Kait Miller

The New England Nordic Ski Association invites you and your friends to try for a spot at NENSA Eastern U16 Championships and Eastern High School Championships.  This year’s Eastern High School Championship weekend will be held at the Rikert Outdoor Center in Ripton, Vermont on March 10-12th, 2023 and the U16 Championship weekend will be held at the Fort Kent Outdoor Center in Fort Kent, Maine on March 17-19th, 2023. Top junior racers from our Northeastern region and beyond participate in this event, vying for team bragging rights. All athletes must compete in their respective state’s qualification events to be eligible to participate in these two Championship events, this includes Para and non-Para athletes. Each state has a quota of 24 boys and 24 girls, plus Para athletes. See the links below to learn about each state’s qualifying process.

Maine Qualifying Information
Massachusetts Qualifying Information
New Hampshire Qualifying Information
New York Qualifying Information
Vermont Qualifying Information
Out of Region skiers or coaches please email [email protected]

Further details can be found on our U16 Championship Event Page and our Eastern High School Championship Page.

These Championship events provide excellent opportunities for our skiing community to come together, celebrate, push ourselves, cheer each other on, and make new friends. We hope that the festive atmosphere of these events form warm memories for years to come.  

The 22nd Women’s XC Ski Day was picture perfect and our largest one yet! We are so grateful to JacksonXC and their dedicated staff and volunteers for hosting us. Jackson was a winter wonderland and they did a fabulous job with the grooming.

Here’s a little background for those of you who may not be familiar with the event. Women’s XC Ski Day was started in 2002 by Olympian Trina Hosmer of Stowe, VT. Trina was inspired by her “Sisters in Skiing” in Anchorage, Alaska, who started the Alaska Ski for Women in 1997. Like the Alaskans’ original event, Women’s XC Ski Day chooses a non-profit women’s organization to benefit, and gathers as many participants as it can for a day of cross country skiing which includes lunch and a raffle. The highlight of the day is learn-to-ski clinics with women instructors; the emphasis being on relaxed, fun learning in a supportive and encouraging environment. All ability, skill, and experience levels are welcome.

This year’s event kicked off Saturday evening with a social hosted at JacksonXC featuring tasty cheese from Cabot Creamery and delicious beer from Allagash. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet new people and catch up with old friends over snacks and drinks.

Clinics got underway Sunday morning with this year’s event offering 7 clinic options ranging from Introductory Classic to Skate Uphill/Downhill and everything in between. There were also guided classic and skate ski tours lead by local women skiers. We are eternally grateful to the many women instructors who share their expertise, enthusiasm, and love of skiing with the participants year-after-year.

After the morning clinics, everyone enjoyed a bagged lunch and listened to 3x Olympian Dorcas DenHartog talk about the journey that led to the creation of the book “Trail to Gold: The Journey of 53 Women Skiers.” The presentation was followed by a panel discussion and book signing with the five women Olympians in attendance–Trina Hosmer, Caitlin Patterson, Leslie Bancroft Krichko, Dorcas DenHartog, and Kait Miller. Proceeds from book sales are donated to the “Trail to Gold Fellowship” which is a collaboration between the National Nordic Foundation and the Women Ski Coaches Association that is sending 5 women coaches to the World Cup for a two-week immersive internship with the US Ski Team. You can read more about the fellowship HERE and books can be purchased HERE. The lunch time ski break also featured our NENSA sponsor raffle! And wow, were there some good items on that table…

Following the afternoon ski clinics where women fine-tuned skills they learned that morning or challenged themselves to something new, the event wrapped up with the fundraising raffle, a waxing clinic, and some more snacks from Cabot Creamery. This year we were honored to raise over $1500 for our benefit organization, Starting Point, which is non-profit organization in Conway, NH dedicated to ensuring quality services are provided to victims of relationship violence and sexual abuse, preventing future relationship violence, promoting social change, and encouraging accountability and education for perpetrators and stalkers.

Before we wrap up this recap, we’d like to express our gratitude to our associate level sponsors – L.L.Bean, Swix, Salomon, and Fischer. And make special shoutout to the folks from Fischer, Salomon, Rossignol, Skida, Paradis Sport, Cross Country Skier Magazine, and Sidas who attended the event in-person with product for participants to try and buy.

And last, but not least, thank you to everyone who attended this year’s event and we hope to see you out on the trails! You can relive the day by checking out this awesome photo album HERE from Midge Eliassen and the video recap below.

