Happy 2021 All ~
As we start this new year, I want to thank all of you who donated to our NENSA Annual Fund as part of our Year End Donation Drive. Every single contribution makes a huge difference, as they all add up, and we so appreciate your support!
Despite COVID, we have a number of really great virtual, and a few in-person racing opportunities for you this week, and in the weeks to come! Check out our Racing Update below for all the details, and join in the fun. Nothing like getting outside and skiing to make us all feel better! So if it's an in-person race in your own state, or a virtual race on your own, join us!
Here's what we have in store for you in this week's KickZone below ~
- Racing Updates and opportunities as of 1/6/21, and, The December Club KM Challenge winners are... And, lots of Popular/Citizen Racing options and Eastern Cup updates.
- Bib & Chips purchasing is open again for upcoming VT & EC racing
- BKL Youth BINGO updates!
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From our Partners: U.S. Ski and Snowboard, updates on the 15th Tour de Ski in Val Müstair (spoiler alert ~ Jessie and Rosie are kicking butt!)
I also want to say a special thank you to ALL of our NENSA Sponsors ~ they are such a HUGE part of our NENSA programing continued success, and we appreciate their support to NENSA, even in these very difficult times. I have included all of our NENSA sponsor logos again in this issue, at their different sponsorship levels, as we have had fewer racing & event opportunities to hang banners so far this year, and I want to be sure we support and acknowledge the businesses who support us and our beloved sport!
Be safe and be well!
Best,
Amie
Amie W. 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!
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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The Quarry Road Eastern Cup Opener paints a realistic picture of what the races will look like for the majority of our 2021 season (check out the video at the end of this article). It’s a little quiet, safer than your local grocery, and a lot of fun! Many thanks to Steve Fuller, Ian Tovell and Bill Harmeyer for creating this piece. We will continue to document our major races and share the victories of every in-person event this season. Read on to learn about NENSA’s December Challenge, Popular and Eastern Cup Racing opportunities.
Scheduling continues to be fluid as snowpack and regulations oscillate in the early winter. With every event — big or small — we are gaining confidence and reaffirming that we have appropriate protocols in place to protect the health of both our NENSA family and communities we visit. Virtual events or hybrid in-person / virtual events will continue to bring the community together and provide competitive opportunities regardless of the cards we are thrown.
In December we launched the December Club Kilometer Challenge #DCKC — 13 clubs mobilized and reported 54,964 kilometers of skiing!! Mansfield Nordic started a massive charge from the get go, leading the contest for most of the month with consistent skiing, whether on snow or pavement. Soon Ford Sayre activated some 187 skiers to eclipse the Mansfield juggernaut and a back and forth battle ensued for the last week of the competition. All this time the crafty and robust CSU / Eastern Mass Nordic squad was meticulously logging some serious K’s – backed up by fitness monitors. It was the home based Christmas camp, typically held at Mount St. Anne, on the Weston patch that led this team to the top of the Virtual Podium. In all, 131 CSU / EMN skiers logged an average of 124 km / per skier over the four weeks. Congrats to all our participants – you can see full DKCK results here – and updated A Hall Mark of Excellence (Club Cup) results here. We will continue to total kilometers skied throughout the season in Eastern, Zak and Club Cup racing.
It’s not too late to join some Zak Cup stalwarts for the 2021 version of one of the most iconic races in New England. The competition runs from January 3-9th and reminds us why we love skiing — sliding through the woods with two slippery planks. As you plan your route don’t forget to keep the race motto of, “anyone who takes this race too seriously will be disqualified” and find some fun single track or off track skiing. This is one of the first opportunities for all senior and master skiers to get some “points on the board.” BKL entries have no cost. Register on SkiReg and check the event Facebook site.
The newly branded Nonstop Nordic club in Maine is providing an awesome opportunity for skiers or all ages and abilities to compete in the state of Maine. Check out their website for more details. Ain’t Nothing But a Ski Race is the second of a seven race series held at Quarry Road Trails. Bravo! Prizes by
Nonstop won’t stop. The series visits Pineland Farms – the home of our NENSA offices – maybe our Operations Manager will take on his first ski race?
