The Maine Event is probably one of the most progressive rollerski competitions out there — and when you add in 30 mile an hour winds and rain-slick ramps — it really becomes a thing! The fifth running of the XCX (Cross Country Cross) was hosted by the Chisholm Ski Club at the Black Mountain of Maine on October 22nd. The local community rallied to put on an old fashioned show, creating the festival feel the event was originally designed to provide, including a homemade chowder lunch, live music and event t-shirts.
Full Results
Open and Masters Series Standings
The Maine Event was built around concepts of sprinting and agility training, and highlights ramp features that were created in 2018, and are now seen at ski centers nation and worldwide. The first four events were hosted at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, Maine with the core of competitors coming from Bates, Bowdoin and Colby College. Junior participation continues to increase each year with four High School programs represented in 2023.
The competition format typically allows each competitor to run two qualification rounds on a 400 meter course filled with ramps and sweeping turns. This year a game day decision was made after successful first qualifier to run only a single trial, in the interest of safety and reducing exposure to the elements. Skiers were then advanced into head to head brackets, with 16 Open skiers and eight Juniors of each gender advancing. Unlike previous years where two separate, “red” and “blue,” courses where used, in each heat, two athletes charged out onto course together, including jockeying for position on a single ramps feature near the end of the course.
John Bernard Photos
Link to the Sun Journal
Photos by Daryn Slover
The skill of Eastern skiers continues to grow each year and successfully navigating the 2023 Maine Event course certainly highlights that! Throughout the day there were only a handful of minor falls despite all out efforts through the twists and turns of the course and slippery ramp surfaces.
Competitors were able to utilize the lodge at Black Mountain for refuge throughout the day with food service, a live band and an indoor corn hole tournament. Prior to awards NENSA recognized Roger Arsenault with the John Caldwell award to recognize his efforts in the Chisholm ski community — a community with a rich history and a rebirth of energy — including a thriving youth club.
Competitors in Open, Junior and Junior rounds were then awarded with Cabot Cheese and Grandpa’s maple syrup.
Open Women Podium
1 Emma Crum – Bowdoin
2 Jori Grialou – Bowdoin
3 Nyla Scott – Gould
Open Men Podium
1 Ellis Slover – Gould
2 Lucas Barstow – Gould
3 Tabor Greenberg – GMVS
Junior Women Podium
1 Reese Furneaux – Gould
2 Hannah Grohman – Gould
3 Mirra Payson – Bowdoin
Junior Men Podium
1 Eli Shifrin – Bowdoin College
2 Aidan Jacobus – GMVS
3 James Crowley – Gould
Junior Women Podium
1 Nora McCourt – Mt Blue High School
2 Izzy Glackin – Bates
3 Mallory Raymond – Gould
Junior Men Podium
1 Henri McCourt – Mt Blue High School
2 Simon Goldstein – Colby
3 Andy Defor – Colby
The 2023 Rollerski Series wraps up November 5th with the Mt. Greylock Hill Climb. This more traditional cross country ski event makes a beautiful undulating climb to the highest point of Massachusetts. As a culmination of the competitive rollerski season, we expect skiers of all ages and are offering both classic and freestyle options for masters skiers and long and short course options for all. Awards will honor the top Open, Junior and Masters, crown the 2023 Masters Hill Climber Award winners and recognize the 2023 NENSA College Cup winner. We hope the temperate weather holds until the November 6th when we can all shift our attention to gliding on snow once again!
