NENSA News

It was a fast, furious, and fun day of racing in Craftsbury!! A big thank you to the Craftsbury Outdoor Center staff and volunteers. It was inspiring to see relative newbies to rollerskiing mixing it up out on the track with seasoned World Cup athletes!

U16 Girls
Amelia Circosta, Craftsbury Nordic Ski Club
Julia Thurston, Mansfield Nordic
Isabel Linton, Craftsbury Nordic Ski Club

U16 Boys
Charlie Kehler, Craftsbury Nordic Ski Club
Taylor Carlson, Mansfield Nordic Ski Club
Anders Linseisen, Mansfield Nordic Club

Open Women
Caitlin Patterson, Craftsbury Green Racing Project
Susan Dunklee, Craftsbury Green Racing Project/US Biathlon Team
Hallie Grossman, Craftsbury Green Racing Project

Open Men
Adam Martin, Craftsbury Green Racing Project
Luke Brown, Craftsbury Green Racing Project
Raleigh Goessling, Craftsbury Green Racing Project

Intermediate Race
Dan Ott

Full results:
U16 | Open & Intermediate 

Check out the exciting ramp action at the start in this video!

Graham Taylor,  founder of the Eastern High School Championships here in New England, the Massachusetts State Team Leader for decades, and Lincoln Sudbury High School XC Team Coach until the age of 90, as passed away.  Graham was a true legend, and a wonderful man.  I want to share to past NENSA articles on Graham, the first from 2000 and the second from 2017, as well as the family obituary ~

New Graham Taylor Award for Overall State Winner at Eastern High School Championships

Obituary:

Graham R. Taylor, Jr., passed away peacefully at his home in Sudbury, MA on June 25th at the age of 96. Graham, a resident of Sudbury for 50 years, was born in New York City in 1925 to Florence Irene Taylor and Graham Romeyn Taylor, and raised in the socially progressive atmosphere of Greenwich Village, by a family with a long commitment to social justice. After graduating from Exeter Academy in Exeter, NH in 1943, he enlisted in the Army, where he was assigned to the 10th Armored Division, shipping out to Europe in September of 1944 and serving in the infantry during the liberation of France and Germany. Upon completion of his army service, he attended Harvard, graduating in 1949, after which he started working in the Admissions and Financial Aid office there. This began a long career in financial aid and college admissions, which included positions at Harvard, the Pullman Foundation in Chicago, the College Board in New York City, and concluded as the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs for the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education, running and enlarging the state scholarship program. Throughout his career he was dedicated to expanding financial aid and scholarship options for students based upon financial need, providing higher education opportunities to students for whom otherwise a college education may not have been possible.

Taylor was a life-long athlete and sports fan and his favorite sports included running, tennis, baseball, hockey, and skiing. A gift on his 10th birthday of skiing lessons at a New York City department store, where he learned to ski on a ramp covered in fake snow, turned into a life-long love of and dedication to the sport, as a competitor, coach and administrator. He was captain and then coach of the Harvard ski team, officiated at the 1960 Squaw Valley Olympics, served on the boards of numerous regional and national ski associations and foundations, and was the head coach of the Lincoln Sudbury High School Ski Team from 1982-2017, bringing 14 state titles to the program during his tenure. His impact on and dedication to organized high school skiing in the northeast was such that in 2017, a new award was established by the New England Nordic Ski Association and named after him. This award goes to the overall winner at the annual Eastern High School Championships.

His other love was music, singing with the Concord Chorus for over 25 years, the First Parish Choir for over 35 years, appearing in numerous musical productions in local community theater (his favorites were Gilbert & Sullivan), and performing every summer at the Berkshire Choral Festival in Great Barrington, MA. An active and involved member of the Sudbury community, Graham was instrumental in the annual Sudbury July 4th Road Race for close to 50 years. His commitment to and involvement with the race will be one of his legacies to the town he loved. He was a force of nature who made an impact on all who knew him.

He is survived by his five children, Doug Smith, Ken Taylor (Sibyl Waters), Rebecca Taylor Callo (Jim Callo), Patrick Taylor (Jane Litwin) and Karen Taylor, his two step-children, Sarah Gaddis and Matthew Gaddis, nephews and niece Paul Kroeber, Arthur Kroeber and Katharine Kroeber Wiley, and five grandchildren. His sister, Jean Taylor Kroeber, pre-deceased him.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Graham’s name to Berkshire Choral International at www.berkshirechoral.org/donate or the Eastern Amateur Ski Educational Foundation at www.easef.org/donate .

A memorial service will be held in the fall in Sudbury.

Last week saw 36 athletes and 15 coaches come together from all across the East for a week of training, racing, learning, and collaboration at the Eastern Regional Elite Group Camp. Camp kicked off at the Green Mountain Valley School with an uphill run test and double pole challenge before moving to Lake Placid, NY for some camping, a skate sprint competition at Mount Van Hoevenberg’s new sport complex, and a long combo run/roll to close out camp.

