NENSA News

This December we were psyched to see Bingo submissions from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont! We even had a few skiers complete multiple Bingos. Collectively, Bingo players skied at Sleepy Hollow, Craftsbury Outdoor Center, Smugglers Notch, Great Glen Trails, Great Brook Ski Touring Center, Weston Ski Track, and Notchview and we wanted to share a few of their wonderful photos.

Speaking of photos, we LOVE the activity photos we’ve received so far but are no longer requiring them on the Bingo Entry Form. Do include them if you have photos and want to share. Otherwise, no worries!

Another important update… we have 5 lucky winners from our December raffle who will be receiving an LL Bean Pom Hat or Gift Card in the mail very soon. We’ll have raffles all winter long so there’s plenty of time to play and send in a card! Visit our website to print your own MA, ME, NH, NY, or VT Bingo card!                     .

One of NENSA’s finest traditions is presenting the John Caldwell Award.  This award annually recognizes a single individual, or entity, which embodies the spirit, dedication, innovation, and pride of John Caldwell. NENSA is thrilled to announce Fred Griffin as our deserving 2020 John Caldwell Award recipient.

Fred has been involved in the New England ski community for over a quarter century and served as NENSA’s first executive director, a position he held for 8 years (1996-2004). Fred also coached Northeast Nordic for 20 years, coached BFA Fairfax (both running and skiing) for 23 years, led numerous U16 and Eastern High School Championship teams for Vermont and New Hampshire, and he has been teaching English for the past 23 years, and worked as a special-needs coordinator at the Galen Center.  In addition, during the winter of 2002-03, Fred co-founded the technical delegate program with Jim Rodrigues. Fred’s friend and former athlete, Jennie Bender, describes Fred as a life coach, a master gardener, an adventure guru, an ultimate frisbee coach, and a loving husband among many other things.

While Fred’s resume is impressive, what stands out most is who he is as a person and how he impacts those around him as he moves through life in the many spheres he occupies.  Fred has touched the lives of so many people in the ski world and beyond that I could fill pages with why he is deserving of this award. However, as my freshman and sophomore English teacher, Fred taught me that more is not necessarily better so I will try my best to be concise.

Fred is a dedicated, inspiring, and motivating individual who leads by example and galvanizes those around him into action. As Jennie described, “Fred sparks the fire in hearts wherever he goes because his inner fire for maximizing life burns strong and steady. He has a knack for making hard work fun, and guiding kids to find their grit, all the while genuinely connecting with people.” Fred challenges those he works with to grow as people and not just as athletes. Jennie shared that Fred kept those around him on their toes and taught hundreds of kids the value of confidence, being true to yourself, and believing in your abilities. Fred held his athletes to a high standard and enabled them to tackle more than they thought possible challenging them with 8 hour canoe trips, backcountry ski adventures, 2am crust cruises under a full moon, and 6am camp yoga sessions. As Jennie notes “you either thought he was a little crazy, or amazing, or both.”

Another friend and former athlete of Fred’s, Julia Snyder, shared similar sentiments about Fred making special note of his inclusive nature. “Fred truly believed that every member of the team contributed equally to the success of the season and on bus rides, Fred would walk the length of the bus and stop at each seat to talk to every person on the team. He saw his athletes and students as people first.” Julia noted that Fred reinforced his belief that being fun, team-oriented, kind, and supportive is what defines you, not your ability in the sport. Through this culture of inclusivity, Fred turned many non-athletes into life-long athletes.

The culture Fred fostered on his teams has had significant and long-lasting impacts on those he worked with. Jennie noted that Fred has developed hundreds of high schoolers into well rounded, kind, adventurous humans. Another former athlete of Fred’s, Heather Peatman, reflected that “Fred takes in kids from all walks of life and renovates them into individuals that are mature, free-thinking adults with strong leadership and team skills.” Jennie says that she tries to harness Fred’s energy in her own coaching and life, because “giving it your all is truly the best way to live. Fred will always be my inspiration.”

In addition to being inspiring, motivating, and inclusive, Fred is also a generous and adaptable man. Every year 20 to 30 of Fred’s skiers participated in the sport on loaned equipment thanks to a team gear recycling program organized by Fred. Friend and coworker, Dan Warner (Mouse) shared that “Fred always gives his time to make things better for everyone. A true leader!”