The 2023 Women’s XC Ski Day event is full! This year’s event has been quite popular, we have already expanded our registration cap, and our waitlist is long. If you signed up for our waitlist, you can check your position HERE. Please note that we are moving people off the waitlist in the order they registered from both the NENSA member and nonmember lists. We will reach out to you before moving you off the list to make sure you can still make it. If you are registered for the event and cannot make it, please email [email protected] by January 20th so we can fill your spot prior to event day. There is no day-of registration this year and we will not be accepting day of substitutions for folks who are no shows. Thanks for understanding!

Full event information HERE.

NENSA was thrilled to be collaborate with WinterKids on their Welcome to Winter event last week at Lost Valley Ski Area in Auburn, ME! WinterKids helps children develop healthy lifelong habits through education and fun, outdoor winter activity by creating opportunities for children to be active, vibrant and healthy in the outdoors. Their Welcome to Winter event is an annual celebration of fun ways to stay active in winter. Originally created to welcome new Mainers to winter, the event has expanded to allow all members of the community to come and try out healthy ways to remain active outdoors during the winter months. This free event offered a chance to try snowshoeing, cross country and downhill skiing, snowboarding, tubing, snow sculpting, and more while enjoying hot chocolate and s’mores. 

NENSA ran cross-country skiing station with a fleet of snowboot binding skis from our Nordic Rocks program (courtesy of Madshus, Lost Nation R&D, the Share Winter Foundation, and the Killington World Cup Foundation). It was awesome to see so many young people trying new winter activities and having fun outside in the snow. We were thrilled to also connect with our long time sponsor and supporter, LL Bean, who was running the snowshoe station next door.

WinterKids is doing truly outstanding work getting kids outside and active during the long Maine winter, and we’re grateful to collaborate with them in working towards our overlapping missions! Check out their website HERE to learn more about what they do.

The Bill Koch Youth Ski League Festival is the marquee event of the Bill Koch Youth Ski League. This fun annual Festival features races as well as a wide variety of exciting non-competitive winter activities for skiers of all skill and ability levels from kindergarten up to 8th grade!

This year’s Festival will be held March 4-5, 2023 on the beautiful trails at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center in Craftsbury, VT. The dedicated folks at Craftsbury are planning fun races and exciting activities with the theme North Woods in Winter! You can read all about the theme HERE.

REGISTER

Event Registration Options

Nordic Adventure Entry (non-timed events): Includes the parade, mini-marathon, terrain park, laser biathlon with US Biathletes, maple sugaring demos, draft horse logging demos, an autograph session with Bill Koch, and more. For Grades K-8.

**Nordic Adventure events are included with race entry (details below)**

Lollipop Race Entry: Includes the mass start untimed lollipop race and the Nordic Adventure activities. For Grades K-2.

**Children Grade 2 and younger can sign up as Lollipop participants or if they are in 1st or 2nd grade and wish to participate in the 1k pair start race and relay race, they can sign up for the Grades 1&2 Race Category (details below).**

Race Entry Grades 1-8: Includes the Saturday skate relay race (which is a paired team race), the Sunday pair/individual start classic race (finish order posted and awards for all grades, times only included for Grades 5-8, pair start for Grades 1-6, individual start for Grades 7&8), and all Nordic Adventure activities.

** Please note there is a $15 price increase for all race categories on February 10th **

All registration categories include an event t-shirt and you can pick your size during checkout. Participants who register on or before January 26th are guaranteed a festival t-shirt. 

Stay tuned to our website HERE for updates and full event details.

Sunday February 5th, 2023 | Concord Community Nordic Trails at Beaver Meadow Golf Course

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Never been on cross-country skis before but curious to try? We’d love to see you at Beaver Meadow Golf Course on February 5th for a free Learn-to-Ski clinic! Equipment loans are included. Cross-country skiing is a fun way to get outside and enjoy winter right in your own backyard or at your local community ski center. These Learn-to-Ski clinics are geared towards people 6 years of age and older of all backgrounds and identities who have never been on cross-country skis before. We aim to create a welcoming, inclusive, and safe environment for people to try a new sport and discover the joy of gliding on snow. We ask that anyone under 14 years of age has a parent/caregiver with them participating or supervising.

Registration: For equipment-fitting purposes it is helpful if you register ahead of time online HERE although day-of drop-ins are more than welcome and we will do our best to accommodate everyone with equipment.

Clinic Details: Clinics will be led by teachers and coaches who are experienced in working with people new to skiing. We ask that folx only attend one clinic so we can accommodate as many people as possible unless there is enough equipment to meet everyone’s needs. Clinics will cover classic cross-country skiing basics including skiing on flat terrain, getting up from a fall, climbing, and navigating downhills.

