NENSA News

Here’s some awesome news – popular cross country ski racing is showing steady growth!

Despite a shortened season, and with a couple of snow related hiccups early on, participation in popular races grew by 48% this winter (full 2019 – 2020 participation statistics here).  Three major changes have occurred over the past two years to help fuel this growth: branding our citizen races as “Popular Races” versus “Zak Cup,” adding more races (including adding “Just Try It” or “Fun” races to existing events), and the inclusion of senior aged skiers (23-29) in our Zak Cup statistics.  The goal is to create a more exciting and inclusive feel to races while honoring the traditions of the Zak and Club Cup.  NENSA also introduced a free “Get Skiing” membership for any first time members this season and scored previous members to our Zak Cup standings beginning with the Craftsbury Marathon this winter.  Competition draws competition and we are so happy our members are responding!

Speaking of competition – the beauty of citizen racing in New England is the robust talent present at any given race – skiers of all ages from youth in Bill Koch, to novice adult racers, junior athletes and their coaches, parents, and elite skiers past and present (including many of our ageless masters), former National Team skiers and Olympians.  Popular cross country ski racing thrives because of this inclusive and diverse atmosphere.

Our masters men’s age group rankings included 229 individual skiers who collectively completed 628 races!  At the end of the season, young gun, Chris Burnham (NWVE) became the first senior skier to become the Zak Overall Men’s Champion at the age of 27.  Burnham and 2018 and 2019 Overall Champion, Eli Enman (NWVE/Rossignol) raced head to head 6 times this season each taking three victories in this duel – in the end Burnham prevailed, partly by completing more total races.  Adam Terko of the Mansfield Nordic Club had a strong master’s career debut, and was able to secure third place overall while balancing his full time coaching responsibilities with MNC.  Other notable finishes to mention: David Johnston an M8 from Mansfield, placed fourth overall, beating out 2017 Champion, Neal Graves (Stowe), and won his age group in all ten of his races!  M6, Tom Thurston (NWVE), was also undefeated in age group competition winning eight of eight competitions.  Also of note, the M5 and M6 categories included over 30 skiers making for deep competition.

The overall women’s field is also showing fantastic growth with 90 individual skiers who completed 220 races!  These numbers are more than double those in recent history (2017 – 38 individuals, 2018 – 45 individuals, 2019 – 48 individuals).  Sarah Graves of Stowe Nordic was able to regain her Zak Overall Women’s title for the first time since 2017 – completing nine races and scoring a perfect 175 points (7 best).  M7, JoAnn Hanowski a perennial strength from Mansfield, was also able to sweep victories in all eight races she competed in – securing her the second step of the overall podium.  Senior skier, Emily Stitt of Mansfield, reemerged on the scene this year taking multiple overall race victories and third place overall for the season.

In another measure of strength – our Marathon Challengers came out in record numbers this season – with 24 skiers completing four or more marathons.  Marathon hats will be delayed because of our current situation – but have no fear you will receive them!

As we continue to weather our current health crisis we want to celebrate these incredible athletes.  All of the podium position skiers listed below will be presented with a NENSA mug and our overall champions will receive Swix klister as prizes in the coming weeks.  We will also be opening bids for the 2020 – 2021 season soon – giving us all something to look forward to!!

In the meantime, be well, stay safe and enjoy working out in your backyards.

If you have specific feedback please reach out to [email protected] with “Popular Racing” in the subject line.

Also if you haven’t been looking already Jamie Doucett has awesome photos from Bretton Woods, Freeman Frost White Mountain Classic, Geschmossel, Race for Snow, and the Bogburn.

Women

Senior (23-29 years old)

M1 (30-34)

M2 (35-39)

M3 (40-44)

M4 (45-49)

M5 (50-54)

M6 (55-59)

M7 (60-64)

M8 (65-69)

M9 (70-74)

M11 (80-84)

Men
Senior (23-29 years old)

M1 (30-34)

M2 (35-39)

M3 (40-44)

M4 (45-49)

M5 (50-54)

M6 (55-59)

M7 (60-64)

M8 (65-69)

M9 (70-74)

M10 (75-79)

M11 (80-84)

M12 (85-89)

LINK TO FULL RANKINGS PAGE

We’re excited to be thinking about the 2021 New England BKL Festival! Though things seem uncertain in this time of social distancing, we are planning for the future and are hoping for a great ski season next year. The NEBKL Festival is the marquee event of the Bill Koch League, and as anyone who has attended in the past knows: it’s two days packed with fun!

