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St. Anthony Park Youth Ski Club
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Hello SAP MYSL Families--
Saint Anthony Park!
Thank you for being patient and excited to ski!
We filled up really fast for the 20-21 ski year. Our waiting list was so long that MYSL started another club at Les Bolstad from 12-1:30 on Sundays. Allie Rykken (rhymes with Chicken) is the new club leader. Her mom was instrumental in starting MYSL and was the head cross country ski coach at Minnehaha Academy for years. She is great and I'm so excited that there is opportunity for more to ski. They are listed as Noon Saint Anthony Park on the website.
MYSL will start working through the wait lists a week from today. If you are on a wait list, do not despair.
For those of you confirmed for SAP MYSL, we are shifting our start time from 1:30 to 2:00 to accommodate the additional club and allow them to leave before more of us show up.
Also, just to let you know what I'm thinking: If we have a low snow year/no snow year, I am not planning on holding MYSL at Elm Creek. We will always meet at Les Bolstad. If that means obstacle courses or running races instead of cross country skiing, then we'll do that. The important thing is to be together and outside having fun and getting exercise.
Finally, if you signed up for rental equipment, we have a NEW equipment manager!!!!!! Susan Leem, who lives in St. Anthony Park so no more having to drive south of I-94. More info to come.
If you have any questions, please call or e-mail
612-597-3431
This club is full. Please add your name to the waiting list by filling out this form.
Many other clubs still have openings. Please register for an alternative club. We will contact you if space becomes available and can transfer your membership.
February 23, 2020 Meeting Update
Hello SAP MYSL Families,
Our last meeting will be on Sunday, February 23, 2020 at the Les Bolstad golf course. We will ski for about 45 minutes and then have our pin ceremony. It looks like it will be warm day.
If you haven't checked out the photo links I've forwarded from our photographer, Evan, look back in your emails. He has brilliantly captured the fun (and frustration) of cross-country skiing this year.
Looks like Kai H is pulling ahead in our K-counter leaderboard after a long weekend of skiing up North. Thanks to all who have logged their K's. If your skier hasn't quite accumulated 25 k of skiing by Sunday, the official logging time is through March 14, and I'd be happy to validate those extra K's with a pin for any skier who keeps skiing.
I doubt any of you will read another email from me after this one, so I just want to say THANK YOU to all the families who participated in Saint Anthony Park MYSL this year. THANK YOU to all of our amazing coaches and club photographer. THANK YOU to parents who skied with your level 1 kiddos. We had a great year of snow and never had to travel to Elm Creek!
The feedback I've received from coaches (and observed with my own two eyes) is that skiers really improved between our first and last lessons. They also had a lot of fun.
I will work with MYSL and the U of Mn to try and gain access to the clubhouse for next year. Thanks for being flexible.
I'm not sure if MYSL sends out a survey at the end of the year, but I'd personally be open to any feedback you have for next season.
See you on Sunday,
Mary
February 16, 2020 Meeting Update
February 9, 2020 Meeting Update
January 19, 2020 Meeting Update
I want to draw your attention to the K-counter. If you've visited the SAP MYSL webpage, you'll see a few of our skiers have already begun logging their kilometers skied. Here are instructions for you and your kiddos:
Kids can track their kilometers throughout the season to earn kilometer award pins. This is an incentive to get out and ski during our brief winter! Clubs set their own standards for awards (gold, silver and bronze). A sample from the Hyland Club is 100k gold, 50k silver and 25k bronze.
The overall Top 10 skiers from our SkiSparks and Skiwerx K Counters are invited to our MYSL/Skiwerx Banquet in March to receive special recognition.
Kids can log all of their skiing kilometers (not just MYSL sessions). We close the K Counter after the first full weekend in March.
How to use the online K counter
1. Go to your club web page.
2. Click on the K counter tab
3. Click on where it says “click here to log in”
4. Fill in the info – (first name of skier, last initial of skier and then select your club from the drop down box)
5. Then for each date you ski, please enter a distance and a description of the (such as where you went, and any other info you want to keep – This is the skier’s journal for the season). On your club web page you will see the skier’s first name, last initial and total kilometers skied - this is called the “K counter Leader board”.
6. Log out when finished with your entry.
Thank you and see you on Sunday. Safe travels if you are away for the long weekend,
Mary
January 12, 2020 Meeting Update
January 5, 2020 Meeting update
I'm looking forward to seeing you all on Sunday! Here are a few things:
1. Skiers and coaches DO NOT NEED TO PURCHASE SKI PASSES.
2. Parents skiing along with their kiddos who are not coaching must purchase ski passes. Level 1 parents: It's typically easier to accompany your kiddos without skis. In this case, you would NOT NEED to purchase a ski pass.
