Greetings NENSA community,

NENSA is hiring our next Youth & Introductory Program Director. This is, of course, awfully bittersweet news to share because it means that Kait Miller has decided to move forward in search of new professional opportunities. I would like to express my deep and sincere appreciation for all that Kait has given to NENSA and to our ski community. She has brought our youth and introductory programs to new heights and to new places, always working hard to make skiing in New England more inclusive and accessible. Her talents have also transformed NENSA visually with beautiful designs and art. Our entire staff has benefited because of her teamwork, her drive, and her cheerful nature. Please see Kait’s personal note below along with the official job posting - and join us in sharing gratitude and best wishes with Kait!

There are less than 3 days remaining in our Championship Fund Drive and we need your help to reach our $40,000 goal. Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated and we can hit this target with participation. We have been announcing some fun raffle incentives each day this week on our social channels in addition to the donor gifts for the drive. See below for a full update and some very generous raffle donations to finish the drive from our friends at Skirack.

Please consider a gift of any amount today and thank you for supporting NENSA!

In this week’s edition of KickZone

• NENSA Championship Fund Drive Update
• A note from Kait Miller
• NENSA Seeks Youth & Introductory Program Director - apply by May 6
• Welcoming Nominations for NENSA Annual Awards
• 2023 Elite and Development Team / REG Invitations and call for Staff
• Popular and Eastern Cup Bidding Open for 2023-2024 Season
• 2022-23 XC Ski BINGO Recap
• Scenes from the Community
• COC Collegiate Summer Training Group
• GMVS Summer Camp Registration
• SMS Summer Camp Registration

In the news

• Faster Skier: What's In Your Boots

Have a wonderful week!

All my best,

Heidi

Heidi Lange

Executive Director

New England Nordic Ski Association

heidi@nensa.net

www.nensa.net

Thank you!

Memberships directly support all of our year-round programming,

backing us in our mission to nurture and sustain an active cross country ski

community for all ages and levels throughout the East. 

Thank you for taking a minute to join or renew your NENSA membership,

and for the important support that it provides!

Please join me in thanking and supporting our wonderful NENSA Sponsors 

for their generous contributions and the ongoing impact that they have on NENSA programming and cross country skiing in New England!

We are in the final 3 days of our Championship Fund Drive and ask for your financial support in sustaining our organization and the year-round programming and events that connect and grow our vibrant ski community. Over 50% of NENSA’s operating budget is funded through sponsorships and donations. These resources directly support NENSA staffing and programming and reduce financial barriers to participation by keeping membership and event fees as low as possible. We cannot do what we do without your support.

We are 62% of the way toward our big goal of raising $40,000. Gifts of any amount and broad community participation will get us across the line.

In addition to donor gifts for the drive, donations received by midnight on Friday will be entered into a raffle for 3 x $100 gift certificates (all donations $150 and above) and two packages containing 1 pair Darn Tough Nordic socks and an autographed Kikkan Randall buff (donations of any amount), all courtesy of our friends at Skirack!

Greetings NENSA Community,

After much consideration I have decided to step down from my role as NENSA’s Youth & Introductory Program Director. I am so grateful for all I have learned from everyone in this community while working for NENSA over the past three years, and I’m grateful for the thoughtful and engaged people I’ve gotten to know and work alongside. Thank you for the care and enthusiasm you all bring to this sport and the ski community. I eagerly await the unique strengths and new ideas that the next person will bring to the Youth & Introductory Program Director role and I look forward to seeing what new goals and dreams you'll achieve together. 

I will continue in my position through June 2nd. Skiing has always been an important part of my life and no matter what my future holds, I will remain engaged with the sport and this caring and dedicated community. Happy trails!

All my best,

Kait

The New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA) seeks to find a dynamic and outgoing person to be our next full time Youth & Introductory Program Director (Y&IPD). This role is responsible for NENSA’s youth programming including the New England Bill Koch League (BKL) and Festival, the Nordic Rocks school program, and Bill Koch League coach/leader education. This role is also responsible for Women’s XC Ski Day and additional Learn-to-Ski events and opportunities. The Y&IPD co-shares responsibility for Eastern U16 and High School Championships and all summer rollerski programming. An ideal candidate will be familiar with NENSA and the Northeast ski community, incredibly self-motivated, and able to work independently from home. This role requires strong, inspired leadership with a synergetic spirit to galvanize and work with our ski community...click HERE to read the full job description and learn about the application process.

