Greetings NENSA Community,

I’ll never tire of the magic of the first snowfall. This week, I heard a reference to “snowfoliage,” and while I didn’t experience it directly, the images are evocative. In them, the anticipation, adventure, joy, and energy of the season ahead — AND the beauty of the one before us.

In this seasonal transition, there’s an unmistakable momentum, both at our desks and in the community, all reflected in the range of news and announcements below.

All of us at NENSA look forward to seeing you soon!

All my best,

Heidi

Heidi Lange

Executive Director

New England Nordic Ski Association

heidi@nensa.net

In this week’s KickZone

• NENSA Fall Symposium Recap and Coaches Ed Survey
• The Maine Event | Sunday, October 20
• Call For Coaches: 2025 Team New England Junior Nationals Staff APPLICATION OPEN!
• Congratulations to New England Trail to Gold Coaches Avery Ellis, Alex Jospe, and Callie Young
• NENSA Youth Community Day | Saturday, November 9
• BKL Parent Leaders and Coaches Symposium Registration is open!
• Mt. Greylock Hill Climb | Sunday, November 3
• Job Openings
• NENSA Member Gear Swap
• Membership
• In Memoriam: Olavi Hirvonen
• Scenes from the Community

Partnership Corner

• Welcome to NENSA's newest sponsor, Hootie Hoo!
• Craftsbury Outdoor Center: Seeking part-time ski coaches for winter '25
• NENSA Partner Paradis Sport is a finalist for the High Five Grant: Vote in support by Friday, 10/18
• Skida: Custom Team Orders

In The News

• NNF: 2024-’25 Trail to Gold Coaching Grants Awarded
• FasterSkier: Are You Ready to Watch Racing This Winter?
• Nordic Insights: 2024 Domestic Team Previews: Stratton Mountain School

As someone who first became acquainted with New England through time spent on a Liberal Arts college campus, visits to campuses like the Dublin School impart an extra sense of this old, idyllic, region. The boarding schools that form a unique part of the educational landscape here are scale models, producing a “Christmas Village”-like effect where things seem a little more quaint. Standing on the quad, the classrooms are right to your left, and dining hall is right over there; there’s kids just minding their time, the view goes on for miles, and at Dublin at least, Kathy Maddock and Brad Bates can help you to find wherever you want to go with a smile. The whole scene might be small, but you can’t help but feel a buzz that makes you feel that big things are happening.

Which means Dublin is the perfect setting for our nordic community. We’re small, but we do big things. That’s a mantra for our sport, done out on the frozen edges of existence, always together.

On first glance, the NENSA Fall Symposium looks much more anodyne than those sweeping terms. Days at coach conferences and officials meetings, where we might spend hours parsing the finer points of the FIS rulebook, don’t exactly end in the same kind of triumphant podium ceremonies like an Eastern Cup. The latter cannot happen without the former though. The Fall Symposium feels a little more familiar, a little more steady, because we believe that the small points lead to the big moments. At any one of our NENSA gatherings, there is likely a coach that will work with an athlete that goes on to compete at the highest level of our sport, and a focused effort from the organizers and officials that put the infrastructure in place for them to get there.

NENSA Coach Survey



With that belief, we’re looking to understand how we might do more days like Saturday for our coaches across the region. As NENSA looks to put the same kind of thought into Coach Development that our coaches are putting into Athlete Development, we’re looking for your guidance! Please take this brief, 5-minute survey below:

The seasons are changing, maybe it’s time to clean out some gear from the closet, or update your equipment in advance of the coming winter!

Did you know that one of NENSA’s member benefits is access to a virtual Facebook Gear Swap group? It’s a fantastic way to buy, sell or trade ski equipment. Join now via the QR code or click the link below:

Olavi Hirvonen

1930-2024

ALBANY - It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Olavi Hirvonen, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. Born on December 26, 1930, in Canada, Olavi's life was marked by resilience, adventure, and a profound love for family and nature.

At just six months old, he emigrated to Finland, where he was raised by his maternal grandparents on the island of Koivisto in southeastern Finland. His childhood was filled with fishing, skiing, and playing in the woods and along the beaches with his young aunts and uncles. The onset of 1939's Winter War and subsequent Continuation War forced his family to evacuate to mainland Finland, where Olavi later distinguished himself after the war as a marksman in the Finnish Army.