While Fred has recently retired from teaching and coaching, he has poured his energy into other outlets. Julia notes that Fred isn’t one to mourn losses. Rather, he pivots and adapts turning each loss into a new avenue for adventure. This sentiment is reflected in NENSA Board President, Carol Van Dyke’s observation that Fred’s “maniacal enthusiasm is ever vigorous as he is currently focused on the innovative Farm to School project at BFA Fairfax where the gardens are prolific, beehives are buzzing, compost is moldering, free-range chickens are laying their eggs and his renowned garlic heads gloriously grow.”

Fred fully embodies the spirit, dedication, innovation, and pride of John Caldwell, and we truly cannot think of a more deserving candidate for this award. While it is difficult to describe such a complex and multifaceted person in one sentence, I’ll end with this very fitting attempt by Carol: “Fred cares about all people holistically, and humorously goads them to be their best. He is the consummate teacher of all: from how to read and write, how to ski and run, how to coach and be coached, how to be a TD, and most importantly how to be a good and kind person with pizazz, aplomb and a bombastic dash of shock and awe.”

Chummy Broomhall Award: This award is named after Chummy, who was the Chisholm Ski Club leader for 70 plus years, 2 time Olympian, and builder of the Olympic race courses for Squaw Valley, Lake Placid and Black Mountain.  He embodied the spirit of being a volunteer as he was a man who gave his time to generations. It is in this spirit that this award be in his honor for the unsung heroes of ski racing.

This year’s recipient of our NENSA 2020 Chummy Broomhall Award is Jim Rodridgues ~ posthumous

Last February, during one of our weekly NENSA staff meetings, we started talking about our NENSA Awards for 2020.  Two awards were easily and unanimously decided that day – our Chummy Award and our John Caldwell Award recipients.  This was just a few short weeks before Jim’s sudden and unexpected death.  We wish he could be here now to receive this award – we know he would have been thrilled – for the honor, and for the association with Chummy – a dear friend of his and part of his Chisholm Ski Club.  

After growing up in the city of Oakland California, Jim learned to ski when he was 18 at Yosemite National Park, and soon became a backcountry guide for 10 years. In 1985 Jim moved to New Hampshire, as the XC Ski Director at Temple Mountain in Peterborough New Hampshire, where he built ski trails, and by 1989 had a 1 km lighted loop with snowmaking. During that time he was also the Milford High School XC Ski Coach bringing the team along to five State Championship titles. 

Jim was the Event Director at the New England Nordic Ski Association for 12 years, and helped create a higher standard of New England Nordic ski racing.  Jim launched an annual Event Organizer Seminar to help New England race directors and venues raise the bar in their operations ranging from homologation of championship level race courses to hosting youth events. He was a tremendous regional resource, quietly helping bring premier competitions to our region.  Jim has been a tireless volunteer and resource to so many individuals and organizations for over 40 years.

Janice Sibilia had the pleasure of working with Jim for ten years at NENSA. “He was a fabulous mentor and a very giving person. He expected 100% from all of us, but at the same time, had a great way of encouraging and working with each person and venue as an individual. His passion for nordic skiing and all things related, was contagious and his laugh and enthusiasm was something I will never forget. He was truly one of a kind.”

Jim was a FIS Technical Delegate (TD) at races ranging from youth events, to National and International high-level events such as NCAAs, Junior Nationals, and international roller ski races.  Jim always went above the call of duty to ensure races were at the highest caliber and the best race experience for all involved. Jim’s TD resume speaks for itself with over 130 events, but what sets him apart was his constant search for ways to contribute to the Nordic community, and to offer his expertise in any capacity – officially or advisory. 

Amie Smith remembers “I first worked with Jim in 2010-11 when I was the Race Director for a NENSA Eastern Cup in Boston.  He then took me under his wings when I officially started working for NENSA in 2015 as the Competitive Program Director.  He supported and mentored me as a TD, and for that I will always be grateful.” 

Justin Beckwith adds that “Jim was able to serve any position with authority yet able to have a wicked sense of humor – he no doubt helped raise the level of New England and American events.”

Ollie Burruss thinks “Unsung hero is a great description of Jim Rodrigues. While many of us in the race organization and race official world know of Jim and his outsized contributions to our sport, he was probably unknown to most athletes, coaches, parents, wax techs, and spectators. It is one of the grand ironies of his passing that a man known for his enormous personality, warmth, and good cheer to his friends and coworkers was never recognized by much of the race community whom he served so tirelessly. Whether Jim was cracking jokes and telling stories when everything was going well, or commiserating when things were tough, he always had a positive effect on race day. New England skiing lost a real one, but his legacy will live on through those who learned from his drive and commitment to making race day the best it could be for the athletes.”

