Fred Bailey

While winter may be dumping lots of snow on the East this week, the end of the season races are quickly approaching.  This year the Craftsbury Outdoor Center is hosting the last Popular races on the NENSA calendar, the NENSA Club Relay Championships (all legs will be freestyle) and a 40km Classic Marathon.  

“The NENSA Club Relay Championship attracts skiers of all ages and abilities and is the perfect way to involve all club members in a fun and exciting event.  It is a true test to see who has the premier ski club/team in New England” – former event host – Jim Fredericks. 

This year’s event will determine the final placings in the season long Club Cup standings.  There is tight competition between the top six teams, with NWVE coming on strong in the final events.  Will you be there to see if Mansfield, Ford Sayre, EMXC, GMVS, NWVE or the Craftsbury Ski Club come out on top?  Better yet, will you partake and enjoy the festivities while helping improve your club’s season standing?  There will be awards for teams with cumulative ages under 100, over 100 and over 200 years – choose your teammates wisely! The Relays will be followed by a community-wide BBQ and NENSA will present the end of season awards.  Make sure to bring your lawn chair, sunscreen, and best relay costumes as well as some friends to enjoy the event with!

Please note that SuperTour Finals will be taking place in the same location and days as these events.  The NENSA Club Relay Championships will take place prior to the National Championship Relay (9am start for New England Club Relay, 11am start for National Championship Relay).  This gives the Club relay competitors a chance to cheer on the pros!  The following day, the Popular marathon will start at the same time as the National Championship 40km and Junior 20km – everyone will be seeded according to NRL rank, or will be seeded in the back of the field if they have no USSS license.  Expect to see junior skiers finishing halfway through the race.  This is a long race, so no need to sweat where you get placed in the start, just ease your way into the race and have fun!

There’s a lot of information on the registration and event pages.  Here are NENSA’s tips for registering:

1. Go to Craftsbury’s event page
2. Click on the registration link (also view Race Guide via link for important details)
3. On registration page, scroll down to see Popular Events group
4. Select the events you want and follow prompts
5. If you’re doing the NENSA Club Relay Championship:
   1. Register at the same time as your three teammates (this could be a fun zoom meeting)
   2. One member of your team must fill out this google form to complete team registration (all team members must register on Skireg first)
6. Check out Craftsbury’s Club Relay Championship document for more information

***Note Registration prices increase after March 17th, relay registration closes March 22nd.

Long Haul Loppet Recap:

This year’s Long Haul Loppet was held on a beautiful sunny March day.  JacksonXC’s Ellis River trails were groomed to perfection for touring skiers and racers.  Nearly 150 skiers started over the course of the morning in the self-seeded rolling start.

This event has an old school feel to it, with winding trails that have just enough room for a skate lane and classic tracks.  The elevation change on this uphill/downhill course is noticeable not online fatigue, but the change in snow conditions, with the upper parts of the course having powdery snow.  Meanwhile the lower parts having faster transformed snow, more typical of March skiing.  For their efforts skiers were rewarded with another feature of old school skiing – a fun kilometers long downhill to the finish!
Long Haul Loppet photos

Results

See Damian Bolduc’s event recaps for more in-depth coverage of the Long Haul Loppet and the Hard’ack.

Hard’ack Recap by Tyler Magnan:

by Chisholm Ski Club announcer Craig Zurhorst

The Chisholm Ski Club’s Youth Development Program and the Mountain Valley Nordic Ski Teams needed a new place to wax skis and to serve as a meeting space.  One man envisioned, then spearheaded the transformation of the v-board storage shed into a beautiful and very functional waxing room to serve the needs of the next generation of Nordic skiers from the River Valley. . . that man was Chisholm Ski Club Youth Development Program coach, and Chisholm Ski Club Chief of Course, Dan Warner. . . we know him as “Mouse”.  To recognize his work and dedication to our young skiers and to the Chisholm Ski Club, it is our great honor and even greater pleasure to name this facility, “The Warner Wax Cabin!”  Thank you, Mouse for all your work and dedication!

