Greetings NENSA Community ~
Watching the athletes of our U.S. cross country ski Olympic team these past two weeks has been both fun and inspirational. So many of the athletes representing our team this year, were Junior National team members not that long ago...from Ben Odgen, Julia Kern and Sophia Laukli who all skied for team New England, to Jessie Diggins, Novie McCabe, Gus Schumacher, Hailey Swirbul, Luke Jager, and JC Schoonmaker, who skied for regions like Alaska, Far West, the Midwest and Rocky Mountain, alongside Team New England ~ all fantastic young athletes who have skied their hearts out for Team USA.
This Saturday and Sunday is our final weekend of Eastern Cup racing, and on Sunday, we will be naming our 2022 New England Junior National Team. Who knows ~ in just a few short years, I am sure we will be seeing some of these athletes on future Olympic Teams...and it all starts here at NENSA.
NENSA continues to partner with SWIX through the month of February to help spread the message of the importance of fluoro free waxing. Enter to win one of four chances of $1000 in SWIX waxes next season, and coaches will have an opportunity to win one of four chances for $5000 in SWIX waxes for their team. See box below for full details and links. NENSA has committed to be flour-free at all our events and races (since November 2019) and we hope these great SWIX videos and coach courses will help give you the tools and tips to wax safely and responsibly, and maybe win some great new wax too!
Here is what we have for you in this edition of KickZone:
- The New England Junior National Team Packet 2022 ~ and team naming after the last race of the Dublin Double EC on Sunday 2/20
- SWIX's Responsible Waxing Project
- Club Cup Points and Popular Racing Update
- VT and MA hold qualifiers to name their State Teams for U16's & EHS Champs
- Valentine’s Day Weekend Popular Race Recap
- For Sale ~ NENSA's brand-new custom fabric SKIDA hats & neck warmers
- Responsible Fluoro Wax Disposal at the BKL Festival and sign up now as the price increases by $10 midnight on Sunday 2/20.
- From our Partners & In the News:
- From U.S. Ski & Snowboard ~ Olympic Updates on the classic 10k/15k races, the Team Relays, and the Team Sprints, held today.
- From WGBH Boston ~ an article on the EMXC Youth Sprints held 2/13
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And be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this newsletter for our NENSA calendar of racing and events for February and March ~ there is something for everyone!
NENSA continues to do all we can to host safe outdoor races and events this winter. We are proud of and continue to count on all of you to do your part in helping us keep our ski community well this winter. Please follow our COVID guidelines and stay home if you are not feeling well.
Be safe and stay well -
Amie
Amie Witten 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!
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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New England Junior National Team Packet and Team Naming Info |
This Sunday 2/20 after the final race of our 2021-22 Eastern Cup race series, we will be naming our New England Junior National Team. The U.S. Junior National Championships will be held in Minneapolis MN at the Theodore Wirth Park March 5th-3th.
It was last held there in 2011, when a young Jessie Diggins, skiing for the Midwest Team, won every single race she was in! This year New England will take 42 athletes that qualify through the season long Eastern Cup races, as well as a number of autoqualifers who qualified at U.S. Sr. Nationals back in early January.
- Our 2022 New England Team Packet is can be found HERE
- Our New England Team page on NENSA.net with all the info and links for athletes going in this trip can be found HERE
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SWIX Responsible Waxing Project
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Competitive skiing programs around the country are moving away from fluorinated waxes as we learn more about their negative impact on the environment. NENSA in 2019 was among the first to adopt a fluoro-free policy, which continues today, and as of Jan. 17, fluorocarbon waxes are banned at all FIS-sanctioned cross country races in the United States.
We encourage all our skiers to learn more about skiing fluoro-free. One new option is the Responsible Waxing Project at the Swix Education Center.
For a limited time, Swix is offering coaches a chance to win $5,000 of Swix fluoro-free wax and products for their team just by completing an online, 45-minute course on responsible waxing. Every coach who completes the course will earn one entry into the giveaway. And … there’s more: Coaches who complete the course also earn a continuing education credit from U.S. Ski & Snowboard.
For all skiers, you can earn a chance to win $1,000 in Swix fluoro-free products by watching a responsible waxing video at the Swix Education Center website. Swix will have multiple drawings so the sooner you sign up and watch the video, the more chances you’ll have to win.
