NENSA News

Skiers flocked to this year’s Quarry Road Opener to kick off the winter racing season.  Despite no natural snow, the organizers at Quarry Road put together a ribbon of artificial snow for the ski community to enjoy.  Rain on Saturday made way for blue sky and sunshine during the Opener.  This year’s course was very similar to 2021, but was run in the opposite direction.  Racers set out in 15 second intervals in groups of 20 to minimize congestion on the short loop.  It was a dizzying affair of laps, with athletes needing to keep a careful count to ensure they skied the correct distance.

This year’s field of racers surpassed 150!  It spanned all ages and abilities.  There was a large group of collegiate skiers with Harvard and UNH making the longer drive to compete against Bates, Bowdoin and Colby athletes.  It was great to see a growing number of local high school programs including Edward Little, York and Spruce Mountain mixing it up with the likes of Gould Academy and the Quarry Road Ski Club.  New this year was the addition of Para Nordic racers.  Two ParaNordic racers made the trip to Quarry Road to wet their appetite for fast gliding on snow.  The timing of their starts allowed them opportunities to race alongside the able-bodied athletes.

Late in the day the middle school racers had their turn to have their fun in the sun.  The final race of the day saw bunch of particularly speedy lollipoppers cruising around the Quarry Road meadow, with big smiles!

Results

Scoring

flyingpointroad photos

NENSA photos

Up next racing action moves from Maine to Craftsbury, Vermont for the Silver Fox Trot, hosted by the Ford Sayre Ski Club on Saturday December 1oth. Here’s the LINK to register.

This year’s Event Organizer and TD Training Seminar was held over the weekend in Waterville, ME.  We kicked off the seminar with presentations at the Chace Community Forum (housed in Colby’s new downtown dormitory on Main Street).  The content of this year’s presentations was markedly different from years past, with heavy focus on how we work together to be even better event hosts.  Highlights from the presentations include Mary Anne Levins speaking to her experience as a Race Secretary and Ed Despard of Bullittiming on all the new updates in the world of timing.  The key takeaways from these presentations:

“The Race Secretary and Chief of Timing are the problem solvers that keep Timer and Race Jury appraised of the all the event’s behind the scene’s communications.”

“Keep your timers happy, they are under a lot of pressure to produce quality results and they are the first to be blamed when something goes wrong”

“Things always don’t go according to plan at a race – the better prepared your race staff is, the less the public will notice the mistakes.”

We discussed how we include ParaNordic athletes in our events.  The easiest thing we can do is add a category for them at registration.  The next step is to reach out to the athletes that register for that category and have a conversation with them about their goals for the race and invite them to preview the course with you.  As we move toward greater inclusion, think of ways that they can be safely incorporated into the start order so that they have the opportunity to ski with able bodied skiers.

On Sunday our focused shifted to hands on experience at the Quarry Road Opener.  Participants were asked to move around to different tasks and learn at each one.  These included shadowing the Race Secretary, Timer, the start crew, event setup, and observing how athletes navigated the course.  The format of the day allowed for lots of dialogue and the chance to make observations without feeling the pressure of hosting the event.  There were 27 event participants this year, including four timers and several virtual attendants.  Those that attended in person really enjoyed the face-to-face interactions!

Sunday February 5th, 2023 | Concord Community Nordic Trails at Beaver Meadow Golf Course

REGISTER

Never been on cross-country skis before but curious to try? We’d love to see you at Beaver Meadow Golf Course on February 5th for a free Learn-to-Ski clinic! Equipment loans are included. Cross-country skiing is a fun way to get outside and enjoy winter right in your own backyard or at your local community ski center. These Learn-to-Ski clinics are geared towards people of all ages, backgrounds, and identities who have never been on cross-country skis before. We aim to create a welcoming, inclusive, and safe environment for people to try a new sport and discover the joy of gliding on snow.

Registration: For equipment-fitting purposes it is helpful if you register ahead of time online HERE although day-of drop-ins are more than welcome and we will do our best to accommodate everyone with equipment.

