EVENTS / U16 Championships / NENSA U16 Championships Trip

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GREETINGS CENTRAL REGION ATHLETES & FAMILIES:

We trust that the U.S. Ski & Snowboard's cancelation of national level events, including US Nationals and US Junior National Champinships has been a hard hit to take for our Nordic Community.

Here in the Central Region, our goal is to soften that hit and host a robust series of CXC Cup races with mitigation plans that will follow public health mandates that minimize spread of COVID-19.

We are excited to be moving forward as a region. We urge each of you to both remain vigilant in following CDC guidelines to reduce the spread of the coronavirus so we can safely have competitions and to be flexible in your ability to change plans given conditions in each local community as our ski season progresses.

U18/WJC/U23 Qualifying - the US Ski Team discretionary committee will likely look at outstanding performances in the Central from the Duluth Super CXC Cup and the Super CXC Cup Holiday Championships. To make one of these teams an athlete will have to have an eye popping performance or more than one. One race winning by a minute and a half is better than winning 4 age group races by 5-10 seconds. Jrs who are skiing with known quantity professional level seniors will get a look.

The CXC Cup Schedule remains "Tentative" and should be approached knowing there is a need for flexibility based upon health & safety.

- Formats or locations could change based upon health and safety risk mitigation.

- Accommodations reservations should only be made with a "hold" that will not result in charges if canceled the week of the event.

CXC and our partner Race Organizations are dealing with a constantly changing pandemic and all race formats, distances, schedules, etc. are tentative and will not be able to be finalized until the week leading into the race. At this time of the season each athlete and team should be focused on the training that is preparation for the future.

Stay healthy, stay safe and keep training!
NENSA U16 Championships Trip
This trip is canceled for the spring of 2021, aspiring athletes are encouraged to train for and compete at the CXC Cup Finals March 5-7 at Wirth Park.

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Central Cross Country Skiing (CXC) will provide an opportunity for qualified talented young juniors from the Midwest and Great Lakes Divisions to compete amongst their peers at the 2022 NENSA U16 Championships taking place in the East come spring of 2022.

Team Size

The team will be comprised of four U16 boys and four U16 girls for a total team size of 8 junior athletes from each Division.

Team Selection Criteria

The team will be selected by using the Midwest and Great Lakes Junior National U16 qualifying list.

Uniform

All selected athletes will compete in team race suit and vests to represent CXC Midwest and Great Lakes Divisions as a team. Coaches will receive vests.

Coaches

A Trip Leader/Divisional Co-Head Coach and an Assistant Trip Leader/Divisional Co-Head Coach will be selected at the 2021 Spring Congress, 2 more assistant coaches will be chosen from applications in the fall of 2021.

Note: each coach is a volunteer who is excited to be part of helping junior athletes to have a great experience on the trip.

2020 Teams

Midwest Division - Men
Jonathan Nemeth - Loppet Nordic Racing
Thomas Mulford - Loppet Nordic Racing
Samuel Folland - South Suburban Training Group
Andrew DeFor - Loppet Nordic Racing

Midwest Division - Women
Sierra Larson - Loppet Nordic Racing
Evelyn Hudrlik - NordicWerks SkiKlubb
Lauren Munger - Loppet Nordic Racing
Annabelle Stang - NordicWerksSkiKlubb

Great Lakes Division - Men
Beckett Chambers - Bay Nordic
Cyrus Hamlin - Copper Country Ski Tigers
Grant Rocheleau - ANST
Alek Zavadoski - Wausau Nordic United

Great Lakes Division - Women
Sage Chimner - Copper Country Ski Tigers
Grace Kern - Lakeland Nordic
Annie Paulson - VASA Ski Club
Madyson Rosenberger - Chippewa Valley Nordic

2019 Teams

Midwest Division - Men
Jakob Craig / Lakeland Nordic Ski Team
Aidan Earll / Wausau Nordic United
Magnus O'Connor / Loppet Nordic Racing
Noah Straka / Peak Nordic Ski Club

