New England Nordic Ski Association

The Home of Cross Country Skiing in New England

Cross Country Ski

2023 Eastern Coaches Conference

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The New England Nordic Ski Association is excited to produce an Eastern Coaches Conference with the main goal of bringing our community together in anticipation of the 2024 winter.  This years Conference will take place at the Dublin School in Dublin, New Hampshire on September 30th. #SkiingBetterTogether

REGISTRATION IS NOW LIVE

This ongoing educational experience is open to all. NENSA membership provides registration for the conference (including 2 meals, presentations, a film debut, and Nordic Team Solutions coach membership raffle) and a significant subsidy for the clinics, reducing the overall cost of attendance. Whether you are new to coaching or a veteran we hope you will join us. Please fill out this application if you are in need of a scholarship, as we don’t want cost to be a barrier for attendance.

If you are seeking U.S. Ski & Snowboard certification please see details below how to register and begin completing your online curriculum. All participants will be listed on the NENSA Coaches Resource page to highlight ongoing education and leadership.

We are so fortunate for the support of the Dublin School, providing this venue (and wonderful food) as a way for NENSA to show appreciation for our members, help strengthen coaching knowledge and the stoke for cross country skiing in the East.

Throughout a jam packed day:  there are options for technique clinics, U.S. Ski & Snowboard Certification, BKL Leader Training, expert insights, a forum and question period from an expert panel, and an artistic movie following a community dinner.

Kathy Maddock of Dublin XC will lead the introductory technique clinic, which is combined with coaches performing their in-person practicum for USSS L100 certification.  Bryan Fish, USST, will lead the advanced clinic and lead L200 candidates through discussion and in-person practicums. In the afternoon, join Mackenzie Rizio, NENSA, for Bill Koch Youth Ski League Coach Education!  This workshop is intended for club leaders, parent/caregivers, volunteers, and youth ski coaches from all across the Northeast.  Entry in any of these clinic includes lunch at the Dublin School.

Please note if you are trying to achieve USSS certifications you must complete coursework (follow above links) prior to attending the clinic.

Throughout the day Drew Gelinas – the new Nordic Product Manager from Swix will be on hand.

At 4:30pm, Zach Caldwell, NENSA’s first Program Director and owner of Caldwell Sport, will present on ski selection for juniors, and fleet management through growth and development.

At 5:00pm we will have a Forum Discussion with Caldwell, Fish, Gelinas, Kathy Maddock of DublinXC and Sam Benzing – The Paul J. Finnegan Family Head Coach for Men’s & Women’s Nordic Skiing Harvard University.  Participants are encouraged to provide and bring questions – topics that will be discussed include: the potential of further wax protocols in the future, optimizing training for a High School team, engaging your team and motivating them to train in the off- season, and how all levels of development share common themes.

At 7:00pm we welcome the community to share a pre-debut of Alaskan native, now Ford Sayre skier, Art Copoulos’ movie, “Why We Ski.”

Tentative Detailed Schedule:

Saturday, September 30th    
 BKL L100 L200
9:00 AM  Introductions, Welcome and Course Overview 
9:30 AM Arrive, get equipment readyEngaged Portfolio Questions
10:00 AM Classic Technique Work Engaged Portfolio Questions
10:30 AM Classic Technique Work Gear up for skiing 
 
11:00 AM Drew Gelinas – Swix SportSkate Technique Work 
11:30 AMLunch Lunch Lunch 
12:15 PMDrew Gelinas – Swix SportSkate Technique Work Drew Gelinas – Swix Sport
1:00 PMClassroom Time, PresentationSkate Technique Work Agility 
2:00 PMGrass Skiing/ Dryland Section Clinic Wrap-up Small Group Assessments 
2:30 PM Portfolio DiscussionThe “Games Approach” for Classic Skis
3:30 PM  Wrap up 
4:30 PMZach Caldwell – Ski selection for juniors, and fleet management through growth and development
5:00 PMForumForum Forum 
6:15 PMDinnerDinnerDinner
7:00 PMFilm Debut – Why We Ski – Art Copoulos / Continued Forum Discussion

Chummy’s Miracle – Chisholm Eastern Cup and Bates Carnival

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“The Big Guy is looking down on us today,” said 87-year-old Ray Broomhall on Sunday afternoon, as a rare glimpse of sunlight graced the slopes of Black Mountain on the third day of racing.  “Sunbathing weather,” exclaimed Craig Zurhorst, the local announcer extraordinaire over the mic.

