June 7, 2011
NENSA Major Events Announced for 2011-12 Season
Summary: New Gloucester, ME - The New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA) announces today its 2011-12 major events featuring xc skiing events for all ages at sites all across New England.
New Gloucester, ME - The New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA) announces today its 2011-12 major events featuring xc skiing events for all ages at sites all across New England.
TD Bank Eastern CupThe TD Bank Eastern Cup enters its 16th year as NENSA's signature race series and each year it features many of the nation's best cross-country skiers. The new season will feature some of our favorite sites along with two newcomers to the Eastern Cup scene.
The action kicks off December 17th with the openers at Craftsbury Outdoor Center in Craftsbury, Vermont. The host club is home to the Craftsbury Green Racing Project and US B-teamers Ida Sargent (xc) and Susan Dunklee (biathlon.) These elite racers welcome the challenge of competing against the region's best on their home turf to open the Eastern Cup Series.
The second stop in the series will allow out-of-region racers in Maine for US Nationals to stick around for an additional week to compete at two new venues to the TD Bank Eastern Cup Series. As added incentive, this weekend will feature prize money for the top three finishers in each event. The trails at Bond Brook, in Augusta, Maine hosts on Saturday, January 14th. The brand new trails were previewed at last season's TD Bank Citizen Series and the Colby College Carnival. With significant excavation and trail improvement already completed for next season, racers should expect to enjoy a more refined experience on the challenging courses at Bond Brook. Sunday's race heads 30 miles up the road to Farmington, Maine and Titcomb Mountain. The Farmington Ski Club has twice hosted the TD Bank Bill Koch Festival and is looking forward to its first experience hosting a TD Bank Eastern Cup.
In summarizing her decision to award events to these two new sites, Janice Sibilia, NENSA's Competitive Programs director commented, "I'm thrilled that we have two new sites this winter hosting Eastern Cup races! Both venues will have a chance to showcase their trails and their clubs, and offer us expanded possibilities for new race formats and higher level events in the future."
US Ski Team and Craftsbury GRP's Ida Sargent at the 2011 TD Bank Eastern Cup Opener (photo by flyingpointroad.com.)
The third weekend follows the tradition of recent years with a visit to Stowe Vermont's Trapp Family Lodge for an event that combines the TD Bank Eastern Cup Series with the University of Vermont Winter Carnival. The weekend has proven to be a highlight of the series each year by bringing together the very best collegiate skiers with other top skiers in New England for a big, fun, competitive weekend.
The series concludes with events in Hanover and Holderness, New Hampshire the traditional hosts of our series' final weekend. Once again, skiers can look forward to the challenges of the Oak Hill trails in Hanover, the rolling trails at Holderness School and the top-notch organizational skills of the organizers from Ford Sayre Ski Club and Holderness.
TD Bank Bill Koch League Festival
The 2012 TD Bank Bill Koch League Festival will take place March 2-4 at Great Glen Trails in Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire. It will be the first-time Great Glen has hosted The Festival. The Festival will feature relay and individual races, a non-competitive ski tour, an on-snow obstacle course, opening ceremonies with a parade and a Saturday evening dinner followed by awards. Great Glen Trails anticipates more than 400 children will take part in the Festival.
Read a press release specific to this event here: http://links.nensa.net/2012-Festival
Skiers at the 2011 BKL Festival. Photo by Abby Weissman
TD Bank Championship Events
The TD Bank J2 Championships welcome skiers from across the United States and Canada to compete with teams from each of the New England states in an event that recognizes both individual and state team achievement for fourteen and fifteen-year-old athletes. The 2012 Championship will be hosted by 2012 US National host Chisholm Ski Club at Black Mountain in Rumford, Maine.
The TD Bank Eastern High School Championship site will be announced shortly.
NENSA Women's Day
The 11th Annual Women's Day heads to the Bethel Inn in Bethel, Maine. The inn and its surrounding trails hosted the 2009 version of the event and provide a perfect backdrop for this popular event. Be sure to sign up early at www.nensa.net/women because this event has sold out for the past three years!
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* The New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA) is the Olympic development organization for cross-country skiing in New England, providing year round educational, recreational and competitive events.
* NENSA's programs are supported by Title Sponsor, TD Bank Associate Sponsors include LL Bean and Stowe, Vermont's Trapp Family Lodge.
* For more information on cross-country skiing in New England and on NENSA's sponsors, please visit the NENSA Website
* Contact Patrick Cote, Executive Director at 207-956-0728 or pat@nensa.net
