We’re less than a week to the first day of winter, and despite challenges, there are options for skiing — not to mention a nice little Nor’easter is about to clip much of New England! Please be safe out there folks – stay local – and help us maintain the health of not just our skiers, but all the communities we visit. If you feel off – DON’T GO.
Quarry Road Opener
The amazing crew at Quarry Road Trails and Ski Club pulled off another successful Opener – with races for all age groups spread responsibly throughout the day. There were 99 registered racers – who navigated health screens and did a great job abiding by mask mandates (a 2020 reality). The Opener also kicked off our Zak Cup competition, providing the first on-snow-in-person event for the the 2021 season. Check out flyingpointroad for stellar photos of the event.
Zak and Club Cup
Zak and Club scoring look a little different this year with accommodations to provide competitive experiences for all, with a focus on getting clubs active throughout the season. Zak Cup rankings have been updated for the first time this season and we have some clubs really getting after it in the December Club KM Challenge. We’re recording overall kilometers skied throughout all the events that will score for the overall Club Champions – incentivized by the A Hall Mark of Excellence award money. We’re about to break 10,000 kilometers halfway through December. There are a smaller number of events this season due to COVID complications – so get planning and figure out how you will make your mark. Popular Race Calendar.
Stay tuned for updates on the Jackson Jaunt – which now has both a 5km and 10km option with added demand for races from junior competitors. Registration for the Virtual Bogburn will open on December 21.
Eastern Cup Opener at Quarry Road Trails
Quarry Road is all in for this weekend’s Eastern Cup Opener. Now branded as a “Maine Cup,” this event is only open to Maine residents to abide by State Guidelines. All competitors who have registered for Bibs and Chips and will be attending this race will receive their Bibs and Chips at the event. Due to the reduced numbers of competitors 30 spots have been opened for junior skiers who do not hold U.S. Ski & Snowboard licenses – these competitors will race after the NRL skiers, receive temporary bibs and chips, and be listed on the NENSA Junior Ranking List. Again safety is paramount – please take extra care to read all pre-event emails – and respond to your Health Screen promptly.
December Club KM Challenge:
There are currently eleven clubs participating in the DCKC — logging nearly 8000km to date, or roughly 500km per day. As a reminder you can reach out to the Competitive Program Director directly to share club activity or update your data on the #DCKC form here. There are likely many kilometers that haven’t been recorded or submitted – there’s no cost to NENSA clubs – and $9000 of reward for the top three clubs over the course of the season. Get out and enjoy the upcoming snow and join in the fun!
All photos @flyingpoint