To participate, start at the Swix Education Center. Under available courses, coaches should choose “Responsible Waxing Project.” You will be prompted to register for the course. Skiers should choose the video option listed as “Enter for a Chance to Win $1,000 of Swix Products.” You’ll be promoted to register. Once you complete the video, you’ll be entered in the drawing.
And if you have just been wondering how to use the new updated SWIX line ~ how their new fluoro-free waxes replace the old CH, LF and HF waxes we all had in our wax boxes ~ just check out this quick video below!
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THANK YOU TO OUR ASSOCIATE SPONSORS
L.L.Bean and SWIX & Salomon!
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Massachusetts and Vermont host U16/EHSC Qualifiers |
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For New England and New York high school skiers, U16 Eastern Championships and Eastern High School Championships are some of the most exciting events of the year. U16 Eastern Championships (U16s) began modestly in 1992 and has grown into one of the highlights of the season for junior athletes. U16s this year will be held at the JacksonXC in Jackson, NH on March 12-13.
Eastern High School Championships (EHSC) is the premier event for high school and prep school racers in New England and New York. Athletes qualify for both championships through state qualifying races or rankings. Each New England state and New York can bring their fastest 24 boys and girls. EHSC this year will be hosted by Titcomb Mountain in Farmington, ME on March 19-20.
In recent years we have been lucky to have guest teams from both Midwest and Great Lakes Division join us at U16s. We are very excited this year to have them joining us again at EHSC!
Qualifying events got underway over the past few weeks with Vermont and Massachusetts holding their qualifiers.
Vermont’s qualifier event was held at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center on February 13th. The event featured a 3km classical race in the morning, followed by a 3km freestyle pursuit in the afternoon. Full photo gallery from Dave Priganc HERE.
Massachusetts held its qualifying race at Wahconah High School on January 24th, taking advantage of the school’s natural snow base. Their event also was a pursuit format, with a 4km classical in the morning and 5km freestyle in the afternoon.
NENSA and its partner venues are looking forward to hosting strong teams from all around the region at the Championship events in March!
For more information on the Championships please visit the links below:
Results from the Vermont, and Massachusetts qualifiers can be found below:
New Hampshire will be qualifying their athletes based on a statewide ranking system first tested last season. The system is similar to the US Ski & Snowboard National Ranking list, but is New Hampshire high school race specific. Maine will hold its qualifying race on March 5th at the Sugarloaf Nordic Center. New York has a hybrid system, where athletes can qualify through JNQs, the High School State Meet, or Empire Games results. See the links below for more info on Maine, New Hampshire, and New York qualification.
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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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Valentine’s Day Weekend Popular Recap |
Skiers gathered for classic racing at the Woodstock Inn & Resort Nordic Center. Klister was a common theme to the day, as well as warm temps and brilliant sunshine. Each age group race began with a mass start. The Lollipop skiers kicked off the morning’s races, followed by boys then girls for grades 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8. The young skiers made their way around short loops near the stadium. Up through grades 3-4 was a single lap race, while the 5-6 graders did two laps and the 7-8 graders doing 3 laps. The course was super spectator friendly with roughly 3/4 of it visible from the start. Most of the spectators lined the start, then ran up the bank to watch as the skiers approached the largest climb on the course. When not cheering on their friends, many of the younger skiers could be seen hitting the jumps just past the start. The youth skiers were very excited to race, most were at the start at least 10min early ready to go. A few were so eager that they helped setup the finish whiskers and flags!
...click HERE for full recap and lots of great photos!
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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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THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS: |
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Info on Fluorinated Wax Disposal
at the BKL Festival
AND,
Registration price increase of $10 starts midnight Sunday 2/20
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NENSA is happy to share that the Kennebec Valley Council of Governments and Quarry Road Trails will offer free collection of fluorinated waxes at the 2022 Bill Koch League Festival at Quarry Road Trails March 5-6, 2022. These harmful materials, now disallowed by FIS & NENSA rules, are still taking up space in the wax boxes, garages, and basements of skiers across the East. We invite you to bring these waxes with you to the Bill Koch League Festival where they will be collected and disposed of in an environmentally sound manner.
Review NENSA’s BKL-specific wax policy HERE.
Still not registered for the Festival? Sign up HERE! The Festival price increases this Sunday 2/20 at midnight ~ be sure to register early for the best price!
