Greetings NENSA community,

In the 50th year since the passage of Title IX, Jackson, NH was the site of NENSA’s 22nd Annual Women’s XC Ski Day. Aside 220 participants of all ages and abilities were female coaches, leaders, and organizers from across New England, women-owned and led businesses as sponsors, and trailblazing pioneers that put women’s cross country skiing on the map. Original members of the U.S. Women’s Cross Country Ski Team, returning coaches for many or all of the event’s 22 years, and several members of the original and recent U.S. Olympic Cross Country Ski Teams shared their knowledge, experience, and inspiration. These women have created and expanded opportunities for women in sport and have propelled U.S. women’s cross country skiing to the forefront of international competition. They laid the foundation and they continue to do so through their leadership and examples. Please see below for a full recap of the event.

This week, it is such a pleasure to welcome Skirack and Patagonia Burlington as NENSA’s newest supporting sponsors! These shops are mainstay businesses that serve our region and our nordic community with a wide selection of the best equipment and technical clothing. A family business with close ties to our sport and our community, it’s a pleasure to announce their partnership. Please watch the NENSA member benefits page for an announcement of a soft goods discount for NENSA members and other special offers in the coming weeks.

It’s a packed edition of Kickzone this week with recaps of several weekend events, the wrap up of FISU World University Games, the launch of FIS Junior/U23 World Ski Championships, an invitation and links to all of the upcoming state qualifiers for Eastern U16 and High School Championships, and several wonderful community/popular event offerings on the immediate horizon including the return (better than ever!) of the Craftsbury Marathon Ski Festival and the popular Prospect Sprints, an opportunity for folks of all ages to experience the excitement of head-to-head sprint racing in a "Royal Court" format with advancement for all through the entire set of rounds.

In this week’s edition of KickZone

• 2023 NENSA Women's XC Ski Day Recap
• Freeman Frost White Mountain Classic Recap
• The Race for Snow Recap
• Mad River Scramble Recap
• 2023 Craftsbury Marathon Ski Festival
• Invitation and State Qualifying Information for NENSA EHS and U16 Championships
• FISU World University Games Wrap Up
• FIS Nordic Junior/U23 World Ski Championships
• NENSA membership
• Scenes from the Community
• Toko Newsletter
• Canadian Ski Marathon and Canadian Ski Challenge
• Skirack/Patagonia: Banff Film Festival, January 26-28

In the news

• U.S. Ski & Snowboard: 2023 Junior/U23 World Championships Cross Country Ski Team Announced
• NNF: NNF Pillar Projects Kick into Gear for the 2023 Ski Season
• FasterSkier: Kern and Brennan Combine for 3rd, Sweden and France Win Livigno Team Sprints

With much gratitude to the snow gods for the official arrival of winter, I look forward to seeing you on a snowy trail soon!

All my best,

Heidi

Heidi Lange

Executive Director

New England Nordic Ski Association

heidi@nensa.net

www.NENSA.net

Thank you!

Memberships directly support all of our year-round programming,

backing us in our mission to nurture and sustain an active cross country ski

community for all ages and levels throughout the East. 

Thank you for taking a minute to join or renew your NENSA membership,

and for the important support that it provides!

Please join me in thanking and supporting our wonderful NENSA Sponsors 

for their generous contributions and the ongoing impact that they have on NENSA programming and cross country skiing in New England!

The 22nd Women’s XC Ski Day was picture perfect and our largest one yet! We are so grateful to JacksonXC and their dedicated staff and volunteers for hosting us. Jackson was a winter wonderland and they did a fabulous job with the grooming.

Here’s a little background for those of you who may not be familiar with the event. Women’s XC Ski Day was started in 2002 by Olympian Trina Hosmer of Stowe, VT. Trina was inspired by her “Sisters in Skiing” in Anchorage, Alaska, who started the Alaska Ski for Women in 1997. Like the Alaskans’ original event, Women’s XC Ski Day chooses a non-profit women’s organization to benefit, and gathers as many participants as it can for a day of cross country skiing which includes lunch and a raffle. The highlight of the day is learn-to-ski clinics with women instructors; the emphasis being on relaxed, fun learning in a supportive and encouraging environment. All ability, skill, and experience levels are welcome...read the full recap of the day and see lots of photos and video HERE.

Under bluebird skies and across fresh tracks, the first event of the 2023 New England Marathon series took place on Saturday in Jackson, NH. Nearly 150 novice and Olympic skiers alike, BKL to high school, collegiate, and very experienced masters, snaked across a village meadow, up the Yodel trail, onto the Eagle fields and around Jackson XC’s homologated trails for this year’s edition of the Freeman Frost White Mountain Classic. The newly fallen snow was picturesque, and also allowed for the traditional start for this race in the heart of Jackson village...read much more, see individual results, club and state scoring, and photos HERE.

