January 02, 2013 – Due to the generosity of the Cross-Country community and the exceptional efforts of Programs, Coaches, individuals and Junior skiers from past J1 Scando Trips, the National Nordic Foundation’s drive for funding for this year’s J1 trip Pillar Project has exceeded all goals. That means that the Nordic Foundation’s support for the trip will knock the per athlete cost for a loop. Last year’s ground cost was $1,700 and the anticipated cost of this year’s was $1,800. With the help from NNF this year’s athlete ground cost is reduced to $750!

Thanks go out in many directions, and let’s take this as an example of what we can do a little bit at a time.

We are getting close to the qualifying races, and we hope this puts a spur to the rides! With the reminder that qualifying athletes must be able to commit to the trip immediately upon the naming of the Team, we wish everyone the best of luck.

To learn more or to donate click HERE.

May 01, 2012 – This year more than ever, NENSA members have stepped up to support xc skiing in New England! Every donation made a huge difference — the large and small ones, the first and last — just as importantly as the money contributed is that the way this drive puts on display the enthusiasm that we all have for skiing and for NENSA. It is never easy to keep things growing and moving forward in a small organization like NENSA, but a successful drive like this sure makes it easier.

On a personal note, today is my final day as Executive Director. Zach Stegeman gets started tomorrow and I hope you will all give him a warm welcome and help support him with as much positive energy and enthusiasm as you have supported my efforts over the past eleven years with NENSA. – Pat Cote, Executive Director

November 15, 2011 – Today is a very big day for us as we assemble all American cross country ski enthusiasts to stand up together to support our developing skiers. Please join us by making a contribution to the National Nordic Foundation.

Why? Today is about building our base of XC fans in the U.S. and showing our collective support by funding opportunities so our developing athletes can learn to race in Europe against the best in the world. The U.S. has improved from a nation that seldom put a single skier in the top-15 on the World Cup to a nation with Continental Cup, U23, World Cup and World Championship podiums. Yet as a nation, our developing athletes still struggle to afford the racing opportunities required to compete among the best. That, and because you’ll be supporting cross country skiers. The world needs more of them.

Donate HERE. Check back often to see our progress. Once you have donated the program will automatically generate a tax-deductible receipt. While donating, please fill out the comment box and also hit the “like” button to show your support. If you are uncomfortable with online donations, please mail a check to:

National Nordic Foundation
32 West 200 South #149
Salt Lake City 84101

How Much? Whether you can donate $25 or $100, 100% of your money will support over 40 elite U.S. development athletes age 15-28 this winter on racing trips in Europe. Please do what you can. Today is more about developing the total number of XC supporters in the U.S.

We hope you will continue to follow our skiers and support our nation’s pursuit of Olympic cross country success. You may follow these trips this winter at www.nccsef.org. This site is updated weekly with photos and motivating thoughts from the road.

Thank you for your role in XC development. The Drive for 25 is now! Spread the word.

October 21, 2011 (Salt Lake City, UT) – The Visa Women’s Ski Jumping Team was honoured Wednesday night in New York City at the 32nd Annual Salute to Women in Sports Awards Gala. Team members and their supporting foundation, Women’s Ski Jumping USA (WSJ-USA), were recognized for their perseverance and courage in fighting to gain Olympic status for their sport.

In April 2011, the International Olympic Committee added a women’s ski jumping event to the Olympic Winter Games program beginning in 2014 in Sochi, Russia. Ski jumping (and Nordic Combined) have been the only disciplines in the Winter Games to exclude women.

Ski jumpers Lindsey Van, Jessica Jerome and Alissa Johnson, and WSJ-USA President Deedee Corradini were in New York to receive the award.

“To be honored by such a reputable organization with core values in which I truly believe is amazing,” said Jessica Jerome. “This award isn’t just for me and my team, it represents a much larger group of people and all their efforts and beliefs that helped us get to where we are today.”

The Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF) was founded in 1974 by tennis legend Billie Jean King. Deedee Corradini said it is incredible for the team and WSJ-USA to be recognized by one of the most influential organizations in the world that advocates for girls and women in sports.

“This is a wonderful day for the team, the sport and all of our supporters and sponsors,” Corradini said.

Alissa Johnson, who also received a WSF 2010 Travel and Training grant, hopes others find inspiration in their struggle. “I want our story to show young girls that if they believe in something, they can fight for it no matter what’s thrown in their way.”

2009 World Ski Jumping Champion Lindsey Van said courage helped her and her teammates get through the toughest days. “We stood up as athletes and made it happen,” she added.

2011 Ski Affair – Salt Lake City – October 27
Women’s Ski Jumping USA is also being honoured in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 27 at the 2011 Ski Affair, sponsored by the Utah Ski Archives, which will highlight and honor Women’s Ski Jumping USA (WSJ-USA) for its persistence in pushing for women ski jumpers to be included in the Olympic Winter Games.

The annual event begins at 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 27 at Little America Hotel in downtown Salt Lake City and is a fundraiser for the Ski Archives.

