Tamarack SkiSparks Club

Welcome to Tamarack SkiSparks!!

We are looking forward to skiing with you this winter!

SkiSparks is a volunteer-led program so every family is strongly encouraged to help. Please see below for volunteer opportunities. We thank you in advance!

Schedule and location

Our club will be meeting at Tamarack Nature Center at 2:00-3:30pm on Saturdays. Our first club session will be on January 7, 2023, which will be a fun way to kick off the new year! At the beginning of each club session, we will meet in the big open area to the north of Tamarack's Garden Center. This year, we will not have access to indoor space, such as the Garden Center, so please have your skiers dress warmly!

Registration

COVID

Please do your best to help keep everyone in our club healthy and safe this winter.

• If your skier is not feeling well, please do not attend ski club.  

• If your skier has recently been exposed to COVID-19 or is currently in quarantine, please refrain from attending ski club.

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Weather and cancellation policy

We will not ski if the air temperature is below 2˚ F, the wind chill is below -10˚ F, or at the leader’s discretion. We will not have indoor access which will also factor into the cancellation decision.  Always check the website or email tamarack@myxc.org with questions. Cancellations will be posted on this web page and notification sent through email.

Dress your child like they are going to play in the snow, because this is what they will be doing!  The most important things are:

• Warm, dry socks.  Wool socks are the best if they are available to you.
• Warm, dry mittens.  Try to stay away from gloves to avoid cold fingers.
• Warm hat that covers your ears
• Something to cover your neck, such as a neck gaiter
• Dress in layers! A moisture-wicking base layer, an insulating layer, and a wind-proof layer work well for skiing.

Equipment

We have some great equipment for skiers to use for a nominal fee of $55 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.

The MYSL Ski Swap occurred on Sat. Nov. 12, 2022.  Another option for ski equipment 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, equipment may be available at other clubs.  Please go to our Find a Club page and look on the right column for rental equipment availability.

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.

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.

• Level I: ages 4-5 (parents ski or walk along with the child)

• Level 2: ages 6-8

• Level 3: ages 7-10

• Level 3*: beginner skiers who are 11 years old or older

• Level 4: ages 8-12

More about skill levels here: http://mysl.org/skill-levels.  Questions about levels? Contact us at tamarack@myxc.org.

Communications

We will be communicating with Tamarack SkiSparks families via email.  We need valid emails for everyone. 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 clubs.

Need to contact us? Email us at tamarack@myxc.org

Volunteering

This club is led by volunteers!  The success and affordability of this program come 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. Thank you!

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 1-4  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. Our coach-to-kid ratio this year will be 1:4. 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 Tamarack SkiSparks qualifies as a service commitment for NHS. Think about how great this will look on a college application!  

Assistant and Substitue 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 substitute coach, you can fill in when a coach isn’t able to make it to ski club.

Sweeper:

Ski in the back of a group and encourage the kids.

Director: Katie

The goal of the director is to complete administrative tasks in order to create an inclusive and welcoming club.

Outreach Coordinator:

The Outreach Coordinator will connect and facilitate partnerships between MyXC and underserved communities.

Equipment Manager: Matt

Manage and distribute rental skis. 

Photographer:

Take pictures at club meetings with personal camera/phone and share with club members and MYSL staff.

*Please contact us at tamarack@myxc.org to sign up for the volunteer opportunities!

Snack Sign Up Links - 2023 Ski Season

Level 1 - Sign up! 

Level 2 - Sign up! 

Level 3 with Coach Jen & Coach Steve - Sign up!  

Level 3 with Coach Joy - Sign up!

Level 4 - Sign up!

We look forward to skiing with you this winter!