Training Programs for Post Graduate Skiers:
There are several programs in New England that offer skiing opportunities to PG athletes dedicated to year round nordic ski training and racing. Two of these are professional teams dedicated to creating a lifestyle designed to produce champions:
Collegiate Skiing:
New England is known for having an abundance of opportunities for athletes looking to ski race while pursuing their academics. EISA and USCSA are two of the Collegiate Skiing Conferences in the East.
Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association (EISA)
EISA is comprised of 11 member institutions which all sponsor NCAA varsity skiing programs and field teams in men’s and women’s alpine and cross country skiing. The EISA annually hosts 6 Winter Carnival competitions starting in mid January. Many of the cross country races are US Ski & Snowboard NRL and/or FIS sanctioned. 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.
Link to EISA
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 Justin Beckwith, Competitive Program Director, no later than the Tuesday 3:00 PM prior to the carnival, in order to be considered for entry – contact Justin.