Dublin School’s Nordic Center Trails (our home)

The International Ski Federation (FIS) voted recently to sanction Dublin School’s Nordic Center. Dublin School’s state of the art race course is the first high school course in the world to receive this certificate of homologation. The homologation process establishes an international standard for race courses to provide guidelines for course design and construction. Dublin School went through a rigorous inspection and application process to secure their homologation.

The homologated five kilometer course, designed by John Morton of Morton Trails, had to meet specific guidelines for course width, hill variety, length of climbs, safety of downhills, and size of the start and finish stadium. According to Dublin ski coach and Head of School Brad Bates, “the application process for homologation with the FIS has been a fascinating an educational process. I have spent a great deal of time with John Morton and the inspector from the FIS. The FIS is determined to create the fairest and most challenging venues possible. I have always seen courses from the athlete’s perspective and now I see them from the race organizer’s standpoint. We need to create courses that avoid bottlenecks so that athletes in a mass start have an equal shot at winning regardless of their starting position. Our course balances the artistry of John Morton and the technical aspects required by the FIS.”

Dublin’s course was intentionally designed to take advantage of Dublin’s high elevation (the course tops out at 1800 feet above sea level) and north-facing aspect. The course is in high demand due to its proximity to Boston and surrounding communities. According to Brad Bates, Head of School, “FIS homologation prequalifies Dublin to host national and international events where athletes hope to earn FIS points and qualify for the US National Team. For us, however, we are just happy to have such a fun and technical venue for our skiers to learn and enjoy the sport of skiing. None of this would have happened without the vision and support of Michael Lehmann, the son of our school’s founders, Paul and Nancy Lehmann. I also appreciate the efforts of our Buildings and Grounds Team and the support of trustee George Foote, who were all involved in constructing these trails. Our skiers already cannot wait for the 2016-17 season!”

The Dublin School Nordic Center opened in January 2014. The 7 km trail system, provides the school with a state of the art training and racing facility to complement its long-existing 20 km trail system. The trails are designed to be challenging and fun, with lots of twists and turns to keep young people entertained while developing important skills and balance for the sport. Dublin School is in the process of having the International Ski Federation (FIS) homologate their race course to allow for the hosting of elite racing events.

The Nordic Center is free and open to the public when not being used for school and regional events, and when conditions are safe for skiing.

*During regular season, trails will be groomed and ready to ski on by 10:00am each day.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DUBLIN SCHOOL NORDIC CENTER TRAILS

Mission

The Dublin XC was founded to create and foster a culture of endurance sports for individuals and families of all ages in the beautiful Monadnock Region.

Vision

The Dublin XC hopes to create a club adapting the model of the Cambridge Sports Union (CSU) to the unique cultural experience of the Monadnock Region. The club will start with cross-åcountry skiing (this branch will be called Dublin XC) and potential expand to other sports like rowing, running and bike riding. The DSC will work in close partnership with Dublin School and take advantage of the school’s Nordic Center, snowmaking, and fitness amenities. The DSC will also develop a mutually beneficial partnership with the CSU. Dublin XC will take over the Dublin BKL team, create a year round junior training program for high school athletes, and take over the growing masters program and Tuesday night race series. Dublin XC will provide regular team workouts, high level coaches training, wax instruction, annual camps, coaches clinics for all three groups of skiers, access to CSU events, waxing support at races, and team uniforms. We hope to build a Nordic community through Dublin XC that will strengthen all aspects of the skiing program, work to support the functions of the Dublin School Nordic Center, and provide a model for the future creation of new branches of the DSC.

Meet The Board Members

Brad Bates

Brad Bates

Founder

Brad has been coaching endurance sports since graduating from Dartmouth College, where he competed on both the varsity rowing and cross-country ski teams. A three time All American as a junior racer, Brad now enjoys coaching both novices and elite skiers on the trails at Dublin where his father used to race. Brad is head master and nordic ski coach at Dublin School. Brad is the vision behind the Dublin XC programs.
Sean Macy

Sean Macy

Head Wax Crew for Juniors

Bio To Come..

John Bently

Treasure

Bio To Come..

Lindsey Masterson

Lindsey Masterson

Marketing | BKL Coach

Lindsey was a high school state champion and skied in the Junior Olympics, and the Norwegian Birkebeiner. After high school she skied Divison 1 for the University of New Hampshire and remains a member of UNH’s ski board.
Lindsey assists with all Dublin XC programs. Lindsey is owner of Cheetah Design Studio in Peterborough, NH so her photography and web developing skills are put to use with Dublin XC.

Michael Ames

Michael Ames

Masters Program Leader

When Michael saw his son’s enthusiasm for the SHS Nordic Team in 2014, he decided to dive in too and hasn’t stopped! He started roller skiing the next summer spring and loves learning about all aspects of nordic technique and training. Michael lives in Lyndeborough in an old farmhouse with his family and is a partner at Puritan Capital, a fine art printing company in Hollis, NH.

SPONSORS

Thank You! We thank Michael Lehmann and Nancy Haynes, children of the founders of Dublin School - Paul and Nancy Lehmann, who donated the land and resources to develop the Nordic Center.

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