NENSA News
NENSA presents the 2019 Eastern Cup Series
In just over 20 days the 2019 NENSA Eastern Cup Series begins with a freestyle race weekend at the Craftsbury Opener, December 22nd and 23rd. With plentiful early snow, and racing already happening at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center this November, a large and talented field is expected for the Opener – register early as the event might need to be capped. Competitors will include aspiring junior racers from throughout the Eastern US and Canada, elite skiers prepping for the 2019 U.S. Cross Country Championships, and master skiers looking to race on expertly groomed trails. There is something for everyone and Craftsbury is, “excited to welcome any and all to the trails at the Outdoor Center, whether you want to race, spectate, or volunteer.” Come join us and be a part of what could be the most attended race in the East this winter! (FIS, NRL)
January 26th and 27th the Series travels to New York State for the Lake Placid SuperTour and Eastern Cup. The combined event will showcase top national talent from the U.S. Ski and Snowboard SuperTour, alongside junior and senior skiers from New York, New England and Canada. Racers will be treated to the Olympic Trail system of Mt. Van Hoevenberg, the professional staff of the Olympic Regional Development Authority and the hospitality of the Lake Placid community. With SuperTour prize money and Junior National qualifications on the line for both the Mid-Atlantic and New England divisions you can be sure there will be awesome competition for racers and spectators all weekend. (SuperTour begins 1/25 – FIS, NRL)
The Rikert Nordic Center hosts the Frost Mountain Nordic Eastern Cup on February 16th and 17th. Saturday’s Eastern Cup event will be run in conjunction with the EISA Middlebury College Carnival, allowing competitors the opportunity to compete against 200 collegiate athletes in the the storied Rikert woods. Sunday offers a unique skiathlon (continuous classic/skate pursuit) option for master and junior skiers at the conclusion of the morning’s races. Come enjoy the festive show that Rikert and Frost Mountain always create with their challenging trails and spectator friendly stadium area – including tasty food, music and colorful announcers. (NRL)
On Saturday February 23, 2019 the Dublin School will host the Dublin Double – a new race format with two freestyle races. Don’t miss out on this exciting new addition to the NENSA Eastern Cup Series. Competitors will race two separate distances: 3.0km and 1.5km. The 3.0km represents a prologue distance (& JN relay distance) and the 1.5km, a sprint qualification (there are no rounds). Each race will be scored to the NRL and included in New England Junior National rankings. Skiers will be seeded by U.S. Ski & Snowboard Overall points for both races. Come try the exhilarating serpentine trails in Dublin, New Hampshire – the racing will be fast and furious. (NRL)
The Eastern Cup Series concludes on February 24, 2019 at the Holderness School with the Cheri Walsh Memorial. This staple of the Eastern Cup gives racers of all ages the opportunity to race on “old school” or traditional New England trails in the classic style. The Cheri Walsh represents the final qualification race for the New England Junior National Team – which will be named during the awards ceremony after the races. Holderness has brought back a masters wave and we hope that to see many of our veteran New England racers join in the fun! (NRL)
NENSA is able to host our signature race series with the generous support of our associate sponsors: Swix, Nokian, LL Bean, and Kathy and Marty Hall (more about our sponsors). By partnering with great venues and dedicated organizing committees, officials, timers, and volunteers NENSA produces some of the highest caliber races in North America. This year we have partnered with SkiTrax Magazine to provide increased media coverage of all our programs and the sport of cross-country ski racing. We strive to offer professional events, while making the sport exciting (new for 2019, several venues will have stand alone Cross Country Cross courses set up near their stadium areas), and accessible to as many participants as possible (there is a $10 one-day NENSA membership fee for 2019). We are proud to present this Series to all ages and abilities and hope you will join us for these four fantastic weekends of racing!
Further Information:
Detailed Eastern Cup Event Pages
Eastern Cup Race Rules.
New England Junior National Qualification.
Registration for all events are live on SkiReg.com
Printable Eastern Cup Schedule Poster
NENSA’s Annual Online Auction Is Open!
NENSA is thrilled to be able to provide our community with the opportunity to bid on so many awesome items in our 2018 Annual Online Auction, open now on 32Auctions.com Go to: 32auctions.com/NENSA2018 to start shopping and bidding today! NENSA so appreciates our sponsors and donors for all the great items available, including, but not limited to, LL Bean, SWIX, Craftsbury Outdoor Center, Concept2, Salomon, Trapp Family Lodge, VT Plank Flooring, Rossignol, Highland Lodge, Blueberry Hill, Hosmer Wines, a Maine island getaway, Jim Rodrigues custom granite bird baths, Bliz eyewear, Ski Rack, Omar & Bob, Camp Cody in Freedom NH, individual XC ski coaching sessions with top NE coaches, and an Olympian, autographed USST photo with our 2018 Olympic Ski Team, autographed Ludvig bib, dual autographed USST & Norwegian ski team performance t-shirts, and SO MUCH MORE! Keep checking back daily as more items to be added. The Auction runs today through 12/2 at 8pm. This online Auction is one of NENSA’s major fundraising initiatives. Thank you in advance for your support!