A big thank you to all the coaches who dedicated their time, energy, and expertise to making this camp the best it could be for the athletes! We are also grateful to our host venues–GMVS and Mt. Van Hoeveneberg–in addition to the National Nordic Foundation, Matt Whitcomb and Kate Johnson of the US Ski Team, Bullitt Timing, and NENSA’s generous sponsors–Salomon, LL Bean, and Swix. Stay tuned for more summer events on the horizon that will be open to all!  We plan to return to Lake Placid for an Open Sprint Competition in September.

Sprint Results

Sprint Quailfier Video, Sprint Rounds Video

Double Pole and Uphill Run Results

Photo gallery provided by Reese Brown.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA)
49 Pineland Drive, Suite 301A
New Gloucester, ME 04260

June 30, 2021

The New England Nordic Ski Association is thrilled to announce our new partnership with Salomon as an Associate Level Sponsor/Partner for the next three years ~ 2021-22 through the 2023-24 seasons.

Salomon is a long time champion of the Nordic community, supporting programs, athletes, venues, and retailers at all levels of the sport across the US and worldwide. “Salomon’s partnership helps support our programing along the entire pipeline, from youth and introductory skiing & rollerskiing, competitive programing, to masters and citizen racing, and beyond. I am thrilled Salomon has made this 3-year commitment to NENSA – their belief in our programing here in New England means a lot to us,” says Amie W. Smith, Executive Director of NENSA.

“NENSA does an outstanding job of getting more people across all ages and ability levels out on skis to enjoy outdoor winter recreation and competition. Salomon is excited to grow its partnership with NENSA to further support the clubs mission of strengthening the Nordic community throughout New England,” says Andre Watt, Salomon’s Nordic Marketing and Race Manager.

About Salomon:
Born in the French Alps in 1947, Salomon is committed to pushing the boundaries of mountain sports through the creation of innovative equipment that allows people to play, progress and challenge themselves in their chosen outdoor sports. The company produces and sells premium footwear, winter sports and mountaineering equipment, hiking equipment, and apparel specifically designed for all those disciplines. Products are developed in the company’s Annecy Design Center, where engineers, designers and athletes collaborate to create innovative solutions that continually improve the outdoor experiences of those who see nature as a vast playground.

About the New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA):

The New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA) is the umbrella organization for cross country skiing in the region that promotes the culture and growth of cross country skiing and offers year-round programming to all levels of skiers to encourage a lifetime love of the sport. With a small paid staff and a huge grassroots component NENSA relies on membership, contributions to our Annual Fund and corporate sponsors to provide a framework for clubs and venues to host successful – and FUN – ski events for all ages and abilities.

NENSA Vision
To be the pre-eminent organization that inspires and empowers lifelong learning, development, and community building through the sport of cross-country skiing.

NENSA Mission
Share the joy of gliding on snow through educational, recreational, introductory, and competitive programs to nurture and sustain a vital and active cross-country skiing community for all ages and levels throughout New England.

NENSA and The Maine Outdoor Wellness Center are thrilled to host the third annual Roy-llerski and Fundraiser this year during the month of July. The event, originally created by Jenny Wilbraham, was created in memory of Roy Varney to bring together the nordic community for support and to enjoy the sport they all shared.

This year, the event will be virtual again, but we encourage anyone that can participate with a group and make the most of it! Using the date of Roy’s passing (7/1/19), the challenge is to ski, run, or ride 71.19km OR for 71:19 (1h:11m:19s), spread over a couple of days,  weeks, or the entire month if need be. 

There is a $10 entry fee that will be donated to Maine Outdoor Wellness Center and there are ways you can make direct donations to the Maine Outdoor Wellness Center and even start an individual or team fundraising page through SkiReg.

REGISTER

Have fun, stay safe, and take the spirit of the journey with you!! Sharing photos or GPS tracks is highly encouraged.

Registrant Categories:

Rockstar: For those aiming to ski 71.19 in one shot – for time or challenge.
Speedy Repeater: Combine multiple skis to reach 71.19km.
Bill Koch/Recreational/Time Trial: Ski 7.119km non-stop or use the event as a time trial.
Art for Roy: Design the coolest fitness tracker art file to honor Roy! #forRoy
1:11:19: Ski as far as you can in 71 minutes and 19 seconds.

Prizes:

The first 10 registrants, 8 raffled registrants, and 2 randomly selected social promoters will win an event bag with swag from The MOWC and LL Bean. 

To qualify as a social promoter be sure to post your public photos of the event to Instagram or Facebook and tag @nensa_nordic and @theMOWC #Royllerski2021 #summernordic

Participation Data:

Enter your participant data HERE and check this page to see what other participants are up to.

