New England Nordic Ski Association

The Home of Cross Country Skiing in New England

Nordic Rocks

NENSA Awarded a 2024/25 Share Winter Foundation Grant

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NENSA is thrilled and honored to be a 2024/25 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. In addition to their grant contribution, they are also providing new equipment for our Nordic Rocks schools this year through Madshus and Lost Nation R&D. This includes a novel binding design engineered to be compatible with everyday footwear and mounted on a universal touring ski.

We are grateful to collaborate with an organization whose mission aligns so closely with our goal of introducing young people to the lifelong sport of cross-country skiing, along with its many health, fitness, and social benefits, all in a fun, inclusive, and safe environment. Read on below to learn more about our Nordic Rocks program.

Nordic Rocks offers elementary school students the chance to experience cross-country skiing during the school day with their teachers and classmates, while learning about the health and lifestyle benefits associated with exercise and outdoor fun. NENSA assists each participating Nordic Rocks school with ski curriculum, resources, teaching support, and equipment acquisition. The goal of Nordic Rocks 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 within local youth ski leagues. We aim to support our Nordic Rocks program participants in becoming lifelong skiers!

NENSA is truly grateful for Share Winter’s support, which enables us to continue offering opportunities for young people to appreciate the many joys of cross-country skiing. We would also like to thank the Killington World Cup Foundation for their ongoing support of Nordic Rocks. We still have capacity to add a few more schools this season, please reach out to mackenzie@nensa.net to learn more or see our interest form here.

Kait Miller is Celebrated as 2023 Team USA Community Champion

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Kait Miller has been recognized by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, and Team USA Partner Comcast for their work at NENSA as a 2023 Team USA Community Champion!

video announcement

The award honors athletes who embody the Olympic values of Excellence, Respect and Friendship and the Paralympic values of Determination, Inspiration, Equality and Courage, as well as charitable organizations whose missions focus on youth sport, physical activity, or health and well-being.

As NENSA’s Youth and Introductory Program Director, Kait worked tirelessly to create welcoming and inclusive opportunities for all, expand access to skiing, and support youth across the Northeast US. NENSA programming developed by Kait is serving the next generation in their journeys on skis and through life.

Congratulations, Kait, and thank you for making our NENSA community and our world more special through your passions, your ideals, and your many talents!

NENSA Receives Grant from the Killington World Cup Foundation

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Killington World Cup Foundation

NENSA is excited to announce that we have been awarded a Killington World Cup Foundation grant in support of our Nordic Rocks program, a low-barrier program developed to introduce a new generation of children in grades K-6 to the excitement found in the sport of cross country skiing. Our KWCF grant helped fund an opportunity last year for 6,235 children in 50 schools across the Northeast to experience skiing during the school day with teachers and classmates and to learn the health and lifestyle benefits associated with exercise and outdoor fun.

NENSA’s Nordic Rocks program serves youth in lower income communities, areas with greater demographic diversity, and communities where young people might not otherwise have the opportunity to try cross country skiing. Through collaboration with local ski centers and NENSA clubs, we are creating partnerships and fostering community involvement to provide ongoing and expanded recreational programming for Nordic Rocks skiers. As a result, we have been able to introduce thousands of children to skiing in a fun, safe, and supportive environment and provide connections to and resources from our network of NENSA clubs. These partnerships are key to promoting opportunities, friendships, and more diverse communities.

Funding from KWCF this year will help us significantly expand opportunities to introduce children to the joy of skiing during the school day and beyond. We are full of gratitude for the wonderful work they do to grow our sport and our community!

About the Killington World Cup Foundation:
KWCF was created to support the Women’s World Cup at Killington and to benefit local and regional youth development programs. The foundation will consider and award grants to qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations to facilitate training infrastructure in the Northeast and SARA region (ME/NH/VT/CT/NY/MA/RI/NJ/PA/NC/VA/WV), and to increase participation in competitive winter sports programs throughout the Northeast. Fundraising is a year-round effort. For more information, visit kwcfgivesback.org

About NENSA:
The New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA) is the umbrella organization for Nordic skiing events in the region. We are a member-supported service organization that promotes the culture of cross-country skiing by creating opportunities for youth, athletes, coaches, officials and skiers of all levels. NENSA provides the support structure necessary to bring cross-country skiers to their highest potential at regional, national and international events.

U.S. OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2023 TEAM USA COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMCAST

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Feb. 1, 2024, 12:59 PM (ET)
by USOPC

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, and Team USA Partner, Comcast, today announced the 2023 Team USA Community Champions honorees. Jamal Hill (Swim Up Hill), Peter Westbrook (The Peter Westbrook Foundation), Staci Mannella (Sisters in Sports), and Kait Miller (New England Nordic Ski Association) were selected to receive the award, which celebrates Team USA athletes’ commitment to their communities and the Olympic and Paralympic values.

