A three-day familiy trip to the Sparta-Elroy Bike Trail! Free. Supported by our partners at...
We will be back at Base Camp! Plan to spend the morning with us. Expo, speakers, break out...
Our celebration of winter. The Festival events are all day Saturday (including the Fishscale...
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Rumor has it that there may be an informal marshmallow roast around the campfire, so you may wish to look for that to see if it is happening.Our final session of the year is tomorrow, Sunday February 24, at Lebanon Hills. As usual, arrive at 12:30 so your skier is ready to head out on the trails when the groups depart at 12:45.
For those of you who rented skis for the season, please keep the equipment and use it frequently over the coming weeks! The more your skier spends time on skis, the more comfortable your skier will become, and the better skier they will become. We’ll be in touch with days/times for an equipment return.
One fun event you may want to consider next weekend is the MyXC Festival and Championship at Wirth Park in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 2 and Sunday, March 3. Skiers from the different MYSL clubs around the state will be there. Although our Lebanon Hills group will not have a formal presence at the event, the festival atmosphere should make it a fun time if you wish to attend and have your skier participate in the fishscale frenzy! Note that the registration deadline is Tuesday.
Here is what the Minnesota Youth Ski League has to say about it:
The Festival on Saturday, March 2 from 10:30-1:00 is perfect for all SkiSparks skiers. At the festival your skier can try out many activities such as biathlon, giant skis, skijoring (with a real dog!) and top it off with the FishScale frenzy, a non-competitive race for all skiers on fishscale skis at 11:15. Registration for the festival is $20 when you pre-register online or $30 in person on the day of the festival. On-line registration closes on Tuesday, February 26. Click here to register.
Competitive races for kids on waxable classic and skate skis are throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday and require a separate registration. You must register for the competitive races ahead of time, there is no day-of registration. Registration closes on Tuesday, February 26 for all competitive races. Click here to register.
It looks like it will be a great day for skiing at Lebanon Hills on Sunday, February 17th. Show up by 12:30 (or earlier....parking will be tight) so your skier is ready to ski by 12:45.
Ready to volunteer forthe club? Click here to sign-up.
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We are ready to ski tomorrow at Lebanon Hills except for one problem. As of noon Saturday we do not have enough volunteers to successfully run the session.
The link to our volunteer sign-up is at the top of this MYSL webpage. If you have already volunteered in some way….thank you….you have done your part! If not, please remember that the club description in place when you registered your skier(s) included the following statement: “By registering your child for this club, you are committing to the club's success and are agreeing to volunteer”
The full volunteer statement regarding expectations is at the end of this email.
With that said, we’ll assume that additional volunteers will step-up and we can arrive at 12:30, get your skier’s bib on, and have skiers ready to ski when our skiers and coaches depart at 12:45. Some additional notes to be aware of for this week:
Thanks and we hope to see you tomorrow!
P.S. Parking will be scarce. Arrive early and carpool if you can!
*Volunteering
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 your child 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 a parent. Coaching at level 1 is a great way to accompany your child. Please consider coaching as it is our number one need! You do not necessarily need to coach at your child's level....in fact it is often better if you don't. If you are able to help coach "on snow", we will provide instructional information for each session and discuss training opportunities to learn more about proven coaching techniques and drills.
If you aren't comfortable coaching on skis, there are many other ways in which you can volunteer.
February 10th update
We will be back at Lebanon Hills again this week. If you haven't been there before, check the previous posts to see where to meet. Arrive at 12:30, ready to start skiing at 12:45. Parking will be tight, so carpool if you can.
Also, if you haven't volunteered yet, it is time to do so. Click here to sign-up.
Although trail conditions have deteriorated significantly, we can still ski on the lake. Not the best solution, but it is too late to switch to an alternate location. Hope to see you at Lebanon Hills at 12:30, ready to ski at 12:45.
Thanks and we hope to see you there.