The student led Race for Snow illustrates the resiliency of the community of skiers that live on the Atlantic Ocean in Boston, Massachusetts. It also portends the danger that climate change brings to our sport as we sit in the third season of La Nina. Despite the ominous tones, the Race for Snow and the Eastern Mass Cross Country club have created a setting for snow sport to thrive in one of the most unlikely places. The numbers, determination and skillful leadership of EMXC continue to produce and support exceptional skiers and human beings — they exemplify the mission that, “empowers lifelong learning, development and community-building through the sport of cross country skiing.”

Like many popular races that include all aged-skiers, the Race for Snow began with the Lollipoppers — some completely adept on theirs skis and some perhaps having their first skinny ski experience. The short out and back loop included two small climbs, but never left the line of sight of spectators. If you’ve never experienced a Bill Koch event, or it’s been a while since you have, stay up to date on the NENSA calendar and warm your heart by attending one this winter!...read the full story, see photos, results, and more HERE.

On Sunday, 98 skiers from Pre-K to eighth grade traveled from throughout Vermont to attend the Mad River Scramble, a cross country ski race at the Blueberry Lake Cross Country Ski Center. Fifteen clubs were represented in an event that embodied the fun spirit of the Bill Koch Ski League (BKL) and fell fortuitously just after a beautiful snowfall. The event was organized by Mad River Nordic with the support of the Green Mountain Valley School nordic team and inspired grooming by George Robinson and Jason Fowler.  

 Although there were smiles on over 300 faces throughout the day, George perhaps had the biggest, as he reflected on how happy his father, Leonard would have been to, “see all the kids skiing.”...read much more and see photos and results HERE.

THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS:

Reporting Misconduct and New QR Code for Reporting

Whether you are a coach, parent, volunteer, or athlete, we all play a role in providing a safe environment for the sports that we love. U.S. Ski & Snowboard  Athlete Safety policies, the SafeSport Code, and the U.S. Ski & Snowboard MAAPP help us support that culture of safety.  

• If you witness or are aware of inappropriate behavior or misconduct - REPORT IT!
• Reports may be made anonymously!
• Child Abuse and Child Sexual Abuse – Report to law enforcement or child protective services in your jurisdiction immediately.
• Reports to the Center - SafeSport hotline at 833-5US-SAFE (587-7233) or CLICK HERE to complete an online reporting form.
• Reports to U.S. Ski & Snowboard - CLICK HERE

You may see QR codes posted at events this season. The QR codes open a page on www.usskiandsnowboard.org for quick links to reporting from your smartphone.

Thank you for your diligence in maintaining sport safety and protecting our athletes. 

The Craftsbury Marathon Ski Festival returns this weekend. We are putting last year’s travails behind us. The Marathon Ski Festival is back better than ever!

2023 brings back two days of competitive, fun marathon racing. A 23k loop provides 23k and 46k classic options on Saturday 1/28 and a 23k freestyle option on Sunday 1/29.

Whether you choose to compete or to volunteer, we believe you'll find that the marathon is an event with something for everyone! Register before 5pm today!

The New England Nordic Ski Association invites you and your friends to try for a spot at NENSA Eastern U16 Championships and Eastern High School Championships. This year’s Eastern High School Championship weekend will be held at the Rikert Outdoor Center in Ripton, Vermont on March 10-12th, 2023 and the U16 Championship weekend will be held at the Fort Kent Outdoor Center in Fort Kent, Maine on March 17-19th, 2023. Top junior racers from our Northeastern region and beyond participate in this event, vying for team bragging rights. All athletes must compete in their respective state’s qualification events to be eligible to participate in these two Championship events, this includes Para and non-Para athletes. Each state has a quota of 24 boys and 24 girls, plus Para athletes. See the links below to learn about each state’s qualifying process.

Maine Qualifying Information

Massachusetts Qualifying Information

New Hampshire Qualifying Information

New York Qualifying Information

Vermont Qualifying Information

Out of Region skiers or coaches please email staff@nensa.net

Further details can be found on our U16 Championship Event Page and our Eastern High School Championship Page.

These Championship events provide excellent opportunities for our skiing community to come together, celebrate, push ourselves, cheer each other on, and make new friends. We hope that the festive atmosphere of these events form warm memories for years to come.  

FISU World University Games in Lake Placid came to an exciting conclusion on Sunday with a gold and a silver medal performance for Team USA cross country skiers. Congratulations to all of the skiers representing the U.S. as well as all of the New England coaches and officials involved!

