Greetings NENSA Community ~
I hope you are out enjoying this beautiful May weather and participating in our 3rd annual #25kinMay. You can rollerski (or run, hike, bike...) your way to 25k's this May ~ check out all the info in the box below ~ it's not too late to join the fun!
We had our NENSA Spring Board meeting in Hanover NH this past Sunday. I would like to give a public THANK YOU to outgoing Board members Diane Halvorsen, Bryce Wing and Elissa Bradley, as well as Terry Kellogg who rolled off the Board earlier this year. We so appreciate your collective years of service and insights to our Board, and on the many committees you served on. I would also like to thank Carol Van Dyke for being our Board President these past 6 years. It has been my absolute pleasure to be able to work alongside Carol during my time as Executive Director. We welcome Ellen Chandler into the position of our new Board President, and Allie Walton as our new VP. Chris Naimie is our new Secretary, replacing Bryce Wing. And finally, we want to give a warm welcome to our newest Board member Katharine Ogden. Katharine is a NENSA veteran but will bring a fresh perspective as a newly retired athlete, and we are thrilled she has joined our Board of Directors!
Be sure to check out our Summer Programs Update below - so many great things already on our summer calendar - including learn-to-rollerski clinics, races, a coaching L100 clinic, and naming of the athletes to our REG and RDG camps. Our full summer into fall race calendar will be published next week. A full listing of all summer camps, and a peek at dates for next winters Championship events, are on our events calendar at the bottom of this eNewsletter.
Here is what we have for you in this week's KickZone:
- NENSA Summer Programs Update ~ lots of great things to come this summer!
- #25kinMay is here ~ it's free and we have some fun prizes to give away
- Final Call of Nominations for our NENSA Community Awards 2022
- NENSA is a finalist for the FIS SnowKidz Award for our BKL program ~ 3 top winners to be named May 26th
- First L100 Coach Developer course set for July 7th in Craftsbury VT
- From our Partners and in the News ~
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From U.S. Ski & Snowboard: 2022-23 U.S. Cross Country Ski Team Nominations ~ including New Englanders to the A Team: Ben Ogden & Julia Kern and SMST2 based Jessie Diggins; to the B Team: Sophia Laukli; and to the Development Team: Will Koch. Congrats to this amazing team of athletes!
- From FasterSkier: With Dreams Chased and Achieved, Adam Martin Retires from Professional Skiing
Happy almost summer!
Best,
Amie
Amie Witten Smith
Executive Director
New England Nordic Ski Association
Amie@nensa.net
GIVING: DONATE to NENSA 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!
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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Summerlike weather has inspired lots of folks to join the fun of #25kinmay for the third year in a row. This challenge was originally a way for our community to be together when they couldn’t due the pandemic. Luckily the immediacy of a virtual challenge is not as pressing these days — yet the catchy nature of “K’s” in “May” might just be here to stay! It’s also a way to get folks stoked for another year of rollerski races and Learn to Rollerski clinics - which will be rolled out at the end of this month. If you take a look at our calendar you will see the summer is already full of opportunities to plug into in-person cross country skiing events.
Read on to learn more about few highlighted programs:
Forty two athletes have confirmed their attendance at the Eastern Regional Camp to be held at Craftsbury July 2-7. This U.S. Ski & Snowboard development project hosted in conjunction with NENSA and Mid Atlantic and will be supported by US Ski Team coaches Greta Anderson and Matt Whitcomb. We are also excited to be hosting the Lost Nation Roll (an open rollerski race) as a part of this camp.
Confirmed Athletes:
Men: Ellis Slover, Micah Bruner, Tyler Watt, Benjamin Jenkin, Gordon Fagan, Anders Linseisen, Tabor Greenberg, Quinn McDermott, Sam Gallaudet, Jack Lange, Luke Rizio, Braden Bellizzi, Caden Cote, Fin Bailey, Janne Koch, Wyatt Teaford, Tzevi Schwartz, Andrew Scanio, Lucas Palcsik, Joe Graziadei, Elvis McIntosh
Women: Emma Page, Anika Leahy, Virginia Cobb, Amelia Circosta, Clara Lake, Emelia Jordan, Sofia Scirica, Cat Stow, Evelyn Walton, Hattie Barker, Emma Charles, Sophia Kelting, Aggie Macy, Julia Thurston, Ava Thurston, Quincy Massey-Bierman, Catherine Anzellotti, Isabelle Serrano, Francesca Kitch, Maggie McGee, Liza Bell
RDG is a NENSA project that provides New England’s developing junior skiers with the opportunity to come together for several days of training, learning, and camaraderie. In addition to providing the obvious benefit of gathering motivated athletes in a shared setting, we strive to offer high-level coaching at excellent training venues as a means of introducing athletes to the next level of training and racing. RDG camp is meant to complement the longstanding Regional Elite Group (REG) camp and expand the number of athletes invited to attend summer regional development opportunities.
Athletes are selected to attend RDG based on the NENSA U18/U20 ranking list; NENSA U16 ranking list; New England Eastern High School Championship overall results, and New England U16 Championship overall results.
This camp will also take place at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center from July 29-31. Initial invitations were sent on May 16th – and a second round of invitations will be sent on Friday, May 20th based on acceptances.
