Popular Ski Racing Thrives in New England – Despite Shortened Season

Here’s some awesome news – popular cross country ski racing is showing steady growth!

Despite a shortened season, and with a couple of snow related hiccups early on, participation in popular races grew by 48% this winter (full 2019 – 2020 participation statistics here).  Three major changes have occurred over the past two years to help fuel this growth: branding our citizen races as “Popular Races” versus “Zak Cup,” adding more races (including adding “Just Try It” or “Fun” races to existing events), and the inclusion of senior aged skiers (23-29) in our Zak Cup statistics.  The goal is to create a more exciting and inclusive feel to races while honoring the traditions of the Zak and Club Cup.  NENSA also introduced a free “Get Skiing” membership for any first time members this season and scored previous members to our Zak Cup standings beginning with the Craftsbury Marathon this winter.  Competition draws competition and we are so happy our members are responding!

Speaking of competition – the beauty of citizen racing in New England is the robust talent present at any given race – skiers of all ages from youth in Bill Koch, to novice adult racers, junior athletes and their coaches, parents, and elite skiers past and present (including many of our ageless masters), former National Team skiers and Olympians.  Popular cross country ski racing thrives because of this inclusive and diverse atmosphere.

Our masters men’s age group rankings included 229 individual skiers who collectively completed 628 races!  At the end of the season, young gun, Chris Burnham (NWVE) became the first senior skier to become the Zak Overall Men’s Champion at the age of 27.  Burnham and 2018 and 2019 Overall Champion, Eli Enman (NWVE/Rossignol) raced head to head 6 times this season each taking three victories in this duel – in the end Burnham prevailed, partly by completing more total races.  Adam Terko of the Mansfield Nordic Club had a strong master’s career debut, and was able to secure third place overall while balancing his full time coaching responsibilities with MNC.  Other notable finishes to mention: David Johnston an M8 from Mansfield, placed fourth overall, beating out 2017 Champion, Neal Graves (Stowe), and won his age group in all ten of his races!  M6, Tom Thurston (NWVE), was also undefeated in age group competition winning eight of eight competitions.  Also of note, the M5 and M6 categories included over 30 skiers making for deep competition.

The overall women’s field is also showing fantastic growth with 90 individual skiers who completed 220 races!  These numbers are more than double those in recent history (2017 – 38 individuals, 2018 – 45 individuals, 2019 – 48 individuals).  Sarah Graves of Stowe Nordic was able to regain her Zak Overall Women’s title for the first time since 2017 – completing nine races and scoring a perfect 175 points (7 best).  M7, JoAnn Hanowski a perennial strength from Mansfield, was also able to sweep victories in all eight races she competed in – securing her the second step of the overall podium.  Senior skier, Emily Stitt of Mansfield, reemerged on the scene this year taking multiple overall race victories and third place overall for the season.

In another measure of strength – our Marathon Challengers came out in record numbers this season – with 24 skiers completing four or more marathons.  Marathon hats will be delayed because of our current situation – but have no fear you will receive them!

As we continue to weather our current health crisis we want to celebrate these incredible athletes.  All of the podium position skiers listed below will be presented with a NENSA mug and our overall champions will receive Swix klister as prizes in the coming weeks.  We will also be opening bids for the 2020 – 2021 season soon – giving us all something to look forward to!!

In the meantime, be well, stay safe and enjoy working out in your backyards.

If you have specific feedback please reach out to [email protected] with “Popular Racing” in the subject line.

Also if you haven’t been looking already Jamie Doucett has awesome photos from Bretton Woods, Freeman Frost White Mountain Classic, Geschmossel, Race for Snow, and the Bogburn.

Women

Senior (23-29 years old)

1	115	Sara Falconer	Mansfield Nordic
2	105	Melissa Manning	NWVE
3	100	Emily Stitt	Mansfield Nordic

M1 (30-34)

1	65	Jessica Marion	Dirigo
2	50	Ida Sargent	Craftsbury GRP
3	25	Robyn Anderson

M2 (35-39)

1	175	Sara Graves	Stowe Nordic
2	120	Elissa Bradley	Ford Sayre
3	50	Jessica Snyder	CSU

M3 (40-44)

1	165	Jessica Bolduc	NWVE
2	120	Cipperly Good	NWVE
3	95	Michele Smith	CSU

M4 (45-49)

1	95	Tristin Adie	Mansfield Nordic
2	70	Rosalie Wilson	Ford Sayre
3	50	Holly Macy	Dublin XC

M5 (50-54)

1	127	Katie Hill	Mansfield Nordic
2	124	Karen Alence	MNC
3	105	Sarah Pribram	NWVE

M6 (55-59)

1	175	Amy Gunn	Black Water Nordic Ski Club
2	150	Ellie Bouffard	MNC
3	52	Renate Adamonwicz	Mansfield Nordic

M7 (60-64)

1	175	JoAnn Hanowski	MNC
2	105	Ann Burnham	CSU
3	75	Kimberly Moody	Schussverein

M8 (65-69)

1	125	Carrrie Nourjian	Stowe Nordic
2	110	Jody Newton	CSU
3	50	Carol Fisher	HURT

M9 (70-74)

1	75	Trina Hosmer	Stowe Nordic
2	25	Rose Buckingham
3	25	Viera Proulx	CSU

M11 (80-84)

1

100

Sara Mae Berman

CSU

Men
Senior (23-29 years old)

1	175	Chris Burnham	NWVE
2	137	Dennis Page	Nansen Ski Club
3	85	Nathan Moreau	CSU

M1 (30-34)

1	170	Michael Millar	Mansfield Nordic
2	125	Adam Terko	Mansfield Nordic
3	110	Tristan Williams

M2 (35-39)

1	150	Neal Graves	Stowe Nordic
2	137	Tyler Magnan	NWVE
3	127	Nate Laber	MNC

M3 (40-44)

1	175	Eli Enman	NWVE – Rossignol
2	135	Eric Tremble	NWVE
3	135	Eli Gallaudet	CSU

M4 (45-49)

1	160	Eric Darling	NWVE
2	120	John Sakalowsky	CSU
3	77	Steve Crafts	Mansfield Nordic

M5 (50-54)

1	125	Pat Giersch	CSU
2	125	Ed Hamilton	NWVE
3	76	Emanuel Betz	NWVE

M6 (55-59)

1	175	Tom Thurston	NWVE
2	104	Christopher Naimie	Bow Nordic
3	85	Chris Bean	Stowe Nordic

M7 (60-64)

1	165	Robert Bradlee	Wide Meadow Ski Club
2	111	Robert Faltus	CSU
3	101	Richard Costanza	Mansfield Nordic

M8 (65-69)

1	175	David Johnston	Mansfield Nordic
2	160	Charlie Gunn	Black Water Nordic Ski Club
3	100	Peter Harris	Craftsbury

M9 (70-74)

1	145	Donavon Freeman	Mt. Washington Nordic
2	127	Perry Bland	NWVE
3	115	John Lazenby	Onion River Nordic

M10 (75-79)

1	70	John Brodhead	Craftsbury
2	55	David Hosmer	Stowe Nordic
3	25	Jonathan Chaffee	Ford Sayre

M11 (80-84)

1	125	Bob Gray	Putney Ski Club
2	45	George Hall	Craftsbury Nordic

M12 (85-89)

1

100

Larry Berman

Cambridge Sports Union

LINK TO FULL RANKINGS PAGE