Justin Beckwith

Today was a great day for cross country skiing in New England — with two celebrations — one in New Hampshire for the Caldwell Family and another to push forward the legacy of the sport in Vermont.

55 skiers, ages U16 through Masters, toed the line in an Invitational Race hosted by the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe,Vermont.  The expert field of athletes, including three Olympians, navigated a grueling 10 kilometer course that finished at the Trapp Outdoor Center.

Ida Sargent of the US Ski Team/ Craftsbury Green Team took top honors in the women’ s race covering the course in 31 minutes and 34 seconds.  Liz Stephen, Elizabeth Stephen, aka OMA, was hot on her heels taking second place, representing the US Ski Team and Burke Mountain Academy (32:09).  Sun Valley XC Gold Team member, Kelsey Phinney, took the third position (32:38).

Adam Martin from the Craftsbury Green Team fought his way to victory in the men’s field, covering the course in 28 minutes flat.  He was followed by Caldwell Sport’s, Kris Freeman, a mere 8 seconds behind.  Ben Ogden, a junior sensation from the Stratton Mountain School, rounded out the podium 22 seconds behind Freeman.

Alex Lawson of Middlebury College took top honors for the junior women with a time of 35:25.  Rena Schwartz from the Green Mountain Valley School took second place (36:01), followed by Lillian Fisher from the Stratton Mountain School (36:21).

Albeit Mr. Ogden placed in the Open Field, Karl Schulz, skiing for the University of Vermont, took the victory for the junior men with a time of 29 minutes and 17 seconds.  Greg Burt, of the Green Mountain Valley School, followed in second place at 29:41, and Finn O’Connell of the University of Vermont crossed the line in third (29:54).

The NENSA Elite Invitational brought together a broad age range of the top skiers in New England and US Skiing, showcasing the talent of our cross country athletes.  The event was made possible by the support of the Trapp Family Lodge and the Town of Stowe.  Event sponsors included: Cabot Cheese, Sunrise Orchards, Ploughgate Creamery, Gallagher Brothers Honey and von Trapp Cheese.  Kathy and Marty Hall graciously donated prize money to the winners of the overall field.

After the race our community gathered to celebrate at the von Trapp Bierhall, with awards and a Winter Kickoff Party, which supported the National Nordic Foundation (NNF), and NENSA.

Full results.

Female Podium.

Male Podium.

 

Mark your calendars — in less than two weeks — fifty top ranked skiers from throughout New England will compete in a challenging 10-kilometer roller ski race that will finish at the Trapp Family Lodge Outdoor Center.  This unique event is strategically timed to kickoff the 2018 season with Olympians Kris Freeman, Ida Sargent and Liz Stephen toeing the line along with athletes from the University of Vermont, Dartmouth College, Middlebury College, the Craftsbury Green Team, and NENSA Elite/Development Team members from New England clubs.  Spectators are encouraged to watch this inspired display of talent starting at 3pm on November 4th and then join racers and members of the skiing community at the New England Winter Kickoff Party at the von Trapp Bierhall for an award ceremony and conviviality.

The primary goal of the New England Nordic Ski Association is to create an environment that promotes the athletic development of New England cross-country skiers, supports skiing organizations, and encourages the growth of the sport of cross-country skiing.  This event is designed to bring together top ranked skiers for head to head competition as they put the finishing touches on their off season training and culminate an exciting summer of roller ski competition.  NENSA hopes that the general public, clubs, coaches and athletes will take advantage of this opportunity to learn from and support these elite athletes.

Link to the event and registered athletes.

Link to Winter Kickoff Invite.

Link to racer instructions.

The 2017-18 calendar is filled with a diverse offering of fun and challenging races to be contested across New England. NENSA is excited to announce the New England Marathon Series, the Zak Cup and Club Cup Series, and the One Day Club Championship.

Information about both series is listed below the schedules.
(Please note the Masters World Cup is listed only for reference and not a part of this series.)

Zak & Club Cup Series Schedule:

Dec. 10 – Quarry Road Opener

10km Skate, mass start

Waterville, ME

 

Jan. 6 – Gunstock Nordic January Thaw/Naw

12km Skate men, 8km women, individual start

Gunstock, NH

 

Jan. 7  – Stowe Nordic 10k Classic

10km Classic, mass start

Stowe Mountain Resort Cross Country Center, VT

 

Jan. 15 – Geschmossel

15km Classic, mass start

Bretton Woods, NH

 

Jan. 19 – 26 – Masters World Cup – Not a NENSA Race

Minneapolis, MN

 

Jan. 20 – White Mountain Classic

NENSA 1-Day Club Championship

30km Classic, mass start

Jackson, NH

 

Jan. 27  – Craftsbury Marathon

48km for M1-M6, 32km for M7+ Classic, wave start

Craftsbury Outdoor Center, VT

 

Feb. 4 – Stowe Nordic / Trapp Family Lodge – Eastern Cup Day 2

10km women/15km men Skate, mass start – separate Masters Wave

Stowe, VT

 

Feb. 10 – Bretton Woods Marathon

21km Classic, mass start

Bretton Woods Nordic Center, NH

 

Feb. 11 – Mt. Washington Cup

10km Skate, mass start

Omni Mount Washington Resort, NH

 

Feb. 24 – Bogburn

13km men, 7km women, Classic, interval start

Pomfret, VT

 

Mar. 10 – Flying Moose Classic

22km, mass start

Bethel, ME

 

Mar. 11 – Mansfield Nordic Skiathlon

3x2km Classic & 3x2km Skate, mass start

Craftsbury Outdoor Center, VT

 

