The Torgle Tokle / Bill Koch Youth Ski League

Youth skiing has a strong history in the northeastern US.  The sport itself first gained a foothold in America in this region, led by immigrants from mountainous parts of Europe, and from the Nordic countries.  On the cross-country side, Vermont was the home base of many of the first wave of world-class US racers, such as Martha Rockwell, Tim Caldwell, Bob Gray, and of course Bill Koch, to name a few.

In order to encourage the next generation of participants in the sport, youth groups started forming.  These clubs focused on all aspects of the sport, not just racing, with the goal of producing lifelong skiers.  In the 1960s they came together under the banner of the Torger Tokle Ski League, which invited all kids 13 and younger to join. Torger Tokle was an immigrant from Norway and a champion ski jumper.  His life was cut short in 1945 while fighting with the 10th Mountain Division in Italy.

The Torger Tokle Ski League grouped the clubs into "districts", which facilitated regional events.  On the competition side, at the end of each season all of the districts would send their best jumpers and fastest skiers to a championship event that brought together participants from throughout the Northeast.

Following Bill Koch's silver medal in the 30km at the 1976 Innsbruck Olympics, the league was re-branded as the Bill Koch Youth Ski League and became the official youth program of the US Ski Association (now US Ski & Snowboard).  Bill Koch League programs sprang up all around the country.

Presently, the only youth programs remaining under the Bill Koch League brand are in the Northeast, overseen by the New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA) in New England and by the New York State Ski Racing Association (NYSSRA) in New York.