Greetings NENSA community,

In the ski world, April is a time for pause. At NENSA, we are taking time for review and reflection, taking stock of our work and impact, and goal setting, building upon success and creating new opportunities for our community. Please enjoy this video recap of NENSA programming in 2022-23...

In the final 10 days of our Championship Fund Drive, we need your help to reach our goal and ask for your support in sustaining our organization and the year-round programming that makes our New England ski community vibrant and inclusive. Gifts of any amount and the broad participation of our community will get us there - please support NENSA with a donation today! Also, please follow our social media channels as we count down the drive and share more highlights, dreams, and raffle items. 

Put simply, all of the programming and the opportunities supported by NENSA would not be possible without your support. Thank you!

In this week’s edition of KickZone

• NENSA Championship Fund Drive Update
• Welcoming Nominations for NENSA Annual Awards
• 2022-23 Popular Racing Recap
• Craftsbury Mud n' Ice Quadrathlon
• Scenes from the Community
• COC Collegiate Summer Training Group
• GMVS Summer Camp Registration
• SMS Summer Camp Registration

In the news

• Nordic Insights: Announcing the First Annual Nordic Insights Readers’ Choice Awards

Enjoy the remainder of the week and the spring snow!

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!

With 10 days remaining, we are slightly over half way to our $40,000 goal with $20,150 raised.

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.

In the remaining days, we need your help to reach our goal! Thank you for making a gift of whatever amount you are able and for helping NENSA continue to grow and thrive.

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 receipts HERE. Thank you!

NENSA has made a concerted effort over the past two years to support Popular Racing, by encouraging widespread participation and offering increased support to venues and race organizers. As we wrap up the season we are pleased to report growth: over 20 events this winter we saw 2781 race starts compared to 2021/2022 with 17 races and 1877 total racers.

Last week we highlighted Craftsbury as they mounted a huge effort at New England Relay Championships to win the season long Club Championship. One look at the Ranking Page shows impressive depth to Eastern club structure, with over fifty clubs attending ten or more events throughout the season! NENSA and Bullitt Timing also highlighted clubs on individual weeks with Eastern Cup Team Standings (EC #1, EC #2, EC #3, EC #4) — these scores highlight different ages and genders for each weekend.

Click HERE to read more, to see complete and updated rankings, Cochrans recap, and bid info for the 2023-24 season!

The fabled race/sign of spring is back. The exact course is TBD as the day draws nigh, but the plan is that you'll start your day on our ski trails with ~8k freestyle, followed by ~5 miles of running, a ~2.5 mile paddle, capped with a 11mi bike on lovely Kingdom dirt roads in mud season.

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

Announcing the First Annual Nordic Insights Readers’ Choice Awards

April 3, 2023 | by Nordic Insights

The race season is largely over for North American pro skiers. Jessie Diggins is off surfing on one coast. Julia Kern is off surfing on another coast. Gus Schumacher is backcountry skiing in Alaska. Scott Patterson is backcountry skiing in Alaska.

Rest and relaxation may look a little different depending on the athlete — Rosie Brennan relaxed by finishing second and fifth in a 40km and a 70km in far northern Norway on successive days last weekend, closer to the Arctic Ocean than to the Arctic Circle — but it’s safe to say that few skiers are following a formal training plan this month.

All of which is to say, it’s time for season-ending content: presenting the First Annual Nordic Insights Readers’ Choice Awards! By any standard one of the most prestigious awards bestowed by an English-language nordic ski site anywhere!

Here’s how it will work: Voting will be open for each of the following categories:

• Best American Female World Cup Performance (Jessie Diggins division)
• Best American Female World Cup Skier (non–Jessie Diggins division)
• Best American Male World Cup Performance (Ben Ogden division)
• Best American Male World Cup Skier (non–Ben Ogden division)
• Best American Female Domestic Skier
• Best American Male Domestic Skier
• Best American Female Junior Skier
• Best American Male Junior Skier

Click HERE for more...

Voting is now open for Best American Female World Cup Performance (Jessie Diggins division) Best American Female World Cup Skier (non–Jessie Diggins division). Watch the site as voting for other categories opens on each coming day.

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