UTM Coordinates:
  x:410754.882812
  y:5044195.556640
Geographic Coordinates:
  lat: 45.545577
  lon: -94.143235
County: Sherburne
 
Welcome to the Central Minnesota Youth Ski League (MYSL) based in Saint Cloud!

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Announcements:

 

Upcoming Cross Country Ski Event:

MYSL SuperCarnival, Junior Loppet (MNYSS) and Minne-Loppet

When: Saturday, February 4, 2012 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. & Sunday, February 5, 2012 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

SuperCarnival is both Saturday and Sunday! As part of the City of Lakes Loppet weekend in Minneapolis. 
Ski games, obstacles, hot cocoa, fun, prizes, free!

Also on Saturday:
Junior Loppet 2:30 p.m. Expanded age groups! See web site for fees and distances. MNYSS points for this race only.

Minne-Loppet 3:30 p.m. (free if you preregister)

More information and registration available at http://www.cityoflakesloppet.com/

 

Weather forecast for Sunday, February 5, 2012: 

37^oF with 10 mph winds resulting in a windchill of approximately 30^oF.

Upcoming Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club Lesson & Update on Assistant Coaches:

At our next schuduled Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club lesson to held on Sunday, February 5, 2012, we'll meet in the Riverside Park warming shelter at 1:45 p.m. to hand out bibs and head outside at 2 p.m. At this time, we have received commitments from eight high school student assistant coaches, which is great! We thank them for helping our youth skiers learn how to cross country ski and have fun at the same time!

We could use at least two more assistant coaches, so interested volunteers should contact the Central MYSL Coordinator, Nicholas Snavely, directly at 763-232-4921 or stcloud@mysl.org. Those that want to volunteer are welcome to arrange a time with the Central MYSL Coordinator to go over the material they will need to know and answer any questions they may have. Easy to follow lesson plans will be provided to teach ski techniques.

Current 2012 Central Minnesota Youth Ski League participants signed up so far separated by cross country ski levels:

29 Youth Skiers
Level 1, ages 4-7: 5
Level 2, ages 6-8: 5
Level 3, ages 7-10: 6
Level 4, ages 8-12: 10
Level 5, ages 9-13: 0 
Level 6, ages 11-14: 3

Level    Group Name   Age Range    Criteria
1    First Steppers    4 - 7           Just starting to ski (classic)
2    Climbers    6 - 8          Entry level, can dress and put on skis (classic)
3    Gliders    7 - 10    Walks on skis, ready to learn the rhythm (classic)
4    Striders    8 - 12    Comfortable on skis, up and down hills, has mastered basics (classic)
5    Skaters    9 - 13    Learning to skate (skate)
6    Nordics                  11 - 14    Advanced skills, longer skiing, and short races (skate)

Junior Coach    Hero           12 - 18    Best scooter tag players - help teach younger skiers skills

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Schedule & Location:

During the winter of 2012, Central Minnesota Youth Ski League members will meet on Sundays, from January 8th, 2012 to March 4th, 2012, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 pm., except on Sunday, January 22, 2012 (Sons of Norway Barnaloppet) where we attended this event instead.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Sunday, March 4, 2012

 

We meet at the Riverside Park Warming shelter, 1725 Kilian Blvd. SE, Saint Cloud, MN 56304. It is located on the SE side of St. Cloud, across the river from St. Cloud State University.

You may register online (highly preferred) now at http://mysl.org/registration-guide. 
There is a fee cap of three club memberships per family, so there is no charge for additional memberships beyond three children.

Typical ski league session:

We're here to cross county (nordic) ski and have fun! We ski and play games on the snow. This is a very friendly, family oriented program focused on children ages 4 to 13 years old that is built around kids having fun while learning skills and techniques needed to become better cross country skiers. We divide into six groups based on age, comfort level, and skill level. Younger groups ski near the trail head and take advantage of small, snow-covered inclines to get used to being on skis. Older kids venture off about the park with a coach. Coaches have curriculum loaded with ideas and strategies for teaching young skiers. Half-way through the session, we meet back at the shelter for a snack, warm-up and restroom break. Then back on the ski trails until 4:00 p.m.