In 1950, Olavi immigrated to the United States, where he met his first wife, Hilja, in New York City. Drafted during the Korean War, Olavi was stationed in Alaska, where he used his skiing and winter survival skills to train officers. They welcomed two children: Esa, born in Alaska during Olavi's service in the U.S. Army, and Elisa, born shortly after their return to the Bronx.

The family later moved to Vermont, operating a local ski resort, where Olavi's dedication to skiing flourished. He trained rigorously and qualified for the 1960 U.S. Olympic team, competing in both the 50km and 15km Nordic events in Squaw Valley.

After moving to Westchester County, Olavi built homes as a carpenter and general contractor, eventually joined in that work by his son. Tragically, Esa was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1977, a loss that left an indelible mark on Olavi's heart.

In search of healing and a return to skiing, Olavi discovered a property in Benson, NY, which he transformed into Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center. For the next 36 years, he cultivated this nationally recognized cross-country ski center, where he met his second wife, Ann Macartney, and raised their daughter, Leila. The family remains closely connected to the community that has grown around the resort.

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.

Welcome to NENSA's newest sponsor, Hootie Hoo!

Hootie Hoo is a Vermont-based, woman-owned brand with a firm belief that many lifelong habits and valuable lessons are cultivated through outdoor experiences.

With a commitment to empowering children to "Outplay The Elements," Hootie Hoo offers a range of gear designed to keep young adventurers warm, dry, and comfortable --- embracing the outdoors, no matter the conditions.

We look forward to many snowy seasons ahead as we work together to empower children and families to connect with the outdoors, stay active, and create lasting memories in the snow.

Click the link below to learn more about their story and find details on an exclusive 15% discount for NENSA members on our Member Benefits page below.

Seeking part-time ski coaches for winter '25

Do you like cross-country skiing? Do you like working with kids? Maybe older folks are more your speed? Do you have a free hour or two on winter weekdays or Sundays? The Craftsbury Outdoor Center seeks an adults/masters coach and several kids’ coaches for this coming winter.

Lead masters/adults ski coach

We're seeking an experienced coach to lead our masters/adults programs for the winter of 2024-2025 (and potentially beyond, for the right candidate). In recent years, our masters/adults programs have grown to encompass two beginner groups, two intermediate groups, and one advanced/competitive group, all of which collectively serve approximately 100 skiers. We’re hoping to recruit a coach who can commit more fully to the role as a lead coach for the advanced/competitive group - and possibly other programs - to provide continuity. Hours for this position could range from as little as 2 hours per week to as much as 10, depending on coach availability and interest in taking on administrative tasks.

Part-time kids ski coaches

We're seeking several very part-time coaches to assist with our youth ski programs for the winter of 2024-2025. We’re recruiting coaches primarily for our Bill Koch League programs, but would love to hear from anyone interested in working with older kids as well. Assistant coaches can help as little as just one practice per week or as often as 2-3 times per week. We have openings for both paid and volunteer coaches, both of which are eligible for discounts on program fees and/or season-long equipment rentals for their kids. Parent-coaches are typically placed with groups that do not include their own children. 

We are super excited to announce that Paradis Sport was chosen as a finalist for the @highfivegrant hosted by @themamaladder! 

We were chosen out of more than 500 applicants as one of 8 finalists, all strong female empowered brands based in the US and Canada. 

If we win the grand prize, we will be awarded $10,000 in cash and $10,000 in business or marketing services.

If we won, we'd use the money towards new product development and providing monetary sponsorships to our athlete ambassadors. 

We need your help--please vote for us here by Friday 10/18!

With Gratitude,

The Paradis Sport Team

We are so grateful for the partnership we have shared with SKIDA over many years. Their roots are right here in the New England ski community, but their reach now extends so far beyond. 

The most powerful partnerships are rooted in the alignment of community and mission. Skida’s is to bring people together, encourage play, generate smiles, and make a better place. We couldn’t agree more and the increased support they are providing as a Silver Sponsor of NENSA this year helps us do more of the same!

Thank you SKIDA for all that you do to cultivate a thriving and colorful ski community!