February 3rd update
The trails have been groomed at Lebanon Hills and although conidtions are poor in many places, we will meet there on Sunday. Please arrive around 12:30 so your skier can pickup their bib and be ready to ski at 12:45.
More details to follow.
The sun it out and it looks like a great day to ski! Hope to see you there!
Ready to volunteer for the club? Click here to sign-up.
Our 4th ski session of the season is tomorrow, Sunday January 27th at Hyland. As always, arrive by 11:30 so your skier has their bib on and is ready to ski by 11:45. We’re seeing great progress with the skiers who show up consistently!
As you are likely aware, the temperature for tomorrow is going to be extremely cold. However, this doesn’t mean we can’t have a good time skiing. We certainly understand if you or your skier aren’t ready to ski in the cold. If you aren’t sure about whether or not to attend tomorrow, see the guidelines below.
*****SKI ON SUNDAY IF:
*****DON’T SKI ON SUNDAY IF:
It would also be a good idea to check the webpage or email before you leave for skiing in case the weather changes and we need to change our plan.
And as long as you are thinking about skiing, now would be a good time to volunteer for any of our remaining sessions. If you look at our volunteer list for this week, half of our volunteers DO NOT HAVE CHILDREN IN THE PROGRAM, which is not a path to long-term success for the club. If someone from your family hasn’t volunteered as a coach or for other roles yet, please consider doing so for some of our upcoming sessions. We’ve added additional volunteer spots to take photographs or video of our skiers, so that might be something fun for you to do while helping the club. A link to the sign-up sheet is at the top of this page. Of course if you want to volunteer but don’t see anything on the sign-up list that fits your skills or desires, let me know and we can certainly find a way for you to contribute.
K COUNTER
One more thing…skiers participating in the Minnesota Youth Ski League can track their kilometers throughout the season to earn kilometer award pins. This is an incentive to get out and ski! Skiers can log all of their skiing kilometers (not just MYSL sessions). The K Counter is closed after the first full weekend in March. Instructions for using the K counter are as follows:
If you aren’t sure how far your skier skied in the first three sessions, we can ask your skier’s coach so that you can include those distances.
Thanks and we hope to see you tomorrow, and remember to check the web page and email before you leave to ski in the morning to see if there are any changes!
With no measurable snow in the forecast we will be at Hyland again this Sunday. Although temperature is forecasted to be sub-zero at 11:45 when we start skiing, there doesn't appear to be much wind in the forecast so at this point we are planning to ski. Remember that cotton gloves will NOT keep your skier warm :). Check this webpage as we get closer to Sunday for further updates.
If you scroll waaaaaay down on this page and find our weather cancellation policy, you'll see that we embrace the cold and hold our sessions as long as it is warmer than -10 F and wind chill is not below -30F. See you at Hyland!
As you could probably guess, we will be at Hyland again on Sunday. Read previous posts below for tips on how to help make our ski sessions as Hyland enjoyable for all. Most importantly.....our coaches try to have everyone head out on the ski trails at 11:45 so it is best to ARRIVE by 11:30 if not earlier.
Also....it looks to be our coldest session of the year, so we're reposting our guide on dressing for the cold below. Don't let cold temperatures scare you off....skiers dressed appropriately enjoy all types of weather!
CLOTHING GUIDANCE
1. 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. They will warm up quickly, so it is okay if they are a little bit cold to begin with.
2. Children should be dressed in layers. A moisture wicking under layer, an insulating layer, and a windproof layer are typically appropriate. Each layer should be breathable.
3. Make sure to dress your child in a waterproof and windproof outermost layer. Cross-country skiing often requires hard work and skiers may sometimes fall down. Without a waterproof layer, the child could get wet from falling down, which makes for a cold and uncomfortable session.
4. Make sure your skier is wearing a hat, insulated & waterproof gloves, and warm socks. Wool socks are the best choice for cross-country skiing.