Mar. 24 – Craftsbury Spring Fling

30km for M1-M6; 15km for M7+ Skate, mass start

Craftsbury Outdoor Center, VT

 

2018 Marathon Series

Jan. 20 – White Mountain Classic-NENSA 1-Day Club Championship

Jackson, NH

30km classic, mass start

 

Jan. 27  – Craftsbury Marathon

48km for M1-M6, 32km for M7+ Classic, wave start

Craftsbury Outdoor Center, VT

 

Feb. 3 – John Roderick Marathon at Black Mountain

Rumford, ME

25km & 50km skate, wave start

 

Feb.10 – Bretton Woods Marathon

Bretton Woods, NH

42km classic, mass start

 

Mar. 3 – Rangeley Lake Loppett

Rangeley, ME

50K skate and 25K classic Burt Kettle Classic (scored for M7+), mass start

 

Mar. 10 and 11 – Trapp Marathon

Stowe, VT

25km classic Saturday and 25km skate pursuit Sunday

 

Mar. 17 – Quarry Road Marathon

Waterville, ME

40km skate, mass start

 

Mar. 17 – Lake Placid Loppet

Mt. Van Hoevenberg, NY

50km skate or classic (25km option for M7+), mass start

Zak Cup & Club Cup Series Information:

The Zak Cup offers a great Masters racing experience at a diverse set of venues across the region, with each event taking on its own local flavor. The NENSA Zak Cup Series brings together NENSA’s traditional Zak Cup age group series and the Club Cup Series into a single series of events featuring some of New England’s finest citizen races. All events that are part of this series are scored for Club points, with all participants earning at least one point for their club. Only one distance on each day is scored for the Zak Cup to ensure the best head-to-head competition within age groups.

Zak Cup Scoring: Scoring rules remain the same as last year. See NENSA.net for more information.

• Men: M1 – M8: Best 5 finishes but a minimum of 4 finishes needed.
• Men: M9+: Best 4 minimum of 2.
• Women: M1 – M6: Best 5 minimum of 3.
• Women: M7+:  Best 4 minimum of 2.

Zak Cup Points: All participants must be active NENSA members at the time of the race. Scoring for both overall and within NENSA age classes follows a modified World Cup system with points to the top 15 as follows: 25, 20,15,12,11,10, and so on with 0 for 16th and higher. If at the end of the season there is a tie for any of the top 3 places in an age class, the tie is broken first by overall Zak Cup points; if the tie remains then it is broken by head to head competition. If a tie still remains then multiple place awards will be given. Scoring is based on all finishers, regardless of NENSA membership. Final point total is based on the “best-of” criteria described above. Protests for individual race scoring may be filed within 10 days of official race score posting on the NENSA website and within 14 days of final series scoring. Protests should be sent to current Chair NENSA Masters committee, Bryce Wing (Bryce.wing@valley.net).

Club Cup scoring: All participants must be active NENSA member at the time of the race. All skiers in a club older than BKL are scored in their respective age class with 1st-10pts, 2nd- 9pts, 10th and up, 1 pt. Club Affiliation can be changed up until the final race of the series.  Scored points are not changed retroactively, that is a skier scores points for the club for which they are currently racing. At dual distance events both distances are scored for the Club Cup, but only one is scored for the Zak Cup. Non-NENSA finishers are not removed from the results when scored for the Zak Cup or Club Cup.

New England Marathon Series Information:

The events of the New England Marathon Series offer a classic cross country ski experience with fully supported courses showcasing some of New England’s premier venues. The New England Marathon Series has something for everyone, welcoming skiers of all levels to test their endurance, or just make the most of a winter’s day on courses ranging from 25K to 50K. Elite racers and recreational touring skiers alike are invited to enjoy a traditional ski marathon experience and some of the finest skiing in New England.

With continued support from L.L.Bean and Swix, NENSA will continue to offer the New England Marathon Series Challenger Award. Racers will need to complete a minimum of four races to be counted for the Marathon Challenger Award.

• Distances: M1-M6 must race Full Marathons.
• M7+ have option to ski ½ or Full Marathon, with the exception of Jackson where everyone skis 30k.

One hundred college, junior, and master skiers toed the line at the NENSA Fall Rollerski Classic presented by Mansfield Nordic Club and Ethan Allen Biathlon Club yesterday.

The weather was perfect for racing and the organizing committee did a superb job with course preparation, timing, food and awards.  Although the athletes were on roller skis there was a race feel, with many putting on the bib for the first time this season.

University of Vermont skiers, Bill Harmeyer and Evelina Sutro took home overall victories for the Male and Female 10km classic race.  Mansfield Nordic Club’s own Aidan Burt and Magdalena topped the U16 fields on their home course.

Complete Results:
2017-MNC_EABC-fall-classic

Fantastic Photos by Liam John and Carl Priganc:
Photos

NENSA is excited to continue to promote head to head racing opportunities for Eastern skiers.  We look forward to our next roller ski race, the NENSA Elite Invitational to be held at the Trapp Family Lodge on 11/4.  Mark your calendars and help kickoff this Olympic winter by watching the best skiers in the East — some of whom will be representing the US in PyeongChang 2018!!

It’s that time of year!  NENSA is looking to build the coach and tech staff for the 2020 Junior Nationals to be held March 7th – 14th in Truckee, California.  Submit an application on our google form here.

Help support New England Juniors in their quest for individual and divisional success.  We are looking for team players, both wily veterans and aspiring coaches, to create a fun and focused staff.  Please direct any questions to justin@nensa.net

xcjuniornationals2020.com/

facebook.com/xcjuniornationals2020/