NENSA Elite & Development Teams

Elite Team

The NENSA Elite Team exists as a program to support and facilitate the appropriate development of top athletes toward the goal of international excellence. In addition to recognition for accomplishments, this program provides incentives for athletes to seek high levels of competition, and to encourage athletes to think in terms of long-range development. In order to gain access to the Elite Team an athlete must achieve a certain level of success at national level competition, and show a dedication to wide-ranging regional collaboration to help make New England an excellent place to pursue the highest levels of nordic skiing.

2025 Elite Team

A pool of athletes will be identified based on results in national level competition, comprising individuals who meet the following criteria. From this pool of athletes the team will be named, as outlined below under “Team Selection.” Note: additional athletes may be added by ADC nomination.

Eastern athletes in the top 15 OVERALL on the final U.S. Ski & Snowboard ranking list
Top 3 Eastern athletes in age group (U18/U20/U23/Senior) on the final U.S. Ski & Snowboard ranking list (includes any skiers already in top 15 NRL)
Eastern World Junior/U23 Jr/ U18 trip qualifiers (Alternates who compete potential discretion). Individual U18 or U20 Junior National Champions.
Top 5 on Final combined EISA ranking list
In addition, a skier with Elite Team status from the previous year may be eligible for discretionary addition to the Elite or Development teams.
Out of Region / Foreign Athletes will not be named to the NENSA Elite or Development Teams, and they do displace US skiers.

Active NENSA membership
Must have Eastern designation on U.S. Ski & Snowboard License.
To accept spot on team selected juniors must agree to attend an Elite Group Summer Camp: Eastern REG, NEG, or NTG.
Team members are encouraged to give back to their local Nordic communities.
Team members are encouraged to submit an article or summary about an event they compete in during the season. Younger athletes love hearing race stories from their idols!

The NENSA Elite Team receives complimentary entry to NENSA Eastern Cup Series events in recognition of the competitive value members add to the field, and as a gesture towards managing the extra expenses which elite skiers often take on to support their careers.
Invitation to Rollerski events.
SKIDA Team Hat (for Junior athletes).
Promotion opportunities on NENSA Website, FB and Instagram.
Direct contact with the Competitive Program Director.

Development Team

The NENSA Development Team recognizes skiers for their consistent performance regionally and nationally each season. Named in Spring, the Development Team forms a key cohort of skiers which NENSA engages through regional development programming.

The NENSA Development Team recognizes the contribution of our homegrown skier’s towards making New England an excellent environment for collaborative competitive development.

2025 Development Team

The top 5 Eastern ranked skiers on the season-ending U.S. Ski & Snowboard Rankings list in the U18, U20, U23 (ranked in the top half of all competitors overall) not already named to the elite team.
All U16s who make the New England JN Team.
In addition, up to a total of 10 males and 10 females may be named at the discretion of the Athlete Development Committee.

Must show Eastern designation on their U.S. Ski & Snowboard license.
Must belong to a NENSA club.
Must be an active NENSA member.

All U18, U20, and U23 athletes named have the potential to be invited to summer NENSA camps.
Promotion opportunities on NENSA Website, FB and Instagram
Direct contact with the Competitive Program Director

The NENSA Competitive Program Director and the Athletic Development Committee (ADC) oversee both the NENSA Development and Elite Team. Questions? Contact ben@nensa.net