5. Avoid long scarfs that could fall off or get in the way. A better option is a nordic buff. Here is an example of what a nordic buff looks like https://www.rei.com/rei-garage/b/buff/c/cross-country-skiing?r=b%3Bc&pagesize=84&queryRule=outlet-only&ir=category%3Across-country-skiing&outlet=true
6. Try avoid cotton because it has little insulation capabilities and once it gets wet, it stays wet and can create a miserable experience.
7. Pay attention to the weather. On colder days, more layers are appropriate. If it is warmer out, do not overdress your child. It is never fun to be too hot or to have to carry around layers.
As posted previously, we will be meeting at Hyland for our Week 2 session. Please read previous posts to be aware of key items when meeting at Hyland. Some important items to be aware of this week:
Thanks and we’ll see you there!
As you might have guessed, we will be back at Hyland this Sunday. Please have your skier ready to ski at 11:45. As you likely saw last week, parking can be scarce so plan accordingly. More details to come, but remember that we meet at Jan’s Place, not the main visitor center.
As you prepare for our first session, we wanted to provide the following helpful hints for week 1:
Please be aware that we will not necessarily send reminder emails to you for upcoming sessions, so it is always wise to check the club webpage for any announcements. In addition, we have a facebook, twitter, and instagram accounts managed by our Minnesota Youth Ski League partners that will enable you to stay abreast of club announcements and information.
Thanks, and we are looking forward to a fun, snow-filled season. If you have any questions, just let us know via email at lebanonhills@mysl.org and we will do our best to answer promptly
We look forward to seeing you on Sunday!
First 2019 Session moved to Hyland
Due to un-skiable conditions at Lebanon Hills, our first ski session will move to the Hyland Park Reserve in Bloomington (10145 Bush Lake Rd, Bloomington, MN 55438) where they have snowmaking equipment. We will meet from 11:45 to 1:00. We apologize for having to meet at the earlier time but due to the high demand we have to take the time assigned to us.
There are a couple of things to be aware of at Hyland:
Check the map on this page for details on where to meet at Hyland.
More details on how to prepare for the first session will be provided but we wanted to give you advance notice about the time and location change.
Welcome to the 2019 Lebanon Hills Youth Ski Club!
Our club was formed to help children from age 4-15 in the Rosemount/Eagan/Apple Valley area learn to love the life-long sport of cross-country skiing. The low registration fee and absence of attendence requirements make this a great way to for younger skiers to experience the sport for the first time while also allowing older athletes to stay in shape and cross-train for soccer, swimming, track, cross-country running, lacrosse, and other sports. Because of the grooming policy at our venue, with the Lebanon Hills Ski Club the ski sessions are designed for "classic" style skiing rather than "skate" style skiing. However, we will attempt to schedule some skate ski instruction as well if there is enough interest and skiiers have the proper skate ski equipment.
Lebanon Hills is full for this season. We encourage you to register for a neighboring club. At this point, Battle Creek SkiSparks has a few spots left, but register soon. Please check our Find A Club page for a list of all clubs in the region.
All rental equipment has been spoken for. Daily chalet rentals are available but there is a limited supply. We also encourage you to purchase new or used equipment at the following locations:
Our first meeting date for the 2019 ski season will be Sunday, Jan 6. Our home venue is Lebanon Hills Park in Eagan, at the same location as the Visitor Center at 860 Cliff Road, Eagan, MN 55123. We will meet from 12:45 - 2:00 PM for eight weeks in January and February. If snow coverage is not adequate at Lebanon Hills, our sessions will be held at Hyland Recreation Area in Bloomington from 11:45 - 1:00 PM.
Our last session of the season is scheduled for Sunday, Feb 24, with members encouraged to add the Midwest Junior Ski Festival to your calendar the weekend of of March 2nd & 3rd at Wirth Park in Minneapolis.
Youth skiers under age 18 will not need a trail pass at Lebanon Hills. Adult skiers will need to purchase a either a daily pass for $5 or a season pass for $20. If we need to move to Hyland recreation area due to poor trail conditions at Lebanon Hills, ALL skiers age 12 and older will need a pass which was $9 per session last year.
