Edina SkiSparks Club

Welcome to the Edina Youth Ski Club

The 2024 season will be a great year for the kids at the Hornet Hiiho ski trails.  This is a volunteer-run program.  Every family is urged to help in some way.  Please see below for volunteer information.

Schedule and location

Edina SkiSparks will meet for eight Sundays beginning with our first meeting Sunday, January 7, 2023 from 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM at Creek Valley Elementary School/Edina High School, skiing on the Hornet Hiiho ski trails.  Our last week of club meeting will be Sunday, March 3 with no meeting on February 18.

Announcements

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 edina@myxc.org with questions.  Cancellations will be posted on this web page and we will send an 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.

Registration

Please register early to ensure a spot at Edina. 

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 4-5 (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 edina@myxc.org.

Communications

We will be communicating with Edina 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:

1. In the event we cancel because of weather.
2. To let you know if we have to shift the time we are meeting because of weather.
3. To clear up any questions we may have about your registration.
4. To be given periodic updates with news and information about the Edina ski club.

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 edina@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.  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 need of coaches for all levels 1-6.  Please consider coaching, 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 a big 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 edina@myxc.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 Edina SkiSparks qualifies as a service commitment for NHS.  Think about how great this will look on a college application!  Contact us at edina@myxc.org to sign up.

Assistant 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.  

Contact us at edina@myxc.org to sign up.