Justin Beckwith

NENSA is proud to celebrate the success of New England’s forty top cross-country ski racers in naming the 2017-2018 Elite and Development Teams.  The athletes named to these teams were leaders for their clubs and teams in Eastern Cup, Junior National, NCAA, U23/World Junior Championship and World Cup competitions last winter.

This program aims to support and facilitate development of top athletes toward the goal of international excellence.  In addition to recognition for accomplishments, this program provides incentives for athletes to seek high levels of competition, and to encourage athletes to think in terms of long-range development.  Information on qualifying criteria and team benefits can be accessed here: Development / Elite.  Look for team members this winter wearing a specially designed headband from SKIDA.

As part our developing programming, NENSA will be hosting a Pre-Olympic Roller Ski Invitational at the Trapp Family Lodge November 4th.  The forty athletes on these teams will receive the first invitations.  Stay tuned for more details on this exciting opportunity to watch the best skiers in New England (and the world) to be held in conjunction with the NENSA/NNF Winter Kickoff Party!

Congratulations to all of the athletes and we look forward to seeing what you accomplish this winter.

Development Team Members 2017-2018
Elite Team Members 2017-2018

Twenty-nine golfers showed up to play an adventuresome and downright wet round of golf Monday morning to benefit the NENSA Athlete Fund and Programming.  As the golfers emerged from their cars and peered out from under gore tex shells and hats, after traveling from all corners of New England, it was clear the weather wasn’t going to deter the event or the hardy NE skiers!

The Sugarbush Golf Resort was welcoming to our group — accommodating us with encouraging smiles, tasty box lunches, and a warm clubhouse and course we had to ourselves.

Throughout the round you could here excitement and revelry in familiar voices, and one voice in particular, that of Peter Graves, made it feel as if we might have been at a ski race!

Despite the rain their were some fantastic scores, led by a dangerous trio of Williams alums in Hans Halvorsen, Evan Dethier and Than Finan, who posted a 61 or nine under par for the 18 hole scramble.  They certainly had some magic going, and learned to read not only the greens, but also the current running across them!

Of special note was that four junior skiers, Callie and Jack Young, Erik Lindahl and Greg Burt competed in both the tournament and the roller ski race the day before.  It was inspiring to see their athleticism and calm, competitive drive in each of the events.

After the round we celebrated our best players on the day with great prizes from the Trapp Family Lodge, LL Bean, Sugarbush, Golf Digest and Toko.

We look forward to making this event bigger and better, and most likely a touch sunnier for next year.  If you are interested in next year please contact justin@nensa.net, and stay posted for an announcement of our 2018 date.

A big thank you to all who came out and supported NENSA — as promised, it was a memorable event!!

A spectacular community came out for the 2017 App Gap Challenge to watch fifty-six competitors kick, glide and skate up the east side of Appalachian Gap.  Cool weather and a fantastic volunteer crew made an enjoyable experience for all — not to mention the awesome food prepared by the staff of Mad River Glen!

The performance of the day went to Kamran Husain (SMS/Dartmouth) who broke David Sinclair’s historical record from 2010 by six seconds with a time of 30:28 and won the Open Men.  Lia Van Dyke took the victory for the Open Women with a time of 30:01.

Elliot Ketchel (GMVS/Bowdoin) and Alexandra Lawson (Craftsbury/Middlebury College) took top junior honors with the 4th (31:18) and 2nd (26:58) fastest historical times respectively.  Olympian, Dorcas Wonsavage, was the top woman Master with a time of 29:08.  Eli Enman from Sleepy Hollow Nordic Center showed is Mastery of the mens field with a time of 32:59.  Perhaps the most inspired showing of the day was that of King Milne, who at 74 years young,  propelled himself up the mountain with smiles and grace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A big thanks to all our sponsors and supporters who made this great event possible: EventSet, LL Bean, Swix, Toko, Nokian Tires, Swenor, Start, Bliz, Salomon, Rossignol, Fischer, Trapp Family Lodge, SKIDA and Nifhlheim Nordic.

We look forward to seeing an even bigger event next year!

RESULTS with top four historical times: App Gap 2017 Results

Some great shots from Dave Priganc.

NENSA is excited to announce the 2017-2018 Eastern Cup Schedule. These four race weekends are NENSA’s signature race series, bringing together Junior, Senior, and Master skiers. They also serve as qualifying races for the New England Junior National Team. We would like to extend our thanks to the many venues that bid for this year’s events and we look forward to a competitive and snowy winter.

NENSA Eastern Cup “OPENER” WEEKEND #1
Fort Kent, Maine
Hosted by the Fort Kent Outdoor Center
December 16-17, 2017

Saturday December 16 – Skate Sprint

Sunday December 17 – Classic Mass Start (5km / 10km)

NENSA Eastern Cup WEEKEND # 2
Ripton, Vermont
Hosted by the Rikert Touring Center
January 13-14, 2018

Saturday January 13 – Classic Sprint

Sunday January 14 – Skate Interval Start (5km U16 / 10km Women and Men)

NENSA Eastern Cup WEEKEND #3
Stowe, Vermont
Hosted by the Trapp Family Lodge
February 3-4, 2018 **Saturday race combined with EISA / UVM Carnival

Saturday February 3 – Classic Interval Start (5km U16 and Women / 10km Men)

Sunday February 4 – Skate Mass Start (5km U16 / 10km Women / 15km Men)

NENSA Eastern Cup Weekend #4
DAY ONE – Hanover, New Hampshire
Hosted by the Dartmouth XC Ski Center at Oak Hill (Ford Sayre/Dartmouth College)
February 10-11, 2018 **Saturday race combined with EISA / Dartmouth Carnival

Saturday February 10, 2018 – Skate Interval Start (5km U16 and Women / 10km Men)

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DAY TWO – Plymouth, New Hampshire
Hosted by the Holderness School Nordic Club

Sunday February 11, 2018 – Classic Interval Start (5km U16 / 10km Women / 15km Men)