Registration is handled on-line by clicking on the "Register Today" link on the MYSL home page. Equipment rental fees (see equipment section below) can also be paid online. If your skier already has equipment, be sure they are "classic" style skis. If your skier has "skate" style skis, contact the club leader to determine if we will have access to the proper venue and coaching to support skate skiing.
We will not ski if the air temperature is below -10˚ F, or the wind chill is below -30˚ F, or at the leader's discretion. Cancellations will be posted on this web page in the "Announcements" section above.
1. 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. They will warm up quickly, so it is okay if they are a little bit cold to begin with.
2. Children should be dressed in layers. A moisture wicking under layer, an insulating layer, and a windproof layer are typically appropriate. Each layer should be breathable.
3. Make sure to dress your child in a waterproof and windproof outermost layer. Cross-country skiing often requires hard work and skiers may sometimes fall down. Without a waterproof layer, the child could get wet from falling down, which makes for a cold and uncomfortable session.
4. Make sure your skier is wearing a hat, insulated & waterproof gloves, and warm socks. Wool socks are the best choice for cross-country skiing.
5. Avoid long scarfs that could fall off or get in the way. A better option is a nordic buff. Here is an example of what a nordic buff looks like https://www.rei.com/rei-garage/b/buff/c/cross-country-skiing?r=b%3Bc&pagesize=84&queryRule=outlet-only&ir=category%3Across-country-skiing&outlet=true
6. Try avoid cotton because it has little insulation capabilities and once it gets wet, it stays wet and can create a miserable experience.
7. Pay attention to the weather. On colder days, more layers are appropriate. If it is warmer out, do not overdress your child. It is never fun to be too hot or to have to carry around layers.
Equipment
We have a limited number of rental ski equipment for skiers to use for for the full season for the low price of $35. This equipment can be taken home and used for family outings or other skiing events. REGISTER EARLY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS FANTASTIC RENTAL OPPORTUNITY!! Please remember we have a limited number of ski packages and sizes. If you pay for rental equipment on-line but are not able to be outfitted, you will be reimbursed for the fees. Our rental skis are classic no-wax skis.
As mentioned previously on this page, Lebanon Hills does NOT have skate ski grooming at our location; we only use classic technique. As a result neither Lebanon HIlls nor MYSL rent skate ski equipment for our club.
If we don't have sizes for your skier, or if all club ski equipment is rented, ski equipment can be rented for daily use at Lebanon Hills, with the fee expected to be approximately $6 per session.
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 your child 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 a parent. Coaching at level 1 is a great way to accompany your child. Please consider coaching as it is our number one need! You do not necessarily need to coach at your child's level....in fact it is often better if you don't. If you are able to help coach "on snow", we will provide instructional information for each session and discuss training opportunities to learn more about proven coaching techniques and drills.
If you aren't comfortable coaching on skis, there are many other ways in which you can volunteer, including:
Assistant Coaching: Sometimes we just need someone to provide encouragment, a smile, and support on the snow. This is a great way to be involved and enjoy watching kids learn.
Ski Chaperone: Do you want to get out on your skis but aren't yet confident enough to coach? Volunteer as a ski chaperone to do things like helping to make sure the group stays together, assisting skiers with putting their mittens back on, picking up hats that fall out of pockets, and providing general assistance to the Coach and Assistant Coach.
Bib coordinator - To help identify the skiers as part of the club, they wear "race bibs" during the sessions. We need someone to make color coordinated level cards with skiers name and insert them in bib pockets, recording bib number with child's name, and collecting bibs at session's end.
Race Coordinator - Make other club members aware of available racing events for the kids, and coordinate the group at the race location. (Note: Races are optional opportunities not part of the standard club fees)
Club Leader Contact Information:
Dave Freed
952-891-1054 (office)
612-760-0771 (mobile calls or tex messages)
lebanonhills@mysl.org