Another iconic race that is adapting to Covid times. Jackson XC is excited to host an in-person 22km (marathon) event for those who can attend. The organizing committee is also finalizing plans for a virtual component that will safely allow for One Day Club Championships continuity. Overall Club Ranking will provide a “double score” to the A Hall Mark of Excellence (Club Cup). The in-person event will have distances for M7+ and BKL skiers.
Gunstock has moved their event a week later to let Mother Nature (and some snowmaking love) give the best opportunity for an awesome race. New Hampshire provides a unique opportunity for folks to get to an in-person event. Registration is open.
One more for good measure. Nonstop visits the Libby Hill Forest Trails in Gray, Maine.
Craftsbury is an invaluable partner and continues to do what ever it can to promote the sport of cross country skiing. Regulations have allowed for snow competitions to start in a restricted fashion for Vermont residents. Please visit the event site for more details. This race will replace the 1/2 event on the Junior Ranking List. 5/10/15k clasic interval start. Again Bravo!
NENSA is so excited to bring Eastern Cup to Prospect Mountain. Race specifics will develop in the next week.
January 23: Classic sprint 1.2k
January 24: Classic interval 5k U16 / 10k men & women
Due to current restrictions of intrastate competition in Maine, and the opportunity for a festive Championship Event in late winter, the Sugarloaf event has been moved into March. Stay tuned for exciting updates of how many juniors might wrap their 2021 racing season.
All other Vermont and Eastern Cup events are set to move forward — stay tuned to NENSA updates. The calendar will be updated here.
We’ve re-opened a third window for “Bib and Chips” as we are confident we will be able to host Eastern and State Cup events. This window is open until January 31st — if you plan to race in these events please register or contact us. Bullitt Timing will be reaching out to larger clubs for mailings or you might receive your bib/chip/schwag bag at the first event you attend.
If you registered for a U.S. Ski & Snowboard membership this year please make sure you are marked as “Current.” Those with “Pending” memberships will jeopardize their ability to participate in sanctioned events.
Thank you all — see you on the trails.
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Many thanks to Steve Fuller, Ian Tovell and Bill Harmeyer for creating this piece on our Quarry Road Eastern (Maine) Cup Opener |
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THANK YOU TO OUR ASSOCIATE SPONSORS
L.L.Bean and SWIX!
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Bib & Chip Purchase|Rentals
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NENSA and our venues continue to work to produce a schedule of high level races that will keep competitors, officials and volunteers safe during the COVID pandemic. As per our Eastern Cup COVID-19 Contingencies we identified a system that will allow for touchless registration and timing systems. Competitors will purchase a race bib and rent and assigned timing chip. Each competitor's bib and chip will follow them throughout the season as a NENSA, U.S. Ski & Snowboard and/or FIS number does. This effectively eliminates the need for typical registration / bib pick-up - eliminating a touch and gathering points at events. This purchase will also help subsidize the cost of vetting participants: athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers - including health screenings and adherence to state and county travel guidelines.
These bibs and chips will be used exclusively for the FIS competitions and all Vemont Cups & Eastern Cups. In order to compete in these events, you need to purchase your bib (you will keep it at end of the season) and rent your Zone4 chip (returned at your final start of the year). There will be a timing service desk at events and you can email Bullitt Timing if you have further questions. Vermont and Eastern Cup fields (Eastern Regional Qualifiers) will have unlimited field size.
Bib purchase and Chip rental ends on January 31st. Bibs will be distributed by Club / individually by mail or picked up at events.
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THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS: |
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This December we were psyched to see Bingo submissions from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont! We even had a few skiers complete multiple Bingos. Collectively, Bingo players skied at Sleepy Hollow, Craftsbury Outdoor Center, Smugglers Notch, Great Glen Trails, Great Brook Ski Touring Center, Weston Ski Track, and Notchview and we wanted to share a few of their wonderful photos.