Knut Sauer remembers “Jim was a frequent TD/COC in Lake Placid where I am a long time dedicated volunteer.  I had the opportunity to interact with Jim many times, and observe his work, which got me inspired to become a TD.  Jim encouraged me to take the step and become a TD.  I had the opportunity to shadow him, unofficially, a few times and he was a great mentor and truly a believer in the sport.“

Mike Bastisi from ORDA adds, “Jim was the one who encouraged us here at ORDA into going after bigger events again, and it was through his friendship and mentoring that I’ve been able to hone my skills as an event organizer/official in regards to Nordic competition. I will be forever grateful that our paths crossed if even for a few short years.”

Besides his multifaceted role as an official, Jim is the person to do what is needed, make the call, pick up the shovel or jump in the Pisten Bully to groom the course. Whatever questions needed to be answered and whichever tasks needed to be done, Jim was a resource, and NENSA and our entire cross country ski community was lucky to have such an outstanding individual in our ski community. 

Fred Bailey fondly recalls that “Jim always impressed upon me that we as TDs are at events to make sure they can give the user a good experience. Often this means helping the OC get ready on race morning with venue setup, particularly the mass start chevron. Sometimes it meant shoveling. Jim’s truck was always full of tools to help pull off the event.  One of my funnier memories is him and Justin Easter gearing up for a night of riding the tracks pans on the snowmobile tracks to make sure we had deep set tracks for the next day. They had a good laugh about who would be the first to fall off or lose all feeling in their limbs from the cold! Jim loved ski racing and we all greatly benefitted from his passion.”

John Estle of Fairbanks AK, and fellow FIS TD sums up Jim’s volunteer spirit this way, “Jim was an active skier, but was also active in almost every aspect of the sport as a Level 3 FIS Technical Delegate, Chief of Competition for major national calendar events, mentor to organizers and officials as NENSA events coordinator for many years, designer of trails, volunteer at whatever job needed to be filled.  Jim had a lasting impact on event organizers and officials throughout New England via his role as NENSA event coordinator.  He used his leadership roles to mentor and teach those with whom he came in contact for the long-term improvement of our sport.  There was no aspect of the sport in which he was not active and did not have extensive experience.  He did all this with a smile on his face and a good sense of humor, which engaged others, assisting in the transfer of knowledge to ‘the next generation.’ “

NENSA and FIS TD Bill Rogers can still recall skiing the Holderness NH course with Jim where he emphasized the simplicity of the TD’s role – “keep the race fair and keep it safe”.  Bill still thinks of this simple advice to this day when he is on an assignment.

Longtime friend Alison Weber shared this remembrance of Jim, that captures his volunteer spirit well, as he was always ahead of the curve, supporting kids of all income levels, always rooting for the under dog and the top dog. “Jim always kept up with what the younger kids were doing in their ski development and always wanted to encourage kids in their racing careers.  He was always cheering on the kids at Koch League and Junior races, and kept himself really informed about how all of the kids were progressing.  Jim and Chip (Woodbury) always got together when they could at races and other times to talk about skiing development and how things could be done without spending exorbitant amounts of money.  Jim was one who liked to come up with new ideas and invent ways where things could be done with whatever materials they had on hand.  One of the last times Chip and Jim talked…last season at the Great Glen Koch Festival, he and Chip spent hours chatting.  One of the discussion points was how to use foam shipping corner protectors as trail markers!  Jim always enjoyed those good times, just jawing about skiing….with his wonderful laugh.”

Brad Bates, Head of School at  the Dublin School had this to say of Jim, which is reflective of so many other venues Jim worked with too: “Our Nordic Center is only six years old and we would not be anywhere close to where we are today without Jim’s wisdom, help, and confidence.  Jim whipped us into shape and helped us organize and train our volunteer base. As he had done in so many towns around New England he helped us build community by making everyone feel they were important and they were valued. He had a story and ten minutes for everyone he met. 

These old friendships ran deep for Jim. He is well known in the Monadnock Region for his work at Temple Mountain back in the day. He was way ahead of his time in creating a “Super Kilometer” race trail at the base of the mountain using the ski area’s snowmaking system. Those who worked with him at that time clearly had a special bond with him. Jim was not always the easiest person to work with but after a year or two, you realized his bluster was endearing, and not meant to be taken too seriously. He had opinions and was not afraid to tell you how you felt. And most of the time, despite not always wanting to agree with him, he was right! He was extremely loyal and would always defend his buddies. The Dublin XC club loved working with him and we hung on his every word. We miss him every day and will never forget what he did for skiing in our area and throughout the northeast.”

