Mackenzie Rizio

Bethel Rollerski Clinic 2025

Mackenzie Rizio · November 3, 2025 ·

November showed its colors in Bethel, Maine, on Saturday morning, with classic early-winter weather setting the tone for our rollerski clinic. Luckily, the chill didn’t discourage our enthusiastic group of BKL skiers or the Gould Academy junior athletes who came out to help!

We started the day learning about rollerskis, getting comfortable on the wheels, practicing how to stop, and mastering some frog hops (complete with plenty of ribbits along the way). After some free skiing, the group wrapped up the session with a lively game of hockey to finish out the morning with smiles all around.

After lunch, NENSA met with several local youth coaches to talk about Bill Koch League philosophy and youth coaching best practices. Missed the presentation? Not to worry, we’ll be covering these topics and many more to add to your winter coaching toolkit this weekend in Dublin at our Fall Coaches Conference.

And for anyone looking to sneak in one more rollerski before winter fully arrives, join us on November 15th at Stratton Mountain School for our NENSA Community Training Day, open to skiers from 7th–8th grade BKLers through the college level.

Skiers on 30 Years of NENSA: Julia Kern

Mackenzie Rizio · September 30, 2025 ·

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 SMST2 skier and US Ski Team Member, Julia Kern.

Your connections to NENSA and years involved?

Julia Kern (JK): I have been a part of NENSA programming from the very beginning at 5 years old, so it has been 23 years now! From BKL festival, Eastern Cups, Junior Nationals, REG camps, and now through summer programming like rollerski races in the summer.

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

JK: The NENSA events are where my love for cross country skiing truly began. As a kid, skiing was simply a fun way to be outside with friends in the winter—playing games on skis, going on scavenger hunts, and exploring the beautiful trails across New England. I always looked forward to Eastern Cup weekends—not just for the chance to race hard and push myself, but for the moments in between: reconnecting with friends from all over New England, cheering on teammates, and gathering around the legendary food tables and devouring food made by all the families on my team. There was a deep comfort in knowing I’d see the same smiling coaches, dedicated volunteers, ski families, and NENSA staff at every event. It felt like coming home. Now, even as my path in skiing has taken me far beyond those early races, I still find myself yearning for the feeling that only a NENSA event brings. It reminds me that skiing is about so much more than results—it’s about connection, joy, and being part of a community. No matter where I go, NENSA and the New England ski community remain a core part of who I am. I couldn’t imagine a more special community to grow up in—or a more welcoming one to come back to.

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

JK: One of my favorite memories from the BKL Festival each year was the adventure ski or scavenger hunt we got to do once the racing was over. Some years, it came in the form of a “passport” that you’d get stamped at each spot you visited on the map—looking back, it’s funny how that mirrors what I now do for a living, collecting literal passport stamps as I travel the world racing. At the time, it just felt like the coolest adventure. I especially remember one year—if I’m remembering right, it was at the Trapp Family Lodge—when my teammate Zoe Snow and I did the entire scavenger hunt on a pair of double skis. It was absolutely chaotic and so much fun. Moments like that really captured what BKL was all about: pure joy, creativity on skis, and making memories with friends that stick with you for a lifetime.

What does NENSA mean to you?

JK: NENSA is where my love for cross country skiing began—a community that embodies joy, inclusivity, and a shared passion for getting outside and connecting through the skiing.

We want to hear from you! Send in your NENSA 30th reflections using this form HERE.

2025 YES Rollerski Clinic

Mackenzie Rizio · September 30, 2025 ·

This past Sunday, NENSA, EMXC, and YES collaborated to put on the fourth annual Youth Enrichment Services (YES) Rollerski clinic where we shared a beautiful 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 excitement 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. This program feautured a total of 24 participants all learning how to fasten their ski boots, strap on their skis, and get rolling! We even had a special guest working with Boston’s newest rollerskiers, SMST2/US Ski and Snowboard athlete, 2022 Olympian, Boston local, and longtime NENSA favorite, Julia Kern.

A massive thank you to all who made this event possible. 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 for the clinic, and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation for the use of their Tenean Beach parking lot.

Check out the Video Recap below:

Our next Introductory Rollerski clinic opportunity will take place after the conclusion of The Mansfield Fall Carnival in Jericho, Vermont on October 18th.

NENSA Awarded a 2025/26 Share Winter Foundation Grant

Mackenzie Rizio · September 17, 2025 ·

NENSA is thrilled and honored to be a 2025/26 Share Winter Foundation Grantee. The Share Winter Foundation is a grantmaking organization dedicated to improving the lives, health, and fitness of youth through winter sports. Their generous support continues to fund our Nordic Rocks program.

Nordic Rocks is the most inclusive and equitable program offered by NENSA. Every student participates, regardless of financial means, access to transportation, or family support. The program’s impact goes far beyond the snow—it is fostering healthier, more confident, and more resilient children. By learning a new skill like skiing, students build self-esteem, develop perseverance, and strengthen teamwork skills that serve them both in and out of the classroom.

NENSA is proud to partner with an organization whose mission so closely aligns with our own, introducing young people to the lifelong sport of cross-country skiing and its many health, fitness, and social benefits in a fun, inclusive, and safe environment. This collaboration strengthens NENSA’s commitment to making Nordic skiing accessible and enjoyable for youth across the region.

Through Nordic Rocks, elementary school students have the opportunity to experience cross-country skiing during the school day with their teachers and classmates, while also learning about the health and lifestyle benefits of exercise and outdoor fun. NENSA assists each participating school with ski curriculum, resources, teaching support, and equipment acquisition. The goal is not only to introduce more young people to skiing by removing potential barriers to entry, but also to provide a pathway for students to continue skiing at local ski centers and with local clubs. In this way, Nordic Rocks plants the seeds for lifelong engagement in the sport.

NENSA is deeply grateful to the Share Winter Foundation for their continued partnership. Their support has expanded access, removed barriers, and created opportunities for young people to grow healthier, more confident, and more resilient through the Nordic Rocks program.

SMS Camp Visit 2025!

Mackenzie Rizio · August 12, 2025 ·

Last week, NENSA joined the Stratton Mountain School (SMS) Bill Koch League and Junior Camps for a full day of agility, speed, and learning. The morning kicked off with an agility course set up in a nearby parking lot for the BKL campers. Alongside navigating ramps, slalom turns, and tricky transitions, campers also got a presentation on why cross-country skiing in New England is so awesome. We also talked about the importance of teamwork, NENSA’s programs beyond the Bill Koch League, and what goes in to running ski events (hint: lots and lots of our fantastic volunteers!)

In the afternoon, Junior Campers arrived on campus and jumped right into the action. The morning’s agility set-up proved perfect for them too, after skiing up from the main SMS campus, they warmed up with a few short bursts of speed before tackling the features. Timed runs encouraged skiers to find ways to improve, balancing quickness with strategy. As they quickly discovered, going fast over an entire course sometimes means knowing when to ease off and match your power to the terrain.

While NENSA coordinated the timed runs, SMS coaches Alex Jospe and Matt Boobar led focused skate drills with small groups. Between the skill work, strategy, and laughter, the day was a great reminder that agility training builds more than just speed — it builds confidence, creativity, and joy on skis.