March has rolled around and with it some of the best snow conditions of the year!  For many of us that coincides with our best ski fitness/endurance of the season.  Happily enough this is also the time of year that the region’s big touring center host ski marathons and relays.  Whether you are looking for a fun long distance adventure with family and/or friends, looking for something a little higher paced or some goofy fun with teammates, each event has something for you!

On March 11th JacksonXC hosts the Long Haul Loppet – final event in the NENSA Marathon and Zak series.  This is another fabulous course that offer big loop skiing through beautiful mixed forests, while winding its way through the Ellis River trails at JacksonXC.  This event offers a rolling start, meaning you can begin anytime between 9 and 10am.  This gives you the chance to start at your own pace or choose which group of family and/or friends you want to ski with.  This event offers 22.5 and 12.6km distance options in either technique. Come out and enjoy some great March skiing!

The final NENSA Club Cup event of the season is appropriately a team affair.  The New England Club Relay Championships take place on March 25th at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center.  This is an excellent opportunity for sporting your favorite team attire – be it tutus and glitter, Superman costumes, old national team suits, or some outlandish outfit, there is room for all.  Not to mention there will be a plethora of witty team names.  Bring three of you friends (or more for multiple teams) and have a blast in the woods at Craftsbury.  And if that wasn’t enough fun, the National Relay championships will be happening the same day, so you can cheer on your favorite elite skiers.  Additionally NENSA will be handing out its end of season Zak and Club awards.  So bring lawn chairs, snacks & cowbells to make a day of playing in the March snow and sun with the Eastern Ski Community!

For more details on this month’s cross country ski event choices, check out the links below:   Rangeley Loppet and Burt Kettle Classic, Hard’ack, Long Haul Loppet, The New England Club Relay Championships

This coming Sunday is full of exciting cross country ski racing!  Last year’s Stratton Terrain Challenge was quite a thrill with all sorts of fun obstacles and a good mix of single track and groomed trails.  In a sense it was a throw back to the days of skiing over rough natural terrain, where skiers had to be flow with the bumps and turns.  This idea combined with some artificial features, like slalom gates and hay bales to traverse makes for a wicked thrill.  Get out and try it at the second running of the Stratton Terrain Challenge!

If downhill thrills or long distance skiing are more up your alley, the Stowe Derby and the Lake Placid Loppet should be on your list of must-do ski events.  The next stop on the NENSA Marathon Series is the Lake Placid Loppet. Based out of the newly renovated competition center at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, this event is a beautiful show case of the 1980 Olympic Legacy trails.  And if those aren’t hard enough for you, you can always climb the Mt. Washington Auto Road in the Ski, Shoe & Fatbike to the Clouds.  Make the most of what is sure to be a memorable Sunday of skiing, by bringing along some friends and sharing in the adventure and stories!  For more details on this weekend’s cross country ski event choices, check out the links below:   Stratton Terrain Challenge Stowe Derby Lake Placid Loppet Ski, Shoe & Fatbike to the Clouds    

The final Eastern Cup weekend is the last chance for juniors skiers in New England to qualify for the region’s Junior National team.  These races show case some of the best racing of the season and a stacked junior field, with over 250 skiers toeing the start line each day. The weekend got off to a quick start with freestyle sprints on some very fast snow.  With so many juniors racing and making the Open rounds, nearly half the field had to opportunity to race in the heats and gain valuable experience!

On day two of racing, skiers made their way around the course in classic technique, with the Open racers doing doing 10km and the U16s completing 6km.  Klister was the wax flavor of the day, with changing conditions as the course was skied in and the temperatures rose.  Despite the day’s challenges, the racers thrived, showing how to make the skis and wax work in tricky snow!

