Special Edition tonight. Kids are matched with elite juniors and adults.
The Minnesota...
Our celebration of winter. The Festival events are all day Saturday (including the Fishscale...
The 2019 season will be a great year for the kids at French Regional Park. This is a volunteer led program. Every family is urged to help in some way. Please see below for volunteer information.
French SkiSparks will meet for 8 Sundays beginning with our first meeting Sunday, January 6, 2019 from 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM at French Regional Park in Plymouth. Our last week of club meeting will be Sunday, February 25. We will have an end of season festival at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 3.
We will meet at the visitor center at French Regional Park: 12605 Rockford Rd., Plymouth
If there is not skiable conditions at French Regional Park we will be meeting at Elm Creek Regional Park from 1:30-3:00.
We will not ski if the air temperature is below -2˚ F or the wind chill is below -10˚ F, or at the leader’s discretion. Always check the website or email french@mysl.org with questions. Cancellations will be posted on this Web page.
Children should be dressed in layers. A moisture wicking under layer, an insulating layer, and a wind proof layer are typically appropriate. Please use your discretion noting your child’s activity level and the outside temperature/wind chill. Often a winter jacket and snow pants or a snowsuit are too warm once the child gets skiing unless they are young and in the beginner group.
French has rentals available at the chalet/visitor center. Children skiing in level 5 or above should have their own skate skis, boots, and poles. In addition, for children skiing at level 4, waxable classic skis are highly recommended. The cost for children's rentals is $8 each week for Youth Classic skis.
A great option for equipment is the MyXChange (Swap + Expo) on Saturday, November 18th at Basecamp near Fort Snelling. More information can be found here.
Trail passes are not required for children 11 years old and younger. Ages 12 and up (skiing parents/coaches as well) need to purchase passes. Passes are available daily for $6 or buy an annual pass for $55. The annual passes are good at all Three River parks except Elm Creek and Hyland. Elm Creek and Hyland require a snowmaking ski pass. More information about passes can be found on the Three Rivers Park website.
Please register early to insure a spot at French. Register on the main page for MYSL by selecting "Club Membership."
For children who are new to MYSL, assign the child to the lowest skill level that spans their age as of January 1. If a child has skied at least 10 times, consider advancing them one skill level. It is common for kids to repeat skill levels, so returning families need to choose a skill based on last season’s performance, but still staying within the age ranges. Coaches will assess children at the first meeting, but it is important for parents to accurately assign levels by age during the registration process.
Classic ski lessons: Level I: Ages 4-7 (parents ski along with the child), Level 2: 6-8 (parents check in occasionally), Level 3: 7-10, Level 4: 8-12
Skate ski lessons: Level 5: 9-13, Level 6: 11-14
More about skill levels here: http://mysl.org/skill-levels. Questions about levels? Contact us at french@mysl.org.
We will be communicating with French SkiSparks families via email. We need valid emails for all. When you register please include a contact e-mail address. You would be contacted for the following reasons:
MYSL is on Facebook! You can “like” the MYSL page to get general announcements, photos and videos from each of the MYSL club.
Need to contact us? Email us at french@mysl.org
This is a volunteer run club. The success and affordability of this program comes directly from your contributions of time, energy, and talent. By registering for this club, you are committing to the club’s success and are agreeing to volunteer.
Level 1 skiers will need to be accompanied by an adult. Coaching at level 1 is a great way to accompany your child. We are also in very great need of coaches for all levels 1-6. Please consider coaching as it is our number one need! You do not necessarily need to coach at your child’s level.
We really need your help! This is our biggest need and is one of the most rewarding ways in which you can help the club. Kids get more out of the program when the coach-to-kid ratio is low, and coaches need not be experienced skiers to volunteer. 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. Contact us at french@mysl.org to sign up.
High-school aged skiers, we need you! We rely heavily on high school volunteers, who are fun, friendly and in far better shape than most of us. Coaching for French SkiSparks qualifies as a service commitment for NHS. Think about how great this will look on a college application! Contact us at french@mysl.org to sign up.
As an assistant coach, you can support a coach by accompanying the group on the trails and helping skiers. If you feel like your skiing level is at the same level as the level your kids are signed up for, you would be a fantastic assistant coach! You are not in charge of the instruction, rather you are there to make sure the kids are safe, have an adult to bring them to the bathroom, and can assist with activities.
If you are a sub coach, you can fill in when a coach isn’t able to make it to ski club.
Contact us at french@mysl.org to sign up.
Set up sign-up for parents to bring weekly snacks and send reminders. Be available on ski days to help organize and clean up snacks. Contact us at french@mysl.org to sign up.
Please email Paul Larson, french@mysl.org