Fred Griffin shares how we all feel, that “Jim understood every aspect of nordic skiing. He was a racer, groomer, coach, event manager, Chief of Comp, official.  He knew something about everything. At every level he made lasting friends. He gave all of us so much of him that his final legacy is one of warm and lasting memories.  Jim, we miss you!”

“What comes to my mind when I think of Jim is that whenever I knew he was coming to Black Mountain as an official or just a club member to help, he was a person you always looked forward to seeing. He shared his knowledge in a way that made you want to do better for the sport he loved.”  shared Roger Arsenault of Chisholm Ski Club.

Fellow TD Carlie Casey adds, “Jim was such a big-hearted and generous friend!  Like most who were lucky enough to know him, I miss him.” 

Justin Easter recalled “My last conversation with Jim was about keeping skiing affordable and accessible to everyone.”

Dan Warner “Mouse” of Chisholm Ski Club sums it up:  “Jim was a strong leader in our community and he is missed. He would be honored to get the Broomhall award. RIP Jim!”

Jim’s good friend and fellow FIS TD Matt Pauli of Anchorage AK echoes all of our thoughts ~ “As with everything I do in skiing, Jim always comes to mind.”

Congratulations to Jim, for his many years of volunteer service to our Nordic community, and for all that he accomplished and gave to our sport over the past 40 years.  The fact that Jim is not here to accept the award is heartbreaking, but his many friends and colleagues feel honored to know this Chummy Broomhall Award was bestowed upon him this year.

Being today is December 23rd, we will close with this story from Brad Bates of a time when Jim resembled Santa Claus… “During the Eastern Cup at our Nordic Center last winter I was called out to our famous “S Curves” section of the 3 km loop due to some fast and icy conditions. I kept radioing back to race headquarters for heavier duty rakes to help break up the crust. Just as I was about to panic, our groomer Steve Sanders, one of Jim’s old friends, came snowmobiling out to where we were working with Jim in tow. Without a word Jim jumped off the sled with a large bag in his hands and began spreading salt on the icy sections as if he were distributing toys to children. Within seconds, the areas that he had salted were soft enough to rake into some sweet corduroy. After a quick smile and mentioning how this same technique worked at Black Mountain in ’96 or Placid in ’88…, “he sprang to his sleigh, to [Steve] gave a whistle. And away they flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight.” Good luck to you all, and to all a good night…”

This past Sunday, a strong field of Mainers toed the line at Quarry Road Trails for an individual start classic race. The course was in fantastic shape thanks to the hard work of the snowmakers and groomers. All event attendees complied with NENSA, state, and venue COVID regulation in addition to completing pre-event and morning-of screening processes to ensure the event was as safe as possible. Below are the results highlights with links to full results. Stay tuned for a lengthier recap, including photos, later this week. Thanks to the Quarry Road crew for putting on a fun event and to Bullitt for the excellent timing!

Top-3 U16 Girls (full results here)
1) Kayley Bell, Caribou High School
2) Elise Creagan, Agamenticus Ski Club
3) Annie Bergeron, Yarmouth High School

Top-3 U16 Boys (full results here)
1) Ellis Slover, Quarry Road Ski Club
2) Luke Streinz, Quarry Road Ski Club
3) Benjamin Condit, Quarry Road Ski Club

Top-3 Open Women (full results here)
1) Abigail Streinz, Fort Kent Outdoor Center
2) Emma Charles, Quarry Road Ski Club
3) Hannah Chipman, FKOC/Ford Sayre

Top-3 Open Men (full results here)
1) Daniel Streinz
2) Andrew Siegel, Bethel Outing Club
3) Caden Cote, Quarry Road Ski Club

This race is one of the many events counting towards club standings for A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. Stay tuned for more events to come, including virtual options. Club standings will be updated soon! Thanks to Marty and Kathy Hall for this exciting incentive.

Video recap and full rankings (Junior Ranking List, Club) coming for your Christmas pleasure!

Click HERE to read and enjoy!  December racing updates |  NENSA’s 2020 Club of the Year Award | Year End Giving | Women’s Day postponed to 2/21/21 | BKL Youth BINGO in full swing | December Club Virtual KM Challenge reaches 10,000 km’s to date

Club of the Year: This award is given annually to honor a NENSA club that is making great strides in supporting the NENSA mission to sustain a vital and active nordic skiing community in New England.

Our NENSA 2020 Club of the Year is Holderness Nordic!