Midwest Division - Women
Lily Brown / Duluth XC / CXC Junior Development Program
Nina Chosy / Madison Nordic Ski Club / CXC Junior Development Program
Spirit Hess / Bay Nordic
Elsa Viren / Peak Nordic

Great Lakes Division - Men
Mike Fraley / Copper Country Ski Tigers
Cyrus Hamlin / Copper Country Ski Tigers
Rubin Hatfield / Superiorland Ski Club
Chase Stah / Superiorland Ski Club

Great Lakes Division - Women
Autumn Eles / Copper Country Ski Tigers
Ingrid Seagren / Copper Country Ski Tigers
Maraia Velat / Copper Country Ski Tigers

Cost

Trip costs vary due to the location. For the past two years trip costs were $1,600 plus athletes' race kit and vest. Parents are welcome to join this trip with their athletes but will need to cover their expenses. CXC will advise with logistics of travel, housing and Awards Banquet information.

For more information please contact Yuriy Gusev at yuriy.gusev@cxcskiing.org.
The NENSA trip was a great way to end a ski season for both athletes and supporting parents. It was fun to watch these young athletes bond as they shifted from being competitors to teammates. Either by the shared love of skiing or just being great humans, they all made fast friends. For the parents, it was fun to come together and become the cheering squad for these amazing U16 athletes. What was clearly the glue, the backdrop, to this amazing trip were the coaches that elevated everyone with there supportive and inclusive approach. The team became a real team because of the coaches. They created a team environment that helped these young athletes develop to their full potential. This trip created a special experience that will certainly inspire these young athletes for years to come. - Rick Straka, parent

We loved that our daughter skied with the NENSA trip! She received outstanding coaching, competed and worked as part of a regional team, and had great fun both on and off the snow. We think this trip has added to her confidence as a skier and has made her feel more connected to the Midwest ski community. - Tamara Bryant and John Chosy, parents of Nina Chosy

The NENSA U16 Championships was an amazing experience for both my daughter and me. Most of the skiers that made up the team didn't really know each other, but by the end of the trip had become close friends. They stayed in contact, which made future ski camps and races all the more fun. The event allowed the skiers to race in an environment very similar to the Junior Nationals but in a much more relaxed manner. This event resulted in an increased confidence in the skier's racing capabilities. The coaches and volunteers were amazing, and truly made this trip one of the most memorable for the kids. My daughter has since skied at the Junior Nationals but classifies this race as her most notable. - Jackie Schneider, parent

The people were great (skiers and coaches) and it gave Maria and opportunity to have a national-level experience and bond with skiers outside of our immediate community. It also exposed her to a different coaching approach which was lower-key and gave her a unique learning opportunity without high-pressure. - Paul Schoening, parent

The NENSA U16 Championships trip is where I really recognized my drive to be a competitive Nordic skier. Racing pushed me to my limits, but with the huge support system of coaches and fellow skiers who became close friends, competing was something I looked forward to, every day. The bonds I made in New Hampshire with the girls and boys on my team are unlike any other friendships I have. The trip still fuels my Nordic ambitions today. Thanks for the great experience! - Claire Benton, athlete

As Head Coach of the two teams of young skiers going east, it's been inspiring to see where the kids from each year have gone on and done and how they've progressed. The U16 Championships was a new experience for me also, having brought together a team where I knew just one or two skiers and meeting at 3:30 am in the Minneapolis Airport it was interesting to see the interaction of the skiers as they were introduced, shyly made new friends, and by the end of the trip had become good buds. With new venues, new teams, and new coaches each year the changes have made me, as an "experienced" coach, step up my game and bring my best to the abilities that so many other coaches have honed. The U16 trip is a fantastic opportunity to grow as a young skier, and I'm personally thrilled to have the opportunity to lead another group. Whatever the results, we're going to ski fast and have fun.
- Ken Schoville, Head Coach (Minocqua Ski Team)