The annual program, funded by the USOPF and Comcast, grants $25,000 to each honoree. Half of the grant funding is directed toward the athlete’s nonprofit of choice.

“I am thrilled to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of our four awardees, who have exemplified their unwavering commitment to excellence and service within their communities,” said Christine Walshe, president of the USOPF. “Jamal, Peter, Staci and Kait, your contributions are inspiring, and you truly exemplify what it means to be a champion.”

To qualify for this award, each athlete must demonstrate a proven commitment to serving their community through nonprofit work while embodying the Olympic values of excellence, respect, and friendship, and the Paralympic values of determination, inspiration, courage, and equality. The chosen honorees are celebrated not only for their excellence as a member of Team USA, but for their meaningful service and engagement in the community, specifically with organizations who focus on youth sport, physical activity, health, and well-being.

“We are proud to recognize Jamal, Peter, Staci, and Kait for the impact they’ve made on their local communities,” said Jessica Muir, Senior Director of Brand Partnerships & Amplification at Comcast. “By highlighting these athletes and their remarkable stories of achievement, resilience, and dedication, we hope to inspire the next generation – the Team of Tomorrow.”

During the 2023 cycle, the award received 67 athlete applications, 66% of which came from athletes who are currently competing or training. Over 85% of those athletes were Olympians or Paralympians, with 85% of the total applicant pool hailing from summer sports.

“Choosing just four winners from this exceptional pool of athlete applicants was extremely difficult and is a testament to how incredible our athlete community is,” said Yucca Rieschel of the selection committee. “As a co-chair of this committee, I’ve come to recognize that true champions are not defined by just their athletic achievements, but by their commitment to serving others and finding a deeper purpose. The impact that has been made on communities across the country by Team USA athletes is immeasurable and we hope this award continues to spotlight their success.”

U.S. Paralympian Jamal Hill, who won bronze at the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, is passionate about providing accessible swimming education and water safety courses to all. His nonprofit, Swim Up Hill, provides free lessons, mentorship and skill development around aquatic safety to underserved communities. While Hill is deeply involved in his nonprofit work, he remains dedicated to his training, with sights set on Paris 2024.

Legendary fencer and five-time U.S. Olympian Peter Westbrook, who won bronze at the Olympic Games Los Angeles 1984, has dedicated over three decades of service to the New York City community through the Peter Westbrook Foundation. Established in 1991, the PWF uses fencing to empower underrepresented youth through structured physical activity and academic support. By providing opportunity, guidance and mentorship to underserved communities, the PWF has helped its students achieve a 100% high school graduation rate, with over 98% attending college post-graduation.

Two-time alpine skiing U.S. Paralympian Staci Mannella is a volunteer with the Sisters in Sports Foundation. The foundation, which focuses on promoting gender equity in the Paralympic Movement, provides community, financial support, and mentorship to women with disabilities. Manella, who is pursuing a degree in counseling with a focus in sport psychology, uses her expertise to serve as a mentor, conduct research, and develop tailored lessons to address the specific needs of female athletes with disabilities.

Team USA alum cross-country skier Kait Miller is a volunteer with the New England Nordic Ski Association. The association serves as an educational hub for people of all ages and abilities, providing year-round programs, clinics, and events to create accessibility in the sport. As a volunteer, Miller is dedicated to expanding the youth program, while also promoting inclusivity and equity within the ski community.

As a U.S. Olympic and Paralympic sponsor and Founding Partner of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Comcast is the official presenter of Team USA Community Champions.

The 2024 application is now open. To apply, visit TeamUSA.com. For more information on the Team USA Community Champions in partnership with Comcast, please visit TeamUSA.com.   


About Comcast Corporation 
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on connectivity, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.

About the United States Olympic & Paralympic Foundation
The United States Olympic & Paralympic Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Team USA athletes on and off the field of play. As the fundraising arm of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, the USOPF generates philanthropic support to empower Team USA athletes to achieve sustained competitive excellence and well-being. Since 2013, the USOPF has raised more than $200 million for U.S. Olympians, Paralympians and hopefuls. To learn more about the foundation, visit give.teamusa.org.

About United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee 
Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee serves as both the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee for the United States. The USOPC is focused on protecting, supporting and empowering America’s athletes, and is responsible for fielding U.S. teams for the Olympic, Paralympic, Youth Olympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games, and serving as the steward of the Olympic and Paralympic movements in the U.S. For more information, visit TeamUSA.com.

Putney Youth Double-Feature

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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.

Putney schoolchildren trying out their new NENSA Nordic Rocks skis for the first time on the schools’ pump track during gym class.

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.

Putney Nordic Rocks Program Coordinators Working in Partnership:
PE teacher and and BKL Club Leader pose with their new Nordic Rocks ski fleet.

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.

Fireplace cookies after BKL practice with Putney BKL.

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:

2024/25 Nordic rocks interest form

Thank you to our valued NENSA Partners