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When Matt McIntosh and his coach Green Mountain Valley School Coach Brandon Herhusky left Vermont, it was snowing. When they came back, it was snowing too. Somewhere in between though, the entire winter turned on its head back in their home state. When they left Vermont, the last American man to win an Olympic medal in cross country skiing was from Vermont. When they came back, he was too. But, there was a different name slotted in.

All that to say, with the Olympics and the promise they now realized with Ben Ogden for American skiing in the air, it’s been quite the time to be an American skier competing in Europe.

Over the past couple of weeks, Matt McIntosh got a hard-earned first start in the stars and stripes of the USA as part of US Ski and Snowboard’s U18 SuperTrip. Matt qualified based on his results at the US National Championships in Lake Placid last month. Joining him, New England got to send the always thoughtful, calm, and fun presence of Brandon Herhusky for the ride.

Matt has been a hardworking presence in NENSA’s programming, bringing a intrepid panache to the way he races, and also is well adept at offering thoughtful support to his peer competitors on training skis, in competition, or in the moments in between at places like REG Camp, Junior Nationals, and back with his club teammates at Green Mountain Valley School.

Brandon, likewise, has been a dedicated member of NENSA’s coaching community, always slotting in to offer not only his own developed expertise, but a concerted effort to build team mentality across coaches and skiers who come from diverse communities.

In other words, we couldn’t be prouder of who we as a community had representing us at USSS first step trip onto the world stage. What follows is a characteristically Brandon reflection on the type of program which scaffolds the journey for talented skiers from New England to the world stage.

By: Brandon Herhusky, Green Mountain Valley School Nordic Program Director

Over the past two weeks, I had the pleasure of accompanying New England and GMVS athlete Matthew McIntosh to Norway and Sweden as part of the U.S. Ski Team’s Super Trip, a unique blend of the traditional U18 Nations Cup trip and what was formerly the OPA Cup trip. We were also joined by fellow New England athlete Annie McColgan, a former Catamount who now races for the Mansfield Pro Team.

The trip included stops at the Norwegian Cup held at last year’s World Championship venue in Trondheim, Norway, and at next year’s World Cup Final venue in Ulricehamn, Sweden. It was an incredible opportunity to work alongside an outstanding staff of U.S. Ski Team and club coaches while supporting some of the best junior and senior racers in the country.

Matthew and I had some difficulty getting out of New England as an early January Nor’easter blanketed the region in snow. After a canceled flight out of Burlington on Sunday, we successfully made it across the pond on Monday out of Montreal to join the rest of the U.S. group. After a couple of easy days exploring Trondheim and getting skis dialed in, we were off to the races on Friday.

Friday featured a classic individual start with a 10km for the seniors and a 7.5km and 5km race for the juniors. While the temperatures weren’t quite as extreme as what racers faced in Craftsbury this past weekend, the races were pushed to the afternoon, giving many of our junior athletes their first experience racing under the lights. Waxing was straightforward, turns out Swix wax works quite well on the snow they do all their testing on. With solid conditions, the racing was on.

The senior and U20 fields were incredibly strong, featuring World Cup regulars who narrowly missed Olympic qualification and U20 athletes fighting for the final spots on Norway’s Junior World Championship team. The U18 field was slightly smaller and made up primarily of athletes from the Trøndelag region in central Norway, but you can never count out Norwegians on home snow. Matthew opened the trip with a strong 17th-place finish.

Saturday brought a skate sprint, and Team USA started strong with Ari Endestad from Alaska qualifying for the senior heats in a field that could go pound-for-pound with just about any World Cup sprint field. Unfortunately, a broken pole on the same corner that took out New England favorite Ben Ogden earlier this season knocked Ari out of contention.

The junior sprint combined U18s and U20s, so Matthew and the rest of team USA had their work cut out for them. While he just missed advancing, finishing six seconds out of qualifying. For me watching the sprint level of the Norwegian junior field, with team spots on the line, was incredible and was one of my highlights of the trip.

Our final race in Trondheim was a 10km skate individual start, typically Matthew’s strongest event. Starting late in the field, he was surrounded by some of the best Trøndelag had to offer. After catching the athlete who started directly in front of him, the two skied the remainder of the race together, fighting for every second. Matthew crossed the line in 6th and was rewarded with a pair of Norwegian wool socks for the effort.