You must provide your own cross country ski equipment. If you are having a hard time finding ski equipment, please contact Nicholas Snavely, Central Minnesota Youth Ski Coordinator, at stcloud@mysl.org to see what additional options may be available.

The first day is a bit chaotic, but there are volunteers to help with registration instruction and getting you started. If you have a 4- to 6-year-old child, one parent will be required to assist that child during their class. Older skiers also require a parent/guardian present while attending. Just to be clear, don’t plan on dropping your child off and picking them up after each session, since parents/guardians are expected to participate in some fashion, such as helping in the shelter or assisting with coaching. No experience is necessary, as there are activity plan booklets for each level available for review before each session. Once again, I stress that this is a very friendly, family oriented program that is built around the kids having fun while also learning skills and techniques needed to become better cross country skiers.

Make sure your skiers are dressed appropriately for the weather conditions! Dress in layers. A dry and warm skier is a happy skier! We will not meet unless conditions permit a safe and enjoyable activity. If the coordinator feels that the ski conditions are not safe, the meeting will be canceled for that week. If the temperature is below -10 F, (or below zero with any significant wind), the event will be canceled. Cancellations will be posted on this website. Parents are encouraged to use their own discretion in all circumstances.

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.....

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Minnesota Governor Dayton proclaimed January 2012 to be Learn a Snow Sport Month in Minnesota. So, come out and learn to cross country ski with the Central Minnesota Youth Ski League!

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K Counter:

Kids can log their kilometers online! Click the clubs link from the menu and find your club location. Then look for the K Counter tab and follow the instructions. Kids earn pins for kilometers skied.

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Upcoming Cross Country Ski Events:

MYSL SuperCarnival, Junior Loppet (MNYSS) and Minne-Loppet

When: Saturday, February 4, 2012 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. & Sunday, February 5, 2012 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

SuperCarnival is both Saturday and Sunday! As part of the City of Lakes Loppet weekend in Minneapolis. 
Ski games, obstacles, hot cocoa, fun, prizes, free!

Also on Saturday:
Junior Loppet 2:30 p.m. Expanded age groups! See web site for fees and distances. MNYSS points for this race only.

Minne-Loppet 3:30 p.m. (free if you preregister)

More information and registration available at http://www.cityoflakesloppet.com/

 

The Friendship Tour

When: Friday, February 10, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.

No registration required, free to all. Participating in the Friendship Tour on Friday evening offers families and touring skiers an opportunity to experience the Vasaloppet in Mora, MN without racing in one of the five Sunday events. The 2K Friendship Tour (about one mile) begins at 7 p.m. at the Vasaloppet Nordic Center and ends at the gazebo in the city's Library Park. After a music-filled start at the Nordic Center, skiers will be guided by lanternlight to Mora Lake. At the shore of Lake Mora candlelight will illuminate the trail across the lake and up the hill past the Belltower and to the finish. Snacks, hot chocolate, warm blueberry sport drink will be served at the finish. More information at http://www.vasaloppet.org/races.php

 

Mora Miniloppet

When: Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon)

The Mora Miniloppet, held on Saturday afternoon, offers children 13 years old and younger a chance to participate in the excitement of skiing a 1.5K, 4K or 7K course and cross the finish line in downtown Mora. They will hear the ringing of the bells in the bell tower signaling the finish is near. All skiers receive completion medals.

Register now at http://www.vasaloppet.org/uploads/2012MiniloppetForm.pdf with additional information at http://www.vasaloppet.org/races.php

 

The Plaza Park Bank Family Snow Games

When: February 11^th, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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Past Cross Country Ski Events:

 

5th Annual Sons of Norway Barnelopet
(Free Children's Nordic Fun Ski Event for Ages 3 to 13)

When: Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. 

On site registration began at 11:30 AM, but pre-registration was highly preferred.