Event Facebook Page coming soon!!

July 2, 2021 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Register HERE!!

Join US Ski Team Coaches Matt Whitcomb and Kate (Barton) Johnson and Stratton Mountain School coach Alex Jospe for an afternoon technique clinic.  This clinic is a part of the new US Ski & Ski and Snowboard L100 Coaches Education program.  Come join leading regional coaches who will be certified as Coach Developers after this clinic and a week of coaching at the Eastern Regional Camp.  These Coach Developers will be the foundation of our U.S. Ski & Snowboard Coaches Education programs throughout the summer and fall.

This is a fantastic opportunity for all skiers to learn technique cues and get fired up for the upcoming training season.

We encourage coaches of all levels to come together for collaboration regardless of whether or not they are pursuing the US Ski & Snowboard certification.  There is always something to learn and Whitcomb, Johnson, and Jospe are adept at both teaching and inspiring.

Attendees should be prepared for a three hour clinic where they are encouraged to participate in both skate and classic drills on foot and rollerskis.  NENSA’s new fleet of Swenor rollerskis will be available for use and can be reserved at registration.  We will also introduce and share building concepts for agility ramps.  Justin Beckwith (NENSA) will lead this session.

Afterwards coaches will gather to share food, information, and socialize.

Click here to find out more information on US Ski & Snowboard Coaches Certification.

Price: $30 for NENSA members ($40 non-NENSA)*
*If you’ve never been a NENSA member you can sign up free for the first year here: https://nensa.net/joinrenew-membership/. Save $10 on clinic registration and get a full year of communication and member benefits!
Included: US Ski & Snowboard L100 technique clinic, flat bread pizza, option of using NENSA Swenor Rollerskis
Schedule: Friday July 2, 2021
2:00-5:00pm – Clinic (attendees will also have the ability to try the newest NENSA Agility Ramps)
5:30 pm – Meet at Big Slide Brewery for flatbread pizza

Link to 2020 Lost Nation Roll video recap

Our first event of the 2021 summer season is fast approaching and we’re excited to be partnering with the Craftsbury Outdoor Center to host a rollerski race, Learn-t0-Rollerski Clinic, and Drop-in Biathlon Clinic! The Lost Nation Roll is the first in our NENSA Rollerski Race Series and will be a freestyle, paired interval start race of either 5.6km (U16s), 11.2km (open skiers), or 7.5k (open intermediate skiers–no Dennis’s downhill). Registration is capped at 100 racers total.  Top 10 ranked open skiers of each gender will race on NENSA’s new fleet of Swenor Skate Long skis. Clinic details below.

REGISTER

Course Information

The race will be contested on the Outdoor Center’s paved rollerski loop. The loop has a figure 8 layout, meaning that the middle portion including Dino Hill will be skied twice per “lap.”

The U16 and open race course includes the challenging Dennis’s Nemesis downhill once per lap. If you are not comfortable on rollerskis, this may not be the right event for you. This downhill is high speed and includes an S-turn (or chicane) at the bottom. Please arrive early enough to preview the course. A course map is available for preview here.

The intermediate race course only uses the inner loop of our rollerski track, eliminating the challenging Dennis’s Downhill. If you are currently registered for the open race and want to switch to the intermediate race, email [email protected] and he will switch your registration free of charge.

Learn-to-Rollerski Clinic

Have you ever wanted to try rollerskiing?! Join NENSA’s Justin Beckwith and Kait Miller for an hourlong Learn-to-Rollerski clinic following the Lost Nation Roll race from 1:00-2:00pm. This instructional clinic is geared towards folks who have on-snow ski experience, but little to no rollerski experience and want to give classic roller skiing a try. All clinic participants will use NENSA’s brand new Swenor rollerskis, but remember to bring your own boots, poles, and helmet!! We can accommodate SNS and Prolink/NNN bindings. Register HERE ($25/person). Check out this informational video on rollerski equipment from the Craftsbury Outdoor Center.

Drop-in Biathlon Clinic

This Craftsbury Green Racing Project-led clinic also runs from 1:00-2:00pm and is geared towards experienced skiers and rollerskiers who want to try biathlon. No prior shooting experience necessary. This clinic is free and you’re welcome to just watch if you are not comfortable shooting.

Schedule:

8:30AM – Bib pick up and day-of-race registration opens (if numbers allow); course opens for warmup

9:25AM – Course closes to all racers.

9:30AM – U16 races start. 2 skiers every 30 seconds, mixed gender. Two 3.3km figure 8 laps for a total of 5.6km.

10:00AM – Open races start. 2 skiers every 30 seconds, mixed gender.