Caitlin Patterson (Craftsbury/UVM/USST) presents Ben Ogden his medal (USST/UVM/SMS T2 Team).  Tabor Greenberg (GMVS) 2nd, Jacob Nystedt (UVM) 3rd.

It was truly an inspiration to pull off three nationally sanctioned events on natural snow when even the most robust Eastern trail systems were just feeling comfortable.  The Chisholm Ski Club has a fabled history as one might start to see at Race Headquarters, or better yet, if you have the opportunity to visit Muriel’s Kitchen.  While there were so many victories last weekend, perhaps the most evident is the joy and pride of this Maine community — that, in partnership with local clubs is thriving, with a bright future ahead.  NENSA is so honored to support events that directly reflect our mission to, “sustain an active cross country ski community for all ages and levels throughout the East.”

Mouse (Dan Warner) and Justin Easter.

Despite the most troubled start to winter many of the skiers have ever experienced, Saturday dawned with the most competitive Eastern Cup we will see this winter.  Partnered with the Bates Carnival, who skied under wet skies on Friday, nearly 500 competitors toed the line.  The field was composed of collegiate skiers, club/high school juniors, and a few intrepid masters.  Olympic skiers: Ben Ogden and Caitlin Patterson added a rare touch of class to the show, Ogden currently ranked 9th in the world — Patterson, a two-time Olympian and eleven-time National Champion, who perfectly raced her first Carnival at Black in 2008.  These are two cool Cats!

Emma Page (Mansfield) leads a group to the finish. Photo Daryn Slover.

Like a storybook, Roger and Mouse worked for weeks on their snow plan.  Despite even self-doubt at times, they produced a surface and dynamic courses that hearken to the roots of cross country skiing.  To race on spicy, if-not-perfectly-homologated-trails, is a rarity that no one should take for granted.  It speaks to #skilikeanamerican and the vision of agility and learning how to ski over terrain.

Caroline Tarmy (SMS) enjoys the moment of winning her heat during Sunday’s Sprint.

Saturday helped out Sunday, with slightly colder temperatures, and the knowledge the surface was firm enough to run a heavy machine on the snow — allowing for a sprinting spectacle with a unique uphill finish we might not see for some time.

Leif Harvey of Cumberland, Maine (Saint Lawrence)  and Aidan Bondaz (Gunstock) catch their breath after the U20 Semi.

As the quality of athlete and the level of competition in the US is evident in the international headlines — so was the enjoyment of sport that was on display in Rumford, Maine on this temperate weekend in January.

Stay tuned for more media content and athlete appreciation.

The Future.

 

Full Results
Updated JRL
Latest News on Fairbanks 2023 Junior Nationals

Saturday Interviews (Men) (Women)
Sunday Interviews

U.S. Ski & Snowboard L100 Practicum and NENSA Technique Clinic

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There are two ways to participate in this clinic:

1) If you are seeking U.S. Ski and Snowboard L100 Certification follow this link for full details: http://usskiandsnowboard.org/sport-development/coaches-development/welcome-cross-country-level-100-coach-certification

Please note: To fulfill obligations of this certification you must purchase a USSS Coaches Membership and the L100 Course.  The Coach Developer, SMS’s Alex Jospe, will lead a discussion via Zoom to lay out expectations and review portfolios that must be completed before the in-person practicum.

Coaches can register at any time as long as they have a current coach membership and those basic membership requirements have been met. The U.S. Ski & Snowboard membership season runs from July 1 through June 30 annually. However, we open registration for the upcoming season the first week of May.  Memberships become valid July 1. 

You will pay $160.00 for the online course and in-person practicum

Please email the Sport Education Department if you have any questions.

2) If you just want to attend the in-person practicum and are not seeking USSS certification your are welcome too!  Share the afternoon with other coaches and athletes and learn about technique.

SIGN UP HERE (link will be live soon)

West River Sports Fundraiser- Zach Nugent + Dead Set @ Magic Mtn. 

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Join the West River Sports community for an afternoon of music, food, + celebration! All $ goes to support the soccer fields + XC equipment

About this event

20$ general admission (add on donations welcomed!). Kids 12 and under free.

Thanks to out generous event sponsors, Vermont Foam Insulation, Hunter Excavation, rk Miles, and Merrill Lynch.

Rain or shine as event will be outdoors with good weather or indoors with bad. Special NORDIC BIG AIR between sets.

Food Trucks for yummy bites. Beverages for purchase.

Doors open at 4pm

Nordic gear (skis + boots) will be available for kids to use for the NORDIC BIG AIR SNOW JUMP!!