This summer NENSA conducted the first Virtual Regional Elite Group (REG) camp. There was robust participation in the camp not just from nominated athletes, but also from clubs throughout the region participating in standardized testing. Four male and female participants in the REG Camp rose to the top with their results in a 3000 meter running test, the Canadian Strength test and their National Ranking. These athletes will be contacted directly by USST staff to accept their nomination to participate in this program. Read more about the program from U.S. Ski & Snowboard below the nominations.
Nina Seemann – Craftsbury
Ava Thurston – Mansfield Nordic
Quincy Massey-Bierman – Craftsbury
Sofia Scirica – CSU
Finn Sweet – Craftsbury GRP
Brian Bushey – GMVS
Adam Carlisle – Dublin XC
Sam Murray – Putney / Caldwell Sport
National Elite Group (NEG)
The National Elite Group is a camp project typically held in conjunction with the fall U.S. Ski Team (USST) and fall National Training Group (NTG) camp. This year this opportunity will be held virtually. NEG is the same age range as the Junior National Training Group (NTG) and athletes are typically directly embedded and immersed for one week of the two-week USST fall camp allowing them to experience firsthand how USST and NTG athletes live and train. While athletes are nominated to the NTG due to international and national winter competition success, the National Elite Group (NEG) camp is a second opportunity for junior athletes to be nominated to a National Development Project. Much of the success in future winter performance stems from holistic and comprehensive training in the summer months. NEG is a means to reward junior athletes for their hard work and focus in the summer months, yet may not have qualified for the National Training Group. U.S. Ski Team staff collaborate with the regional coordinators utilizing the time trials and National Ranking List to select a minimum of 1 boy and 1 girl from each REG to be nominated to NEG (due to the virtual nature of camp this year a few more invitations per region have been extended). Additional nominations are selected based on the strength of each respective REG. Some flexibility is maintained in the selection process to allow for regional input and increase the opportunity for the athletes to fill the twelve-person camp roster.
Selection Criteria: (Link) Approximately 12 athletes among the four REG camps are nominated to the National Elite group. Athletes are nominated to NEG based on their performance at their respective Regional Elite Group (REG) camp as well as their U.S. Ski & Snowboard overall National Ranking List (NRL) placement. The three-time trials plus their overall U.S. Ski and Snowboard National Ranking Lists placement are equally weighted and scored via World Cup points. Junior athletes can be nominated to both NTG and NEG. It is commonplace that an NTG athlete will also be nominated to the NEG since those athletes performing well on snow and hence meeting NTG standards often also perform well in the REG summer tests. Successful outcomes on snow are a result of adapting general skill competencies in a sport-specific manner.
Athletes are nominated to REG after the conclusion of the four REG camps.
Camp: A general outline, early-mid October, Park City, Utah (final virtual program for 2020 will be announced)
Camp will be directed by Kate Barton and other US Ski Team staff and athletes.