Greetings NENSA Community ~

Thank you all who participated in both our annual April Fund Drive and in our one day #GivingTuesdayNow fundraising efforts! Your financial support to NENSA for keeping our programing alive and thriving, even in these uncertain times, is so greatly appreciated!

NENSA kicked off May with our first virtual programing ~ a challenge to ski #25KinMAY! We encourage everyone to join our challenge ~ dust off your roller skis, and get out to start logging some km's! Go to SkiReg to sign up - there are a number of levels you can choose - something for EVERYONE, including an option to bike or walk/run your km's too. We have some great prizes to give away to participants at the end of the month!

Here's what we have in store for you in this week's KickZone ~
  • #25KinMAY NENSA is partnering with SWIX for our first Rollerski Challenge May 1 - May 31
  • NENSA Friday Round Up 2.0
  • In honor of our 25th year, all NENSA memberships are just $25 for the month of May - BKL, juniors, adults and coaches - renew your membership today!!
  • 19 Videos made it into the finals for our April Virtual Video Challenge: We have a winner, two runners up, and you can view ALL 19 priceless entries in the box below!
  • results & photos from the Mansfield Quarantine Challenge this past weekend!!
  • Check out NENSA's new VIRTUAL Resources TAB on NENSA.net for all the latest programing from NENSA, clubs across New England, and beyond.
  • From US Ski & Snowboard: the 2020-21 nominations for the US Ski Team ~ and we are so proud of our New England athletes who have made the team! Congrats to the SMS Elite Team, UVM, Dartmouth & Middlebury College for having your athletes nominated to the Team!
  • In every issue: Links to special SAVINGS and OFFERS from our NENSA Sponsors! Take a look at all these great offers and please support the companies that support NENSA and cross country skiing!

I hope this eNewsletter finds everyone safe and well!
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
Ski #25KinMAY
NENSA Rollerski Challenge
May 1 - May 31
Welcome to the first ever NENSA Virtual Rollerski Series Event!

This month NENSA is partnering with SWIX and we are focussing on returning to rollerskis and we want you to challenge yourself! Registration is on SkiReg

This event is for everyone and based primarily on participation, although there will be prizes for fast times, exceptional routes and reporting.  The number one rule is: BE SAFE. Skiers must select terrain suiatable for their skill level within close proximity to their homes – and are encouraged to complete the event solo or with support staff from within your own household. Distance (10+ feet – no drafting) must be maintained if skiing with others.   Rollerski Safety Rules

Entries can be submitted at any point between May 1st and May 31st. NENSA will display and showcase results throughout the challenge — videos and pictures are encouraged with each event submission. Skiers can enter multiple times – we’ll have and Ironman and Ironwoman award for those special endurance types!

Besides category prizes, each entry will receive one raffle ticket (two tickets if you have renewed your 2021 NENSA membership!) towards our prize pool which currently includes some awesome SWIX rollerskis from their new fleet, and SWIX poles, as well as 2 one-night stays at Trapp Family Lodge (valid until 9/20/20), and 4 Trapp Trail Use Passes, as we'll as prizes from EnjoyWinter.com, Swenor and Salomon - with more great prizes being added weekly!

Three options to sign up for:  Rockstar  (for folks who want to ski the full 25km in one go),  Speedy Repeaters  (this could be a stab at the fastest time, or someone who wants to break up 25km into more manageable pieces), and  My Own Pace  (This is the touring class. Or for folks who might not be comfortable on rollerskis and want to participate but by other means, ie. on foot, bike…). We’ve added a fourth category! “Keep Up With Beckwith” – this category is geared towards masters skiers to keep pace with our Competitive Program Director as he shoots for roughly 200km of skiing throughout the month.

The goal of the event is to provide excitement to our broader cross country skiing community and continue the momentum of NENSA’s Rollerski Programming despite our current travel and social distancing restrictions. Anyone can compete – recruit friends from outside New England to join you – haven’t rollerskied in 12 years? … this is your event! Let’s see how many kilometers we can ski TOGETHER!!

Each skier is responsibile for submitting results to NENSA via GoogleDocs after completing their 25km Challenge. Be creative and share your story – the training season is young – Let’s Have Fun!!

