Welcome to the 2011/2012 MYSL season at Hyland Park in Bloomington!

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The Hyland Park Youth Ski Club is run by enthusiastic volunteers (like you), dedicated to sharing the joy of cross country skiing with kids aged 4 to 14.

Weather: We will meet on snow again this year! If the trails are unskiable at Hyland Park we will meet on the man made snow at either Elm Creek Park Reserve or Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis. If the temperature falls below -10˚F or the wind-chill falls below -15˚F, class may be cancelled. A notice will be sent via e-mail as early in the week as possible if the normal meeting time and place will need to be changed.

Schedule and Meeting Place:
Our meeting dates for the 2011/2012 season are:
December 18
January 1, 8, 22, 29 - no meeting on January 15 due to the Martin Luther King Holiday weekend
February 4, 12, 19 - February 4 will not be at Hyland but will be the Minne-Loppet, Junior Loppet and MYSL Carnival being held as part of the Minneapolis Loppet

Our regular meeting place and time is from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. at Jan's Place, Edgewood Area of Hyland Lake Park Preserve (see map links below). Please arrive 20 to 25 minutes early to allow time to get signed in, suited up, and find your group. Jan's Place is located off of the North Parking Lot. Bathroom facilities are outhouses, so consider this in your preparations.

The one exception to our normal Sunday meetings this year is on Saturday, Feb. 4 when we'll be participating in the MYSL Carnival and other events of the City of Lakes Loppet festivities.

Location Map
Park Map

Clothing: Dress your child appropriately for the day's weather. Start with good ski socks. You may want to have two pairs per child if you lose them like my family does. Younger children should wear snow suits if there is snow. Older children should wear layers: polypropylene underwear, insulating fleece layer, and a non-absorbent outer layer to cut the wind and keep out the snow. Warm hats and mittens are mandatory.

Water: Kids in levels 3, 4, 5 and 6 should have and carry a water bottle. Parents should carry bottles for the younger kids. Fill it with GatorAid, PowerAid or KoolAid. These kids go pretty hard and get dehydrated quickly. They will drink sweet tasting liquid more easily in the cold. The snow may look clean but.....

Equipment: All skiers need to provide their own equipment. The equipment must be in good working order and fit your child. Consider buying a ski bag for your kid's skis and poles. A snowboard bag works great and can hold up to 4 pairs of skis and poles. Label everything you own with your name and cell phone number. You may get a call before you even get home!

Rental equipment is available through Hyland Park at the main chalet when the trails are open. Please bring your gear even if there is no snow, as we will use the poles for pole hiking and new skiers can practice getting skis on/off and getting up.

Volunteers: The MYSL is run by volunteers. This is the main reason for the success and affordability of the program. We expect that at least one adult per family volunteer for one of the many opportunities to help. We need people to bring snacks and drinks, help with registration and bibs, help man the fort while we are out skiing, clean up, provide record keeping and photography. Most importantly, we depend on volunteers like you to coach our young skiers.

Coaching: Coaching is one of the more enjoyable volunteer opportunities. The MYSL program makes it easy for a coach to know what to do. An eight week curriculum has been prepared for every class level and each day's lesson is printed on a card that can be carried in your pocket. The pocket guide also provides many helpful tips and games to keep classes enjoyable and interesting. You do not have to be an elite level skier to be a coach. All you need is a desire to help kids and have fun. If there is enough interest, we can have our own Hyland group coaches’ clinic to go through the basics.

Other Fees: A Three Rivers Park District Cross-Country Ski Pass is required for skiers ages 12 and older. Minnesota Ski Passes are no longer required in Three Rivers Park District Parks. Passes are available in the main chalet.

Think Snow!

James Lueth jk.lueth@usfamily.net 952-832-9928

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