Speaking of photos, we LOVE the activity photos we’ve received so far but are no longer requiring them on the Bingo Entry Form. Do include them if you have photos and want to share. Otherwise, no worries!
Another important update… we have 5 lucky winners from our December raffle who will be receiving an LL Bean Pom Hat or Gift Card in the mail very soon. We’ll have raffles all winter long so there’s plenty of time to play and send in a card! Visit our website to print your own MA, ME, NH, NY, or VT Bingo card!
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THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA SUPPORTING SPONSORS: |
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NENSA COVID-19 Considerations ~
Contingency Planning
for our Events and Races
this coming season
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The Covid-19 pandemic poses significant challenges to NENSA’s 2020-21 winter event schedule. We are committed to hosting races and will make every effort to safely put on events in whatever form they might take. Our first objective is to ensure the health of our community in New England. Our second objective is to host our major events: Eastern Cups, Popular Races, U16 and Eastern High School Championships, the Bill Koch Festival, and Women’s Day as scheduled. To further foster excitement and an inclusive and community-centric atmosphere around skiing, NENSA will also be organizing some new fun season long challenges and goal-oriented activities. Skiers are encouraged to limit their travel and attend events that are within their region and state.
....click HERE for the current NENSA plans for Eastern Cups, Popular/Citizen Racing, U16 & EHS Camps, BKL Festival and Women's Day
Venues, event hosts and event organizers, BKL Club Leaders check out:
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Tour de Ski Updates from Val Müstair
and U.S. Ski & Snowboard
January 2: Diggins Third, Brennan Sixth in Tour de Ski 10k Classic:
Jessie Diggins finished third to grab her second-consecutive podium, and Rosie Brennen finished sixth to maintain her overall FIS Cross Country World Cup lead in Saturday’s 10k classic mass start, the second stage of the 15th FIS Tour de Ski in Val Müstair, Switzerland. ...READ MORE / RESULTS
January 3: Diggins, Brennan 1-2 in Tour de Ski Pursuit, Overall:
Jessie Diggins and Rosie Brennen powered to the top of the overall FIS Tour de Skistandings, finishing 1-2 in Sunday’s 10k freestyle pursuit in Val Müstair, Switzerland. ...READ MORE / RESULTS
January 5: Diggins, Brennan 1-2 Again in Toblach 10k Freestyle:
For the second-straight race, the Davis U.S. Cross Country Team made history with Jessie Diggins and Rosie Brennan finishing 1-2 again and leading five American women into the top 25, this time in the fourth stage of the FIS Tour de Ski 10k freestyle in Toblach, Italy. Gus Schumacher skied an impressive race, leading the U.S. men in the 15k freestyle and finishing a World Cup career-best 14th. ...READ MORE / RESULTS
January 6: Diggins Continues Podium Streak; Maintains TdS Overall Lead: Jessie Diggins and Rosie Brennan went deep into the pain cave in Wednesday’s 10k Classic pursuit in Toblach, Italy, to maintain their stronghold in the overall FIS Tour de Skistandings. Diggins rallied to finish third, and Brennan glided across the line in fourth. ...READ MORE / RESULTS
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Jessie Diggins and Rosie Brennan finished third and fourth in Wednesday's classic pursuit to maintain their stronghold in the overall Tour de Ski standings. (Modica/NordicFocus) |
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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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Eastern Cup/VT Cup Race Series Calendar HERE
Popular/Citizen Racing: Zak Cup Race Series Tentative Schedule HERE
Full NENSA.net Calendar Listing HERE
Link to our NENSA Virtual Resources Page HERE
Link to our NENSA BLM Resources Page HERE
Link to our NENSA Equality & Diversity Policy HERE
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New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA)
49 Pineland Drive, Suite 301A
New Gloucester, ME 04260
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