Madnorski coaching team led by Zach LaFond Hudson supported our athletes at Central Cross Country Junior Cup races this winter traveling the Midwest region as far as Duluth MN, Cable WI and closer to home in Brillion WI to the Ariens Nordic Center. Skiers racing these Junior qualifying races are eligible to earn points to either compete at Junior Nationals or NENSA Championships. We are thrilled that THREE athletes qualified for the New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA) Championships that are taking place at Gore Mountain in New York (March 6-8).
Congratulations to our three Junior skiers: Ellie Collins, Marlo Hunter and Sophia Locher! Let’s hear from our skiers….
Ellie Collins, Madnorski team captain, U20 female
2026 Season highlight: My favorite race this season was State Distance. It was so much fun to get out there and ski one last time with my MadNorSki teammates. The State distance meet is always one of my favorites and it will be one of the things I miss most about ski racing!
Looking forward to NENSA: I am looking forward to meeting new friends and athletes from around the Midwest and New England. I also am excited to ski and race outside of the Midwest for the first time! This trip is going to be an awesome end to my high school skiing career 🙂
Marlo Hunter, U18 male
Marlo is excited to be traveling again this year on a Central Cross Country trip with Great Lake athletes! The experience is so rewarding and a great learning opportunity to compete against the some of the most competitive skiers in the nation!
Sophia Locher, Madnorski team captain, U20 female
2026 Season highlight: My favorite race this season was State Sprints relays. I got to ski with my teammate Katherine for the 3rd time in a row and we were able to finish 5th–our best ever finish in the relays! I am so proud of our race and will go down as a highlight of my ski career.
Looking forward to NENSA: I am most excited to ski in a new place with new competition. I can’t wait to explore and race at Gore Mountain. I am also especially excited to spend so much time with my teammates (and coach!) from MadNorSki as well as meet new athletes from the Midwest!
Gratitude to their Coaches
All these skiers greatly appreciated the support and amazing dedication from their Madnorski Coaches over the past years. A special shout out to Head Coach Zach LaFond Hudson who for the past three years worked with these athletes and gave them support at the qualifying races both with waxing and racing. Huge thank you also goes to the stellar team of assistant and volunteer coaches Sophie LaFond Hudson, Dale Fanney, Don Farris, Austin Burley, Brenda Baker, Jonny Hunter and Luke Kubasta as well as former Madnorski Head Coaches Jacob Huseby, Jay Sween, Chris Pappathopolous and Stacey Marion. Together, they all built a love and dedication to the sport of Nordic Skiing.
Austin Burley, Junior Co-Head Coach DEVO Program
Austin Burley (holding the camera) coached for his second year with Madnorski and this year applied and was accepted to be one of the Great Lakes volunteer coaches for the Central Cross Country Skiing NENSA Championship trip. Austin will be supporting the Great Lake and Midwest athletes — thank you for your service to our top regional athletes!! It is so great that he will be there with our three athletes 🙂
Jonny Hunter, Junior Coach, Board Member, and Parent
Jonny has many, many skills that he shares with the club and our Junior athletes. As a board member he contributes to guiding the direction of the club, as a Juniors coach he helps dial in the waxing for races, and of course we know Jonny’s culinary skills and interests! This year Jonny has taken on the added responsibility of coaching and fueling the Junior National Great Lakes Team who will be competing in Cable WI at the Birkie Trails March 9-14.
Go Madorski!