This year’s festival at Great Glen Trails in Gorham, NH brought in 586 skiers and their families with the theme of SUPER SKI Heroes.  You can check out photos from this year’s festival here.

Interested venues should fill out the bid sheet linked bel0w, and can email [email protected] with any questions, ideas, or concerns.More information on hosting the festival can be found in our BKL Festival Hosting Manual.

2021 NEBKL Festival Bid Sheet

We hope planning for the 2021 ski season will give folks something to look forward to in this time of uncertainty.  While we cannot predict what the future will look like we can do our best to plan for an awesome upcoming season!  Working along side and witnessing the incredible amount of effort and passion that go into hosting these national caliber races is an absolute pleasure!  We applaud our venues for the work they did in 2020 and thank you in advance for submitting a bid for 2021 – going through bid submission process makes all of our events better – please don’t hesitate to write with questions.  Also now more than ever consider how you might work with another venue (even if it is a backup site) – we are truly a family and it helps to work together!

Thank you for taking the time to complete this form to submit a bid for an Eastern Cup race and/or SuperTour for the 2020-21 season.  Please note extensive national discussion of SuperTour events is ongoing and will be finalized at U.S. Ski & Snowboard Congress in May (virtually), if you are interested in hosting a Super Tour please contact Justin Beckwith and Bryan Fish ([email protected]).

Bids are reviewed throughout the month and typically the Athletic Development Committee (ADC) makes a decision on the final schedule at the NENSA Board Meeting the first weekend of May (2-3).  This year the meeting will be virtual and while we aim to stick to our typical schedule the current global pandemic and its unknown impact on our programs will require us to be fluid with decision making and the final product of our 2021 season.

LINK TO 2020-2021 BID SHEETS

**Popular Race Bids will follow in the coming weeks.

NWVE is accepting applications from Vermont high school Seniors who have a passion for Nordic skiing.

Spike was a fixture in the Nordic community and beyond.  He may be most recognizable as the bashful co-owner of Skirack, in Burlington, who would light up when the subject turned to anything athletic.  He had a way of making everyone feel valued and encouraged them to harness their potential to enjoy being active.  It did not matter if you were a World Cup athlete or someone who just signed up for the team having never skied before.  Spike would give the time and attention required to get you on the right track, not only for tomorrow but for years to come.   His guidance was about more than a sale; it was a resource and connection to his seemingly limitless knowledge and expertise.

It was the ability to recognize potential that led Spike to suggest NWVE be created, and he stood by and supported the club as it grew.  Spike joined the club, participating in some relays, and was delighted with his experience.  He could not get over how basic, simple, yet refined our approach is, providing the essential ingredients to a lifelong enjoyment of the sport.  “All you did was set up a table with a few waxes, and all these people showed up to have fun! This is great!!”

NWVE is honored to preserve Spike’s memory and vision through this scholarship.  We hope to carry on his passion for enriching others by supporting experiences like those that had a profound impact on his life.  It is through this extension of oneself onto others that one can truly appreciate the rewards of success.

To apply, complete, and return the application at  https://www.nwve.org/blank-page by May 11, 2020.

Be Positive   –   Work Hard   –   Never Give Up

Are you feeling cooped up at home? Do you miss your friends, teammates and coaches? Maybe you need an outlet for all your pent up energy? We get it, and that’s why we’re announcing the NENSA Virtual Video Challenge – a way for you to stay engaged with the ski community during these weeks of social distancing, support NENSA’s 25th birthday, and have some fun doing it.

The premise is simple – collaborate with your club or team (virtually), come up with a cross country ski themed activity, and make a fun video! Post the video on your Instagram or Facebook page, tag NENSA, and hashtag #NENSA25in20.  Then email it to us at: [email protected].  We will then repost the videos on our NENSA social media throughout the month of April.  

Some fun examples include:

• A virtual relay ski, run, or roller ski where you virtually “tag” off to another one of your club/teammates
• A virtual strength workout challenge where each member does 25 push ups (in honor of NENSA’s 25 years) 
• Whatever you dream up!

Video Guidelines:

• XC skiing theme 
• 60 seconds max 
• Horizontal orientation
• Email to [email protected] 
• Have fun and be creative!