Clinic Details: Clinics will be led by teachers and coaches who are experienced in working with people new to skiing. We ask that folx only attend one clinic so we can accommodate as many people as possible unless there is enough equipment to meet everyone’s needs. Clinics will cover classic cross-country skiing basics including skiing on flat terrain, getting up from a fall, climbing, and navigating downhills.

Additional Offerings: Visit the Ski Expo where equipment suppliers and outfitters from the ski industry will be on hand with goods to try. We will also be raffling off some fun items after each ski clinic from our NENSA sponsors. Lastly, visit The 19th Hole Bar at Beaver Meadow in the clubhouse for food offerings.

Be Prepared: Read about what to wear to stay warm and comfortable HERE. Indoor bathrooms are available in the Beaver Meadow Clubhouse.

Schedule:

10:30am-2:45pm: Ski Expo: Equipment suppliers and outfitters from the ski industry will be on hand with goods to try.

10:30am-12:00pm: Morning Learn-to-Ski Clinic

1:00-2:30pm: Afternoon Learn-to-Ski Clinic

Please direct any questions to [email protected].

NENSA is thrilled to be offering TWO versions of XC Ski Bingo for the 2022-23 season! This will be the third year of Youth XC Ski Bingo  for anyone UNDER 14 years of age, and new this year is Junior & Adult Bingo  for people 14 and OLDER! The goal of this virtual game is to help inspire people of all ages and skill levels to get outside, enjoy the winter world on skis, engage with others who also like to ski, and explore new places.

Every player who completes Bingo gets a rainbow NENSA sticker and each Bingo line completed gets players a raffle entry. At the end of  every month we will raffle off some fun items from our sponsors! Read on for more info and get playing!

Youth XC Ski Bingo

For skiers UNDER 14 years of age! Download and print your own Youth XC Ski Bingo Card HERE and be sure to fill out the BINGO ENTRY FORM when you finish. Activity descriptions included in the Bingo card download.

Rules of the Game:

1. Must be under 14 years of age to play. Game runs from December 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023.
2. Get “Bingo” by completing the activities and skiing in the states in a full row, column, or diagonal.
3. Mark your Bingo card as you complete squares. Remember to take at least one activity photo or a picture of you where you skied!
4. Fill out the XC Ski Bingo entry form HERE! You’ll include your activity or ski location photo and a picture of your marked Bingo card.
5. Get outside and HAVE FUN!!!
6. Direct any questions to [email protected].

Junior & Adult XC Ski Bingo

For skiers 14 and OLDER! Download and print your own Junior & Adult 2022-23 Bingo Card HERE and be sure to fill out the BINGO ENTRY FORM when you finish. Activity descriptions included in the Bingo card download.

Rules of the Game:

1. Must be 14 years of age or older to play. Game runs from December 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023.
2. Get “Bingo” by completing the activities and skiing in the states in a full row, column, or diagonal.
3. Mark your Bingo card as you complete squares. Remember to take at least one activity photo or a picture of you where you skied!
4. Fill out the XC Ski Bingo entry form HERE! You’ll include your activity or ski location photo and a picture of your marked Bingo card.
5. Get outside and HAVE FUN!!!
6. Direct any questions to [email protected].

NENSA’s annual Winter Auction is LIVE and features over 170 items. Check out all of the wonderful offerings…art and handcrafted items, vacation rentals, special experiences, delicious treats, ski gear, clothing, and accessories…and watch for new arrivals. There is something special for everyone!

We will be highlighting individual items along the way, but would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to all of our sponsors and supporters for their generous contributions. All proceeds directly support our year-round programming and keep membership and entry fees low.

Thank you for supporting NENSA!