Questions: staff@nensa.net
NENSA Friday Round Up 2.0
Most of you started your 2021 training season this week – some might be testing, others getting back on rollerskis or enjoying time on the bike. Despite not being able to gather in groups your resourcefulness and focus are inspiring to us! And we thank all of you for participating in our Virtual Programming – whether it was the Video Challenge or our ongoing #25KinMAY. It’s clear to me whatever the next weeks, months and even years look like we will get through it together!

**Next Wednesday evening we are psyched to announce our second live conversation with Andy Newell and Will Koch**


Tim Weston completing #25KinMAY in North Carolina #palmtrees
NENSA's Virtual Video Challenge!
And the winner is...
And the runners up are...
In April we put out a Video Challenge to bring our community together, share their spring activities and celebrate NENSA's 25th Anniversary. In this time of disruption it was such a fun way to see everyone. Thanks to all the clubs and individuals who joined in - we hope you had as much fun as we did!

Our distinguished panel of NENSA Program Directors met, mulled over and voted on the winner ~ it was not an easy choice with so many great entries ~ much debate occurred, but in the end, the video submission from David & Mathew Northcott from Putney XC was the winner! They combined rock n' roll, skillful skiing and a HUGE fun factor. NENSA looks forward to hosting a Rollerski Event in Putney of David and Matthew's choice, when we can all get back together!

Hats off to Declan Rogers and to Dublin XC ski club who were named our two Runners Up!

Click HERE to view ALL 19 amazing entries to our video challenge, found on our Virtual Resources page on NENSA.net
You heard it right ~ all NENSA BKL, junior, adult and coach memberships are only $25 for the month of May! There has never been a better time to RENEW your
NENSA membership!
Mansfield Quarantine Challenge:
Local Clubs Unite in First Virtual Challenge
Adam Terko and his  Mansfield Nordic Club  are leading the way with innovative programming as we head into a new training season. Athletes were challenged to:

“Run your own uphill test, on foot, as fast as you can. The requirements for this test?
-Race must finish higher than it started: a net elevation gain. No minimum or maximum on the elevation gained…it can even finish just going up your driveway if that’s higher than the surrounding road!”   Full Details on Mansfield Site

All told 41 folks took part over three days and representing seven states or provinces, and seven clubs!

A few result highlights:
Most Elevation: Silas Brown, Mansfield Nordic, 2803
Most feet-per-mile: Theodore Mollano, Dublin XC, 2833.3
Longest run: Andy Grab, Mansfield Nordic, 12.2
Shortest run: Theodore Mollano, Dublin XC, 0.03

You can read more and see some fun photos on the  MNC website here . Bravo to all – we are adapting and thriving!

Don’t forget we are in the seventh day of the NENSA  #25KinMAY Rollerski Challenge  – there are currently over 77 competitors and participants signed up – our first goal – to ski 2,500 kilometers together!  Competitors have already completed challenges from North Carolina, Michigan, Ontario, Alaska, Utah, Twain, and throughout New England.
Anyone can join us – Great Prizes including rollerskis and poles from Swix, Swenor, Enjoy Winter and Salomon.
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! Did you know 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:

SIDAS, your footwear company: use code NENSA20 to receive 20% off your order at
sidas-usa.store
UnTapped Maple nutritional products: NENSA members receive a 10% discount on all nutritional products, use code NENSA10 at checkout
Concept2 SkiErgs: $40 off the retail price of a Concept2 SkiErg
Nokian Tyres: 20% Discount to NENSA Member off the purchase of any Nokian Tyres at one of their Vianor retailers listed on our NENSA website page (see above). You must present your valid NENSA membership card at payment.
TOKO: special Team Night and Team order forms pricing each fall (stay tuned for fall 2020)
EnjoyWinter.com: 15% off select product ~ To take advantage of your NENSA spring special visit www.enjoywinter.com and use “NENSASpring” as your discount code, while you are there apply for sponsorship at the bottom right corner. EnjoyWinter every day of the year.
Trapp Family Lodge: NENSA members will receive a 10% discount on mid-week (Sunday-Thursday) rooms they book this year! Some black out dates exist, including holidays and vacation weeks. Just mention this 10% NENSA member discount when booking, and then present your valid NENSA member card (you receive this on your confirmation email after renewing or joining NENSA) when checking in

