Greetings NENSA community,

While the degree of news coverage and social media activity from the ski community gives the impression of a sleepy period, April is one of the busiest times of year at NENSA. Craftsbury Outdoor Center hosted our staff for a retreat this week, our first in-person opportunity in 4 years. Gazing out at the trails that welcomed SuperTour racers just a few short weeks ago, but with drastically different scenery, we spent two days reflecting back, planning ahead, and reviewing our strategic plan. With so much to build upon, we are beginning to roll out some exciting plans for the coming year including REG camp (nominations below), the return of the inaugural 2022 RDG camp (a new additional NENSA development project - nominations also below), a robust rollerski schedule, a significant expansion of our Nordic Rocks program, and an exciting Eastern Cup schedule that will likely include both SuperTour and EISA Carnival overlap. Bids are also being collected and reviewed for the BKL Festival, Women’s Day, Popular events, and U16 and EHS Championships. 

All of this programming is made possible by the generous support of our donors and sponsors. Please see below for a special note of acknowledgement and appreciation for your support of our Championship Fund Drive and over the course of the entire year. It is sincerely a privilege to work with and in this community. Thank you.

In this week’s edition of KickZone

• NENSA Donor Appreciation
• NENSA Seeks Youth & Introductory Program Director - applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis and will be accepted through May 6
• Welcoming Nominations for NENSA Annual Awards through May 7
• 2023 Regional Development Camp pairs with Lost Nation Roll
• 2023 Elite and Development Team / REG Invitations and call for Staff
• Popular and Eastern Cup Bidding Open for 2023-2024 Season
• Scenes from the Community
• COC Collegiate Summer Training Group
• GMVS Summer Camp Registration
• SMS Summer Camp Registration

I look forward to seeing you again soon. Summer programming will be underway before we know it and I am always happy to hear from you in the meantime.

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 deeply grateful for the support and generosity our community provided during our Championship Fund Drive. Donations came from every corner of the New England community and beyond.

Whether you donate during the drive, at year end, on GivingTuesday, or at any other time during the year, we would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and sincerely thank all of our donors! No matter the time, no matter the amount, these contributions significantly support our bottom line, our staffing, and our ability to create and deliver first class programming.

Thank you for backing us in our mission to nurture and sustain an active cross country ski community for all ages and levels throughout the East!

The New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA) seeks 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 for any of the awards listed below. Nominations are being accepted through May 7.

• 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 the list of past recipients HERE. Thank you!

NENSA is proud to bring back the Regional Development Camp after a successful inaugural year. The RDG is meant to complement the longstanding Regional Elite Group (REG) camp, recognize the depth of talent in the East, and expand the number of athletes invited to attend summer regional development opportunities. The 2023 RDG Camp will once again be held at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center, June 30 – July 2.

Further, this year the camp will be paired with the Lost Nation Roll and the start of the NENSA Rollerski Series. Pairing rollerski competition with camps heightens development opportunities and creates a basis for a strong race field. The Lost Nation Roll is expected to bring in professional skiers, while ensuring a festive experience for all. More on that to come!

Click HERE to read the full story and see RDG nominations.

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.

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