Greetings NENSA Community ~
We are smack dab in the middle of our exciting NENSA Championship March! The New England BKL Festival was last weekend with over 500 kids and their families and coaches attending at the beautiful Quarry Road Trails in Waterville ME. I am out in Minneapolis MN for U.S. Junior Nationals with our awesome New England Team, and we are half-way through our races, with a good lead for the overall championship ~ the Alaska Cup. But we still have two more important races to go - the mass start classic race tomorrow and mixed-gender relays on Saturday. This weekend is also our NENSA U16 Championships in Jackson NH, and it looks like a winter storm is coming to blanket that with lots of fresh snow for the Saturday and Sunday races. Winter and our ski season is not over yet New England!
Here is what we have for you in this edition of KickZone:
- Junior Nationals mid-week update
- Our 2022 NENSA BKL Festival Recap
- SWIX's Responsible Waxing Project
- Upcoming March Races and Events
- Fun vibes at the Stratton Terrain Challenge held Feb. 27th
- The Rikert Grand Prix is coming March 18-20
- For Sale ~ NENSA's brand-new custom fabric SKIDA hats & neck warmers
- From our Partners & In the News:
- From U.S. Ski & Snowboard ~ World Cup Recaps and how to watch this final weekend of WC races in Falon.
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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NENSA News from the Field
Highlights and Notes from NENSA and the Nordic World
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Team New England returned to Junior National competition in Minneapolis, Minnesota this week with gusto. After a two-year hiatus all ten U.S. Ski & Snowboard regions reconvened for this celebrated event, with a few of the strongest divisions sights set on the coveted Alaska Cup. The Alaska Cup not only rewards individual performances, but rather the depth of the full team. After two days of excellent competition, Team New England (717 points) has a sturdy lead over the Midwest of 218 points. Alaska sits in third with 438.
Team New England arrived in Minneapolis after a very successful Eastern Cup season that saw venues in four different states: Maine, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire. This schedule allowed for a balanced, yet extremely competitive regular season including two SuperTour events. The final weekend of Junior National qualification, hosted this year by the Dublin School, tends to be a junior-centric event — providing head to head competition amongst the top juniors in the region. This exciting weekend really highlights the depth of our region and allows for some last minute adjustments to the Junior National team based on who is skiing fast at that moment. While there is a finite number of athletes that can make the trip — it is the whole of the energy and resources of our region that make Team New England so strong!...Read full story 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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2022 New England BKL Festival Recap |
After two years of anticipation, the “Soar Over Snow” BKL Festival surpassed all expectations! With well over 500 participants, this was the second largest Festival in over 6 years with children traveling to Maine from as far away as Rochester, NY. The host District, Maine, set a participation record for their District with over 160 Maine children taking part in the festivities. The BKL Festival had something for everyone with live birds presentations from Chewonki featuring two rehabilitating owls, laser biathlon with US Biathlon, an obstacle course, a Bump Jump, a Mini-Marathon with a bird search, a club parade of skiers, and races. And to top off the weekend, a real live Bald Eagle soared over the stadium for all to see!
On the racing front, Saturday featured the relay event which kicked off under bluebird skies and Sunday saw the individual start races. Spirits were high the entire weekend and even a bit of rain on Sunday couldn’t wipe the smiles off skiers’ faces.
...enjoy this Festival video below and click HERE for the full story and tons more photos!
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THANK YOU TO OUR ASSOCIATE SPONSORS
L.L.Bean and SWIX & Salomon!
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Upcoming March Races and Events |
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It’s March and that means big Popular races in New England! Here’s what’s on the docket for this weekend and beyond:
3/13 Long Haul Loppet at JacksonXC. Registration link HERE.
3/13 2022 Inferno Cross Country Cross at Sugarloaf. Registration link HERE.
3/18-20 Rikert Grand Prix at the Rikert Nordic Center & Middlebury College Snow Bowl. Registration link HERE.
These events are great ways to get out and enjoy some of the best ski conditions of winter. Bring your friends and family and have a great time!
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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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Fun vibes at the Stratton Terrain Challenge |
Skiers gathered at the Stratton Nordic Center on a sunny morning for an event full of adventure, obstacles, and fun! It was the first time the crew at Stratton put on the Terrain Challenge and they did not disappoint.
