With less than two weeks until the first Eastern Cup, we are excited to name the 2018 New England coaching staff for the US XC Junior Nationals to be held in Soldier Hollow, Utah. Many of our New England athletes and coaches have experience at this venue, which hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics and 2017 Junior World Championships.
This years coach and wax tech staff brings together a mix of veteran and up and coming coaches with US Ski and Snowboard L100 or L200 coaching credentials with varied experience from junior through professional racing. This blend of coaches is aimed to support coach development within the region and provide top-level support to our athletes whether they are seasoned junior racers or making their first trip to Junior Nationals.
This volunteer staff will work to support a team culture, helping over fifty athletes excel and enjoy the experience of racing at the national level. New England is known as a dominant division in Junior National competition and our goal is to defend the Alaska Cup for the fifth year in a row.
2018 JN Staff include:
Matt Boobar – Head Coach (SMS)
Amie Smith – Team Leader (NENSA)
Age Group Coaches:
Adam Terko – U16 boys (Mansfield Nordic)
Hilary McNamee – U16 girls (Ford Sayre)
Audrey Mangan – U18 men (Craftsbury)
Scottie Eliassen – U18 women (Ford Sayre)
Rob Bradlee – U20 men (CSU)
Poppet Boswell – U20 women (Stratton)
Wax Techs:
Justin Beckwith – Lead Kick (NENSA)
Steve McCarthy – Lead Glide (SMS)
Anna Schulz – Wax Tech (Craftsbury)
Colin Rodgers – Wax Tech (GMVS)
Jake Barton – Wax Tech (Craftsbury)
Some thoughts and history about the staff:
Steven McCarthy has built up an impressive service resume, working with the likes of Zach Caldwell, Roger Knight and the Maine Winter Sports Center. “I don’t rest until the job is done and I’m able to ignore my own fatigue in order to produce competitive skis for every athlete. I have built a foundation of ski service knowledge through collaboration with some of the best waxers in New England.” This will be Steven’s first Junior Nationals and he is excited to make fast skis in Utah.
Adam Terko will return to his post leading the U16 Boys. “I think one of my strongest attributes as a coach is an ability to bring together a group of athletes and help them create shared experiences and a shared sense of purpose. In the setting of a Championship event like JN’s, this really helps motivate and drive athletes in a situation that can often be fraught with pressure and intensity.”
Hilary McNamee will share a wealth of experience, perspective and positivity with the U16 Girls. She has competed on many levels of the racing scene, from Junior Nationals to Jr. Worlds for Biathlon, and is known for her sprinting prowess. After graduating from Dartmouth College McNamee competed on the Maine Winter Sports Center Elite Team, and later coached the Dartmouth D-Team. She currently coaches for Ford Sayre.
Audrey Mangan returns to the staff to work with the U20 boys. She brings, “Enthusiasm for team New England! It’s no accident that New England is such a strong team—these kids butt heads frequently throughout the winter, but it raises everybody’s game. And it’s awesome to see them all come together to be teammates at JNs.”
Colin Rodgers, a Vermont native and ex-national caliber racer, returned to New England last year to lead the Green Mountain Valley School’s Nordic Program. Colin brings a wealth of knowledge (and fitness) to the team and wax room, having worked for years with the Sun Valley Gold Team and US Ski Team on international trips.
Scottie Eliassen has worked with the New England Junior National Team on 13 different occasions. She will lead the U18 women with undeniable “experience with JNs – (knowledge of the) flow of the race week, working with a team of 50 and its staff, and most of all helping athletes realize their potential during what is for many the highlight week of the season. I also bring a desire to learn from others on the coaching and tech staff – and from the athletes.”
Rob Bradlee has also been a staple of the New England staff with eight trips to JN’s. He brings, “Over a decade experience working with many JN athletes including six national champions from my own club.” Besides his affinity for all things Nordic, Rob’s sense of humor will keep staff and athletes smiling through a demanding week of competition.
Poppet Boswell from the Stratton Mountain School has over twenty years of coaching experience. She is excited to lead the U20 women and return to Soldier Hollow. Poppet has been a staple staff member for many NE JN trips, providing top notch race support and balancing the rigors of the week with fun field trips, glitter and face paint.
Justin Beckwith and Anna Schulz will also return to the NE wax trailer, both fondly remember working with klister at the 2012 JN’s at SoHo. Beckwith who serves as the Competitive Program Director for NENSA, is passionate about waxing skis for the talented skiers of New England, and has supported their success at JN’s and international competition. Harvard Ski Team alum, Anna Schulz, shifted her own competitive focus to supporting junior skiing after graduation, coaching BKL and junior skiers. She spent several years coaching in Mt. Bachelor, Oregon and now runs the Junior Program at Craftsbury. Well versed in all aspects in coaching, she often finds herself near the wax bench at races where her level-headed attitude helps get athletes to the start line focused and well prepared.
Matt Boobar from Stratton Mountain School, and Amie Smith, Executive Director of NENSA, return as the dynamic duo heading up the New England team on the ground in SoHo, as Head Coach and Team Leader. Amie and Matt have worked together in this capacity for the past 4 years, and are looking forward to helping support and lead the team to hopefully, our 5th Alaska Cup victory in a row. It will be a challenge being at altitude this year, but a challenge our entire New England Team is certainly up to!