Additional Offerings: Visit the Ski Expo where equipment suppliers and outfitters from the ski industry will be on hand with goods to try. We will also be raffling off some fun items after each ski clinic from our NENSA sponsors. Lastly, visit The 19th Hole Bar at Beaver Meadow in the clubhouse for food offerings.

Be Prepared: Read about what to wear to stay warm and comfortable HERE. Indoor bathrooms are available in the Beaver Meadow Clubhouse.

Schedule:

10:30am-2:45pm: Ski Expo: Equipment suppliers and outfitters from the ski industry will be on hand with goods to try.

10:30am-12:00pm: Morning Learn-to-Ski Clinic

1:00-2:30pm: Afternoon Learn-to-Ski Clinic

Please direct any questions to [email protected].

NENSA is thrilled to be offering TWO versions of XC Ski Bingo for the 2022-23 season! This will be the third year of Youth XC Ski Bingo  for anyone UNDER 14 years of age, and new this year is Junior & Adult Bingo  for people 14 and OLDER! The goal of this virtual game is to help inspire people of all ages and skill levels to get outside, enjoy the winter world on skis, engage with others who also like to ski, and explore new places.

Every player who completes Bingo gets a rainbow NENSA sticker and each Bingo line completed gets players a raffle entry. At the end of  every month we will raffle off some fun items from our sponsors! Read on for more info and get playing!

Youth XC Ski Bingo

For skiers UNDER 14 years of age! Download and print your own Youth XC Ski Bingo Card HERE and be sure to fill out the BINGO ENTRY FORM when you finish. Activity descriptions included in the Bingo card download.

Rules of the Game:

1. Must be under 14 years of age to play. Game runs from December 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023.
2. Get “Bingo” by completing the activities and skiing in the states in a full row, column, or diagonal.
3. Mark your Bingo card as you complete squares. Remember to take at least one activity photo or a picture of you where you skied!
4. Fill out the XC Ski Bingo entry form HERE! You’ll include your activity or ski location photo and a picture of your marked Bingo card.
5. Get outside and HAVE FUN!!!
6. Direct any questions to [email protected].

Junior & Adult XC Ski Bingo

For skiers 14 and OLDER! Download and print your own Junior & Adult 2022-23 Bingo Card HERE and be sure to fill out the BINGO ENTRY FORM when you finish. Activity descriptions included in the Bingo card download.

Rules of the Game:

1. Must be 14 years of age or older to play. Game runs from December 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023.
2. Get “Bingo” by completing the activities and skiing in the states in a full row, column, or diagonal.
3. Mark your Bingo card as you complete squares. Remember to take at least one activity photo or a picture of you where you skied!
4. Fill out the XC Ski Bingo entry form HERE! You’ll include your activity or ski location photo and a picture of your marked Bingo card.
5. Get outside and HAVE FUN!!!
6. Direct any questions to [email protected].

 

 NENSA is thrilled to be collaborating with WinterKids on their Welcome to Winter event on December 29th at Lost Valley Ski Area in Auburn, ME! WinterKids helps children develop healthy lifelong habits through education and fun, outdoor winter activity by creating opportunities for children to be active, vibrant and healthy in the outdoors. Their Welcome to Winter event is an annual celebration of fun ways to stay active in winter. Originally created to welcome new Mainers to winter, the event has expanded to allow all members of the community to come and try out healthy ways to remain active outdoors during the winter months. This free event offers a chance to try snowshoeing, cross country and downhill skiing, snowboarding, tubing, snow sculpting, and more while enjoying hot chocolate and s’mores. 

NENSA will be heading up the cross-country ski station so be sure to stop by, say hi, and giving skiing a try! Learn more HERE.

REGISTER

Women’s XC Ski Day registration is open!!! We are excited to share that this year’s event will be held at JacksonXC in Jackson, NH. They hosted back in 2016 and we are looking forward to being back on their mountainside beautiful trails.

New England Women’s XC Ski Day was started in 2002 by former Olympian Trina Hosmer of Stowe, VT. Trina was inspired by her “Sisters in Skiing” in Anchorage, Alaska, who started the Alaska Ski for Women in 1997. Like the Alaskans’ original event, Women’s XC Ski Day chooses a non-profit women’s organization to benefit, and gathers as many participants as it can for a day of cross country skiing which includes lunch and a raffle. The highlight of the day is learn-to-ski clinics with women instructors; the emphasis being on relaxed, fun learning in a supportive and encouraging environment. All ability, skill, and experience levels are welcome. In addition to this event being open to all women, we also encourage and support the participation of nonbinary people who are comfortable in a space that centers the experience of women. NENSA hopes that Women’s XC Ski Day helps bring more folx together to enjoy this wonderful sport.