Once again the Sons of Norway lodges from St. Cloud, Trollheim 511, Anoka, Vennekretsen 559, and Moundsview, Fjell Syn 667 were the three lodges sponsoring this event. Cross country (nordic) ski equipment were provided by the MN Youth Ski League for the event for those that need them until all ski equipment was lent out. All participants received a Olympic style keepsake medal for this free event. We has approximately 130 kids participate! This event was once again be held at Riverside Park on the date above. Riverside Park warming shelter is located at 1725 Kilian Blvd. SE, Saint Cloud, MN 56304 on the SE side of St. Cloud, across the river from Saint Cloud State University.

Free cross country skis equipment provided by the Minnesota Youth Ski League for children to use at the event, if needed. Limited supplies were available on a first come, first serve basis.

Hot chocolate, cookies, lefsa, krumkake, valffler (waffles) and rosettes were provided!

Kids visited with the real Vikings!

Free adult Nordic ski lessons were available at 11:30 a.m.

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Volunteer opportunities:

We need you! The Central Minnesota Yough Ski League is an all-volunteer organization. We depend on parents and other volunteers to coach, encourage and help organize our children, and we expect at least one adult volunteer from each family registered. With your participation, we can create a great winter experience for our kids. Volunteer activities include:

• Coaching: – Coaching is one of the most important and enjoyable ways you can volunteer. While the Club is fortunate to have some of its coaches returning this year, we need more adult coaches to keep our coach-to-skier ratio high.  Anyone can coach – you don’t need to be an expert skier to volunteer.  MYSL has an excellent week-by-week curriculum, which includes many games on skis. Please contact the Coordinator if you can make this valuable contribution.
   
• Junior Coaching: - In addition, junior coaches have made a real contribution to the Club. If you are a high school skier and would be willing to serve as a junior coach, we really need you!
  Junior Coaches should register online at http://mysl.org/registration-guide once they have confirmed with Nicholas Snavely, Central Minnesota Youth Ski League Coordinator, that they will be an assistant coach. There is no charge to register as a Junior Coach and a parent needs to sign the online waiver. 
  
  A Minnesota Youth Ski League One Day Coaches Training was held on Saturday, December 10, 2011 from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis. The Central Minnesota Youth Ski League Coordinator attended and is willing to share this information with interested Coaches and Assistant Coaches. The training was for new and experienced leaders and coaches. Personal technique coaching and game examples, as well as classroom discussion were provided. 
   
• Coordinating – The Club also needs volunteers to coordinate snacks and drinks for after skiing, to serve as attendants in the shelter, Handing out bibs, sorting skiers into ski groups, and to plan the end of season potluck and other logistics.  Please contact the Coordinator.
   
• Encouraging – The Club encourages parents to ski with their kids – they love to see you doing the same thing and being able to show you what they can do!  We encourage you to ski with your child's level and to help with games and excercises.  You may learn how to coach!
   
• Leading a Special Ski Day - Help prepare a fun activity for the kids to enjoy during the class, such as a treasure hunt, face painting, a destination ski to find a special treat, ski acrobatics, or anything you can think of.  A fun activity is a great way to teach skiing without the kids knowing they are being taught.
   
• Photographer - We'd like to capture pictures of our skiers for sharing at our end-of-year potluck.  Are you tech-savvy and able to organize a slide show?
   
• Assisting with fundraising efforts to cover the warming shelter rental, as well as raising funds for additonal needs such as obtaining grants and donations for cross country skis, boots and poles for youth needing cross country ski equipment. 

Questions? Comments? Want to volunteer or coach? Please contact Central Minnesota Youth Ski League Coordinator Nicholas Snavely at (763) 232-4921 or stcloud@mysl.org

 

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Donations needed:

The Central Minnesota Youth Ski League is currently raising funds to place ski bindings on 150 cross country skis already purchased by the Minnesota Youth Ski League. Every $25 donated will purchase and install one pair of ski bindings on these cross country skis. Tax deductible donations of any amount can be sent to the Central Minnesota Community Foundation at 101 7th Ave. South, St. Cloud, MN 56301 or Minnesota Youth Ski League, P.O. Box 14132, St. Paul, MN 55114-0132. Please indicate “Central MYSL Nordic Ski Binding Donation” on the memo line of your check or under the “Order Comments” field if donating online at http://mysl.org/node/215. For every five pair of ski bindings donated to be installed on these cross country skis, the Central Minnesota Youth Ski League will keep one set of skis, boots, and poles locally to loan to youth that don’t have their own Nordic ski equipment. Grant proposals are being submitted to help cover the cost of the ski bindings, but it is anticipated that additional funds will be needed and any help is appreciated. Also, the Central Minnesota Youth Ski League gladly accepts donations of cross country ski equipment of any size, but it must be in a useable condition. Please contact Central Minnesota Youth Ski League Coordinator Nicholas Snavely at (763) 232-4921 or stcloud@mysl.org if you would like make a donation.

 

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Cold Stress Information

.  Be aware of the signs of frostbite and hypothermia and what to do.  Review the information regarding frostbite and hypothermia at: 
  http://www.winterweather.state.mn.us/documents/Frostbite%20and%20Hypothermia%20Awareness.pdf
  Get out of the cold immediately if the signals of hypothermia or frostbite appear. 

.  Be aware of the wind chill. Review or print out the wind chill chart available at:  
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/conversion/windchill.html
.  Avoid unnecessary exposure of any part of the body to the cold. Always wear a hat and gloves and appropriate shoes or boots with several layers of clothing. Scarves or other face coverings help as well. 

.  Drink plenty of warm fluids or warm water but avoid caffeine. 

.  Stay active to maintain body heat. 

.  Take frequent breaks from the cold. Try to have a nearby shelter or warm vehicle to take breaks in when possible. 


Additional winter hazard information is available at http://www.winterweather.state.mn.us/

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Weather Conditions:

Riverside Park: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Saint+Cloud&state=MN&site=MPX&lat=45.545577&lon=-94.143235

Weather forecast for Sunday, February 5, 2012:
37^oF with 10 mph winds resulting in a windchill of approximately 30^oF.

 

Saint Cloud Weather
http://www.stcloudstate.edu/weather/

Cross Country Skiing Weather 
http://www.skinnyski.com/trails/weather.html

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Concussion Training for Coaches and Leaders

Minnesota recently passed a "Concussion Law" which requires all public and private athletic associations to implement concussion training and education to improve athlete safety and establish safe return-to-play policies for athletes who sustain a concussion.

The law mandates that ALL coaches, sports directors and officials receive concussion training and education immediately, and then at three-year intervals thereafter. Per the law, coaches must remove an athlete from activity if they exhibit signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion and/or are suspected of sustaining a concussion. The law also requires a doctor's signature to return to play if an athlete is removed due to a concussion or is showing signs or symptoms of a concussion.

The concussion education for coaches, directors and officials is an online video training session developed by the CDC. Follow the link below to the coach training module. Parents and athletes do not have to complete the training. 
http://mysl.org/sites/mysl.org/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17&qid=24202

If you are an MYSL coach or leader, you are required to complete the CDC's training module by the start of your first session or January 1, 2012. The training process involves watching a few short videos and then completing a brief, interactive quiz at the end of each segment. The entire training module will take about 45 minutes to complete. After completing the test, participants are offered the opportunity to print out a Certificate of Completion. Users should use a screen capture to save the certificate on their desktop or print and scan the certificate to create a digital file. Certificates of Completion must be emailed to ConcussionCert@mysl.org.

Parents, athletes, coaches and officials should print more information about the nature and risks of concussions from the CDC at www.cdc.gov/concussion/HeadsUp/Youth.html and click on the appropriate link for fact sheets for parents, athletes and coaches.

COACHES and LEADERS:
  1. Follow the link above and complete the online training.
  2. Screen capture or print and scan your Certificate of Completion
  3. Email your Certificate of Completion to ConcussionCert@mysl.org
  4. Repeat the online testing every 3 years. 
  

Attachment	Size
Nordic Ski Club of Central MN Winter 2011-2012 Newsletter	2.04 MB
Family Snow Games 2012 Poster for February 11, 2012	97.89 KB
2012 Miniloppet Registration Form for February 11, 2012	111.9 KB