The next morning, we loaded up the vans and headed to Sweden. While some staff drove the gear across, I traveled with the athletes by plane to Gothenburg. After picking up vans, we drove to our home base in Borås, about 30 minutes from the venue in Ulricehamn. Once settled, we headed out to check the tracks. The track was flatter than the championship courses in Norway, but had a rock-solid skate deck that making for fast fun skiing. Although we knew things would change as snow was imminent in the forecast.

This race series combined the Nordic Nations Cup, featuring the top six U18 athletes from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, and the U.S. with Sweden’s Smart Energy Cup, their equivalent of the Super Tour. The fields were stacked with current Swedish World Cup skiers and rising stars you’ll likely see dominating the World Cup in the next four to five years.

Our first race in Sweden was a 10km classic in true championship conditions. Several inches of snow fell overnight and continued throughout the day, leaving tracks either filled in or blown out from early wax testing. In tricky conditions, athletes had to stay tough and really finesse their kick. Matthew put together an excellent race, finishing in the top 3^rd of the field of both U18 and uU0 athletes combined.

The following day brought sprint action. Although the snow had stopped, the tracks remained soft and choppy. With no major climbs or descents, the 1.6km course was a nonstop, lung-busting effort. Similar to the new U18 sprint format being tested in New England, 60 athletes advanced to the heats, starting with five rounds of 12 athletes. Matthew qualified 33rd, placing him on the second row right behind fellow American Ian Carmack.

After the quarterfinals, the field was cut down to two traditional heats of six, with only two athletes advancing from each quarterfinal, making the racing incredibly cutthroat. Matthew gave it everything he had and narrowly missed advancing, ultimately moving up to an impressive 23rd overall.

The final race of the trip was our first mass start, with juniors tackling four laps of a 3.75km course. The race went out fast and strung out quickly as a small group of Scandinavians broke away early. With six races in a short window, fatigue was definitely setting in, but Matthew stayed tough and didn’t give an inch, finishing a rock-solid 18^th, arguably his most impressive effort of the entire trip.

One of the biggest highlights came from the U18 girls on the final day. Several American athletes pushed the pace hard from the opening lap, completely blowing apart the field. When it was all said and done, all five U.S. starters finished in the top 15, an incredible display of our nation’s depth and strength. This is a group to keep a close eye on moving forward.

Annie also put together a phenomenal weekend in Sweden, stringing together some of the strongest races of her career, and this is an athlete who was runner-up at last year’s NCAA Championships at Oak Hill. She finished in the top 20 in all three races, highlighted by a 12th-place finish after advancing to the semifinals in Saturday’s sprint. If you caught Saturday’s Olympic women’s skiathlon, you likely noticed just how high the level of Swedish women’s skiing is right now.

As I write this, Matthew and I are flying high above the Atlantic, heading back stateside and looking forward to rejoining our GMVS squad before we head down to Oak Hill for the final Eastern Cup of the season. This was my second U18 trip as a coach but my first Super Trip, and I couldn’t speak more highly of the opportunity it provided. The athletes experienced some of the highest-level U18 racing in the world, lived the World Cup lifestyle of multistop travel, and had the chance to be mentored by some of our country’s best senior racers.

The senior athletes deserve a ton of credit for fully embracing the U18s and forming one cohesive team representing the stars and stripes. I also want to thank the National Nordic Foundation for making opportunities like this possible. As we watch this year’s Olympics and (hopefully) see Americans on the podium, we should all feel confident that the next generation is ready to step up, and poised to bring serious firepower to the 2034 Games in Salt Lake City.

We want to take a moment to reflect on and celebrate the milestone Olympic performances of Ben and Julia, two athletes whose entire journeys have centered in New England.

There’s nothing special in the water in Southern Vermont. There is something special though.

First, there were hairies, sand skiing, and the emergence of a new discipline. Then there was a kindred spirit who took the jumps at BKL practice to new levels, created meaningful connections wherever he went, and did backflips off of World Cup and Olympic podiums.

In between, there was a community championed by visionaries: Bill Koch himself, Sverre Caldwell, John Ogden, just to name a few.

All over 50 years and leading up to the second ever individual Olympic medal for the United States…from one small community tucked in the forests of Southern Vermont.