3. We will not have access to the club house this year. This also means that we will not have bathroom access. Finn Sisu, a ski shop just West of the golf course will allow us to use their bathrooms in case of an emergency. By the second or third meeting, we will have our own tent that I will set up each week where skiers can escape the wind. If it is a really cold day, we may decrease our meeting time to 1 hour, but we'll learn how it works as the year goes on.
4. On Sunday, we will meet in the parking lot by the trail head (which is down the hill from the golf clubhouse). Skiers will meet their coaches and receive their MYSL bibs that should be returned at the end of the year. Coaches will be wearing coaches bibs. New Skiers (who have not participated in MYSL previously) will receive a MYSL hat.
5. I'll plan to be at the trail head by 12:30 and will operate out of the back of my car. I have a white Rav 4 with a hatch back.
6. We'll finish the afternoon off with a snack!
7. We could still use coaches for Levels 3 and 4 and back-up coaches. If you can ski, you can coach. Please let me know if you are willing and/or able, especially to be a back-up coach.
8. If any parents are willing to hang out by the trail head (and our tent when we have it), I would appreicate your help in case I am called out on the trails to help coaches. I could also use help setting up snack. Nothing formal, but if you're around and would be willing to hang out outside for a while, please let me know. Thank you!
Please let me know your questions or concerns on or before Sunday. I can be reached at st_anthony@mysl.org or 612-597-3431.
Thanks and see you soon!
Mary
Welcome to the St. Anthony Park Youth Ski Club
The 2020 season will be a great year for the kids at St. Anthony Park Youth Ski Club. This is a volunteer led program. Every family is urged to help in some way. Please see below for volunteer information.
Schedule and location
St. Anthony Park SkiSparks will meet for 8 Sundays beginning with our first meeting Sunday, January 5, 2020 from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM at the Les Bolstad (U of M) Golf Course.
Our back-up location is at Elm Creek Park Reserve. Our back-up time is 2:30-4:00 PM.
We need volunteer coaches.
Contact st_anthony@mysl.org to get on our coach list. No experience necessary.
Weather and cancellation policy
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 st_anthony@mysl.org with questions. Cancellations will be posted on this web page and notification sent through email.
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.
Equipment
Rentals for St. Anthony SkiSparks have been spoken for. We encourage you to go to MyXChange (Swap + Expo) on November 16. At the swap you can find great deals on used equipment. Another option is to purchase new equipment at a local Ski Shop:
- Boulder Nordic Sports (BNS) -- Wirth Park
- FinnSisu -- St. Paul
- Gear West -- Long Lake
- Hoigaards -- St. Louis Park
- Joe's Sporting Goods -- St. Paul
- Pioneer Midwest -- Osseo
- Play it Again Sports -- various locations
If renting equipment is what works best for your family, equpment is still available at some clubs. Please go to our Find a Club page and look on the right column for rental equipment availability
We have some great equipment for skiers to use for a nominal fee - $45 for the entire season. This equipment can be taken home and used for family outings. Please remember we have a limited number of ski packages and sizes, so register early. If you paid for rental equipment on-line but were not able to be outfitted, you will be reimbursed for the fees.
Our rental skis are classic no-wax skis. We do not have skate ski equipment available on a rental basis. Children skiing in level 5 or above should have their own skate skis, boots, and poles. In addition, for children skiing at level 4 or above, waxable classic skis are highly recommended.
Registration
Please register early to insure a spot at St. Anthony Park. Register on the main page for MYSL by selecting "Club Membership."
Levels and age guidelines are as follows:
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 st_anthony@mysl.org.
Communications
We will be communicating with St. Anthony Park SkiSparks families via email. We need valid emails for all. When you register please include a contact e-mail address.
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 st_anthony@mysl.org
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 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.
Following are some suggested areas of volunteer service:
Coaching:
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 st_anthony@mysl.org to sign up.
Junior Coaches:
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 St. Anthony Park SkiSparks qualifies as a service commitment for NHS. Think about how great this will look on a college application! Contact us at st_anthony@mysl.org to sign up.
Assistant and Sub Coaches:
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 st_anthony@mysl.org to sign up.
Snack Coordinator:
Be available on ski days to help organize and clean up snacks. Contact us at st_anthony@mysl.org to sign up. I (Mary) will get the snacks and bring the hot chocolate. All you have to do is help set it up/clean up so I can ski around and help coaches.