UPDATE - 1/21/26
After a lot of consideration and debate we are moving the date and venue of the Mass Nordic Cup to Weston this Friday night. Due to the cold, incoming snowstorm and a filled schedule, this was the best option to offer a head to head race for Massachusett skiers.
Date: Friday, January 23, 2026
Venue: Leo J Martin Golf and Ski Track, Weston MA
Timeline:
5:30 - 7:00pm Bib Pick Up & U16/EHS Form & Fees Drop off
5:30 - 6:30 Girls ski drop off
5:45 - 6:45 Boys ski drop off
7:30 Race start, girls first followed by boys
Race Format: We have decided to only run a classic race for the evening because of time constraints.
15 second interval start, no break between the girls and boys race.
Race Distance: 5.5km -6km, 4 laps
Wax Recommendation: Please use only the base level waxes. We will be applying a liquid top coat to ALL skis to normalize at ski drop off.
Star NF Cold or Polar
Toko BP Blue
Swix PS/CH 5 or 4
Rode R20
Refunds: We can issue you a refund, but you will not be considered for either U16/EHS teams. If you have a prior commitment on Friday evening, we are allowing for waivers to be filed. Athletes, please have your coach fill out out a waiver on your behalf.
BKL Athletes not in contention for U16, we will issue you a refund if you are not able to attend.
Regards,
Mass Nordic Committee
U16/EHS Team Registration Requirements for Mass Nordic Race
- If you want to be considered for the U16/EHS Mass Nordic Team, you need to register for the Mass Nordic Cup race.
- To be eligible to race on the Mass Nordic Team, you must either go to school in Massachusetts or Massachusetts must be your permanent address. Students at boarding schools out of State are eligible to race and be part of the Mass Nordic Team if their home address is still Massachusetts.
- Team selection will be done based on a points system. Athletes may earn points toward qualification by participating in any of the following events in the current season:
- Mass Nordic Cup (formerly known as Mass Qualifier)
- League Races (public and private)
- Championship Race (MIAA & NEPSAC)
- Eastern Cups
- The top 20 athletes on the final points list will be named to the team. There are 4 discretionary spots that will be decided by the Mass Nordic Coaching Staff and Committee.
- U16 / EHS teams will be finalized after the Middlebury Eastern Cup. The team roster will be posted on the Mass Nordic website (https://massnordic.org/) and athletes will be notified via email by Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
- All U16 and EHS Championship team fees and forms must be submitted at bib pick up time at the Mass Nordic Cup Checks will NOT be deposited till after teams have been named and athletes have confirmed intent.
- U16 Championship Registration Fee, $475
- EHS Championship Registration Fee, $475
- Athletes who have registered for but do not start in the Mass Nordic Cup will be considered for U16/EHS teams only if their team/club coach has submitted a waiver on their behalf in advance. Submitting a waiver does not guarantee the athlete a spot on a team. Waivers may be submitted for any of the following reasons:
- The athlete is injured or ill on the day of the Mass Nordic Cup.
- The athlete has existing family commitments which prevent their participation in the Mass Nordic Cup. (In general, an athlete’s other extracurricular activities are NOT an acceptable basis for a waiver.)
- The athlete is either meeting qualification criteria for the NE Junior National Team at the time of the MA Nordic Cup or is within the top 3 Massachusetts athletes outside of NE JNs qualification according to the NENSA Juniors Ranking List on that day.
- Athletes from Connecticut are eligible to join the Mass Nordic Team and have their own spots on the team without taking away the 24 allocated spots for Massachusett athletes.
U16 Team Information:
- You must be born in the year of 2010 or 2011 as well as be a resident or go to school in Massachusetts to qualify for this team.
- Athletes that are in High School can qualify to be on both the U16 and EHS team.
- Cost: $475, due on 1/25/26, payable to Eastern Mass Nordic. Checks will NOT be deposited till after the team is named on February 17, 2026.
- Team size: 24 boys and 24 girls.
- U16 Team Application & Medical Waiver: 2026 U16 Team Information Letter and Registration Form
- Event Information, course maps, schedules, and rules: https://nensa.net/u16-championships/
EHS Team Information:
- You must be a Massachusetts resident or a High School student in Massachusetts to qualify for this team.
- Athletes that are in High School can qualify to be on both the U16 and EHS team.
- Cost: $475, due on 1/25/26, payable to Eastern Mass Nordic. Checks will NOT be deposited till after the team is named on February 17, 2026.
- Team size: 24 boys and 24 girls
- We have additional slots allocated for athletes from Connecticut that are not part of our 24 boys and 24 girls.
- EHS Team Application & Medical Waiver: 2026 EHS Team Information Letter and Registration Form
- Event Information, course maps, schedules, and rules: https://www.nensa.net/eastern-hs-championships/
Race Information
Date: Sunday, January 25, 2026
Primary Location:
Prospect Mountain
204 Prospect Access Rd
Woodford, VT 05201
Please note that Prospect is still open to the public during our race. So we need to be considerate of all the users. Teams should set up areas outside for all:
- Ski bags
- All Duffle bags
- No bags inside the lodge for space reasons
- Please use porta potties when possible outside
- Kitchen open for food and drinks
Schedule:
- 11:30 am -Open for bib pick up
- 12:30 pm - Bib pick up CLOSES
- 1:00 pm - Girls Classic Individual Start, ~4km
- approximately 1:45pm - Boys Classic Individual Start, ~4km
- approximately 3:00pm- Girls Skate Individual Start, ~4km
- approximately 3:45pm- Boys Skate Individual Start, ~4km.
Backup Date: Saturday January 24, 2026
Backup Location:
LJM Ski Track
190 Park Road
Weston, MA 02493
Schedule: TBD, this will be an evening race
U14 Athletes, please choose only 1 race to do. While we applaud your enthusiasm to want to do 2, this is a learning opportunity for you. Wax support will be provided for you at this event.