It was an exciting final weekend in the Eastern Cup Club standings.  With the top three athletes per team in each age group earning points, scores are combined from both days of racing.  In the U18/U20 Men’s field GMVS (238pts) set the pace with a 22 point lead over Ford Sayre (216pts) in second, separated by 1 point over Prospect Mountain Ski Club (215pts) in third. It was closer in the U18/U20 Women’s races with EMXC (148pts) taking the top spot by 8 points over Mansfield Nordic (140pts), with the Colby College Nordic Ski Team (123pts) securing third position.  In the U16 Boys races GMVS (114pts) was again the winner with a slim lead over Gould Academy (112pts). Mansfield Nordic Club took the third spot (100pts).  The U16 Girls category saw Craftsbury Ski Club (108pts) rising to the top, with EMXC (97pts) and GMVS (96pts) in a tight battle for second and third.

Results & Eastern Cup Club Rankings

Photos by Samuel Geissinger

Photos by Daryl Slover

NENSA Photos

Sprint Races:

Open Women:
1) Evelyn Walton – EMXC
2) Sophia Scirica – EMXC
3) Sophia Kelting – NYSEF

Open Men:
1) Sam Gallaudet – EMXC
2) Isak Nightingale – Colby
3) Elvis McIntosh – GMVS

U16 Girls:
1) Amelia Circosta – Craftsbury
2) Annelies Hanna – Ford Sayre
3) Mary Harrington – GMVS

U16 Boys:
1) Lucas Barstow – Gould
2) Henri McCourt – Mt. Blue High School
3) James Crowley – Gould

U18 Girls:
1) Mirra Payson – EMXC
2) Virginia Cobb – Mansfield
3) Beth McIntosh – GMVS

U18 Boys:
1) Eli Shifrin – Gould
2) Luke Rizio – Prospect
3) Tyler Watt – Gunstock

U20 Women:
1) Clara Lake – EMXC
2) Emma Page – Mansfield
3) Morgan St. Martin – Orford (missing)

U20 Men:
1) Parke Chapin – GMVS
2) Joe Grazidei – GMVS
3) Lucas Palcsik – GMVS

Classic Races:

Open Women:
1) Emma Crum – Bowdoin
2) Evelyn Walton – EMXC
3) Virginia Cobb – Mansfield

Open Men:
1) William Riley – Gunstock
2) Aiden Jacobus – GMVS
3) Sam Gallaudet – EMXC

U16 Girls:
1) Claire Serrano – Craftsbury
2) Francis Tucker – EMXC
3) Ava Schneider – GMVS

U16 Boys:
1) David Northcott – Caldwell Sport
2) Henri McCourt – Mt. Blue High School
3) Charlie Kehler – Craftsbury

U18 Girls:
1) Beth McIntosh – GMVS
2) Julia Thurston – Mansfield
3) Addison Englund – Holderness

U18 Boys:
1) Chip Freeman – SMS (missing)
2) Benjamin Condit – Quarry Road
3) Tyler Watt – Gunstock

U20 Women:
1) Emma Page – Mansfield
2) Clara Lake – EMXC
3) Elizabeth Graziani – GMVS

U20 Men:
1) Parke Chapin – GMVS
2) Isak Nightingale – Colby (missing)
3) Geo Debrosse – Mansfield (missing)

While unseasonable warm weather last week ate up much of New England’s snow pack, the trails at the Dublin School Nordic Center were well prepared for such an event, having up to one meter of artificial snow on the ground. Kudos to the snowmaking and grooming staff for providing our community with great conditions on the sprint course and 2km race loop for the weekend! Thank you to the crew at DublinXC and the Dublin School for hosting a great weekend of racing!

Mansfield Nordic Skiathlon

Huge Thanks to the Mansfield Nordic Club and Sleepy Hollow for hosting such a fun event for all ages.

Results

Another gorgeous February day graced this year’s Flying Moose Classic.  Inland Woods + Trails put in a lot of overnight grooming effort to give skiers the best possible classic tracks for the day.  Members of the Bethel Outing Club showed up in force to help host the event in collaboration with Nonstop Nordic who brought live timing to the event for the first time.  The event felt like a really community gathering that seemed to go on all day.  Kids could be seen playing on the side of the trail while junior and adult skiers socialized throughout the day.

