NENSA is celebrating our 30th anniversary in 2025. As part of the occasion, we’re gathering reflections from skiers across New England on the people, moments, and values which have defined the NENSA community. This week, we are featuring NENSA and Stowe Nordic Board Member, TD, and event host, Carol Van Dyke.
Carol grew up in Stowe, Vermont and first tried cross country skiing in 1973 at the Trapp Family Lodge. Since then she has been the Event Director for many events at the Trapp Family Lodge including the 2007 Bill Koch Festival, NENSA Eastern High School Championships, many Eastern Cups and UVM Winter Carnivals, a Super Tour, and NCAA Championships. Carol has three kids who all went through the Stowe BKL program where Carol was a BKL leader from 1996 to 2002 also coaching NENSA’s very own Youth & Introductory Program Director. She’s a former president of the Stowe Nordic Club, and was the Stowe High School Nordic ski coach from 2001 to 2018. Carol served as President of the NENSA Board from 2016 to 2022, is a USSS Level 2 certified coach, and a Level 1 Technical Delegate. Carol is also a long time instructor for the New England Women’s XC Ski Day event and this past year when injury meant she couldn’t ski, she still showed up to help doing any and all tasks possible.
What has skiing in New England meant to you?
Carol Van Dkye (CVD): Thirty years ago, I got my NENSA membership number 1150. I was unsure whether this new organization was worth joining but Executive Director Fred Griffin assured me that I would get my money back if I did not think so. Well the rewards have been manyfold. Now I have a Lifetime Membership and NENSA continues to be an integral part of my passion for the sport of cross-country skiing.
I started as a Masters racer, then as my children entered the Bill Koch Youth Ski program, I began coaching and eventually coached the Stowe High School ski team and the Vermont teams at the U16 and Eastern High School championships. I served as the Stowe Nordic Club Event Director for several NENSA affiliated events hosted at the von Trapp Lodge Outdoor Center such as the BKL Festival, Eastern High Schools, and Eastern Cups/UVM Carnivals. Joining the board in 2008, I have watched NENSA evolve into the dynamic organization that it is today with successful programs reaching all ages and abilities under the inspirational hard work of the dedicated staff.
Along the whole way it is the friends I have, mentors I have learned from, and sharing my love of skiing through experiences and opportunities with NENSA that have given me great gratitude that I am part of the NENSA community.
Can you share a moment that embodies the spirit of New England skiing?
CVD: The “Moment of Noise” at the Rikert BKL Festival on March 2, 2024 when everyone shouted with KO [Katharine Ogden] in memory of her dad, John Ogden.
Carol was the winner of the 2022 Chummy Broomhall Award given out every year to a volunteer who embodies the ethos of Chummy who was the Chisholm Ski Club leader for 70 plus years, a 2x Olympian, and builder of the Olympic race courses for Palisades Tahoe, Lake Placid, and Black Mountain. He embodied the spirit of being a volunteer generously giving his time and energy to generations of skiers. It is in this spirit that this award be in his honor for the unsung heroes of ski racing. You can read Carol’s award announcement here.
We want to hear from you! Send in your NENSA 30th reflections using this form HERE.