When NENSA hosts an Eastern Cup at Holderness School we know it will be both an outstanding and an inclusive event.  The Holderness Nordic race organizers encourage high school racers to join, who typically may have never skied in an Eastern Cup before, as well as also having a robust Masters participation.  Holderness Eastern Cups always include BKL races, and in the past few years, they have made a wonderful CXC (cross country cross) course with fun jumps, bumps, gates and tunnels to ski through, even incorporating one of those jumps into our Eastern Cup loop as an option for the older skiers!  The Holderness School and the Holderness Nordic Club are intertwined – the coaches, trails, the whole infrastructure – and this full community support shines brightly at every event they do!

The Cheri Walsh Memorial Eastern Cup race, always held in February, and historically, our final race of the season, has also been the spot where NENSA typically names our Junior National Team.  Holderness Head of School Phil Peck and Holderness Nordic Club Leader Peter Hendel always make sure that there is a fun raffle, filled with lots of great prizes, for ALL participants racing that day, as a fun and inclusive way to keep the celebration going before naming the New England JN Team.

“Holderness always embraced the concept of making a ski race a Festival — recent terrain park additions to BKL and top-junior racing naturally complements the vibe of their events — and helps guide XC Skiing into the future.” Justin Beckwith, NENSA Competitive Program Director

But their commitment to the Cheri Walsh Memorial Eastern Cup race is not the only reason that Holderness Nordic Ski Club rose to the top of our NENSA Club Award nominees this year.  Holderness Nordic has it all – the staff, the support of the entire school community, and fun “old school” trails.  But they are also looking to the future with a new John Morton homologated 2.5k loop and sprint course, snowmaking, and lights all coming to fruition this coming year, thanks to the generosity of an alum. The goal is to still keep the trails playful and fun to ski on!

Holderness Nordic embraces their love of cross country skiing in everything they do. This New Hampshire club of about 30 BKL & middle school athletes and 20 high school athletes has a lot of history surrounding it, and the folks running it.  The coaching staff, led by former U.S. Nordic Team Coach Pat Casey, is also remarkable. Current coaches include Olympian Kristina Joder Casey and NENSA trustee Peter Hendel. Head of School Phil Peck, who was also a World Cup skier and Olympic coach, makes time to ski with the team when he can as well. 

Fall Training 2020

Thirty-seven years ago Phil Peck came to Holderness from coaching with the US Team. He wanted to coach young athletes and also teach. The only school in the country he wanted to work at was Holderness because of the balance of academic and snow sports excellence.  Phil was blessed to coach with wonderful coaches like Dennis Donahue, Steve Gaskill, and Peter Hendel. One challenging snow year during the late 80’s Holderness hosted 3 Eastern Cup Races, the Nordic Combined Championships, and two college carnivals. 

While Phil moved out of coaching at Holderness to become head of school 20 years ago, Peter Hendel has never left the program and has been the “quarterback” of 30 Cheri Walsh Memorial Eastern Cup races. Before Peter started teaching and coaching at Holderness, he led the club’s Bill Koch program. Now, in “retirement” Peter is the culture keeper of Holderness Nordic. He works with their remarkable Bill Koch Club coordinator (and Holderness graduate) Molly Whitcomb and Frosty Whitworth to support the BKL program and robust middle school program. Peter also assists the terrific Director of the Holderness Nordic Program, Pat Casey, AND he is the assistant groomer.   Peter is the behind the scenes force who has given tirelessly of himself to the Holderness school and Nordic Club Program for almost 40 years. 

Kristina Casey describes Peter as,  “A dream – gentle, kind, gets everything done – he has such a passion for the sport”

Phil sums it up well saying, “Peter Hedel is a rock star.  He loves coaching and is super excited about the middle school coaching he is now doing.  Peter does not want any attention – he wants to serve.”

Coach Peter Hendel going over some logistics with his team

For the last eleven years, Peter has supported the Holderness School Nordic Head Coach Pat Casey.   The Nordic program at Holderness School has a long tradition of producing world-class athletes, and Pat has been an incredible asset to that program.  He and his wife, Kristina, have been especially impactful in their outreach to the local community.  Working with Molly Whitcomb, they are providing training options for Holderness Nordic Club members, especially middle school and high school, year round.  Pat has also played a pivotal role (working with John Morton) in helping Holderness envision how they can transform their playful “old school” trails into a world class facility that still has that Holderness feel.  These new trails, and the snowmaking will all be in place for the opening of the 2021-22 ski season.

Coach Pat Casey (center) with Holderness School coaches Disney and Duran

Phil Peck comments, “What I love about Pat is that he is so capable – as a coach and leader.  He is unpretentious.  As the saying goes – confidence is grounded in humility – Pat exudes that!  He has a huge work ethic, never draws attention to himself – it’s all about the kids and making the program better.”

