For a couple of mornings in Maine last weekend, it felt just a little more like winter.. 30 skiers from across the Pine Tree State re-united from last winter’s Eastern High School and U16 Championships for a two-day camp hosted by Maine Nordic and Gould Academy in Bethel!
There was plenty of ski-specific learning to do, and they came with some Maine civics lessons too. We learned the State Motto of Dirigo, or “I lead”…with my hips in a double-pole, to make sure setting our wax pocket is as snappy as the first bite into a red snapper, and to pursue nordic skiing with a whole lot of Moxie too!
A big thank you to Gould Program Director Ben Kamilewicz and Nonstop Nordic’s Emily Cartwright for spearheading organizing efforts to revive the Maine Team Camp. Skiers got to work with Gould Academy coaches John Henry Paluszek and Mia Shifrin, Nonstop’s Jack Woodcock, and NENSA’s Ben Theyerl throughout camp. We also got a special guest appearance from former Maine and Bates standout Dave Chamberlain, who checked in to tell his inspiring tale of going from Maine to the world on nordic skis!
It was a weekend which lived up to the motto on the welcome sign, “Maine…the way (skiing) life should be!
EHS and U16 Team Leaders – Interested in Setting up a Similar Program in Your State – Contact NENSA: Ben Theyerl, ben@nensa.net.
