NENSA held a rollerski clinic in conjunction with The Maine Event rollerski race at Black Mountain of Maine and the Chisholm Ski Club. This clinic provided a great opportunity for participants to watch some high level skiers in head-to-head action prior to trying rollerskiing themselves. The Black Mountain parking lot proved to be a great surface to learn on, despite challenging weather conditions on the day. Participants even got to try their hand at some ramps! Thank you to the Chisholm Youth Ski Club for bringing their skiers to the clinic!
NENSA News
The Maine Event #backinblack
The Maine Event is probably one of the most progressive rollerski competitions out there — and when you add in 30 mile an hour winds and rain-slick ramps — it really becomes a thing! The fifth running of the XCX (Cross Country Cross) was hosted by the Chisholm Ski Club at the Black Mountain of Maine on October 22nd. The local community rallied to put on an old fashioned show, creating the festival feel the event was originally designed to provide, including a homemade chowder lunch, live music and event t-shirts.
Full Results
Open and Masters Series Standings
The Maine Event was built around concepts of sprinting and agility training, and highlights ramp features that were created in 2018, and are now seen at ski centers nation and worldwide. The first four events were hosted at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, Maine with the core of competitors coming from Bates, Bowdoin and Colby College. Junior participation continues to increase each year with four High School programs represented in 2023.
The competition format typically allows each competitor to run two qualification rounds on a 400 meter course filled with ramps and sweeping turns. This year a game day decision was made after successful first qualifier to run only a single trial, in the interest of safety and reducing exposure to the elements. Skiers were then advanced into head to head brackets, with 16 Open skiers and eight Juniors of each gender advancing. Unlike previous years where two separate, “red” and “blue,” courses where used, in each heat, two athletes charged out onto course together, including jockeying for position on a single ramps feature near the end of the course.
John Bernard Photos
Link to the Sun Journal
Photos by Daryn Slover
The skill of Eastern skiers continues to grow each year and successfully navigating the 2023 Maine Event course certainly highlights that! Throughout the day there were only a handful of minor falls despite all out efforts through the twists and turns of the course and slippery ramp surfaces.
Competitors were able to utilize the lodge at Black Mountain for refuge throughout the day with food service, a live band and an indoor corn hole tournament. Prior to awards NENSA recognized Roger Arsenault with the John Caldwell award to recognize his efforts in the Chisholm ski community — a community with a rich history and a rebirth of energy — including a thriving youth club.
Competitors in Open, Junior and Junior rounds were then awarded with Cabot Cheese and Grandpa’s maple syrup.
Open Women Podium
1 Emma Crum – Bowdoin
2 Jori Grialou – Bowdoin
3 Nyla Scott – Gould
Open Men Podium
1 Ellis Slover – Gould
2 Lucas Barstow – Gould
3 Tabor Greenberg – GMVS
Junior Women Podium
1 Reese Furneaux – Gould
2 Hannah Grohman – Gould
3 Mirra Payson – Bowdoin
Junior Men Podium
1 Eli Shifrin – Bowdoin College
2 Aidan Jacobus – GMVS
3 James Crowley – Gould
Junior Women Podium
1 Nora McCourt – Mt Blue High School
2 Izzy Glackin – Bates
3 Mallory Raymond – Gould
Junior Men Podium
1 Henri McCourt – Mt Blue High School
2 Simon Goldstein – Colby
3 Andy Defor – Colby
The 2023 Rollerski Series wraps up November 5th with the Mt. Greylock Hill Climb. This more traditional cross country ski event makes a beautiful undulating climb to the highest point of Massachusetts. As a culmination of the competitive rollerski season, we expect skiers of all ages and are offering both classic and freestyle options for masters skiers and long and short course options for all. Awards will honor the top Open, Junior and Masters, crown the 2023 Masters Hill Climber Award winners and recognize the 2023 NENSA College Cup winner. We hope the temperate weather holds until the November 6th when we can all shift our attention to gliding on snow once again!
Come join NENSA and EMXC at the Snowbound Expo, Nov 3-5th
If you’re in the Boston area, come join NENSA and Eastern Mass Cross Country (EMXC) at the Snowbound Expo. The Snowbound Expo is the relaunch of the well known ‘Boston Ski & Snowboard Expo’ bringing together the ski & snowboard community to meet up & plan for their next adventure in the mountains. The show will bring together brands showcasing the latest gear, equipment, apparel, and technology. Snowbound Expo hosts an amazing line up of inspirational speakers who will share their skills and experiences to get visitors stoked for the next season! Snowbound Expo is accessible to all – no matter your age, sexual orientation, race, ability – if you want to try out snowsports or improve your techniques, Snowbound Expo is the place for you!
From November 3rd-5th, NENSA and EMXC will be at the Cross Country Skiing exhibit in conjunction with the Cross Country Ski Areas Association (CCSAA). Been waiting to try rollerskiing? We will have our NENSA rollerskis available to try out on the floor! Additionally, our own Julia Kern will be speaking at this event on Friday November 3rd from 3:30-4:00pm on the Inspiration Stage. Fitting location, as Kern consistently inspires our community with her work in the sport! Read more about the booth here. Hope to see you there!
Call For Coaches for Junior Nationals 2024 – Lake Placid, NY
NENSA is pleased to report that planning for the 2024 Junior Nationals is well underway and that we aim to keep on the ground costs in line with recent trips. The New England Team will stay and eat at the Ampersand Bay Resort.
If you are interested in joining our staff for Lake Placid please fill out this form. All U.S. Ski & Snowboard L100 (or higher) coaches with active NENSA coach membership are welcome to apply. The staff consists of six age group coaches and a wax staff of five. The workload of the week is demanding, yet rewarding.
You can read further information about NE Junior National qualification and team composition HERE.
Organizers of the Inaugural Saba Rollerski Festival Announce Free Accommodations Offer for NENSA Members
Organizers of the first Dutch Caribbean Ski Festival are extending a special offer to NENSA members: the first three to register for the Inaugural Saba Ski Festival will receive free accommodations!
Offer of free accommodation from Saba Ski Festival is good for:
1. any one cottage at the Cottage Club for check in on 4 or 5 May 2024 and check out on May 11. Any additional nights either side must be paid by the participant. Festival registration and reservations must be made on or prior to 30 November 2023 by contacting [email protected]. Membership of NENSA must be current as of the time of booking;
2. or, any one room or cottage at Juliana’s hotel excluding Orchid Cottage. Check in must be on 4 or 5 May 2024 and check out on May 11. Any additional nights either side must be paid by the participant. Festival registration and reservations must be made on or prior to 30 November 2023 by contacting [email protected]. Membership of NENSA must be current as of the time of booking.
In all cases, maximum occupancy per unit is determined by the host hotel.
Limit, one reservation per registrant.
Offer is good only for the first three NENSA members to register for the event beginning at the time the email announcing this offer is sent by NENSA. After you register, contact [email protected] immediately to claim the offer.
This offer does not represent an endorsement of the event by NENSA nor does it indicate any financial support by NENSA of the event.
More about the event can be found HERE