11:00AM – Intermediate race start. 2 skiers every 30 seconds, mixed gender. Only uses the inner loop of our rollerski track, eliminating the challenging Dennis’s Downhill.

11:30AM – Podium ceremony

1:00PM – Learn-to-Rollerski Clinic and Drop-in Biathlon Clinic

The Fort Kent Outdoor Center is now accepting applications to our Post Graduate training program for Nordic and Biathlon Programs. There are currently openings for 4 full time athletes at this time to live in the Jalbert Athlete Residence

Please follow this link for information about the program and how to apply

https://www.fortkentoc.org/programs/

The University of Maine at Fort Kent has just announced that 5 scholarships will be given to five athletes that are enrolled in the FKOC PG program. Check out UMFK programs at this link

https://www.umfk.edu/

These programs are offered on a first come first serve basis, so send in your applications soon to be considered.

The value of well run localized events was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways from conducting races during the pandemic.  NENSA is committed to taking this learning forward and believes highlighting the Popular Race Series will help grow participation numbers and create a more accessible pathway for skier development.

NENSA is placing new emphasis on our Popular Race series this season – our initiative is to highlight these excellent regional opportunities as the core of our racing calendar and make accessible and celebrated race experiences for all levels and ages of skiers.  NENSA will offer two tiers of Popular Race calendaring this season, with increased NENSA support and media opportunities at Zak Cup events.  The goal is to grow participation numbers and development opportunities for venues and athletes alike, by highlighting the Popular Races Series including broad circulation of a NENSA Popular Race calendar posters at venue and retail locations throughout the region.

Popular Race Bid Sheet

Venues still interested in having their event(s) named to NENSA’s Zak Cup, Club Cup, and/or New England Marathon Series should contact NENSA.

The Zak and Club Cup Series brings together NENSA’s New England’s finest citizen races. These events offer regional racing opportunities for developing skiers, and season-long head-to-head competition for senior and masters.  There are often Bill Koch age offerings held in conjunction with many of the events.  All events that are part of this Zak Cup Series are also scored for Club Cup points. One distance (per age group) on each day is scored for the Zak Cup to ensure appropriate competition within age groups.  All timed race distances will be scored to Club Cup scoring.

While Zak Cup events often draw 100+ participants we hope to grow field sizes in the coming years with increased promotion and NENSA staff involvement.  New this season, organizers can submit for Zak or Club distinction — with Club races serving a vital role for local communities, those seeking lower key events and clubs that incentivise skier participation based on Club Cup points.  On request, NENSA will provide Technical Delegates at these Series events for the same criteria as Eastern Cups.  Zak and Club Cup Series Organizers should contact the Eastern TD Coordinator to request a TD for your event. Race sites with strong volunteer bases and event hosting experience are encouraged to bid for a Zak and Club Cup Series events.  Click here for more information on NENSA’s Zak Cup and Club Cup Series.

In the last two years the Popular Race Series has grown from approximately 10 events to over 20 events.  As we review the schedule for 2021-2022 we hope to create a balanced schedule between Zak and Club events.  Races will have varied techniques and distances throughout the season to make for an exciting calendar.  Many events are now offering untimed or touring classes – branded with fun names like, “What the Heck” and “Just Try It!”  We also look forward to and support the addition of terrain features, which is not so far removed from old school cross country skiing!  We are encouraged by the growth of participation prior to the pandemic and can’t wait for winter and highlighting this awesome series.

Zak Cup and Club Cup Series events are selected by NENSA’s Masters Committee.

To Bid:

• Bidding is now open for the 2021-2022 Zak Cup & Club Cup Season.  Bids are typically submitted in early summer.  Please direct questions to [email protected] and [email protected]

Popular Race Bid Sheet

• Full details of expectations are listed in the Bid Sheet and Event Organizer Handbook.
• Organizers are strongly encouraged to use SkiReg for registration.
• Entry fee is up to the host. NENSA will assess a $5 per participant for Zak and $2 for Club (BKL excluded) head-tax which is set up to automatically withdraw via SkiReg.

NEW ENGLAND MARATHON SERIES

The events of the New England Marathon Series offer a classic cross country ski experience with fully supported courses showcasing some of New England’s premier venues. There is something for everyone, welcoming skiers of all levels to test their endurance, or just make the most of a winter’s day on courses ranging from 25K to 50K. Elite racers and recreational touring skiers alike are invited to enjoy a traditional ski marathon experience and some of the finest skiing in New England! Visit our  NENSA New England Marathon Series page for more information.

To Bid:

• Bidding is now open for 2021-2022 New England Marathon Series and follows the same format as Zak and Club criteria.

Popular Race Bid Sheet

• Each season, 6-8 events will be named to the New England Marathon Series as selected by NENSA’s Masters Committee.  Marathons, whether designated Zak or Club will count towards the Marathon Series hats and recognition.