And on that same day, his SMST2 teammate and lifelong New Englander Julia Kern delivered a standout performance of her own, skiing into the final alongside the strongest sprinters in the world.

While their paths have converged in Stratton, Julia’s roots are urban. Her development as an elite athlete in a place with fewer natural winter resources speaks to the very strengths she brings to the world stage: grit, adaptability, and relentless determination. It also reflects the dedication and ingenuity of a different kind of New England community, one just as committed to building champions.

No matter where I go, the New England ski community remains 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.
– Julia

For those who know Ben and Julia personally, their success comes as no surprise. But watching them represent the U.S. and New England on the world’s biggest stage yesterday was truly something special.

Congratulations, Ben and Julia! We couldn’t be more proud.

January Ski Bingo Raffle Winner Announced: Maguire packs January with fun, creativity, and plenty of time on skis!

Maguire has been named the January Ski Bingo raffle winner after a month filled with adventure, creativity, and plenty of time on snow. Their Bingo journey included skiing in both Massachusetts and Maine, showing a true commitment to exploring new places on skis while making the most of winter.

Along the way, Maguire checked off a variety of classic Ski Bingo challenges that reflect the fun and community spirit of the program. From trying another winter sport and skiing with friends and family, to building a ski jump, skiing backwards, and skiing all the way to the high point, their completed card highlights a playful approach to skiing and a willingness to try new things outdoors.

Ski Bingo is designed to encourage skiers of all ages to get outside, try new activities, and find fun and adventure on skis throughout the winter months. The program runs monthly through the end of March, with raffle prizes awarded each month.

Participants are encouraged to grab a Bingo card, head outside, and start checking off squares—because the next Ski Bingo winner could be you.

As the Eastern Cup season approaches its finale, we want to welcome everyone in on the unique tradition and atmosphere of racing in New England! Sunday at the Oak Hill Fischer Eastern Cup will be our second annual Eastern Cup “Try-It” Day featuring an introductory race offering inclusive of wax and coach support.

Introductory Category (non-scored U16/U18/U20 Races): The introductory category, available both Saturday (Feb 14) and Sunday (Feb 15), is designed to help 7-8th graders and high school racers extend their season, get ready for NENSA Eastern High School and U16 Championships, and join in on the Eastern Cup! No USSS or FIS license required. Skiers will start alongside the USSS-sanctioned field, but results will be within a “Introductory” class awarded 3 deep in all gender classifications at the Eastern Cup podium ceremony.

Try-It Day: On Sunday, there will be a “Try-It” opportunity for athlete wax support, coach support, and coach development for coaches interested in learning more about waxing at the Eastern Cup level. NENSA is excited to partner with Caldwell Sport for the ski and wax support portion of our “Try-It” offering. Wax support registration deadline is the same as the event registration deadline: Wednesday, February 11th at 7:30pm. There is no cost for this offering but folks do need to register.

Coaches: Designed for coaches seeking a development opportunity to support their skiers on race day, coaches will use wax supplied by Caldwell sport and will work in conjunction with NENSA staff as part of a neutral service team to prepare their athlete’s skis on Sunday, February 15th for the 5k skate race. 

Interested coaches should register by the February 11 deadline above in order for NENSA and Caldwell Sport to facilitate the ski service team and gather data on athlete skis.

Coaches will work with NENSA staff as a team through all aspects of race-day ski service, including:

• Ski selection and race-day ski fleet management.
• Glide, kick, and structure testing processes and practices.
• Glide and kick selection and application.
• Managing race-day timelines.

Athletes: Independent athletes can register for the wax service in order to receive full ski service for Sunday’s race (they do not need to have a coach registered). Athletes can also join NENSA staff for a course preview and race warm up guidance.

For race and registration details please go HERE.

UPDATED Wed. 2/4: The organizing committee for the Henchey Memorial Eastern Cup at Craftsbury Outdoor Center, held this weekend, Sat. Feb. 7th-Sun. Feb. 8th, has decided to implement the following contingency to help manage the forecasted cold temperatures:

Saturday: 10k Skate Ind. Start format remains unchanged in format.

Sunday: Race will now be held as a 10k Open/5k U16 Mass Start Classic Start race for all age groups.