Kristina Casey talks fondly about her husband Pat and Peter Hendel’s working relationship, “They work so well together – they admire each other SO much – it’s business, but it’s not. They are both psyched to being doing what they are doing”

Phil on Peter & Pat as a team:  “They energize each other!  Peter is continually growing and learning new things – they feed off of each other in a really positive way”

Congratulations to Holderness Nordic, your entire coaching staff and community for being the NENSA 2020 Club of the Year!  Holderness Nordic truly is a community and a family affair.  Here’s to your incredible past and to your future!  Thank you from all of us who have benefited so greatly from your club and your events over the years.  We can not thank you enough, and we can’t wait to get out and ski on those new trails a year from now! 

We have moved Women’s XC Ski Day from Sunday January 24th 2021 to Sunday February 21st 2021. Our priority is keeping everyone as safe and healthy as possible, and we believe we will have a better chance of hosting the whole event in each state, and that our events will be safer, if we postpone by a month. We are also keenly aware that such an event is not possible right now in Vermont and we are waiting to see how those regulations change. We appreciate your flexibility and understanding as we navigate this uncertain winter!

We still have space available for Vermonter’s in the Woodstock event, and if you’re based in Massachusetts, Maine, or New Hampshire, you can add yourself to the event-specific waitlist under registration.

We also want to let registrants and future registrants know that, thanks to UnTapped, we will be offering pre-packaged Maple Chai Waffle snacks at Women’s Day this year! And don’t forget about the fuzzy LL Bean flannel shirt also included in registration…

Click HERE for full event details and reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions!

We’re less than a week to the first day of winter, and despite challenges, there are options for skiing — not to mention a nice little Nor’easter is about to clip much of New England!  Please be safe out there folks – stay local – and help us maintain the health of not just our skiers, but all the communities we visit.  If you feel off – DON’T GO.

Quarry Road Opener

The amazing crew at Quarry Road Trails and Ski Club pulled off another successful Opener – with races for all age groups spread responsibly throughout the day.  There were 99 registered racers – who navigated health screens and did a great job abiding by mask mandates (a 2020 reality).  The Opener also kicked off our Zak Cup competition, providing the first on-snow-in-person event for the the 2021 season.  Check out flyingpointroad for stellar photos of the event.

Zak and Club Cup

Zak and Club scoring look a little different this year with accommodations to provide competitive experiences for all, with a focus on getting clubs active throughout the season.   Zak Cup rankings have been updated for the first time this season and we have some clubs really getting after it in the December Club KM Challenge.  We’re recording overall kilometers skied throughout all the events that will score for the overall Club Champions – incentivized by the A Hall Mark of Excellence award money.  We’re about to break 10,000 kilometers halfway through December.  There are a smaller number of events this season due to COVID complications – so get planning and figure out how you will make your mark.  Popular Race Calendar.

Stay tuned for updates on the Jackson Jaunt – which now has both a 5km and 10km option with added demand for races from junior competitors.  Registration for the Virtual Bogburn will open on December 21.

Eastern Cup Opener at Quarry Road Trails

Quarry Road is all in for this weekend’s Eastern Cup Opener.  Now branded as a “Maine Cup,” this event is only open to Maine residents to abide by State Guidelines.  All competitors who have registered for Bibs and Chips and will be attending this race will receive their Bibs and Chips at the event.  Due to the reduced numbers of competitors 30 spots have been opened for junior skiers who do not hold U.S. Ski & Snowboard licenses – these competitors will race after the NRL skiers, receive temporary bibs and chips, and be listed on the NENSA Junior Ranking List.  Again safety is paramount – please take extra care to read all pre-event emails – and respond to your Health Screen promptly.

December Club KM Challenge:

There are currently eleven clubs participating in the DCKC — logging nearly 8000km to date, or roughly 500km per day.  As a reminder you can reach out to the Competitive Program Director directly to share club activity or update your data on the #DCKC form here.  There are likely many kilometers that haven’t been recorded or submitted – there’s no cost to NENSA clubs – and $9000 of reward for the top three clubs over the course of the season.  Get out and enjoy the upcoming snow and join in the fun!

All photos @flyingpoint

NENSA introduces Kathy Maddock, Dublin XC and Justin Fereshetian, Quarry Road Trails as your 2019-2020 Coaches of the Year.  These two role models were integral in the development of their clubs — which are now strongholds of the East.  Maddock joined forces with the Dublin School Nordic Center, which opened in 2014, to create robust programming that spans BKL, Juniors and masters skiers.  Fereshetian was named the Program Director and Head Nordic Coach for the City of Waterville at Quarry Road Trails last year where he heads year round programming.

