Each year, NENSA recognizes an individual whose leadership reflects the values at the heart of the Bill Koch Youth Ski League (BKL). Recently, the Bill Koch League Leadership Award has honored coaches and volunteers whose dedication has helped generations of young skiers discover a lifelong love of the sport.
This year, NENSA is proud to recognize a different kind of leader.
The 2026 Award will be presented to Ben Ogden (SMST2 / U.S. Ski & Snowboard), whose journey from a young BKL skier in southern Vermont to a two-time Olympic silver medalist illustrates the lasting impact of the Bill Koch philosophy.
The foundation of the BKL is centered on the belief that having fun is at the core of learning to cross country ski and that children can develop physically, psychologically, and socially in a safe, healthy, respectful, inclusive, and supportive environment. From the very beginning, the Bill Koch philosophy has been about far more than developing strong skiers. It encourages young people to embrace skiing as one of many adventures in a full and balanced life, where the friendships, confidence, and joy they gain on snow become part of who they are long after the skis come off.
“It is hard to imagine anyone who better embodies the spirit of the Bill Koch League than Ben,” said NENSA Executive Director Heidi Lange. “The ABCs of BKL – Agility, Balance, and Coordination, are rooted in fun, games, the thrill of skiing fast with friends, multi-sport participation, and plenty of adventure. From podium backflips to mountain biking, auto restoration, vlogging with friends around the world, and tailgating at his BBQ truck, Ben shows us every day how these ideals remain relevant. He models joy, a love of sport, and the balance that sustains such dedication in all he does.”
Today, many people know Ben as a two-time Olympic silver medalist and one of America’s top cross-country skiers. But in New England, he has been a role model for much longer.
Ben’s story began as a Lollipoper skiing with West River in Peru, Vermont. Like countless BKL participants before and after him, he learned to ski through games, exploration, friendships, and adventure.
Ben’s energy and love of life are infectious. He brings joy and laughter wherever he goes, creating an atmosphere where everyone feels welcome to join in the fun. One of the reasons Ben has become such a beloved ambassador for the sport is that people can see how much fun he’s having. His enthusiasm is genuine and contagious.
His older sister, Katharine Call, NENSA Board Vice President, remembers that spirit well.
“Even going back to when Ben was a Bill Koch skier himself, he naturally brought that same energy,” she shared. “Every practice and every race weekend, he was the one leading the group into building a jump, starting a game, or getting everyone excited for whatever came next. You might think that, as his older sister, I would have been the leader, but I wasn’t. I was perfectly happy following Ben’s lead.”
That enthusiasm has never changed.
Whether racing on the World Cup circuit or returning home to Vermont, Ben continues to make time for the next generation of skiers.
Call recalls one particularly meaningful moment during the 2024 Bill Koch Festival in Vermont. Illness caused him to return home from Europe mid-season, Ben wasn’t feeling well and could have easily stayed home. Instead, he spent the weekend visiting with young skiers and supporting the JOY Endowment fundraiser.
“What struck me most was watching all the young skiers flock to him,” Call said. “I knew he wasn’t feeling his best, and it meant a lot that he chose to spend his time with those kids. At the same time, I wasn’t surprised. That’s just who Ben is. He has always made time for the Bill Koch community.”
That commitment was equally evident during the World Cup Finals in Lake Placid.
“Ben was signing autographs before he was supposed to head to a panel discussion,” Call remembered. “He was already running behind schedule, and people kept reminding him that he needed to leave. Ben couldn’t bring himself to walk away while there were still young skiers waiting to meet him. He’s never been someone who’s too famous or big for his britches to stop, connect with a young skier, and make them feel special.”
For the young skiers who meet him, it’s those moments that leave the biggest impression.
“When he came to our school, I liked that he talked about his silver medals, but also that he talked about his cats,” one West River BKL skier shared.
“He’s really nice, and I like that he did a backflip off the podium,” said another.
A third reflected on what Ben’s story means to them: “It’s cool that he got silver medals at the Olympics, and one day he was like me, learning to ski at West River.”
Few people understand that journey better than Bill and Kate Koch.
“Ben learned to ski by playing around and having fun with his friends,” they shared. “He has brought the spirit of community and inclusivity from his BKL days through his high school, college, and national team years, and I love watching him out there still playing and having fun on skis today. Not only is he reminding his peers that skiing is fun, he’s inspiring the next generation.”
The Bill Koch League Leadership Award recognizes individuals who inspire others through joy, curiosity, generosity, sportsmanship, and a genuine love of skiing.
From BKL participant to Olympic medalist, Ben Ogden represents everything the Bill Koch Youth Ski League hopes every child carries with them long after they leave the trails.