NENSA is proud to present the 2022-2023 Eastern Cup Series, a set of eight U.S. Ski & Snowboard sanctioned  competitions.  Each year, venues bid and are elected to host these prestigious events, balancing regional locations and collaboration with collegiate and SuperTour competitions.  We are extremely fortunate in the East to have many robust venues with incredible physical and human infrastructure.  Eastern Cups are open to all U.S. Ski & Snowboard and NENSA members (NENSA 1-Day memberships are available on all registrations.  Athletes under 20 years of age are scored to the Junior Ranking List (JRL), which is the basis for qualification for the New England Junior National Team.

Each year NENSA committees review our competition guidelines — athletes, coaches and parents should be familiar with the Race Rules document.

This year features some major changes, the most notable that all events feature equal distance for male and female competitors.  All NENSA races remain fluoro-free, and testing could occur at any event.

NENSA is also introducing two new TEAM Oriented Competitions this year for all to be involved in! Whether you are a junior racer new to the Eastern Cup, or come from one of the more established clubs in the East there is something for everyone to get on board with:
1) Club Cup – Season Long Club Points Tally
2) Eastern Cup Club Score – For Juniors for each Eastern Cup Competition

We are poised for a successful season, starting in just over three weeks, with many areas already seeing natural snow — and temperatures that have allowed venues to get a strong start snowmaking.  Eastern Cup’s are built to be spectator friendly events, with inspired action and a festival atmosphere — we so look forward to seeing the Eastern skiing community soon!

The first stop on the tour is the Rikert Nordic Grand Prix – Eastern Cup Opener on December 17th & 18th in Ripton, Vermont. The Rikert Outdoor Center is a storied race venue with iconic mountain views and winding wooded trails.  The historic Bread Loaf Inn is available for housing for the first time, offering trailside lodging with meal package options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  You can find out more about these options on the registration page under Merchandise Options — book early as these rooms will likely fill quickly and all reservations must be made by December 6th.

Rikert Nordic Grand Prix Registration Page

On January 14th & 15th, we travel to Black Mountain of Maine for the Chisholm Ski Club Eastern Cup and Bates Carnival in Rumford.  This unique event overlaps with an EISA Carnival this season on Saturday — which will likely be one of the largest and most competitive races in the East this winter.  Registration will open shortly.

After several years of hosting the Opener, the Roy Varney Memorial Quarry Road Eastern Cup will be hosted on February 4th & 5th in Waterville, Maine.  Quarry Road Trails puts on a beautiful event and continually invests in the Quarry Road Recreation Area, which is owned and operated by the City of Waterville Department of Parks & Recreation.  Registration will open shortly.

For the second year we will conclude the Eastern Cup season with the Dublin Double Eastern Cup,
February 18th & 19th in Dublin, New Hampshire.  The Dublin Nordic Center and its undulating trail network provide a fantastic weekend of fast paced racing, with the collaboration of the Dublin School and the Dublin XC Club.  Of note the New England Team is named at the conclusion of the races Sunday. Registration will open shortly.

NENSA also promotes and supports a diverse set of Popular Races.

 NENSA is thrilled to be collaborating with WinterKids on their Welcome to Winter event on December 29th at Lost Valley Ski Area in Auburn, ME! WinterKids helps children develop healthy lifelong habits through education and fun, outdoor winter activity by creating opportunities for children to be active, vibrant and healthy in the outdoors. Their Welcome to Winter event is an annual celebration of fun ways to stay active in winter. Originally created to welcome new Mainers to winter, the event has expanded to allow all members of the community to come and try out healthy ways to remain active outdoors during the winter months. This free event offers a chance to try snowshoeing, cross country and downhill skiing, snowboarding, tubing, snow sculpting, and more while enjoying hot chocolate and s’mores. 

NENSA will be heading up the cross-country ski station so be sure to stop by, say hi, and giving skiing a try! Learn more HERE.

We’ve been extremely fortunate with the weather for Mt. Greylock Hill Climb rollerski race for two years in a row.  The event is possible because of the partnership of Massachusetts Department Conservation and Recreation and the volunteers of the Berkshire Nordic Club.  The Climb ascends eight miles to the highest point in the Bay State, winding through undulating terrain in boreal forest, making it an ideal venue for cross country skiers.  This year saw the largest participation to date and with 114 finishers it was our largest rollerski race of 2022.