Most importantly we want all challenges to be SAFE (please follow social distancing or shelter in place guidelines for your community) and FUN and the purpose is to engage with each other while celebrating all we have to be thankful for here at NENSA and in our ski community.  

NENSA will pick an overall Club/Team winner at the end of April and create a rollerski program for your club – including agility ramps and our rollerski fleet,  that will come to your club or team sometime late this summer or fall.

So get out there and be creative and have fun with your friends while doing this video challenge, as we look forward to our next season!  #NENSA25IN20 

Dear NENSA Members and Community,

As we are being whiplashed to change our routines and way of life during this global crisis, I hope you are staying safe at home and keeping your health. Or if you are in the front lines of providing medical care and essential services, a heartfelt and grateful thank you for all that you are doing.

Yesterday, like many states, Vermont Governor Phil Scott instituted a stringent Stay Home/Stay Safe order with only essential businesses like grocery stores and gas stations to be open. My hometown of Stowe, usually bustling with locals and tourists alike enjoying the finale of spring skiing is eerily quiet. Restaurants are in high gear to ramp up take-out, retail stores are closed and/or upping online sales and service. Though there is no lawful penalty for leaving your home, the governor stated people are only allowed out for procuring groceries, medications, gas AND for outdoor health pursuits like walking and CROSS COUNTRY SKIING.

The governor endorsed what is NENSA’s mission: to sustain a vital and active cross-country skiing community throughout New England. And that is what we want to keep on doing. With the bombardment of 24/7 negative and anxiety-provoking news, the hour or so each day when I get outside is a joyful and calming respite. I encounter other people sharing that pursuit and socially connect from a respectful 6 feet away.

So how does NENSA plan ahead for the next year with so much uncertainty? Well we are still making plans to offer our programs and events but with full awareness that we need to be nimble and ready to adapt to changes both at home, nationally, and at the global level. In the coming weeks, the staff will be creating fun challenges and video messages for the NENSA community to engage in. And as with every non-profit: membership dues, fundraising and sponsorships are how the organization survives, so there will be communications asking you to renew your membership and to participate in our annual fund drive.

Why NENSA? The year 2020 marks our 25th anniversary since first incorporating in 1995. The growth, influence and impact the organization has had over the past two and half decades is remarkable: from the success of developing Olympians, Super Tour racers, and college standouts to nurturing beginning skiers to overseeing the popular Citizen and Marathon series.

NENSA for me is hope for the future when I see BKLers mature into amazing adults with solid core values. NENSA for me is the relationships I have developed with mentors and heroes. NENSA for me is the conduit that I can use to provide what I have learned to teach others. NENSA for me is the privilege of working with our supremely creative and smart staff people. NENSA for me provides incentive to do the best I can with my ski interests because there are other people there to share commitment and support. As we commemorate the past 25 years, let us celebrate what the pursuit of cross country skiing means to all of us.

Carol Hillman Van Dyke
NENSA Board President

Rankings

Well… what a few weeks it’s been – despite the best intentions and planning for an awesome celebration of the lifeblood of New England skiing – we are forced to make a socially responsible announcement of our Zak and Club rankings right here at nensa.net.  Popular ski racing in New England is experiencing a resurgence for the second year in a row – with incredible people, clubs and venues upping their game – we head boldly into the future with a community of leaders of strength, intelligence and grit!!  Today we are highlighting our champions on the track – a diverse bunch – some who approach ski racing with a calculated precision, others who embrace perseverance as a critical tactic, and the true competitors who seamlessly rise to the top… stay tuned as we continue to digest the season in the coming weeks!

From the top — Mansfield Nordic entered 2020 with unparalleled organization — and talent across all age groups to back it up.  The Mansfield Nordic Club’s stated mission is to help athletes of all ages and abilities improve their Nordic skiing and pursue skiing excellence at the local, national, and international levels.  We are happy to announce MNC as the 2020 Club Cup Champions, despite the best efforts of the perennial club NWVE.

The race for overall champions of Zak Cup racing became more competitive this year with a resurgence of competitors and the addition of a Senior Class (23-29) in the rankings.

For the women, Sarah Graves (M2) of Stowe Nordic, stormed back to regain her 2017 title as the fastest adult cross country skier in New England.  She used her talent, tenacity and will to outperform notable competitors, Joanne Hanowski (M7) of Mansfield Nordic, who was undefeated in her age group this winter and senior skier, Emily Stitt, who appears to be hitting her stride by perfectly balancing medical school and outdoor pursuits.