It's another way we can say thank you to you all for being NENSA members and supporting us too!
Looking for some fun challenges and ways to stay fit and engaged during these shelter at home times? Check out some of these fun ideas from our NENSA Virtual Resources TAB on NENSA.net
Concept2
Workout of the Day:
Get the  SkiErg Workout of the Day delivered to your inbox every morning. Click on the link to sign up and get a custom workout delivered to your inbox each day!
More News from our NENSA Partners & Community!
Twenty Three Athletes Nominated to 2020-21
Davis U.S. Cross Country Ski Team:
U.S. Ski & Snowboard has announced the Davis U.S. Cross Country Ski Team nominations for the 2020-21 season. Nominations include those active athletes who qualified based on published selection criteria in the prior season.

“The 2021 U.S. Cross Country Team has more depth than any team in modern American cross country ski racing history!”
 - Davis U.S. Cross Country Team Program Director Chris Grover.

“From our seasoned veterans who will be focused on bringing home hardware from the 2021 FIS World Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany, to the members of the Development Team, who can nearly all boast having at least one World Junior Championships medal, this team offers so many ways to win," Chris said. "Athletes in this group have systematically broken down every barrier in cross country performance that traditionally blocked American athletes, including World Junior gold, to World Championships gold, to Olympic gold.” ...read full story HERE

2020-21 Cross Country Nominations: (Hometown; Club; Birthdate)
A TEAM
Women
Sadie Maubet Bjornsen (Winthrop, Wash.; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Center; 11/21/89)
Rosie Brennan (Anchorage, Alaska; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Center; 12/21/88)
Sophie Caldwell (Peru, Vt.; Stratton Mountain School Elite Team; 3/22/90)
Jessie Diggins (Afton, Minn.; Stratton Mountain School Elite Team; 8/26/91)
Julia Kern (Waltham, Mass.; Stratton Mountain School Elite Team; 9/12/97)
Hailey Swirbul (Aspen, Colo.; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Center; 7/10/98)

Men
Simi Hamilton (Aspen, Colo.; Stratton Mountain School Elite Team; 5/14/87)

B TEAM
Women
Katharine Ogden (Landgrove, Vt.; Stratton Mountain School/Dartmouth College; 11/17/97)

Men
Kevin Bolger (Minocqua, Wisc.; Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation; 4/11/93)
Scott Patterson (Anchorage, Alaska; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Center; 1/28/92)
Gus Schumacher (Anchorage, Alaska; Alaska Winter Stars; 7/25/00)
Logan Hanneman (Anchorage, Alaska; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Center; 6/2/93)

DEVELOPMENT TEAM
Women
Hannah Halvorsen (Truckee, Calif.; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Center; 2/19/98)
Novie McCabe (Winthrop, Wash.; MVNT; 12/15/01)
Kendall Kramer (Fairbanks, Alaska; NSCF-FXC; 6/25/02)
Sydney Palmer-Leger (Park City, Utah; Sun Valley Ski Ski Education Foundation; 2/4/2002)
Sophia Laukli (Yarmouth, Maine; Middlebury College Ski Team; 6/8/00)

Men
Johnny Hagenbuch (Ketchum, Idaho; Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation; 10/1/2001)
Luke Jager (Anchorage, Alaska; APU/University of Utah; 1/17/00)
Noel Keeffe (Steamboat Springs, Colo.; SSWSC/University of Utah; 8/24/99)
Ben Ogden (Landgrove, Vt.; Stratton Mountain School/University of Vermont; 2/13/00)
JC Schoonmaker (Tahoe City, Calif; Auburn Ski Club; 8/12/00)
Hunter Wonders (Anchorage, Alaska; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Center; 8/7/98)
Upcoming Events
A Look Ahead at the NENSA Calendar
U pcoming NENSA Events:
April 15- June 1: Bids open for submission for NENSA Popluar Race & Marathon Series
Stay Tuned ~ more fun virtual NENSA programing coming your way for June & July!

Full NENSA.net Calendar Listing HERE