Collegiate Skiing
New England is the most college skier-rich region in the country, and collegiate skiing plays a unique and defining role in the sport’s culture here. EISA and USCSA are the two main Collegiate Skiing Conferences in the East.
Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association (EISA)
The EISA is comprised of 11 member institutions from across the East which sponsor NCAA varsity skiing programs including cross country skiing and alpine teams.
The EISA annually hosts 6 event weekends, affectionally known as “Winter Carnivals,” starting in mid-January. A close collaboration between NENSA and the EISA has existed for many years (see below), with a number of Carnivals overlapping with our Eastern Cup series to create a uniquely competitive field.
All 11 member institutions compete in each Carnival. The season culminates with the EISA Championships at the end of February. The top individuals qualify, based on their season results, for the NCAA Skiing Championships in early March.
United States Cross Country Ski Association (USCSA)
The USCSA is a historic national collegiate ski circuit which emphasizes the breadth and variety that encompasses competitive cross country skiing. USCSA programs take part in standalone collegiate fields, as part of NENSA programming, and in popular races that span from sprints to ski marathons. Each season is capped by a USCSA national championship which rotates around the country (some recent hosts: Mt. Bachelor, OR, Lake Placid, NY, and Mammoth, CA) .
USCSA program settings match the circuit’s emphasis on variety. Some programs are sponsored varsity athletic teams, while others are student-led clubs. Notable Eastern regional programs include: Paul Smith’s College, Clarkson University, University of Maine Farmington, Middlebury Ski Club, University of Vermont Ski Club, Cornell University, and Dartmouth College Ski Club.
Find your Program: An updated list of USCSA member institutions is available HERE.
Programs for Post Graduate Skiers:
Whether you as a skier are looking to focus on skiing before pursuing education, or after, there are opportunities in New England. In New England, our athletes have had success working with our partner professional programs, which are designed to foster a lifestyle conducive to pursuing nordic skiing at an international level:
- Craftsbury Green Racing Project, Craftsbury, Vermont.
- Stratton Mountain School T2 Elite team, Stratton, Vermont.
EISA Winter Carnival Opportunities for Non-college skiers
NENSA Carnival Quota – EISA and NENSA have established a system (NENSA Carnival Quota) where Non College athletes can participate in certain EISA Carnival events, if they meet the qualifying criteria.
Qualifying Criteria for NENSA Carnival Quota:
- 6 men and 6 women for individual start distance events and mass start distance events;
- 3 per gender for individual sprint race formats.
- Relay Formats are closed.
- The NENSA Quota is also closed for juniors if there is a NENSA Eastern Cup event on the same weekend as the carnival, however, Seniors may compete if they meet the criteria.
- There is no NENSA quota for combined Eastern Cup/Carnival races. Racers can sign up for these races on SkiReg with valid U.S. Ski & Snowboard and NENSA memberships.
- Current National A Team members can be entered in any EISA (including sprint and mass start events) event any time by contacting NENSA or the host institution.
- U.S. Ski & Snowboard/FIS points standards: Mass start distances races – 80 for men and 100 for women. Individual distance – 120 for men and 150 for women. Sprint races – 190 for men and 200 for women. If there are more qualified athletes than quota spots, athletes with the lowest points will be chosen first. In the event of a tie FIS points trump US Ski & Snowboard points. (updated 5/17 by the ADC)
For the mass start distance races, entry exception is made for the following: (updated 4/10/19)
- USST World Cup team
- USST Continental Cup team
- USST World Junior/U23 team members
- USST Senior A team Nordic Combined team members
- USBA Senior A team members
For all Quota races:
- The athlete must have met the standard on the current U.S. Ski & Snowboard or FIS list (Distance list for distance races; sprint list for sprint races.)
- In addition to the points standard an athlete that has qualified to represent their country at World Juniors or the U23 Championships in that season and do not meet any of the points standards can race under the NENSA quota.
Interested athletes who meet the criteria should contact Ben Theyerl, Competitive Program Director, no later than the Tuesday 3:00 PM prior to the carnival, in order to be considered for entry – contact Ben.