Dozens of Bill Koch aged skiers gathered for the early morning races. They were started by Sverre Caldwell, who seemed to be having as much fun as the racers. The first and second graders had a particularly good time with him as he challenged them with all sorts of false starts, eventually giving them the elusive “GO.”
The Bill Koch racers navigated one to four times around a 1km loop full of challenges, like slalom gates, saw horses to duck under, and hay bales to barrel roll over. Of particular spectating interest was the wall of hay bales 100m from the finish. Each skier had a different approach to getting over them, some stepping, some rolling, some crawling, and some trying to jump...full story and more photos HERE
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The Rikert Grand Prix is coming
March 18-20
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The Grand Prix offers something for every level of skier. The event is geared as much towards elite athletes hoping to take home cash prizes as junior and master skiers looking to test themselves on race courses that will challenge and entertain. The Grand Prix will be the final event of the NENSA Popular Race calendar, with season-end awards and celebration on Sunday, March 20th. Come for one or two days of racing, or take on the “Green Mountain Triple” and race Vermont’s first mini-tour!
This event will feature a $2400 cash purse as well as age group prizes and a large merchandise raffle prize table.
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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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Field tested and NENSA Staff approved! |
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THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS: |
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THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA SUPPORTING SPONSORS: |
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March 10:
FIS Cross Country World Cup Season Wraps Up This Weekend
The 2022 FIS Cross Country World Cup season wraps up this weekend in Falun, Sweden, kicking off with a classic sprint Friday, freestyle 10k, 15k Saturday and mixed team relays, and mixed team sprint on Sunday. Starting for the Davis U.S. Cross Country Team in Friday’s sprint are Jessie Diggins, Rosie Brennan, Julia Kern, Logan Hanneman, Zak Ketterson, and Peter Holmes. The women’s 10k Saturday will feature Diggins, Brennan, Kern, Rosie Frankowski, and Caitlin Patterson. Starting the men’s 15k are Hanneman, Ketterson, Holmes, Scott Patterson, and Adam Martin. Sunday’s mixed team sprint and relay lineups will be determined Saturday afternoon. All events will stream live on NBC’s Peacock platform.
Friday, March 11, 2022
Saturday, March 12, 2022
Sunday, March 13, 2022
March 6:
Martin 26th In Holmenkollen Skifestival 50k Classic
Adam Martin scored his first career World Cup points, finishing 26th in the Holmenkollen Skifestival 50k classic Sunday in Oslo, Norway. Scott Patterson was 31st, and Zak Ketterson was 41st.
RESULTS
March 5:
Brennan Seventh In Holmenkollen Skifestival 30k Classic
Rosie Brennan once again proved she is one of the best all-around cross country athletes in the world, leading the Davis U.S. Cross Country Team with a seventh-place finish in the 30k classic at the Holmenkollen Skifestival in Oslo, Norway, Saturday. For Brennan, who finished in the top six in all six events at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games, Saturday’s race was significantly different from the 30k freestyle at the 2022 Games, with thousands of fans cheering fans lining the course. ...READ MORE
March 3:
Kern 7th, Diggins 10th, Brennan 17th In Drammen City Sprint
Julia Kern led the Davis U.S. Cross Country Ski Team, finishing seventh in the FIS Cross Country World Cup classic sprint in Drammen, Norway, Thursday. Jessie Diggins was 10th, followed by Rosie Brennan in 17th.
Up next, the annual Holmenkollen Skifestival returns to Oslo, Norway with the 30k women's classic mass start Saturday, and the 50k classic mass start Sunday. Starting Saturday are Diggins, Brennan, Kern, Hailey Swirbul, Katharine Ogden, Rosie Frankowski, and Caitlin Patterson. Sunday's U.S. starters include Scott Patterson, Adam Martin, Zak Ketterson, Hunter Wonders, and John Steel Hagenbuch.
RESULTS
February 27:
Brennan Rallies For Eighth In World Cup 10k Classic
Rosie Brennan led four Davis U.S. Cross Country Ski Team athletes into the points, finishing eighth at the FIS Cross Country World Cup 10k classic in Lahti, Finland, Sunday. ...READ MORE
February 26:
Diggins Fourth, Kern Eighth In Lahti Freestyle Sprint
Just six days after her historic silver-medal performance in the 30k freestyle at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games, Jessie Diggins was back on snow, finishing fourth in the FIS World Cup Cross Country Freestyle Sprint - leading four of her teammates into the top 28 in Lahti, Finland, Saturday. ...READ MORE
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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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