The day kicked off with the younger BKL skiers doing a 1km race that zigzagged its way around the scenic upper fairway at the Bethel Inn.  Next came the lollipop race, followed by the Middle School 3km.  It was great to see young skiers from across the region participating!

The self-seeded 25km & 12.5km mass start races took off simultaneously.  A much larger field of skiers made their way around the course this year, more than double last year’s entires!  There were lots of positive comments from the athletes and smiling faces at the finish as well as team photo-ops.  Some of the younger athletes added an element of fun to their race by skiing in ridiculous costumes.  The event was capped off with a nice outdoor awards ceremony at the finish followed by an after party at Carter’s XC on nearby Intervale Road.

Results

Darn Slover Photos

NENSA photos

While it may only be February, it feels like spring is in the air.  And among us nordic types spring usually brings thoughts of late season racing at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center.  This year will not disappoint as we will be joined by the nation’s best for SuperTour Finals from March 22-26th.  This series includes Freestyle Sprint, Relay and Marathon national championship races.

Those of us that are not elite level racers can also participate – including the New England Club Relay Championships. What better way to end your race season than with some team camaraderie, be it with goofy team names, outrageous costumes, or just some good fun in the sun with your friends.  Additionally, NENSA will be handing out their end of season Zak and Club awards on relay day!  For registration and more information on SuperTour Finals & New England Club Relay Championships please click on the link to see Craftsbury’s event page.

Recap provided by DJ Baumert:

The Great Caribou Bog Classic Ski race took place on Sunday Feb. 5Th, 2023 in Orono, Maine.  This is the first year this race has been part of the NENSA Marathon Series. 10K, 21K, and 33K distance options were offered.  A total of 40 racers completed one of the race distances.  Despite the very challenging weather conditions just prior to the race, the groomers did a great job at the last minute to make a quality race course.  This race was the first event to take place at the new Caribou Bog Outdoor Center that is associated with the 4 seasonal trail system used for the race.  The Great Caribou Bog Classic Ski Race is an iconic local citizen race that started in 1980s and was brought back 4 years ago after not being held for nearly 10 years. 

The male female winners of the three race distances are:

10K –  male; Kyle McCellan, female; Ruth White (note: Ruth White was first overall!)

21K – male; Tyson Weems, female; Joelle Zuhke

33K – male; Gregg Harkay, female; Kate Locke

The awards for the first male and female finishers for each race were made from hemlock pilings that were used for an elevated trestle on a historic railroad grade that is now part of the Caribou Bog trail system.  Some of these pilings were pulled out this past summer as part of a trail improvement project.  These pilings were from hemlock that are estimated to have started growing in the early 1700s.  

Looking for some cross country skiing thrills this weekend?  Our clubs are hosting a lot of events!  Two of the highlights are the Mansfield Nordic Skiathlon and the Flying Moose Classic.  They are wonderful events that you don’t want to miss!

The Mansfield Nordic Skiathlon, taking place on Saturday February 11th, is a dual technique affair, where skiers traverse the trails at Sleepy Hollow first in classic, then switch their gear half way through, finishing in freestyle.  There are distances for Lollipop, BKL, Junior, Open skiers and those that just want to see what give it a try.  Distances range from less than 1km up to 12km.  If you’ve never experienced changing your skis and poles mid-race, it is a special thrill and definitely one to have on your list of must haves experiences!  For more details & registration visit the Mansfield Nordic Club event page.

This year marks the 32nd annual edition of the Flying Moose Classic, which is also part of this season’s NENSA Marathon series.  This fun and exciting event starts at the Bethel Inn Resort and takes you through the rolling hills and forest lands of the Bethel Inn and Inland Woods and Trail’s in Bethel, Maine, providing you with a wonderful scenic adventure. Skiers can select from either the 12.5KM or 25KM course, also a 3km Middle School race and 1KM kids race that will take them over fun little obstacles and zig-zag pathways.  Awards and cookies to follow at ~12:30 p.m. with a special after party event at Carter’s XC Ski Center with a food truck and beverages (12:00-5:00 p.m.).  For more details & registration visit the Bethel Outing Club event page.