2024-’25 Trail to Gold Coaching Grants Awarded

October 4, 2024 | by Reese Brown

The National Nordic Foundation, The Olympic Women’s Book Project, the Women’s Ski Coaches Association, and the U.S. Ski Team are excited to announce the 2024-’25 recipients of the Trail to Gold Coaching grants. This season’s recipients represent the third “class” of women ski coaches chosen to learn and work alongside U.S. Ski Team coaching staff on the World Cup.

The Trail to Gold coaching grants originated from funds donated by the Olympic Women’s Book Project in 2022 following the publication of their book, Trail to Gold, the Journey of 53 Women Skiers. The book, which chronicles the history of U.S. women skiing in the Olympics from 1972-2022, raised awareness of American women skiers and quickly triggered discussion among the book committee about how to continue to fight for women’s equality in sport. The idea of sending women coaches to an historically male coach/tech dominated World Cup was quickly put into effect for the 2022-’23 season to great success. The Olympic Women’s Book Project has been fortunate to partner with the National Nordic Foundation, the Women’s Ski Coaches Association and the U.S. Ski Team to bring this idea to Fruition.

This season’s eight grant recipients come from a large and highly qualified group of applicants who come from clubs, high schools, and colleges from all across the country. This group of eight women will each spend up to two weeks on the World Cup leaning into time spent in the wax truck, on snow testing skis and providing splits, joining logistics discussions and supporting U.S. athletes on and off the race course.

The 2024-’25 Trail to Gold Coaches

Kaelyn Woods (Bridger Ski Foundation)  Nov. 18-Dec. 2 Muonio, Ruka

Ruth Oppliger (Northern Michigan University)  Dec. 1-16 Lillehammer, Davos

Alex Jospe (Stratton Mountain School)  Dec. 25-Jan. 6 Tour de Ski

Becca Rorabaugh (APU)  Jan. 14-27 Les Rousses, Engadin

Avery Ellis (Eastern Mass XC)  Jan. 19-Feb. 3 Engadin, Cogne

Lucy Glanville (Team Soldier Hollow)  Feb. 11-17 Falun

Callie Young (Dartmouth/Craftsbury GRP)  Mar. 11-24 Oslo, Tallinn, Lahti

Julie Ensrud (Team Birkie)  Mar. 11-24 Oslo, Lahti

Are You Ready to Watch Racing This Winter?

October 9, 2024 | by Ken Roth

It’s hard to believe, but the first World Cup cross-country race is just around the corner. November 29th marks the cross-country racing season kickoff, in Ruka, Finland. For fans who want to watch the races, there are a couple of easy options.

2024 Domestic Team Previews: Stratton Mountain School

October 16, 2024 | by Gavin Kentch

Welcome back to your 2024 roundup of the six main professional ski clubs in this country. Previously on the site this fall: Team Birkie preview | BSF preview. And now here’s Stratton:

What is the official name of this ski team? SMS T2 Team (aka SMS or Stratton)

Where is it located? Stratton, Vermont

Who’s on the coaching staff? Perry Thomas enters his third year as head coach of the powerhouse program located in southern Vermont. Maria Stuber starts her second year as Program Director. Jason Cork (official job title: World Cup Coach for the U.S. Ski Team) continues his longstanding coaching work with Jessie Diggins.

Who’s on the roster this season? Jessie Diggins, Ben Ogden, Julia Kern, Will Koch, Adam Witkowski, Fin Bailey, Sydney Palmer-Leger, Rémi Drolet, Ava Thurston, and Jack Lange.

Diggins, Kern, and Ogden are on the U.S. Ski Team A-Team; Palmer-Leger and Koch are on the B-Team; Thurston, Bailey, and Lange are on the D-Team. Yes, of the nine American athletes on this squad (Drolet is Canadian), eight of them are on the U.S. Ski Team.

OCTOBER

October 20: The Maine Event: Rollerski Sprints - Rumford, ME

NOVEMBER

November 3: Mt. Greylock Hill Climb - Lanesborough, MA

November 9: NENSA Youth Community Day - Stratton, VT

November 10: BKL Parent Leader Symposium - Holderness, NH

New England Nordic Ski Association

P.O. Box 97

Lyme, NH 03768