Results
NENSA Event Video
Mt. Greylock Nordic Ski Team 360 Video

Greylock offers both long and short course options, with masters having the ability to choose between classic or freestyle skiing.  The short course is seven kilometers and skiers ages U14 through M10 took to the course at :30 second intervals from the Jone’s Nose gate.  The long course is twelve kilometers, starting at the Visitors Center, where skiers started in waves of five.  Mixed gender skiers were seeded by U.S. Ski & Snowboard points making for some fun and exciting starts with 90 skiers departing the base in ten minutes!  The top ten skiers of each gender used matched Swenor Alutech skis and over half the field was on the same brand and wheel speed.

How fitting to be introducing the 2022-2023 NENSA Popular Race Series on the first snow of the year!  There are 25 events on the calendar, which include 17 Zak Cups and seven marathons — all 25 events (and the eight Eastern Cup races) will be scored to season-long Club Cup standings.  Popular races are intended to be inclusive events, with options for all skiers from the most competitive to those who might be just exploring the sport.  NENSA is working with event organizers to make your experience the best it can be, from registration and promotion, to course prep, results and awards.  As we continue to emerge from a pandemic climate venues are encouraged to bring back some of the festive touches that make a race experience — including music, food and robust award ceremonies.

NENSA is pleased to announce that we will have more automated scoring of both Zak and Club Cup throughout the winter and that NENSA members will receive discounted entry at many of the events.  We hope individuals will consider renewing memberships early and that clubs will check in ([email protected]) and make sure their NENSA Club Membership is current.  Both of these steps insure that event timers and NENSA staff will have the best data possible, which allows us to provide the best product.

Zak Cup scoring is a way for senior and master skiers to have friendly rivalries across the race series, with both age group and overall classification.  At the end of the season, the top three competitors of each age group will receive a coveted NENSA mug.  In the winter of 2021 the scope of Club Cup scoring was expanded to include not only Popular Races, but also the four Eastern Cup weekends in an effort to reflect the broadest club participation across all competitive events.  Through the Masters and the Athletic Development Committee’s we have adopted a new point structure for this season — where the point base for any given category is 60 points for a win, then decreasing by 1 point per place.  Up to three skiers per category score points for their club.

All races will score the following age groups:
U16 ages 14-15, U18 ages 16-17, U20 ages 18-19
SR ages 20-29, M1 ages 30-34, M2 ages 35-39, M3 ages 40-44
M4 ages 45-49, M5 ages 50-54, M6 ages 55-59, M7 ages 60-64
M8 ages 65-69, M9 ages 70-74, M10 ages 75-79, M11 ages 80-84
M12 ages 85-89, M13 ages 90-94, M14 ages 95-99, M15 ages 100+

We also track participation across the Marathon Races with a Challenge for skiers to complete more than half of the events.  This year skiers who complete four or more of the seven marathons will receive a co-branded NENSA / LL Bean hat.  We are excited to to have a range of “marathon” distances, some that are 20+ km all the way up to 50km, with a balance of both classic and freestyle.

Recent cold temperatures have allowed venues to fire up snow guns across the region and we are only 18 days from the first race of the season, the Quarry Road Opener in Waterville, Maine.  That event will also be held in conjunction with our annual TD and Event Organizer Training — any event organizers are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Whether you are a seasoned veteran, a recreational skier or a junior looking for a local race there really is something for everyone on the calendar.  We look forward to a long winter, and the return of the Club Relay Championships & End-of-Season Celebration at Craftsbury on March 25th.  This event will be held at the end of Super Tour Finals where skiers from across North American will be present.  NENSA will recognize season-long Zak, and Club awards as well as other NENSA Awards at this joyous occasion.

Think snow and reach out to [email protected] with any questions.