Kai Miller

Inspired by the stories shared with us during our 30th anniversary, we have created a living archive capture the stories of the people who founded NENSA, those who shaped our history and present moment, and the folks actively creating our future with new visions and ideas built upon our founding principles. This week, in the lead up to Stifel Lake Placid Finals, we received a collection of touching reflections from the Senior Manager of Sport Strategy and Engagement at the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA), Kris Cheney Seymour.

Connections to NENSA and years involved

Through these years, I have had the honor of partnering with NENSA to create moments that truly change lives.  Crafting moments where children discover the joy of gliding through winter forests for the first time, where families build traditions that span generations, and where young athletes begin to see possibilities they had never imagined. Most recently, that partnership extends to the global stage through the Stifel Cross-Country World Cup Finals at Mt. Van Hoevenberg. Working alongside NENSA to help shape meaningful experiences around this event has been profoundly rewarding and these experiences honor the past while inspiring the future.

What has skiing in New England meant to your life or your community?

To be a cross-country skier from the Northeast is to belong to something timeless. It is a lifestyle defined not only by snow and trails, but by a culture that values humility, effort, and community. For me, skiing has been my closest companion through every stage of life as a quiet teacher, a coach, and always a trusted friend. The trails of the Northeast have shaped my identity and connected me to people and places in ways that extend far beyond sport.

What makes this community so powerful is the sense that we are part of something far greater than ourselves. On any winter morning you might see young children laughing their way through their first ski strides, high school athletes discovering confidence through competition, parents and volunteers dedicating countless hours so that programs can thrive, and masters skiers continuing to find joy in movement and friendship. Nordic skiing creates a continuum of belonging. At every stage of life it offers something meaningful and a lifelong identity for those who remain part of the community.

I write these reflections on the eve of the Stifel Cross-Country World Cup Finals in Lake Placid, where the world’s greatest skiers will gather on the Olympic trails of Mt. Van Hoevenberg. For three days, the global Nordic community will celebrate together as athletes, families, volunteers, and fans united by a shared love of winter and movement. The roar of the crowds will echo across the Adirondack mountains, and in those moments we will feel something rare and powerful in the form of a collective joy that transcends nationality, language, and background. Children will watch their heroes glide through the stadium and imagine themselves on those same trails one day. Friends will reconnect, families will create memories that endure for a lifetime, and an entire community will share the simple, profound happiness that Nordic skiing brings.

Can you share a moment that embodies the spirit of New England skiing?

One of the moments that best captures the spirit of New England skiing happens not during a championship race, but during the quiet hours that surround it. I have found myself so many times standing trailside at a youth event early in the morning. The sun had just begun to rise through the trees, volunteers were finishing the last touches, and children were excited for the day. Parents, coaches, and older athletes moved through the crowd offering encouragement, waxing skis, sharing smiles that all said, you belong here.  The memory that lingers with me is always the cheers that followed every child.  Those moments reveal the true character of our community as a place where achievement is celebrated, but belonging is universal. That humble, generous, and deeply human essence is the heartbeat of skiing in the Northeast.

What does NENSA mean to you?

The New England Nordic Ski Association is the connective thread that binds together generations of skiers, communities, and landscapes across New England that creates a lifelong sense of belonging.

Closing reflection

I feel profound gratitude for NENSA; not only as a partner in building programs, events, and opportunities, but as a community that celebrates what skiing truly represents. Together we are not simply organizing races or developing athletes; we are shaping experiences that connect people to winter, to one another, and to a shared sense of purpose. It is a privilege to contribute to this work, and an even greater privilege to celebrate it alongside the people who make this community extraordinary.  Thank you