Highlight Performances by athletes representing or hailing from New England:

Team Sprint Classic, Mixed: USA2 (Finn Sweet, Renae Anderson) (2nd)

Sprint Free, Women: Erin Bianco (4th)

Sprint Free, Men: Will Koch (6th), John Steel Hagenbuch (9th), Adam Witkowski (11th)

10k Individual Classic, Men: Fin Sweet (6th), John Steel Hagenbuch (7th), Will Koch (11th)

10k Pursuit Free. Men: John Steel Hagenbuch (3rd), Finn Sweet (7th)

4 x 7.5k Relay, Men: USA (Butts, Fin Sweet, Greg Burt, Maurer) (5th)

15k Mass Start Free, Women: Erin Bianco (4th)

30k Mass Start Free, Men: John Steel Hagenbuch (1st)

Northeast Officials and Coaching Staff

Sport Manager for Cross Country & Biathlon/Cross Country Chief of Competition: Allan Serrano - VT

Assistant Chief of Competition: Carol Van Dyke - VT

Race Secretary: Lisanne Hegman - VT, Mary Anne Levins - VT, and Barb Freilinghaus - NY

Jury Member: Nick Kline - NH

Chief of Control: Knut Sauer - NY

Chief of Stadium: Chris Freilinghaus - NY

Chief of Timing: Bob Underwood - NY

Chief of Course: Fred Bailey - VT and Rick Costanza - VT

Starter: Martin Maher - VT

Control Team: Tamra Mooney - NY, Peter Reynolds - VT, Carlie Casey - ME, Bill Rogers - ME, Chris Naimie - NH, Sam Osborne - VT, Amie Smith - VT

Coaching Staff: Perry Thomas- SMS T2, Margaret Maher- Northwood School, Kathy Maddock- Dublin XC

FIS Nordic Junior/U23 World Ski Championships in Whistler Olympic Park

This international event will welcome 38 countries and over 530 athletes to compete in three Nordic Skiing disciplines at Whistler Olympic Park from January 27 to February 5, 2023.

New England Athletes representing Team USA

Junior World Championships:

• Haley Brewster - UVM
• Ava Thurston - Dartmouth
• Hattie Barker - UNH
• Jack Lange - Dartmouth

U23 World Championships:

• John Steel Hagenbuch - Dartmouth

New England Coaches supporting Team USA

• Adam Terko - Mansfield Nordic
• Alex Jospe - SMS
• Cami Thompson-Graves - Dartmouth

It is time to renew NENSA memberships. NENSA membership is required for attendance at the BKL Festival, Eastern Cup, U16 and EHS Championship events, as well as for Junior National, Zak, and Club Cup rankings. NENSA members receive discounted entry fees to many of our events as well as exclusive offers from our sponsors that are constantly added and updated HERE. Membership directly supports our year-round programming, backing us in our mission to nurture and sustain an active cross country ski community for all ages and levels throughout the East. Thank you for taking a minute to tend to your renewal, and for the important support your membership provides!



Prospect Freestyle Sprints

A Royal Court Event

Sunday, January 29 -- Qualifiers @ 11 AM

THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA SUPPORTING SPONSORS:

2023 Junior/U23 World Championships Cross Country Ski Team Announced

January 23, 2023 | by U.S. Ski and Snowboard

U.S. Ski & Snowboard has announced 22 athletes to represent the United States at the FIS Junior & U23 World Cross Country Championships from Jan. 28 through Feb. 4 in Whistler, British Columbia.

The following athletes have been selected to represent the United States at the upcoming FIS U23 and Junior World Nordic Championships.

U23 World Championship Team

Women

• Sophia Laukli - Yarmouth, ME; University of Utah/U.S. Cross Country Ski Team
• Novie McCabe - Winthrop, WA; University of Utah/U.S. Cross Country Ski Team
• Sydney Palmer-Leger - Park City, UT; University of Utah/U.S. Cross Country Ski Team
• Anabel Needham - Houghton, MI; Michigan Tech University
• Kate Oldham - Aspen, CO; Montana State University

Men

• JC Schoonmaker - Tahoe City, CA; Sugar Bowl Academy/U.S. Cross Country Ski Team 
• Gus Schumacher - Anchorage, AK; Alaska Winter Stars/U.S. Cross Country Ski Team 
• Luke Jager - Anchorage, AK; University of Utah/U.S. Cross Country Ski Team 
• Zanden McMullen - Anchorage, AK; APU Nordic Ski Center/U.S. Cross Country Ski Team
• John Steel Hagenbuch - Ketchum, ID; Dartmouth College/U.S. Cross Country Ski Team 