U16/EHS Race Wax Policy: This year, waxing will be standardized for kick and glide wax. All athletes participating for a spot on the U16 or EHS will have the same wax applied to their skis. A wax call will be emailed out to all athletes and coaches a few days prior to the race with directions on how to prepare your skis. On the day of the race, athletes will drop off their race skis (skate and classic) to a designated area for the skis to be race prepped. If skiers need additional kick for their classic skis, there will be a retouch area staffed by the Mass Nordic wax team.
The Massachusetts Race is a NO fluoro race. The use of any fluorinated glide waxes, fluorinated powders or fluorinated liquids is prohibited. The use of only non-fluoro wax reduces risk of health issues caused by PFOAs and PFAs found in waxes, is more environmentally friendly, ensures that we are following current NENSA and USSA race policies, and creates a level playing field for the selection of the MA EHS / U16 Teams.
RACE SKI DROP OFF PROCEDURE: After picking up their bibs and dropping off U16/EHS Registration Forms, skiers will drop off ONLY their CLASSIC race skis to the dedicated waxing area. After they finish the classic race, skiers need to drop off their skate skis to the dedicated waxing area.
Technical Zones, No Double Pole Zone: There will be “Technique Zones'' on various parts of the course. In these zones, classic/diagonal technique must be observed. They will be marked on the course map as well as marked on the course.
Waivers: Coaches need to submit waivers online prior to the start of the event.
https://forms.gle/MsLi39q6i9HYwQjT8
Waivers must be filled out by your coach prior to the event; coaches should complete one Google Form for each athlete.
Qualifying For Team Massachusetts
All skiers that are vying for a spot on the Mass Nordic U16 and/or EHS Champion Team must register for the Mass Nordic Cup. All team fees and forms must be submitted at bib pick up on the day of the Mass Nordic Cup. A NENSA membership is required at the U16 and EHS Championship. It is NOT required to participate at the Mass Nordic Cup
The top 20 boys and girls for U16s and EHS in the points system will automatically be named to their respective championship team(s). There will be four discretionary spots that will be decided by the coaching staff for the Championship Race.
A points based system will use results from the following races.
- Mass Nordic Cup (formerly known as Mass Qualifier)
- League Races (public and private)
- Championship Race (MIAA & NEPSAC)
- Eastern Cup
Points will be posted at https://massnordic.org/ after the Mass Nordic Cup.
Qualification for the teams requires participation in both the 1/26 freestyle race and the classic race. Mass Team Coaches may make discretionary picks to include athletes who have filed a waiver. If a racer cannot race, he/she MUST file a waiver (submitted by his/her/their coach) PRIOR to the race for an exception to be considered by the Mass Team Coaches.
https://forms.gle/wNkkRqoRsn94Vyxc8
A limited number of need-based scholarships are available for U16 and EHS athletes: EASEF (Eastern Amateur Ski Educational Foundation). If the cost of the event(s) is prohibitive to an athlete’s participation, please visit http://easef.org/apply/ or contact Hilary Greene of Mt Greylock HS.
If you would like to make a contribution to EASEF, please visit http://easef.org/donate/. Contributions may not be designated for individuals but may be designated by discipline – in this case XC skiing. Please use the Contact Us link via SkiReg.com for more information.
U16 Information
U16 Championship is for those skiers 14 & 15 years old born in 2010 and 2011 who are Massachusetts residents or who are attending school in Mass.
The U16 Championships will be held at Oak Hill Outdoor Center, Hanover, NH. This will be a THREE-day commitment and athletes will miss one day of school. Dates for this event are Friday, March 13, 2026 to Sunday, March 15, 2026.
The cost per team member will be $475. This fee includes lodging, meals, racing fees and team clothing. Parents/caretakers are responsible with driving athletes to and from the venue.
Team Application & Medical Waiver: 2026 U16 Team Information Letter and Registration Form
U16s race formats:
- Day 1 = 5km freestyle
- Day 2 Race 1 = 5km classic
- Day 2 Race 2 = Sprint/XCX
- Day 3 = Relay CL,CL, SK, SK mass start
U16 Leadership
- Team Manager: Joseph Miller
- Head Coach: Ryan Touponce
- Head Wax: Tom Jorgenson
- Coaches
- Kate Sanders
- Greta Facchetti
- Hilary Greene
- Sam Veggeberg?
- Chris Stock
- Chris Li?
- EAST
EHS Information
Eastern High School Championship is for those currently in 9th to 12th grade, who are Massachusetts residents or who are attending school in Mass. Post-graduates are not eligible.
The EHS Championships will be held at Gore Mountain Nordic Center, North Creek, NY. This will be a THREE-day commitment and athletes will miss one day of school. Dates for this event are Friday, March 6, 2026 to Sunday, March 8, 2026.
The cost per team member will be $475. This fee includes transportation (to and from the hotel and race venue), lodging, meals, racing fees and team clothing.
EHS Team Application & Medical Waiver: 2026 EHS Team Information Letter and Registration Form
https://nensa.net/eastern-hs-championships/
For skiers who do not have a Mass Nordic Jacket, we will have a limited number available to purchase for $50. For more details, please read through the questions when you register.
EHSC race formats:
- Day 1 = 5km freestyle, interval start
- Day 2 Race 1 = 7.5km classic, mass start
- Day 2 Race 2 = Sprint/XCX, wave start
- Day 3 = Relay CL,CL, SK, SK, mass start
EHS Leadership
- Team Manager: Susannah Wheelwright
- Head Coach: Marika Massey-Bierman
- Head Wax: Chris Stock
- Coaches
- Josh Burgel
- West
- East
- West
- East
- West
- West