DXC SkiSparks

 Welcome to DXC SkiSparks!

DXC is pleased to partner with the Minnesota Youth Ski League and Spirit Mountain Nordic Center (at Grand Avenue) to help children learn to love the lifelong sport of Nordic skiing. The DXC SkiSparks program is for all children aged 4 through 14. Volunteers make this program successful. Parents are encouraged to volunteer! Please see more info on our Volunteer Page.

The program will be capped at 130 skiers. Register by clicking on the Register link in the upper right corner of the myxc.org web page.

Spirit Mountain Trail Passes

Spirit Mountain Nordic passes and signed waivers are required for all children and adults on the trails. DXC SkiSparks club fees have been separated from the SMRA pass fees this year to allow families to decide how best to purchase passes. For children and adults that do not already have a SMRA Nordic Season Pass:

• For children 5 and under, purchase a Nordic Season Pass for $22 directly from Spirit Mountain Recreation Area. 
• For children 6 and older, a special SkiSparks Only Nordic Pass can be purchased on the SkiSparks registration page. Note that this special pass is valid for the lesson session only.
• Parents of Level 1 skiers: you must accompany your children (preferably on skis), and you must have a valid SMRA ski pass. Volunteer as a "Sweeper" (on the MYXC Volunteer tab https://www.myxc.org/training-requirement).  Please contact DXCSkiSparks@myxc.org if you do not have a current Spirit Mountain Nordic Season Pass so that we can get you a special session pass and waivers (valid for lesson sessions only).

Scholarships: Financial assistance is available through MYXC and DXC. Please apply through MYXC and via  DXCSkiSparks@myxc.org .

Coaches and Sweepers:  A valid SMRA Nordic Ski Pass is required. Please contact DXCSkiSparks@myxc.org if you do not have a current Spirit Mountain Nordic Season Pass so that DXC can provide you a special coach session pass (valid for lesson sessions only).

Schedule and Location

DXC SkiSparks will meet for 8 Sundays, from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM, beginning January 8 and running through February 26 (8 sessions). There will also be a Carnival on March 5 that is included in the membership. We will start and end on time so that the children do not get cold waiting. Plan on arriving early to sign in your child and (if applicable) pick up your rental ski equipment.

Meetings will be held at Spirit Mountain Nordic Center (at the Grand Avenue Chalet at base of Mountain, 8551 Grand Avenue).

Equipment

Refer to https://www.myxc.org/new-to-skiing-or-myxc for guidance on equipment required for each age group and skill level.

We have 12 sets of classic rental skis allotted to our club through MYSL. Ordering information is available on the registration page. MYSL rental skis may be checked out for the entire season.

Additional classic rental skis are available at the Spirit Mountain Recreation Area (SMRA) Grand Avenue Chalet. These SMRA rental skis are for use during the program session only, and must be checked in/out every session. Order SMRA Chalet rentals directly from SMRA.

Weather and cancellation policy

Sessions may be canceled due to inclement weather (generally -10 air temp, -15 windchill), at the leader’s discretion. Cancellations will be communicated via email on Sunday morning of the lesson.

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 can be too warm once the child gets skiing unless they are young and in the beginner group. “Wool is wonderful. Cotton is rotten!”

SkiSparks Skill Levels

The SkiSparks curriculum and skill levels are slightly different than the previous DXC KidSki program. Please review the skill level guidelines carefully and register your child in the appropriate level.

You can edit your children's skill level in the "Household Info" section of the registration process (even after you register). It would be very unusual to go out of the suggested age-ranges and many children stay in a level for more than one season. Peer groupings of similar age are often more important than specific skiing ability, except in the case of an older beginner (age 11-14).  If your skier has never skied before and is 11+, please register for level 3.

Level 5 and 6 are skating levels and require ski skating equipment.  We do not allow new skiers to enter at level 5 and 6.  Skiers are going to be much more successful if they are proficient classic skiers (level 1-4) before they learn to skate ski.  If your skier is age 11-14 and new to skiing, please register for level 3. 

Levels and age guidelines are as follows:

Questions about levels? Contact us at DXCSkiSparks@myxc.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. Contact us at DXCSkiSparks@myxc.org 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.

The 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.

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 DXC SkiSparks qualifies as a service commitment for NHS. Think about how great this will look on a college application!

Assistant and Sub Coaches:

As an assistant coach, you can support a coach by accompanying the group on the trails and helping skiers (sometimes known as “Sweepers”). 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.

Chalet Parents:

There are lots of ways to help without having to be on snow. We need help with organization, sign-ups and bib handouts, clean-up, and snacks.

Contact Info:

Please email DXCSkiSparks@myxc.org