NEWS BRIEFS

Ryan McLaren Named Roberds Athlete of the Year

High Fives Foundation, a non-profit national leader in outdoor safety education and adaptive sports support, has named Essex Junction resident Ryan McLaren its 2025 M. Scott Roberds Athlete of the Year. The award is one of the foundation’s highest honors. It’s bestowed upon an adaptive athlete who embodies the spirit of adventure, resilience, and community leadership defined by the legacy of the late Scott Roberds.

The award was presented during the foundation’s annual gala in Reno, NV, an evening dedicated to honoring the athletes, partners, volunteers, and supporters who drive the mission of preventing life-changing injuries and providing resources and hope when they occur. The event raised more than $545,000 to support athletes across the country. Earlier this year, High Fives Foundation released a short film spotlighting Ryan’s recovery from a life-changing spinal cord injury sustained while skiing at Mad River Glen. Ryan was skiing the mountain for the first time on St. Patrick’s Day in 2017 when he landed on a rock. The fall left him paralyzed from the waist down.

Ryan was selected for the award for his unwavering commitment to reintegrating into outdoor sports and his role as a leader within the adaptive athlete community. He’s a lifelong Vermonter who has been active in volunteer and public service before and after his injury. In addition to time spent in state government, Ryan has served as a longtime aide to US Sen. Peter Welch, a high school lacrosse coach, and an elected Justice of the Peace in Essex Junction, where he resides with his spouse and two young children.

Ryan is also a dedicated para-athlete, having completed the Boston Marathon five times as a hand cyclist and will participate in the 2026 race. High Fives Nonprofit Foundation focuses on preventing life-changing injuries and provides resources and hope if they happen: highfivesfoundation.org.

NENSA Celebrates 30 Years

After a dryspell at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer for US Nordic athletes, the New England Nordic Ski Association was formed in 1995 to produce world champion athletes in Vermont and New England. The organization was founded to provide regional structure around Junior National qualification, NENSA’s mission to support New England athletes with programming, races and resources to skiers of all ages and abilities. The vision of a sports organization where New England skiers work for New England skiers to collaboratively pull together all aspects of skiing in the region continues today: nensa.net.

International Biathlon Returns to Lake Placid

The International Biathlon Union Cup is set for Feb. 27-March 7 at the new and improved ORDA facilities at Mt Van Hoevenberg. The IBU Cup competition is just one small step below the World Cup, and it features international biathletes who are vying to make it onto their country’s World Cup team. Biathlon involves Nordic skiing and shooting in what many claim is, winter’s most exciting sport. In the Mass Start 60, the top 60 athletes compete in a direct-head-to-head, high-intensity race. A schedule of races is listed in the Calendar of Events. More info: mtvanhoevenberg.com/ibu-cup. Details: biathlonresults.com. 

–Maddie Phaneuf, former US Biathlon National Team member, 2018 Winter Olympian, and NYSEF biathlon director. 

Trip Planning Webinar for New York’s Canals

Thinking about exploring the Erie Canal Corridor by boat, bike, or paddle? Whether you’re dreaming of a multi-day adventure or planning a series of scenic day trips, this webinar, on Thursday, Feb. 26 from 12-1pm will give you the tools and inspiration to make it happen.

Join experts from across the Erie Canal network for a practical discussion on how to plan a successful trip along one of America’s most historic and diverse waterways. From navigating locks and finding amenities to visiting Trail Towns and engaging with local history, this session will cover what you need to know before you go.

The webinar will feature representatives from Parks & Trails New York, the NYS Canal Corporation, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, and Erie Canal Museum. There will also be time for questions at the end. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a returning canal enthusiast, this webinar will help you plan your Erie Canal adventure with confidence: tinyurl.com/boat-bike-ny-canals-webinar.