On the men’s side, Chris Burnham, skiing for NWVE, set out on a pace for the 2020 season that proves that age does matter.  Chris, a senior skier, originally hailing from the Cambridge Sports Union, like Stitt, acknowledges that he might be skiing faster than he ever did in his junior career.  Burnham, with his rigorous, “skiing for pleasure training motto,” was able to distance last years Zak Cup champion (and mentor?) Eli Enman, and standout coach / athlete, Adam Terko of MNC, to take the 2020 title.

In this time of uncertainty we couldn’t be more proud of the community of cross country ski racers in New England – and we hope you will find distraction and comfort in reviewing the strength of character and depth of talent in the ranking pages at nensa.net.

You can look forward to continued celebration of our athletes and NENSA’s updated programming in the coming weeks.

A special thanks to all of our competitors, clubs, venues and officials for a fantastic season of citizen racing in New England!

NENSA is thrilled to be the recipient of a Gatorade Play it Forward Grant, made possible by Vermont Cross Country Runner of the Year Ava Thurston. The Gatorade Player of the Year program recognizes the nation’s most elite high school athletes for their accomplishments on and off the field, and the grant works in collaboration with the Gatorade Player of the Year to empower elite high school athletes to give back to a local or national youth sports organization.

Gatorade Play It Forward empowers every one of the 607 State Gatorade Player of the Year recipients to award a $1,000 grant from Gatorade to a community organization that helps young athletes realize the benefits of playing sports. It means so much to us that Ava selected NENSA, and specifically our youth programming, as the recipient of her grant.

On top of being Gatorade Vermont Cross Country Runner of the Year Ava skis with the Mansfield Nordic Club, and has been a mainstay of our Eastern Cup races this year; qualifying to represent Team New England at this year’s Junior National Championships in Truckee, California.

This grant will go specifically towards Nordic Rocks; a program which is made possible by the Share Winter Foundation, and which was developed to introduce a whole new generation of children in grades K-4 to the joys of cross-country skiing. To find out more about Nordic Rocks, Share Winter, and the Gatorade Player of The Year Program please follow the links below.

Nordic Rocks

Share Winter Foundation

Gatorade Player of the Year

Wednesday March 11th dawned bright and sunny in California, and our New England Team athletes were excited and ready for SPRINT DAY!  Our age group coaches were calming nerves and going over last minute race strategies as our wax techs were making some super fast skis for our team.  At the end of the day, Team New England won the sprint day, and we had some really great results and two new National Champions (Nina Seeman of SMS and Trey Jones of GMVS!), as well as 13 All American’s (top 10) and 21 of our NE athletes finished in the top 20 that day.  Congrats to all our racers!  Top 20 Results here below.  Full sets of results on www.xcjuniornationals.com  And, PHOTOS from the official JN Event Photographer can be found HERE.

U16 women:  3rd place Sofia Scirica, CSU juniors, 7th place Ava Thurston, MNC, 12th place Evie Walton, CSU juniors, and 16th place Emma Charles, Mt. Blue High School

U16 men:  1st place and National Championship to Trey Jones, GMVS, 2nd place Fin Bailey, SMS, 9th place Cormac Leahy, Craftsbury Nordic, 11th place Clint Macy, Dublin XC, and 20th place Nate Livingood, Gould.

U18 women:  1st place and National Championship to Nina Seeman, SMS, 7th place Quincy Massey-Bierman, Craftsbury Nordic, 13th place Adrienne Remick, Craftsbury Nordic, and 21st place, Camille Bolduc, Craftsbury Nordic (after a disappointing fall in the semis).

U18 men:  2nd place to Will Koch, SMS, 9th place to Finn Sweet, Craftsbury Nordic, 13th place to Jack Christner, Frost Mountain Nordic, and 18th place to Jack Young, Craftsbury Nordic.

U20 women:  2nd place to Abigail Streinz, Craftsbury Nordic, 4th place to Rose Clayton, MNC, 6th place to Ingrid Miller, independent, and 7th place to Laura Appleby, CSU juniors.  Fun note:  all 4 of our NE U20 women placed in the top 7!!

U20 men:  20th place Bjorn Westervelt, Craftsbury Nordic