Kathy Maddock is a veteran of the New England ski community, as an athlete and a coach, and in recent years she has helped grow Dublin XC and the Dublin School to become, “one of the strongest youth programs in New England.”  Kathy not only supports her home club, but has been a key coach at U.S. Ski & Snowboard Regional Elite Group (REG) camps for many years running.

Kathy’s racing career began in Massachusetts where she was the first High School Girls Nordic Ski Champion.  She continued skiing at Dartmouth College, and went on to race for the US Ski Team — competing in multiple World Cup competitions.

“Skiing fast, whether it’s flying down a hill, accelerating out of a corner, or double-poling to a finish-line is one of the best feelings there is. I coach so that I can help others find–and fall in love with–that feeling.” KM

Kathy’s coached juniors at Souhegan High School, Stratton Mountain School, and with previous programs in Dublin.  She’s been a part of Junior National Coaching squads and led New Hampshire Team’s at U16 and Eastern High School Championships.  Not only is she a U.S. Ski & Snowboard L100/L200 certified coach, she’s helped instruct many New Hampshire coaches to gain their certifications.

“If I had to describe Kathy Maddock’s coaching style I would say she makes skiers faster with laughter! Her athletes simply love going to practice and Kathy knows how to create a team culture where everyone enjoys skiing with one another. While racing and training are important to Kathy I think I am most impressed with her ability to show young people the joy that skiing can bring to their lives. Her leadership, enthusiasm, and passion for the sport of cross country skiing can be felt throughout the New Hampshire skiing community. Congratulations to Kathy on this well-deserved honor!”  Brad Bates, Head of School, Dublin School

“Over the past ten years, I’ve been fortunate enough to be mentored by Kathy both as an athlete and as a coach. Throughout this time, she has continuously met me where I am, but has quietly demanded excellence — first athletically, and now in coaching. Her coaching style, built on knowing each athlete as an individual and building rapport from there, is what I have tried to emulate in my first few years coaching. Kathy’s efforts to unite the southern NH and Massachusetts ski communities demonstrates the incredible impact that collaboration can have in providing high level coaching to our athletes.”  Cate Brams, U20/U18 Girls Coach, Eastern Mass Nordic (the “new” CSU)

Justin Fereshetian took the reins as the Program Director and Head Nordic Coach for the City of Waterville at Quarry Road Trails in 2019.  He hit the ground running with big dreams for the the historic Quarry Road site along the Messalonskee Stream — first developed in the 1930’s.  The trails, bolstered by the support of the City of Waterville and an amazing group of volunteers developed a new vision of outdoor recreation in 2007.

“I am really excited about the coaching piece of the job. It’s a passion of mine,” Fereshetian said. “I am also looking forward to the programming because there’s a lot of really cool things happening here at this venue, and it’s awesome to have a part in what is going on to help it progress to the next level.” JF

Fereshetian’s initiation to coaching and leadership began at the Outdoor Sport Institute in Caribou, where he served as the Nordic Development Director / Head Coach and Initiative Coordinator.  During this time Justin served as a Wax Tech for Team New England at Junior Nationals in Lake Placid, NY.  This summer he created  a workout for Virtual REG Camp and led a coaching group in the program that reached over 100 New England athletes.  During his young career he has helped train 17 athletes who have qualified for the New England Junior National Team including the first Quarry Road Trails athlete this winter.

At Quarry Road Justin wears many hats, including trail maintenance, staffing, snowmaking and event management.  Last winter the boundless enthusiasm of Justin and his crew allowed for the shift of the Eastern Cup Opener from Sugarloaf to Quarry Road on the drop of a hat.  They had done their work and made snow in every possible temperature window for the past month — and despite unforgiving weather were able to create a track of the highest quality.  They also built in some terrain, in the form of two large rollers directly in front of the timing house — creating a visible “new school” feel to cross country skiing. It created too many smiles to count.

Fereshetian attended the University of Maine at Presque Isle, receiving a degree in physical education.  He was a standout runner and cross country skier who competed at Junior and Senior Nationals, the EISA circuit and NCAA’s.  Like Maddock he is an active coach, who trains alongside his athletes and has the ability to jump into competitions when the moment arrises.

