement:  NENSA is committed to making safe and supportive competitive events for all cross country skiers. Concerns about fluorinated waxes have emerged from three schools of thought: the health implications of exposure, the environmental effects involved with the raw materials in many of the wax products, and the competitive advantage certain clubs may gain due to the perceived complexities of available products. NENSA would like to address these issues and help reduce the dependence on fluorinated waxes through education and waxing guidelines.
It is important to note that the wax industry will shift as the international market responds to mounting regulation of ingredients in Europe. We hope our stance will promote a healthy environment for athletes, technicians, spectators and New England venues. These policies are based on trust and NENSA cannot enforce compliance.

Click HERE to see our NENSA Wax Policy for the 2019-20 Season
SafeSport Program
U.S. Ski & Snowboard, our National Governing Body (NGB) requires the following individuals complete training provided by the U.S. Center for SafeSport:

Individuals associated with Member Clubs (that means any NENSA club)

  • Adult athlete members of Member Clubs, except Short Term Athlete Members due to their limited participation and Master Athletes who do not i) have regular contact with minor athletes or ii) have authority over minor athletes
  • Adult members (who are not athletes) of Member Clubs who i) have regular contact with athletes, or ii) have authority over athletes
  • Employees and Board Members of Member Clubs
  • Individuals providing services to Member Clubs, including but not limited to contractors, volunteers, interns, who i) have regular contact with athletes or ii) have authority over athletes
  • More info here: https://usskiandsnowboard.org/safesport-athlete-safety/safesport-training

NENSA urges ALL New England coaches, parent volunteers, venue volunteers and anyone working with youth to take the SafeSport on-line course and get certified. NENSA requires this of all our staff and volunteer coaches and wax techs at JN's and REG Camps. Please take time this season to be sure all your club volunteers and coaches are SafeSport certified. Do it today. Go to: https://www.safesport.org

Further information on SafeSport, and important updates made as of 4/15/19 to the SafeSport Program, can be found on our NENSA website HERE
E xciting News from our Partners:
 World Cup recaps for this week!
January 11: Caldwell Fourth in Dresden Sprint As All Five Americans Score Points
Sophie Caldwell led all five Americans into the points, finishing fourth in the FIS Cross Country World Cup freestyle sprint in Dresden, Germany, Saturday.

In the heart of Dresden at the Robotron Ski Arena along the banks of the Elbe River, the athletes faced two out and back laps on a narrow 650-meter long course that favored faster starters with little room to pass, but three high-speed corners made for some crash-filled excitement. ...READ MORE / WATCH

January 12: Caldwell, Kern Fifth in Dresden Team Sprint
Sophie Caldwell and Julia Kern teamed up to finish fifth at the FIS Cross Country World Cup team sprint in Dresden, Germany, Sunday. ...READ MORE
Sophie Caldwell and Julia Kern teamed up to finish fifth at the FIS Cross Country World Cup team sprint in Dresden, Germany, Sunday. ( www.nordicfocus.com . © Thibaut/NordicFocus)
Also from US Ski & Snowboard News:

U23, Junior World Cross Country Championship Teams Announced
With the conclusion of the 2020 L.L.Bean U.S. Cross Country Championships, U.S. Ski & Snowboard has named three teams to represent the United States at the 2020 U23 and Junior FIS Cross Country World Championships, and the U18 Scandinavian Championships. ...READ MORE

Eight U.S. Starters for Nove Mesto Pursuit Weekend
The FIS Cross Country World Cup continues this weekend with 10k events for the women and 15k events for the men. Due to current snow conditions, the program for the weekend was changed to take advantage of course conditions. Saturday's race will be a freestyle, with Sunday's event a classic pursuit.

Starting for the U.S. are Jessie Diggins, Sadie Maubet Bjornsen, Rosie Brennan, Julia Kern, Caitlin Patterson, Alayna Sonnesyn, David Norris and Ian Torchia.
Julia Kern, who scored her first career World Cup podium, finishing third, at the FIS Cross-Country World Cup Planica, Slovenia, on December 21, 2019, will represent the United States at the U23 World Championships. (Getty Image/Nordic Focus - Federico Modica)
Upcoming Events
A Look Ahead at the NENSA Calendar
Upcoming NENSA Events: