New England Nordic Ski Association

The Home of Cross Country Skiing in New England

Youth

NENSA Webinar Series: Opportunities After the BKL

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What’s Next in Your Nordic Skiing Journey?

Are you wondering what comes after the Bill Koch League (BKL)? Whether you’re a skier, parent, or coach, this webinar will guide you through the exciting opportunities available for junior skiers in New England.

Join us as we explore the next steps in competitive and community-based Nordic skiing, including: Popular & Community Events, the Eastern Cup Series, NENSA U16 Eastern Championships, NENSA Eastern Cup Series, and U.S. Ski & Snowboard Junior Nationals.

This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with the NENSA staff, ask questions, and explore the next steps in your skiing journey.

📅 Date & Time: Wednesday, March19th. 6:30-8:00pm
📍 Location: Online (Link provided upon registration)

📢 Register now to secure your spot and take the next step in your Nordic skiing adventure!

Fifth Edition of Ski Bingo!

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NENSA is thrilled to be offering TWO versions of XC Ski Bingo for the 2024-25 season! This will be the fifth year of Youth XC Ski Bingo  for anyone UNDER 14 years of age, and the third year of Junior & Adult Bingo  for people 14 and OLDER! The goal of this virtual game is to help inspire people of all ages and skill levels to get outside, enjoy the winter world on skis, engage with others who also like to ski, and explore new places.

Every player who completes Bingo gets a rainbow NENSA sticker and each Bingo line completed gets players a raffle entry. At the end of  every month we will raffle off some fun items from our sponsors! New this year, NENSA will be honoring the youth Club with the highest level of participation with a special shoutout at the conclusion of the season! Read on for more info and get playing!

Youth XC Ski Bingo

For skiers UNDER 14 years of age! Download and print your own Youth XC Ski Bingo Card HERE and be sure to fill out the BINGO ENTRY FORM when you finish. Activity descriptions included in the Bingo card download.

Rules of the Game:

  1. Must be under 14 years of age to play. Game runs from December 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025.
  2. Get “Bingo” by completing the activities and skiing in the states in a full row, column, or diagonal.
  3. Mark your Bingo card as you complete squares. Remember to take at least one activity photo or a picture of you where you skied!
  4. Fill out the XC Ski Bingo entry form HERE! You’ll include your activity or ski location photo and a picture of your marked Bingo card.
  5. Get outside and HAVE FUN!!!
  6. Direct any questions to mackenzie@nensa.net.

Junior & Adult XC Ski Bingo

For skiers 14 and OLDER! Download and print your own Junior & Adult 2024-25 Bingo Card HERE and be sure to fill out the BINGO ENTRY FORM when you finish. Activity descriptions included in the Bingo card download.

Rules of the Game:

  1. Must be 14 years of age or older to play. Game runs from December 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025.
  2. Get “Bingo” by completing the activities and skiing in the states in a full row, column, or diagonal.
  3. Mark your Bingo card as you complete squares. Remember to take at least one activity photo or a picture of you where you skied!
  4. Fill out the XC Ski Bingo entry form HERE! You’ll include your activity or ski location photo and a picture of your marked Bingo card.
  5. Get outside and HAVE FUN!!!
  6. Direct any questions to mackenzie@nensa.net.

WinterKids Welcome to Winter 2024

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NENSA was delighted to partner once again with WinterKids for their 2024 Welcome to Winter event, held recently at Lost Valley Ski Area in Auburn, ME! This annual celebration, organized by WinterKids, continues to inspire children to develop healthy lifelong habits through engaging, outdoor winter activities. The event highlights a variety of fun, active, and educational opportunities, fostering vibrant and healthy lifestyles in the great outdoors.

Originally designed to welcome new Mainers to the joys of winter, the Welcome to Winter event has expanded its reach to embrace all members of the community. This year’s free event provided attendees with the chance to try out a wide range of winter activities, including snowshoeing, cross-country and downhill skiing, snowboarding, tubing, snow sculpting, and more. Participants also enjoyed warming up with hot chocolate and s’mores, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere for all.

At the event, NENSA operated a cross-country skiing station, featuring a fleet of snowboot binding skis from our Nordic Rocks program, made possible through the support of Madshus, Lost Nation R&D, the Share Winter Foundation, and the Killington World Cup Foundation. It was incredibly rewarding to see so many young participants enthusiastically embracing new winter activities, even amid the challenging early-season snow conditions.

We were also excited to connect with LL Bean, our long-time sponsor and supporter, who managed the snowshoe station right next door. Their dedication to promoting outdoor activity perfectly aligns with the spirit of the event and our shared mission.

WinterKids continues to make an extraordinary impact by encouraging children to stay active and engaged during Maine’s long winters. We’re proud to collaborate with such an inspiring organization, and we look forward to future partnerships that bring the joy of winter to even more families. To learn more about the amazing work WinterKids is doing, visit their website HERE.

2024 BKL Parent-Leaders Symposium Recap

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On Sunday, a group of forty Bill Koch Youth Ski League Parent-Leaders, coaches, and community members gathered at the Holderness school for a day of education, connection and inspiration for the season to come. #LearningBetterTogether

We had a full day’s worth of time to connect and share experiences. Topics on the agenda included our NENSA Bill Koch League Philosophy and NENSA Resources for Youth Coaches from NENSA’s Mackenzie Rizio, The Beaver Dam System for Club Development led by NENSA’s Isabel Caldwell,  an update on Norwegian Youth Skiing culture from Tricia Groff of Ford Sayre, Making Practices Fun even with low or no snow from Sarah Holton and Heiner Baumann of EMXC, a technique session which covered some progressions and tips and tricks for introducing new ideas by Liz Hollenbach, of MNC, an adventure approach to creating a positive BKL Team Culture led by Jamie Hannon, and a discussion on group management for BKL clubs led by Chris City of Patient Leadership.

All of the attendee’s presence, enthusiasm, and commitment to fostering the next generation of Nordic skiers made this event an unforgettable experience. Above, the Northeast Vermont district representatives discuss group managment.

Jamie Hannon, of the Holderness Ski Club runs the Mousetrap exercise with a group of brave and adventurous volunteers. The small middle circle represents the comfortable zone for young skiers, and as they move out into the larger circle, the (SET!) mousetraps are representative of all of the social risks a skier may feel just by coming to practice. The goal is to get skiers out of their comfort zone so that they may develop skill and have fun, all while minimizing the social risks they may feel by promoting a strong team culture.

It was inspiring to witness such a collaborative spirit, as the group came together to share experiences, exchange ideas, and discuss the challenges we all face in building a stronger, more vibrant BKL community. Above, the Southern/Central New Hampshire district coaches brainstorm solutions to everyday group management challenges that youth coaches feel and work to combat.

We are grateful for all of the coaches that invest their time, energy, and dedication to the BKL program. We are truly fortunate to have such a passionate and supportive group of leaders, and we hope to see everyone out on the trails this winter!

New for 2025 Season – NENSA & Jakroo Youth Apparel Program!

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New for the 2024-2025 Season: NENSA and new-sponsor, Jakroo, are teaming up to offer the BKL Apparel program this year! Items available include training jackets, training pants, hats, warm puffy coats, and more for BKL skiers, coaches, and leaders. Team clothing is more than simply pieces of clothing used to ski in. When young skiers don their uniforms, it creates a sense of camaraderie, pride and belonging in one’s club which in turn helps both clubs and individual skiers develop together.

If your club is interested, please email Patrice Spyrka at patrice@jakroousa.com for account setup, product choice questions, and design assistance. Design turnaround is 1 business day. Once the artwork is approved, the order can be placed. Delivery of the order is 2 weeks to your doorstep. Team ordering is available and there are no minimums, ever. We’ve created this webpage to address your questions. We look forward to seeing you in your Jakroo this winter! 

BKL Apparel program details