U16 National Camp:
This U.S. Ski & Snowboard Development Camp is being redesigned post pandemic. There will now be two camps: one in the West and one in partnership with the Central and Eastern divisions. The top eight U16’s on the Junior Ranking lists (8 male and 8 female) will be invited to this project when the final details are confirmed by the US Ski Team. The hope is to host the camp at the end of July or beginning of August and it will be supported by Bryan Fish, USSS Cross Country Development Director. The proposed location is Lake Placid, NY with a backup of Marquette, Michigan. NENSA is hopeful the dates and location will be confirmed the week of May 23rd.
Join NENSA and Gould Academy for the second annual Bethel-area rollerski clinic! All clinic participants will use NENSA’s Swenor Rollerskis, but remember to bring your own boots, poles, and helmet! We can accommodate SNS and Prolink/NNN bindings. Following the clinic, participants and their families are encouraged to explore the surrounding trails on foot or bike.
Geared towards folks who have on-snow ski experience but little to no rollerski experience. Rollerskis provided. Bring your own helmet, boots, and ski poles!
This is the first opportunity of the summer for coaches to gain USSS L100 certification. We will also have a general registration for folks not seeking certification.
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THANK YOU TO OUR ASSOCIATE SPONSORS
L.L.Bean and SWIX & Salomon!
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NENSA as a Finalist for the 2022
FIS Snowkidz Award
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NENSA shared with your earlier this month that our Bill Koch Ski League Program is a finalist for the 2022 FIS SnowKidz Award. This international award is presented every second year and “aims to recognize and promote the best examples of bringing children to the snow, in varying national circumstances.” This honor is truly a testament to the vision and dedication of Bill Koch himself, the tireless work of our member clubs and past NENSA staff members, and the support of our partners in Eastern ski community who have made the program what it is today.
NENSA's BLK program was named as one of 8 world-wide finalists on May 1st. The top-3 award winners will be announced live at the FIS Congress on May 26th so stay tuned and keep your fingers crossed for us!
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Final Call for Nominations
for our 2022 NENSA Awards
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These awards are given annually to honor the achievements and contributions of our members who work to support NENSA’s mission of sustaining a vibrant and active Nordic skiing community in New England.
The NENSA staff is accepting nominations for folks in our New England ski community who fulfill the ideals for our Annual Awards. Click HERE to submit a nomination in any of these Award categories. THANK YOU!
John Caldwell Award: One of NENSA’s finest traditions is presenting the John Caldwell Award. This award annually recognizes a single individual, or entity, which embodies the spirit, dedication, innovation, and pride of John Caldwell, and NENSA!
Coach of the Year: This award is given annually to honor a NENSA coach for their achievements and contributions in working with athletes, in support of NENSA’s mission to sustain a vibrant and active Nordic skiing community in New England.
Club of the Year: This award is given annually to honor a NENSA club that is making great strides in supporting the NENSA mission to sustain a vital and active Nordic skiing community in New England.
Chummy Broomhall Award: This award is named after Chummy who embodied the spirit of being a volunteer as he was a man who gave his time to generations. It is in this spirit that this award be in his honor for the unsung heroes of ski racing.
Bill Koch League Youth Leadership Award: The Bill Koch League Leadership Award is for those community members who embody fun, community, and a lifelong love of the sport.
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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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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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First L100 Coach Developer Date Set ~
NENSA Regional Coaches Clinic – US Ski & Snowboard L100 ~ Craftsbury, Vermont. July 7th, 2022
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Please note: Coaches can register at any time as long as they have a current coach membership and those basic membership requirements have been met. The U.S. Ski & Snowboard membership season runs from July 1 through June 30 annually. However, we open registration for the upcoming season the first week of May. Memberships become valid July 1.
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THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA SUPPORTING SPONSORS: |
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May 10:
2022-23 U.S. Cross Country Team Nominations:
U.S. Ski & Snowboard has announced the 22 athletes nominated to the U.S. Cross Country Ski Team for the 2022-23 season. Nominations include those active athletes who qualified based on the published selection criteria in the prior season. In addition to established veterans, including three-time Olympic medalist Jessie Diggins and two-time Olympians Rosie Brennan and Scott Patterson, the 2022-23 Team includes five new members. Moving up to the A Team and joining Diggins, Brennan and JC Schoonmaker for the coming season are 2022 Olympians Julia Kern, Novie McCabe, Ben Ogden, and Patterson. ...READ MORE
May 6:
Diggins, Wise Use Medals To Open Doors, Spark Climate Discussion On Capitol Hill
Jessie Diggins pulled the Olympic medals out of her bag Thursday afternoon, between meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Yes, she said with a smile, they're pretty useful conversation starters. ...READ MORE
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From FasterSkier ~
Benjamin Theyer l May 16, 2022
With Dreams Chased and Achieved,
Adam Martin Retires from Professional Skiing
Adam Martin’s skiing has always tended to be best described in conjunctions rather than disjunctions. He could do this and he would do that.
Or, that’s always how his mentors looked at it. My most distinct memory of Martin is from a CXC (Central Cross Country Skiing) camp about a decade ago when Sten Fjeldheim, then Martin’s coach at Northern Michigan University (NMU), gathered a group of us J2s (U16) around in the lobby of the old Telemark Lodge and said, “there’s proof you can be an All-American caliber skier and have a 4.0 GPA too,” pointing to Martin as the example.
That stuck with me as I watched him as a US skiing fan for years. Martin was giving it everything he could in everything he did, and the juxtapositions that produced were inspiring in their absurdity.... read full story HERE
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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
Looking Ahead to 2023:
March 11-18: U.S. Junior Nationals - Fairbanks, AK
March 22-26: Supertour Finals - Craftsbury VT
Link to our COVID Protocols 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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