The NENSA staff is accepting nominations for folks in our New England ski community who fulfill the ideals of our Annual Awards. These awards 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. Click HERE to submit a nomination in any of these Award categories:

• 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.
• 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 was the Chisholm Ski Club leader for 70 plus years, 2 time Olympian, and builder of the Olympic race courses for Squaw Valley, Lake Placid and Black Mountain. He 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.

See past recipients HERE. Thank you!

NENSA is proud to name our 2023 Elite and Development Teams, highlighting the continued success of Eastern athletes regionally, nationally and internationally. Nomination to these teams is based on U.S. Ski & Snowboard List 10 Overall Points and highlights the interplay of junior, collegiate and national competition. Athletes nominated will receive further communication and invitations to attend events and camps throughout the 2023 training year. 

Click HERE to read more and to see REG nominations and a call for staff.

This past winter, skiers all across the northeast participated in NENSA’s third annual virtual XC Ski Bingo game completing activities ranging from creating obstacle courses to gliding contests to trying another winter sport. Participants could get Bingo by completing a row or column of activities and this year we also offered a Bingo card for adults and juniors! This winter there were a total of 55 unique participants skiing in 6 states (MA, ME, NH, NY, VT, and CA) in 2 countries (US and Canada) at 37 different ski areas! Participants also collectively partook in 10 different NENSA events (which earned them a checked box on their card this year). The smiles and stories shared by participants are fun and heartwarming, and we were thrilled to see how many people got outside to play on their skis this winter in spite of challenging snow conditions for much of the year. Click HERE for comments, stories, and photos from the participants themselves.

THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS:

U.S. Ski & Snowboard works to provide a safe environment in which athletes can train and compete, free from abuse and inappropriate behavior. Please review U.S. Ski & Snowboard's Athlete Safety policies, the SafeSport Code, and the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies and join us in sustaining a culture of safety.

If you are an athlete who has experienced inappropriate behavior or know of an athlete who has experienced inappropriate behavior, report a concern:

The U.S. Center for SafeSport

Hotline:  833-587-7233

Report:  CLICK HERE

U.S. Ski & Snowboard

Report: CLICK HERE

We all are part of promoting a culture of safety through education, listening, and speaking up.

THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA SUPPORTING SPONSORS:

Craftsbury Collegiate Summer Training Group

Enrollment in this group is by application only. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until April 20, 2023. Our college summer training program is for both current and rising college students who ski competitively for Division I collegiate programs. This is a small, experienced, and dedicated group of athletes who have already completed a substantial amount of collegiate-level training. Depending on training demands for any given day or week, the college group will either function independently or overlap with GRP training sessions. The training program is designed by coach Jake Barton but has some flexibility to accommodate individual and college team plans as well. Contact coach Jake with any questions. 

2023 GMVSxc Summer Camp registration is LIVE

Build training volume on foot and on rollerskis while exploring our local roads, mountains, trails, and rivers. Increase your strength in our world-class Racing Performance Center, and enjoy rejuvenating recovery sessions led by our experienced coaching staff. This year's camp will conclude with a race effort!

Join us July 25-30, 2023.

Join us for an SMS Nordic camp this summer! 

The 2023 Stratton Mountain School summer Nordic camp will be held on the SMS Campus.

The SMS Nordic Program has combined sports science, a variety of proven training methods, a culture of athlete-driven excellence, and of course, FUN(!) to boast one of the most successful Nordic programs in the world. The program's unprecedented national and international success has produced 16 Olympians in the past seven Winter Olympics. Over 35 SMS Nordic athletes have made the U.S. World Junior Team, and 25 have made the U.S. National Team. Each Summer, SMS Nordic hosts two summer camps for young skiers filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign up today! 

BKL Camp: Aug 7-10

Junior Camp: Aug 10-13

What's In Your Boots

April 12, 2023 | by Ned Dowling

All ski boots come with insoles. None of them are any good. Some might be fair—maybe even usable for those with strong feet, neutral biomechanics, and impeccable technique—but, for most of us, they’re garbage. Literally. Throw them away and get some good insoles.

Why Do I Need a Good Insole?...click HERE to read more.

THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS:

New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA)

49 Pineland Drive, Suite 301A

New Gloucester, ME 04260

Phone: 207-688-6503 www.nensa.net

STAY CONNECTED