Woodstock, VT– It was a cool, clear morning yesterday for the start of NENSA’s 17th annual New England Women’s XC Ski Day hosted at the Woodstock Inn & Resort Nordic Center in Woodstock, Vermont. Some participants arrived early as the sun started to rise for the morning yoga class, taught by yoga teacher and ski instructor Donna Smyth.
After the yoga class, the Woodstock Inn & Resort Nordic Center staff were working hard to make sure the trails were groomed after a light rain overnight, while the ski industry reps arrived and started to set up. Registration started at 8:45 a.m. upstairs in the Nordic Center, where participants registered for the day, and then signed up for the morning and afternoon ski clinics.
The benefit organization WISE, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting people and communities impacted by domestic violence, sexual violence and stalking, had an information table at the event, and was selling raffle tickets for the grand raffle prize, a stay at the Woodstock Inn & Resort. All proceeds from the raffle were given to WISE, and a portion of everyone’s registration is donated to WISE.
The instructors met first thing to go over their clinic assignments, and put on their L.L. Bean Jackets and Swix hats!
The morning clinics took off at 10 a.m. for their hour and a half lessons, returning for the shuttle bus to the Woodstock Inn & Resort for a yummy lunch. Participants could partake in the beginner or intermediate classic lesson, beginner or intermediate skate lesson, uphill/downhill classic or skate, the introduction to racing, or a tour option. There was plenty of snow coverage and space at the Nordic center for the skiers to spread out on the trails and enjoy the morning clinics.
The lunch at the Woodstock Inn & Resort, was a turkey and bacon wrap, and a hot squash soup. This year the presentation was a great video from three Vermont skiers, Ida Sargent, Liz Stephen and Sophie Caldwell, who have skied up through the ranks of the NENSA development pipeline, onto the U.S. Ski Team, and have been named to this year’s 2018 Olympic Team. It was great to see their messages, and thoughts from Seefeld, Austria, some highlights from their season so far, and a shout-out to the Women’s XC Ski Day participants!
After hearing from Liz, Ida and Sophie, the originator and organizer of Women’s XC Ski Day, Trina Hosmer, talked about her experiences at the 1972 Olympics in Sapporo, Japan. A few of her experiences included traveling over on a plane which was filled with cigarette smoke, she only had one ski suit to race in, and a pair of knitted kickers, and she was her own wax staff, putting kick wax tip to tail on her wooden skis. It was humorous and enlightening to hear how different her experience was compared to the support our Olympians have today!
NENSA’s Executive Director, Amie Smith thanked our sponsors and welcomed everyone, especially thanking our NENSA members for their support! Then Amie ended the lunch with a great raffle with prizes donated by local sponsors like maple syrup from Richardsons Farm, a gift certificate from The Whipple Tree Yarn Shop, a certificate to The Prince and the Pauper Restaurant, mixes from King Arthur Flour, a gift certificate to The Vermont Horse Country Store, a Cabot Cheese gift box and a donation from SKIDA. Salomon, Swix, Fischer and Bjorn Dahlie also donated some awesome prizes!
The sun came out for the afternoon clinics, and with temperatures in the 40s, the day ended up being the perfect weather for a full day outside skiing!
The wrap up event, concluded the day with a Swix wax clinic, and goodies donated by Soulfully Good Cafe, and the South Woodstock Country Store. The grand raffle prize was picked, and everyone said their goodbyes to friends, new and old.
Thank you to NENSA’s Associate Sponsors L.L. Bean, Swix and Nokian Tyres for making this day possible, and thank you to the Woodstock Inn & Resort Nordic Center staff for hosting an amazing day, with great skiing! AND thank you to our amazing volunteer instructors and local volunteers! We couldn’t do it without you.