After a 10-year battle led by the nonprofit WSJ-USA and women jumpers from around the world, the International Olympic Committee finally announced on April 6, 2011, that women’s ski jumping would be a sanctioned event at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

“We are thrilled to be a part of this year’s Ski Affair,” said Jenny Holden, WSJ-USA executive director. “We hope our athletes’ achievements are an inspiration for others, especially young athletes who have Olympic dreams too.”

More than 500 people are expected to attend the Ski Affair, which also pays tribute to Salt Lake City’s hosting of the 2002 Games. Deedee Corradini, president of WSJ-USA and former mayor of Salt Lake, is the first and only female mayor ever to accept the Olympic Winter Games flag.

Members of the Visa Women’s Ski Jumping Team, supported by WSJ-USA, expected at the event include 2009 World Champion Lindsey Van, Jessica Jerome and Sarah Hendrickson.

“It means so much to us as athletes to be recognized by the Ski Archives and our community,” said Hendrickson, 17, of Park City, a 2010 Junior World Championship bronze medalist. “To be part of the first group of women ever to compete in ski jumping in the Olympics would be outstanding. That feeling drives me to work hard every day to reach that goal.”

The Utah Ski Archives were established in 1989 at the University of Utah J. Willard Marriott Library. The official repository of the records of the Salt Lake Olympic bid and organizing committees preserves information about the history of skiing in Utah and the Intermountain West.

Details
What: Fundraiser for the Utah Ski Archives
When: 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 27
Where: Little America Hotel in downtown Salt Lake City, 500 S. Main St.
Cost: $60 per person
Includes: Dinner, silent and live auctions, photo displays of Utah’s ski history and a drawing for Ski Utah’s new “Yeti pass,” good for one day of skiing at each of the state’s 14 resorts for about $35 per day.
Reservations: May be made through Friday, Oct. 21 at www.lib.utah.edu or by calling 801-581-3421.
Contact: Whitney Childers, 801-503-6099, wchildersmedia@gmail.com

September 27, 2011 (Salt Lake City, Idaho) – Peter and Bonni Curran, of Ketchum/Sun Valley Idaho, have made a generous donation of $14,000 to the National Nordic Foundation’s 2011 Cross Country Pillar Projects to help tomorrow’s stars today.

Peter Curran states, “Both Bonni and I are ardent Nordic skiing enthusiasts as well as believers in the power of sport to affect lifestyles in a strongly positive manner at any age. We would love to see Nordic skiing grow in popularity in the US and hope that by supporting young US racers we can not only make an impact on their lives but also increase the visibility and popularity of the sport in our country.”

National Nordic Foundation Director David Knoop is extremely thankful for Peter and Bonni’s benevolence and vision. Knoop states “We are extremely grateful to Peter and Bonni for their generous donation of $14,000. The vision they have for Nordic skiing’s potential to positively impact young skier’s lives while simultaneously promoting healthy lifestyles nationwide inspires us all to do more. This type of funding has a direct impact on our athlete’s financial needs and the progression of the sport in the US.

The Curran’s “gold level” contribution comes alongside over 100 individual “social level” contributions made through the National Nordic Foundation social donation platform by Nordic enthusiasts nationwide in September alone. Together these efforts have thus far garnered over $30,000 in donations that will be invested in the NNF’s Cross Country or Nordic Combined Pillar Projects.

Support Tomorrow’s Stars Today
The National Nordic Foundation exists to help America’s young, dedicated, and driven Nordic talent realize their, and America’s, long term potential in sport and in life. The biggest hurdle facing American Nordic racers is gaining consistent access to international quality coaching, training, and racing experiences from ages 15 through 25. Providing future generations of U.S. Nordic athletes earned access to a progression of international quality competitive experiences, and there life enriching lessons, represents this nation’s greatest Nordic development opportunity and funding need. The National Nordic Foundation exists to fulfill this need. Please donate to the National Nordic Foundation and support tomorrow’s stars today as their quest for athletic accomplishment on the trails prepares them to achieve their potential in life while inspiring others to do the same.

Please donate $10 or $1000 and lend your name to the cause HERE now!

April 27, 2011 – We have met the 2011 Annual Fund Goal, but with 5 days left, a new donor has stepped forward with a really exciting offer: “Every dollar NENSA raises from this point through the drive’s end on Saturday at midnight we will match by depositing $1 each into the Skis for Kids ski lease program and NENSA’s new Athlete Support Fund… we will match up to $10,000 in additional gifts to bring our total to $20,000.”

What is the Skis for Kids program? It offers low-cost lease of skis, boots, and poles to any skier in the region. It has helped get entire clubs started and receives universal praise from club leaders and individuals who have used it.

What is the Athlete Support Fund? It is a fund with a current balance of $5000 that starting this coming season will be available to help support athletes based on dedication to the sport and financial need for training and competition opportunities. There are no admin fees taken from this account and 100% of deposits to this account will go directly to supporting athletes.

There has never been a better time to give to NENSA!

And even if you have already given to this year’s drive, now is the time to consider a second gift. A $50 gift will support NENSA, buy a pair of kids skis, and, give $50 of support directly to an athlete. Wow!

Link HERE to Donate Now or check on progress… (all dollars over $25,000 are toward this match!)