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THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA SUPPORTING SPONSORS: |
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IN THE NEWS:
Up next, the men’s 50k freestyle takes place this Saturday with Scott Patterson representing Team USA. On Sunday, the women’s 30k freestyle takes place with Diggins, Brenna, Movie McCabe, and Sophia Laukli making her Olympic debut.
Sport-specific broadcast and streaming schedule:
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BREAKING NEWS TODAY February 16:
Diggins, Brennan, Schoonmaker, Ogden Give It Their All
Four Team USA athletes came into Wednesday’s classic team sprint ready to go full-throttle. All four walked away with empty tanks knowing they left everything out on the course at the Kuyangshu Nordic Center, in Zhangjiakou, China. Jessie Diggins and Rosie Brennan finished fifth in the women’s final, while JC Schoonmaker and Ben Ogden were ninth in the men’s final - along the way gaining a ton of experience that will carry them forward in international competing for many years to come. Diggins and Brennan easily advanced to the women’s final, finishing second in the semi-final heat, while Schoonmaker and Ogden battled in the second men’s semi-final, finishing sixth, but advancing to the finals as one of two lucky losers. ...READ MORE
February 13:
Team USA Ninth In Men’s 4x10k Team Relay
With a strong finishing kick, Kevin Bolger powered Team USA to ninth-place in the Men’s 4x10k Team Relay at the Kuyangshu Nordic Center, in Zhangjiakou, China, Sunday. ...READ MORE
February 12:
McCabe Shines in 4x5k Relay For Team USA
Novie McCabe may be the new kid on the team, but she skied like a wily veteran for Team USA in Saturday’s 4x5k women’s Team Relay at the Kuyangshu Nordic Center, in Zhangjiakou, China. McCabe skied the third leg for Team USA and posted the sixth-fasted freestyle time, which was 10 seconds faster than Diggins’ fourth lap time, as Team USA finished sixth. ...READ MORE
February 11:
Patterson Leads Team USA in Men’s 15k Classic
Scott Patterson led Team USA in the men’s 15k classic Friday, finishing 38th. Ben Ogden was 42nd, followed by Gus Schumacher in 48th and JC Schoonmaker in 66th. The Men’s 4x10k relay is the next Olympic event scheduled for Sunday.
RESULTS
February 10:
Diggins Eighth, McCabe 24th In Olympic Debut
Competing in what she admits is her weakest event at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games, Jessie Diggins still put down an impressive performance in the women’s 10k classic, finishing eighth Thursday at the Kuyangshu Nordic Center, Zhangjiakou, China. For Team USA, Rosie Brennan was 14th, followed by Novie McCabe, making her Olympic debut in 24th; and Hailey Swirbul in 32nd. ...READ MORE
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From WGBH Boston
Boston’s most exciting skiing facility is... a golf course in Weston?
February 13, 2022
Jonathan Brenner was busy on Sunday.
Brenner, the director of the Eastern Massachusetts Cross Country Ski Club’s youth program, had his hands full overseeing wave after wave of young skiers at the starting line at EMXC’s Youth Sprints, the group’s annual race at the Weston Ski Track. All while decked out in a Captain America costume.
The idea of the Sprints is to get young kids excited about cross-country ski racing, so the whole thing is less of a race and more like one big party, complete with adults in wild outfits, music blaring over a loudspeaker and teenagers handing out lollipops at the finish line. This year’s event had been particularly busy with over 200 skiers, the biggest field ever.
There’s one big reason for that. “I hate to use the words ‘beneficial’ and ‘pandemic’ in the same sentence, but yes, people are looking for some way to engage outside where it’s safe,” Brenner said. “And we were one of the few youth sports that were active without interruption throughout the entire pandemic. And I think some of that interest has continued, obviously, into this winter, which has been great.”
What makes everything even more bizarre is that all of this is happening at the Leo J. Martin Golf Course, which converts its driving range to a wintery landscape every year, with some help from Mother Nature — and artificial snow-makers.
It’s the only facility offering access to primarily cross-country skiing to the Greater Boston area. And this year, the track and EMXC are particularly excited as they can proudly say they’re home to an Olympian, Julia Kern, the Waltham native who finished 18th in the women’s individual sprint in Beijing ...click HERE for full story
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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
Link to our COVID Protocols HERE
Link to our NENSA Equality & Diversity Policy HERE
Link to our Health & Nutrition Resources Page HERE
Link to our NENSA Inclusivity Resource List 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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