Supporting Tomorrow’s Nordic Stars Today

NNF Auction Starts Monday

Masters Auction to Meet $100,000 Donor Match

The NNF Kicks Off Masters Initiatives With an Online Auction

We’re kicking off a new NNF initiative today: our NNF Master’s Auction went live this morning. A fundraising initiative with a $100,000 matching grant attached, the master’s auction aims to raise $20,000 with amazing gear, and exclusive services.You can see it HERE.

As a development organization, we’re primarily focused on rising juniors, the promising young skiers that have a shot at making skiing history. Our tagline is “Supporting Tomorrow’s Nordic Skiing Stars Today” after all.

To remedy a bit more outreach, we’ve worked on creating a few more opportunities to support masters racing at the highest level and to create a place where the amazing industry support for the NNF can intersect with Masters racers looking for products and services on the inside of the game.

With industry partners like Swix, Fischer, Bjorn Dahlie, Ibex Outdoor Clothing, L.L. Bean, Podiumwear, Caldwell Sport, Madshus, HWK, Woodski and more, you can bid on products used by great skiers, lessons provided by great skiers, and souvenirs like autographed World Cup bibs from great skiers. As usual, all fund support our pillar projects to increase skiing development.

Check out the NNF Auction and stay tuned for more masters initiatives in the months to come.

Catch Up with the U23, WJC and U18 Teams in Europe

Our largest funding effort supports the development trips to Europe in the tradition started by Reid Lutter and the NCCSEF years ago. This year is no different. We’ve sent US athletes armed with the NNF support necessary to succeed at the highest level. We’ve asked that, in return, they send us a few photos, posts, stories and insights to share with our supporters. Check out the latest reports from:

The NNF Displays at the Outdoor Retailer Show

Spearheaded by NNF volunteer and master skier, Jenny Barba, the NNF was on display for the 22,000 participants at the Outdoor Retailer Show this week in Salt Lake City. “I wanted to find a way to give back,” Jenny explained, “This is a great organization and getting it in front of the outdoor industry is another way to raise awareness of the NNF mission.” Growing the NNF email list and increasing the opportunity for support was the focus for the week- Jenny and Co. successfully gathered amazing interest, aided, in part, by a raffle for a pair of Swix Triac poles. In addition to Jenny, interested folks were greeted by Billy Demong, Taylor Fletcher, members of the University of Utah ski team, Park City junior skiers and local masters athletes.

Thanks to Jenny, the staffers of the booth, Swix Sport for providing the poles, Silverbean Coffee and the SLC area NNF supporters.

Igor Badamshin

We at the NNF were deeply saddened to learn of Igor Badamshin’s passing on Friday. “Igor was the most unassuming, positive, friendly, sunny guy you could meet. He will always be a hero to me,” explained NNF director, Dave Knoop in an email to supporters. Igor was the head coach of the CXC program, a long-time youth coach and a former Russian Olympic Team member (1994). Known for a quiet kindness, a love of skiing and a great rapport with kids, Igor came to the US and began his coaching in New Hampshire. “Igor had a tremendous impact in New England while he was here, as you know,” NENSA Competitive Program Director, Janice Sibilia wrote in an e-mail to FasterSkier. “I had the opportunity to work with him on many occasions and will miss him a lot.”

We at the NNF share the sentiment and send our love and condolences to Igor’s friends and family.