Registration includes cross-country ski clinics, wax demonstrations, a fantastic prize drawing, a tasty bagged lunch, and a donation to our benefit organization (see below).

This year’s event is raising money for Starting Point which is a non-profit organization in Conway, NH dedicated to ensuring quality services are provided to victims of relationship violence and sexual abuse, preventing future relationship violence, promoting social change, and encouraging accountability and education for perpetrators and stalkers. If you would like to make an additional donation to the organization, you can do so through registration.  If you would like to make a donation to the organization, you can do so through registration. You can also pre-order this year’s official Women’s Day Skida hat!

Please click HERE for the Women’s XC Ski Day Page on the NENSA website for full details on lodging, rentals, and clinic information.

Get the feel for Women’s XC Ski Day by watching last year’s video recap!

As we close out the rollerski season and start our snow dances, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on our fall Learn-to-Rollerski gatherings and share some photos and videos with you all. This fall we were grateful to connect with a whole variety of wonderful people across the East and share the joy of rollerskiing and being outside.

Our first rollerski clinic of the fall was a unique opportunity to collaborate with an organization outside the ski industry. NENSA worked with See Change Sessions to provide rollerski opportunities for attendees of their in-person session at HULA Lakeside in Burlington. This two-day event brought people together from around the world and across industries to learn from one another and start addressing some of the world’s biggest problems.

Our next event brought us to Mt Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid for a BKL/Youth rollerski skills session following the Keys to the Castle Event. We really enjoyed collaborating with our New York Ski Education Foundation (NYSEF) and Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) friends on this fun clinic and were impressed with the improvement we witnessed amongst the young people who showed up to roll. They practiced the ramp bumps, went under the limbo arches, and slalomed around cones. A few brave and more experienced young people even took a tour of the whole sprint course loop!

While it was not the primary focus of the 2022 Bill Koch Youth Ski League Coaches Education training, this educational offering hosted at Dublin School in Dublin, NH wrapped up with an optional Learn-to-Rollerski opportunity for all attendees and almost all the participants gave it a try. In addition to rollerskiing, this event also included a presentation on BKL Philosophy & Long Term Athlete Development, a group discussion, and a grass skiing session in which we covered some basic drills and exercises for building general comfort on skis and played a variety of games to further develop those skills. While rollerskiing is a fun way to engage with skiing in the no-snow months, it is just one part of being a well balanced athlete and it’s important to stay in touch with other activities and fun ways of being active hence the multi-faceted and multi-disciplinary nature of this educational offering.

Next up we road tripped to Boston for the second annual Youth Enrichment Services (YES) Rollerski Clinic where we shared a sunny morning of fun and games on rollerskis with YES and Eastern Mass Cross Country. The goal of this clinic was to introduce young people in the Boston area to the summer version cross country skiing, build stoke for the winter season, and provide an opportunity for YES participants to get acquainted with the EMXC athletes who assist with coaching YES’s winter ski program. Peep the fun recap vid below! Working with YES and EMXC is always such a pleasure and in addition to NENSA’s dedicated sponsors and grantors, this event would not be possible without the support of our generous donors, the Weston Ski Track who provided boots and poles for the clinic, and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation for the use of their Tenean Beach parking lot.

And last, but certainly not least, we visited the 2022 NENSA Club of the Year – Ford Sayre – for an agility-based rollerski skills session. It’s inspiring to see how this club works towards their vision of fostering a lifelong passion for being active outdoors and gliding over snow and we so enjoyed getting to roll with their young athletes.

While that’s a wrap on the NENSA rollerski season, we will be back at it next summer! If you would like to schedule a rollerski clinic for your club or camp for next season, check our info page HERE for more details and then reach out to [email protected] and [email protected]. We do our best to fit in as many clinics as we can.

We will close out by saying a big thank you to our NENSA associate sponsors who make all this programming possible – Salomon, LL Bean, Swix, and Fischer – as well as our contributing and supporting sponsors, and our official suppliers for their dedicated and ongoing support of NENSA. We are also grateful to Enjoy Winter and Swenor Rollerskis for supplying use with an awesome fleet of rollerskis so all our clinic attendees can learn to rollerski on top-of-the-line equipment.

Next up, skiing!