“The remarkable thing about Justin is his versatility, he is just as comfortable teaching elite skiers as beginners, he is extremely patient and listens carefully to each person because he is vested in their progress and success. He is a firm advocate for his athletes making sure that they are being treated fairly and their safety and well-being are the prime considerations.” Ole Amundsen, parent and Quarry Road Trails

“I’m so happy to hear that Justin has been chosen for this award! He puts in a lot of hours outside of his regular workday that exceeds expectations!  He supported me throughout the season for the Eastern Cup races last year by doing an amazing job waxing my skis … Sometimes he would just know that I was nervous without me saying anything and would give me some really great advice on how to have the best race possible, which helped me feel more prepared for the race.  I been working with him since this spring and thanks to his training plan and amazing feedback, I can see and feel myself getting stronger and faster. He also makes practices fun by incorporating sprint simulations into our workouts or doing agility courses that make me go out of my comfort zone.” Emma Charles, Quarry Road Ski Club

We congratulate both of these terrific human beings and coaches — can’t wait to see them out on the trails, having fun and no doubt instilling the love of skiing into countless new skiers.  We are so fortunate to have such a strong skiing culture in New England.  Kathy and Justin are shining examples of who we strive to be.

As anticipated, our racing calendar is, and needs to remain fluid – increased COVID case numbers and health care stress throughout New England reinforces NENSA’s paramount focus to protect the health of our membership and the communities we reside in.

While there will be undeniable disappointment with some decisions, we can all take solace in the creative programming available for the next month and a half — find motivation in cooling temps, a start of a snow-base, and the addition of regional on-snow racing!  Cross country skiers are leaders – we must all be vigilant and do our part over the coming weeks “to abide” above our regional guidelines.  We’ve laid down some brilliant plans and protocols, including the New England Cross Country Promise – now is the time to stay focussed on adherence to exemplary behavior – which includes a reduction in our personal travels.  To steal a phrase from Killington Mountain, “Help us get Open, and stay Open.”  We’re all in this together.

Eastern Cup & States Cups:

NENSA is committed to holding all of our events to the highest health standards, and Maine is currently under guidance to host events without cross-state participation.  Quarry Road Trails and Sugarloaf will move forward with their scheduled races, December 20th (QR) and January 23-24th (Sugarloaf) — for residents of Maine only.  These races will be rebranded as “Maine Cups” and scored to the Junior Ranking List.  All registered out-of-state racers will be refunded entry fees in full.  Due to this limit on attendance, both Quarry Road and Sugarloaf might be able to offer more opportunity for open registrants and masters.  Registration for Sugarloaf will open in January.

In Vermont we will likely see limited shift in regulation until after the New Year.  NENSA is working with Craftsbury and Prospect Mountain (our listed January events) and will update the status of these races as guidance comes from the state — potential postponement dates are likely to be announced.

Our February events are still scheduled as planned and we will continue to monitor regional regulations and update the community.

Eastern Mass Nordic is in the beginning stages of developing “State Cup” racing in Massachusetts.

NENSA is committed to providing race experiences for our developing skiers and we will focus on “State Cup” events and scoring those races to the Junior Ranking List.  We are optimistic the end of the winter will allow for more opportunities and races similar to a typical Eastern Cup.  We thank you all for your continued resilience and point you towards local opportunities including Popular Racing.

Popular Racing – Zak Cup / Club Cup / A Hall Mark of Excellence:

The Popular Race calendar and Zak / Club Cup scoring pages for 2020-2021 have been updated.  While these events have typically been focussed on the masters population they now have added value to all levels of skiers in the pandemic climate — these scheduled races give “race start” opportunities and help promote the guidance of staying close to home.  Some events will be offered that are only Virtual, some will be duel (in-person / Virtual), and some might be forced to become Virtual.

The December Club KM Challenge is off to a strong start – with Mansfield Nordic already logging 2000km since the beginning of the month.  It’s not too late join in the fun and there is financial incentive this year to show the strength of your club with the – A Hall Mark of Excellence Award – offering $9000 of incentives for the three top Club Cup teams.

This weekend brings us the first Zak Cup race at the Quarry Road Trails – albeit limited to Maine residents.

Jackson XC is excited and planning to host the Jackson Jaunt on December 27th — this could be an excellent opportunity for juniors who were planning to attend the Quarry Road Eastern Cup.  As with all races – please register early – it is so important to the organizers to be able to plan and provide for safe events!

Bob Haydock has created an elaborate and well-vetted Virtual version of the iconic Bogburn Classic.  This race gives all of our masters and club participants an opportunity to compete and engage with their peers throughout the region and beyond.  Stay tuned – registration is slated to open on the 21st.

The Popular Race schedule has robust offerings into late January, February and March — you know we will keep you posted!  In the meantime — enjoy the building snowpack in your backyard, your local touring centers, and as you head out for organized events — be safe and have fun!!