Both Henchey Memorial races are being managed carefully throughout the week to ensure a race which is safe for all participants – racers, coaches, supporters, and volunteers. Skiers should monitor the Race Packet and Detailed Schedule for live updates, and keep watching their inbox for messages via email.

This decision has been made in consultation with NENSA’s Athlete Development Committee (ADC). In conjunction with the change to Sunday’s race, the first day of next weekend’s (Feb. 14th-15th) Oak Hill Eastern Cup competition will now be a Classic Sprint. The one-for-one swap between these races will allow the Eastern Cup to maintain its originally scheduled eight race format including two sprint events (a Sk. sprint at Holderness, and a Cl. sprint at Oak Hill), and thus, maintain the approved Junior Naitonal Qualifying criteria for this year.

Why a 10k/5k Mass Start? – With any racer there are hundreds, if not thousands, of perspectives that have to be considered for how each racer, coach, supporter, and volunteer manages the factors inherent to doing a winter sport (read: COLD). However, Organizers can you make one decision. Switching the race format to a distance format greatly reduces the time needed to run a full race to conclusion from a sprint format, and thus allows our organizing committee to exercise more creative options to hold a safe and enjoyable race for everyone. With this format, we can delay starts, condense start intervals, and overall, afford ourselves the necessary tools to run a race within legal racing temperatures.

Wed. Update: Why a Mass Start? – After additional consideration, the race jury has decided to run a mass start 10k/5k U16 Classic race. The mass start format will allow Craftsbury to prioritize the safety of both racers and dedicated volunteers by running the most efficient program possible within the allotted weather window where race temperatures are warmest. Both races will utilize a 5k course, with the Open completing 2 laps, and the U16 race completing 1 lap.

Just Cold Enough to Play – A Note on the Cold

As the Eastern Cup resumes this week, it finds winter in a very different place than it was when we last all got together at Quarry Road. New England is covered in a thick blanket of snow. A polar vortex has beared down for weeks. Start Green supplies are dwindling. BKLers are learning how to kick wax with hard wax rather than klister!

Somethings, however, don’t change in a very cold New England winter. The Patriots are back in the Super Bowl. The Eastern Cup still continues towards its Championship event at Junior Nationals in Cable, Wisconsin.

Those two facts might not seem to have anything to do with one another. But, indulge this Program Director as I make the connection…

As the final run-in of the Eastern Cup season comes into view this Super Bowl week, our Championship, Junior Nationals in Cable, Wisconsin, is starting to come into view. What can skiers expect to find there? Well, this is where the homespun mythology about the place begins…

When you grow up in Wisconsin one of the foundational myths you learn about – like Johnny Appleseed or Champ in New England – is that of the Ice Bowl. In 1967, the Green Bay Packers were on their road to a Championship of their own, the NFL Championship, for the third consecutive year in a row. On the morning of their game against the Dallas Cowboys, it was -15 degrees Fahrenheit with a -60 degree wind chill. It was cold. And late in the game, the Packers were down. Bart Starr, their Quarterback led a game-winning drive which included a 1-yard sneak by him on the goal line, because his running backs kept slipping on the ice and he couldn’t hand it off to them.

The Packers Left Guard (read guy who did blocking) on that Ice Bowl day was a man named Fred “Fuzzy” Thurston. Fuzzy won 6 NFL Championships as a player, second of any player ever behind just Tom Brady. Fuzzy also happened to have grown up in my hometown of Altoona in Wisconsin. When I was a schoolkid, he would come in to talk to us about his career.

Naturally, when placed in front of a bunch of us school kids, the question we all inevitably asked him was about the Ice Bowl. “Just how cold was it?”

My two memories from his response are 1) the apocryphal claim that he still couldn’t feel his fingers fifty years later, and 2) his first response, culled from a wit as strong as his blocks, “oh you know, just cold enough to play.”

The lesson, cold is a real concern when doing an outdoor sport. No way around the fact that it presents a set of risks that need to be managed. But, it can also lead to the types of days competing which become mythos, and laced in nothing but good memories and a warmth radiating out from the human spirit (call it Fuzzy!) of having fronted the winter together.

As we head into this Eastern Cup weekend, here’s to our own Ice Bowl, just cold enough to play.