Junior World Championship Team

Women

• Samantha Smith - Sun Valley, ID; Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation/U.S. Cross Country Ski Team 
• Nina Schamberger - Leadville, CO; Summit Nordic Ski Club 
• Haley Brewster - Avon, CO; University of Vermont 
• Ava Thurston - Waterbury, VT; Dartmouth College 
• Rose Horning - Leadville, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail 
• Hattie Barker - Underhill, VT; University of New Hampshire 

Men

• Adrik Kraftson - Minneapolis, MN; Northern Michigan University 
• Anders Weiss - Aspen, CO; Montana State University 
• Max Kluck - Butte, Montana; Bridger Ski Foundation 
• Jack Lange - Putney, VT; Dartmouth College 
• Jack Conde - Bend, Oregon; Montana State University 
• Luka Riley - Boulder, CO; University of Colorado

NNF Pillar Projects Kick into Gear for the 2023 Ski Season

January 23, 2023 | by Ben Theyerl

An air of anticipation is a core fact to cross country skiing – you wait and wait for the snow to fly, and when it finally does, the whole thing is frenetic. That’s reflected in the race schedule from juniors all the way on up to the World Cup. From the first flurries in November up to now, the schedule is saturated with races as athletes chase goals, dreams, and the joyous reunion that comes with being back around the ski community again. That also makes the couple of weeks here, smack dab in the middle of winter, unique. The SuperTour has entered its mid-winter break after having completed a long-ranging tour from Sovereign Lakes, British Columbia at the end of November, through U.S. Nationals, and culminating in a weekend that reflected the unique citizen racing culture present in the Midwest at the Seeley Hills Classic. The World Cup too, took a momentary pause before seeing a weekend of relaxed racing in Livigno, Italy, highlighted by Julia Kern and Rosie Brennan combining for a 3rd place finish in the Team Sprint for the USA.

Much of the pause in the ski schedule is dedicated to the shuffle of athletes, literally and figuratively, as dreams chased now become realities. As you read this, some of the U.S. most promising young athletes will be connecting to flights on their way to Europe for their first World Cup starts, or taking planning out their trips north of the border to Whistler, British Columbia for their first international competition at Junior World Championships. At the NNF, it’s Pillar Project season, where the hard-work and dedication that the US ski community has put into supporting the development of its skiers now becomes real support driving promising athletes to new places, new competitions, new experiences, and new dreams in the sport of Nordic skiing.

Below are some of the highlights that the US Ski Community can look toward in the coming weeks to see its strength – working together towards building a world class Nordic skiing program – reflected in the promising athletes making their way out onto the world’s stage through our Pillar Projects....read more HERE.

Kern and Brennan Combine for 3rd, Sweden and France Win Livigno Team Sprints

January 22, 2023 | by Ben Theyerl



Women's Race

...There was little to separate the field on the relatively flat Livigno course; through most of the race, the field remained largely intact. Out of the third exchange (entering the fourth lap) the Swedish pair of Dahlqvist and Sundling started to up the tempo on their persistent V2. Only two teams followed: Germany and the United States. The United States I team was represented in the move by Julia Kern, who paired up with Rosie Brennan to form a strong unit for the US. The USA II team of Lauren Jortberg and Alayna Sonnesyn were also in the final today, but had not quite bridged the gap to the front pack. Germany was represented by the pairing of Sofie Krehl and Laura Gimmler.

Men’s Race

The unusual scenes of this World Cup brought some welcome novelty, especially for American ski fans, in the Men’s race. A pair of American men even younger than the skiers who are now becoming the familiar faces on the US Ski Team made their World Cup debut in the Individual Sprint yesterday, and paired with more experienced teammates in comprising the Team Sprint duos today. That included Adam Witkowski—a native of upstate New York now skiing for Michigan Tech—who paired with Logan Diekmann to form the United States II team. The team rosters also included Will Koch—the Vermonter and University of Colorado Buffalo—skiing with veteran Kevin Bolger on United States I. United States I advanced to the Final...read the full story HERE.

The pairing of Koch and Bolger for the United States finished in 12th place on the day, but just 20 seconds off the leaders. The combination of the experienced Bolger alongside the younger Koch underscored the range and depth that the American program has fostered over the past decade. Koch’s first start on the World Cup extends the scope of that accomplishment across time too, as he joins Novie McCabe in being the second generation of his family to have skied on the World Cup for the United States.

Adam Witkowski (USA) made his first World Cup starts in Livigno this weekend. Witkowski and Logan Diekmann (USA) combined to form USA II in the Team Sprint. (Photo: NordicFocus)

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