Plan 1 – Events takes place at Titcomb Mountain (EHSC) and Fort Kent Outdoor Center (U16s) following all Covid guidelines and NECCP. All attendees must complete an Event Health Screen form on Wednesday night prior to the event including a temperature check. Upon arrival at the venue, all event attendees must pass a verbal health screening before unloading from their vehicle. Please note spectators will be limited (or restricted to their vehicles), there could be limited coach access to courses, there will be no indoor spaces provided by the venue, wax areas will be monitored for physical distance, and bathrooms will be assigned by state. Volunteer and event staff will be reduced in number. There will be no NENSA sanctioned mass start races or sprint heats this season. Results will only be published online, there will be no physical award ceremonies (awards will be mailed or distributed to team leaders in a no-contact manner), and all bibs will be paper. We respectively ask that all persons at the venue wear a face covering over their mouth and nose at all times. Athletes/coaches must cover their nose and mouth in the start and finish areas, and if they are within 6 ft of another individual on course.
Possible alternate formats to decrease contact: Alternate relay formats may be employed to eliminate crowding and contact in the tag zone. Alternate team formats may include limiting the number of athletes that can compete per region and the exclusion of out-of-region and international athletes. Potential to limit the event to two days instead of three.
Plan 2 – Championship events by state. In the case of limited between-state travel and gathering size, NENSA will work with each state to host a championship event for their qualifiers that fits safely within their state’s COVID guidelines.
Plan 3 – Virtual championship event. If COVID guidelines do not safely permit gatherings in every state, the championship event will go virtual. Please note that some states may be able to gather while others may not so a hybrid option using Plans 2 and 3 may be employed. The virtual event will not be restricted through qualifying but instead will be open to every skier who fits the age requirements for EHSCs and U16s. The event will still take place on the scheduled weekend but the race structure will not be emulated. Instead, there will be a new challenge each day with individual data submitted to NENSA. NENSA will maintain a results leaderboard throughout the weekend. Virtual schedule and awards layout subject to change as we come up with new fun ideas.
Schedule:
- Friday: how fast can you ski 5k (must be on a loop or an out-and-back)
- Saturday: how far can you ski in 30mins
- Sunday: how much elevation can you gain in 20mins
Awards:
- Team: state with the most participants, the state that skied the most distance (averaged per person so team size isn’t a factor), and the state that climbed the most elevation (also averaged per person)
- Individual: winners of each day’s challenge