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
NENSA News
NENSA 2020 Club of the Year is Holderness Nordic!
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!
Women’s Day postponed to February 21st
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!
12/16 Racing Update: Quarry Road Opener / Zak & Club / EC Opener / DCKC
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 2020 Coaches of the Year
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.