Rollerski Events End With Wild Weather
If there were any doubts of the skill or tenacity of New England cross country skiers they were put to rest on November 3rd. Hosting the fifth and final race of the 2018 NENSA Bag Balm Series on the doorstep of winter allows athletes and coaches a final competition before seeking on snow training — but also poses the challenge of adverse weather conditions. As teams arrived to the Trapp Family Lodge they were greeted by rain and tree bending wind — however the athletes went about their pre race prep with focus — while organizers readied the course, held a coaches meeting, and finalized safety plans.
It was quite a scene following the racers to the end of Nebraska Valley Road during warm up — with chins tucked into their rain jackets, and rivers flowing through the ditches on either side of the road. With a 15 second start interval – things were quickly underway as racers departed one by one from under the start tent – brandishing wry expressions and showing their grit amidst now mixed precipitation. All told 59 expert skiers set out to challenge the 10 kilometer course which makes a dramatic climb to the Trapp Outdoor Center.
Adam Martin of the Craftsbury Green Racing Project (CGRP) and Julia Kern of Dartmouth College and the US Ski Team proved to be the class of the field — with the fastest times of the day — showing great form and satisfied smiles at the finish. In the men’s race Martin was followed closely by teammate, Ben Lustgarten and University of Vermont standout, Bill Harmeyer to round out the podium. For the women, Evelina Sutro of the University of Vermont took second place and Caitlin Patterson, who had been undefeated during the 2018 rollerski race season took third.
In the junior field Matias Oevrum and Ben Ogden of UVM took the top two steps of the podium with Wilson Moore of Middlebury College in third place. Jenny Pedersen of UVM had the fastest time for junior women, followed closely by Sophia Laukli of Stratton Mountain School and Mae Chalmers of Middlebury College.
After the race an award ceremony was held at the von Trapp Bierhall to honor the top skiers on the day and recognize the overall champions of the season long race series. In the open category athletes needed to complete 3 of the 5 races in the series to be in contention for prize money provided by Kathy and Marty Hall. The CGRP duo of Caitlin Patterson and Adam Martin each claimed $500 dollars for their outstanding performances in the App Gap Challenge, the Rossignol Fall Classic and the Trapp Invite. Second place and $300 belonged to Ida Sargent of CGRP and Ben Saxton of the SMS T2 Team. Katharine Ogden of Dartmouth College and Kyle Bratrud of SMS T2 claimed third.
Ten colleges participated in the five race series and scored World Cup points for their finishes in the overall results. Early in the series Dartmouth College, Saint Michael’s College and Saint Lawrence University took turns at the top of this list — however the UVM Catamounts finished the season with powerful performances in the final two races and distanced themselves from the other teams. Head coach, Patrick Weaver was awarded the Marty Hall College Cup – a rotating trophy that will again be up for grabs in the 2019.
NENSA would like to offer a special thanks to the Trapp Family Lodge and the Town of Stowe for hosting this memorable event.
Complete results:
http://nensa.net/rollerski/rollerski-results/
Event photos by Reese Brown (sia_nordic):
https://reesebrown.smugmug.com/Cross-Country-Skiing/NENSA/NENSA-Trapp-Roller-Ski-11318/
Join us for the NENSA Winter KickOff Party this Saturday 11/3 at the von Trapp Bierhall in Stowe!
Hello New England!
We hope you can join us this coming Saturday, November 3rd, from 3:30-6pm for our 3rd annual NENSA Winter KickOff Party, to be held at the von Trapp Bierhall in Stowe Vermont. Cost is $30 for adults (includes a NENSA beer glass, a beer and appetizers) and $15 for those under age 21 (that includes a non-alcoholic beverage and appetizers). We have an amazing array of fantastic Silent Auction items for bidding too from Salomon, L.L. Bean, Rossignol, SWIX, SKIDA and many more!
NENSA is hosting the Trapp Invitational, the final race of this season of the NENSA Bag Balm Rollerski Race Series right before the Winter KickOff Party. There is a 2pm start, on Nebraska Road, and the course takes our top New England and USST athletes to Barrows Road and then up Luce Hill Road, and finishing right in front of the Trapp Family Lodge. The awards for this race, and the overall season Series winners, will be held at 4pm and part of the Winter KickOff Party at the Bierhall.
And don’t forget – you still have a few days left to post your own “It’s a Beautiful Journey” on your social media, fb, Instagram or Twitter, for a chance to be entered into the drawing for a FREE pair of Nokian Tyres at the Winter KickOff Party. Click HERE for full details and instructions on how to post.
So much fun and fellowship to be had – be sure not to miss out and go to SkiReg.com to purchase your Winter KickOff Party tickets TODAY! Hope to see you there!!
Here are just a few of the items available at our Silent Auction on 11/3 at the Winter KickOff Party – a selection of awesome LL Bean duffles (the new adventure pro ski boot/cargo duffle in black & the ever popular LL Bean rolling adventure duffle in their newest color, light grey heather) for all your travels this winter, all with the NENSA logo, and, new this season – a rollerski bag LL Bean boat & tote, also with the NENSA logo.
Salomon, NENSA’s newest sponsor, has also donated a pair of their S-LAB Classic Zero skis 201 cm!!
Our long time sponsor SWIX has donated a beautiful pair of their new Triac Carbon Skate roller skis!
And, we will also have overnight stays at the Trapp Family Lodge to bid on too!