NENSA News

We are delighted to announce a NEW matching challenge for the John Ogden endowment campaign!

A generous donor has offered a 3:1 match on any new contributions up to a total of $50,000 raised for the campaign by March 8.

At $573,677, we are just over 75% of the way to our 2023-24 season goal of $750,000

This will get us over the finish line!

This is a historic season in so many ways. The World Cup has just returned to N. America and to U.S. soil for the first time in over 20 years and features SEVEN skiers who got their start in the New England Bill Koch Youth Ski League: Julia Kern, Ben Ogden, Brian Bushey, Will Koch, Alex Lawson, Ava Thurston, and Jack Young. 

At the Junior level, Tabor Greenberg recently returned from the Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon, S. Korea. Amelia Circosta competed at the U18 Nordic Nations Cup in Falun, Sweden. New Englanders Jack Lange, Sofia Scirica, Ava Thurston, and Evie Walton represented one-third of the U.S. team at World Junior Ski Championships in Planica, Slovenia last week. Across these events, these New England BKL alums posted several top 10 and podium results!

These pinnacle achievements are rooted in something much deeper: foundational programming and a culture that inspires joy and engagement. John was a passionate advocate for a welcoming, healthy, and fun youth sport culture. The values he championed are the pulse of the New England ski community from children making their first tracks at school or BKL practice to top World Cup and Olympic skiers. 

Please help us reach our goal!

Your gift – of any amount – if made by March 8, will be matched 3:1. 

Our fundraising efforts for 2023-24 are entirely focused on this special campaign and honoring and celebrating the enduring contributions John made to our sport and to our community. 

Downeast 18km Freestyle Loppet

Adventurers, challenge seekers, and distance lovers – the Downeast 18km Freestyle Loppet is making a return for its second year.  Hosted by the Downest Racing Team, the race will take place this Sunday at Quarry Road Trails due to lack of snow on the coast. The snow making loop should provide excellent conditions and great spectating opportunities. Whether you want to race or cheer on your friends and/or family, this event is the place to be this weekend! So gather up your skis and support crew and enjoy the atmosphere. This race is part of the Part of the NENSA Marathon Series and scored to NENSA Zak Cup and Club Cup.

FUN. ON. SKIS. This year marked the third Stratton Terrain Challenge and by all accounts it was the best yet! The event is the brainchild of Steve Bruner of the Stratton Nordic Center, Stratton Mountain School coaches, the Putney Ski Club and the West River BKL. While run as a freestyle race it hearkens to the roots of traditional skiing — gliding through the woods on two planks. And of course there is the new school vibe of jumps, gates — and as many in the open race found out — an artillery of snowballs!

This year’s Stratton Terrain Challenge was so special many kids and adults didn’t want to leave. Adding to the special atmosphere was the awareness that Jessie Diggins and Ben Ogden were contesting the World Cup Sprint in Goms, Switzerland at the same time. Honorary starter, Sverre Caldwell, reminded the kids how special that was — as many of the local skiers happen to know the two superstars who train in the summers right on those very trails.

The snow conditions were perfect for a event that is by design imperfect — a fast surface with crusty traces allowed for dynamic skiing and the speed to enjoy many features. Throughout the morning families would skitter from one intersection to the next cheering on friends and rooting for their love ones.

These type of events are much more than races — hay bales, fire pits, lively music, raffle prizes — all things that energize our community! We are so fortunate for our forward thinking partners across the region. If you missed the 2024 Terrain Challenge — a little plug for the Mansfield Nordic Skiathlon @ Sleepy Hollow tomorrow — we can’t wait to see what finishing features Eli Enman and company have in store!

If you want to feel like a kid again — make a point not to miss the 2025 Stratton Terrain Challenge. We also owe additional thanks to Steve Bruner for nurturing this gem of a trail network in Southern VT.

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RESULTS

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The 2024 Edition of the Silver Fox Trot hosted by Ford Sayre at Oak Hill Outdoor Center was a spectacular event for folks of all ages! This rescheduled race was the first of what’s sure to be many great events on the newly-updated trails in Hanover, New Hampshire at the Oak Hill Outdoor Center. The early clouds cleared up for the later races and made for a beautiful day for a ski race.

With 245 racers of varying ages, it was a full day of racing. A big group of skiers from Eastern Mass BKL, and Southern Vermont BKL programs made the trip up to join lots of local kids to make for some large BKL fields.

Thank you to Ford Sayre for hosting another well-planned and executed event again this year!

It was a fantastic day for skiing at the Caribou Bog Race in Orono, Maine, hosted by the Penobscot Valley Ski Club. Blue sky, lots of sun, and firm classic tracks made for a great experience. There were lots of smiles coming from the participants. This race was the 5th event in the NENSA Marathon Series. Racers had the option of skiing 10, 21, or 33km. With 70 entrants, this made the largest edition of the Caribou Bog Race in its modern form, with a healthy boost from outside the Bangor area.

The course has a great mix of single, double, and triple track sections, with gentle undulating uphills, fun downhills and a healthy portion of double pole terrain. The scenic woods trails wind through lands managed by the Orono Land Trust, including passing by many beautiful ponds, bogs, and a reintroductory Chestnut tree plantation. Despite the lack of abundant snow depth, the organizers put in a lot of hard work between trail surface upgrades in recent summers and lot of shoveling to insure the best snow depth possible, resulting in very good conditions!

The recently renovated lodge offered a clean and cosy post race experience. More than half of the field gathered for snacks, social time, and awards. Age group and Overall podium skiers were given Caribou Bog Post cards and some cool schwag from local retailers. After the awards, a slew of raffle items were doled out, including vests, alpine jackets, drink packs, rental vouchers, and racer director hot sauce! This event has a great vibe, fun skiing and it’s certainly one you want to experience. The Penobscot Valley Ski Club also hosts a freestyle version of the event including BKL races.

Results
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Staff Photos