Mackenzie Rizio

The Bethel Outing Club, Gould Academy, and Nonstop Nordic teamed up last weekend to put on the 33rd edition of the Flying Moose Classic, which took place at Inland Woods + Trails’ Bethel trails. The weather conditions leading into the event were tricky, and klister could be found on every wax table. By the time the 12.5km/25km race had started, there was very little cloud cover and made for some classic Spring Skiing conditions. The decision was made shortly before race start that a section of the course would be removed due to snow conditions and wet trails. Brian Beyerbach, the Winner of the Men’s 25km, took advantage of the cut-out uphill section and doubled-poled the entire course, racing in short sleeves and shorts. Over 100 racers came out to participate, making for an exciting mass start, including a large group of youth and middle school aged racers, who participated in the 1Km and 3Km options. Following the conclusion of the racing action, there was a very fun post-event gathering at Carter’s XC Ski Center for all who had participated. Results and photo libraries from the event can be found below.

Sun Journal Article

Darryn Slover Photos

3Km/Middle School Results

12.5Km Results

25Km Results

Carter’s XC Ski Center hosted the second edition of their Moonlight Ski and Snowshoe guided tour for the season. Taking place 4 weeks after the first event allowed for this event to be on snow this time around. This event was part of NENSA’s Community Tours and Events series. The February event had some in common with the January edition, as we learned about the Carter family’s connection with the land, which is home to their ski trails. We skied out to a yurt in the forest, and took some fun trails back, which became more challenging with the sun setting, to a warm bonfire at the lodge.

The next stop in the Community Tours and Events Series is a satellite Women’s Day opportunity at Black Mountain of Maine on March 9th.

The 2024 Edition of the Silver Fox Trot hosted by Ford Sayre at Oak Hill Outdoor Center was a spectacular event for folks of all ages! This rescheduled race was the first of what’s sure to be many great events on the newly-updated trails in Hanover, New Hampshire at the Oak Hill Outdoor Center. The early clouds cleared up for the later races and made for a beautiful day for a ski race.

With 245 racers of varying ages, it was a full day of racing. A big group of skiers from Eastern Mass BKL, and Southern Vermont BKL programs made the trip up to join lots of local kids to make for some large BKL fields.

Thank you to Ford Sayre for hosting another well-planned and executed event again this year!

The 23rd edition of NENSA Women’s XC Ski Day has come and gone, and what a fantastic event it was! We are very thankful to Inland Woods + Trails for hosting the event in Bethel, Maine this year as well as welcoming 190 participants, 26 instructors, NENSA staff members (past and present!) and some of our wonderful Women-led sponsors for a day on their trails. We also want to thank the NENSA Women’s Committee for their continued support to pull off this event every year.

For those who are not familiar or have not attended a Women’s Day event in the past: 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, there were 9 different clinic offerings for both classic and skate technique, based on the ability level and experience of clinic attendees. For some, there were also guided group tours offered. Each and every year, we cannot help but feel enormous gratitude for our group of clinic instructors who volunteer their time to attend this event and share both their expertise and passion for the sport with others. #SkiingBetterTogether

Once the morning clinics had concluded, participants gathered in the Event Center for a tasty lunch and a presentation by Molly Peters’ on her fight for Equal Distance Racing in both Cross-Country Skiing as well as NCAA Cross-Country running, which was concluded with a message about why advocacy matters. Fun fact: Molly was able to start the equal distance movement right here in Vermont and eventually influenced change at the highest level of Cross-Country skiing, FIS World Cups and the last Winter Olympics.

In the afternoon, participants went back out onto the trails and had the opportunity to keep working on new skills, try a new skill out, or participate in a guided tour. The concluding activity of the day was fundraising and event raffles while everyone enjoyed some cheddar from Cabot and Cold Hollow Cider. This year’s benefit organization was Safe Voices, whose work focuses on support for domestic violence victims in Western Maine. This year, Inland Woods + Trails was able to put together not one, but three goodie bags full to the brim of prizes from local Women-owned businesses in Maine. Thank you again to Inland Woods + Trails for all your work in putting these gift bags together.

We are very grateful to the following NENSA sponsors for the ongoing support of this event – L.L.Bean, Swix, Salomon, Fischer, Nordic Skater, and Skida. A thank you to MadHippie, who graciously sent us product samples for all of the participants and instructors. A specific shoutout to Fischer, Salomon, Rossignol, Skida, BirdeBlue, Bivo, and Paradis Sport who were present in-person with product for participants to demo and/or purchase.

And finally, thank you to all who attended this year’s event, we hope to see you again!

Video Recap | Photo Album (Midge Eliassen photos) | NENSA Photos | Molly Peters Lunchtime Presentation

Over the last eight years, NENSA’s Nordic Rocks program has introduced thousands of children in the Northeast to the joy of cross country skiing with their teachers and classmates, and shared the health and lifestyle benefits associated with exercise and outdoor fun.

Generously funded by the Share Winter Foundation and the Killington World Cup Foundation, the overarching goal of this program is to provide all children with an opportunity to ski.

Beyond a structured and fun introduction, another key aim of this program has always been to identify and facilitate connections between school programs and nearby youth programs in order to provide a pathway and the support necessary for ongoing participation in the sport. In Putney last week, thanks to the vision and energy of community members, a new Nordic Rocks program was launched and a partnership formed with the local club.

Last week, NENSA delivered a brand new set of Nordic Rocks skis and helped lead the first PE classes at a new Nordic Rocks programs in Putney, VT. An hour later, many children were back on skis in a nearby field at the local Bill Koch League practice.

Both club practice and PE class featured kids having fun on skis, trying a new activity, and expanding their skiing skills. Programming in Putney was inspired by a key volunteer with the vision and the interest in providing opportunities to all youth in the community at school and beyond.

A big thank you to the Share Winter Foundation and Killington World Cup Foundation for funding the Nordic Rocks program and helping us to share the joy of gliding on snow with thousands of children each year.

While we cannot accept any additional new Nordic Rocks schools for the 2023-24 season, our waitlist is open for the 2024-25 season: