Woodland Wapiti Youth Ski Club

Welcome To The Woodland Wapiti Youth Ski Club

We love getting kids and their families outside and moving together in the winter. This is a volunteer led program. Every family is urged to help in some way. Please see below for volunteer information. We are looking forward to seeing you in the upcoming season!

SCHEDULE AND LOCATION

Woodland Wapiti Ski Sparks Club will meet for 8 Sundays beginning with our first meeting Sunday, January 7th, 2024 from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM at Woodland Trails Regional Park in Elk River, MN. Specific dates listed above. Please allow extra time for parking and getting equipment on. 

There will be one make up date if a cancellation is needed. (Mar. 10). 

We will not meet when the WORLD CUP SKI RACES are being held in Minneapolis (Feb. 18)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

This club needs volunteer coaches. Contact woodland@myxc.org to get on our coach list.

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. Cancellations will be 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 groups.

We will be outside at all times as there is not a building at the park. There is a porta-potty in the parking lot area.

EQUIPMENT

We have some great youth equipment for skiers to rent 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 youth rental skis are classic no-wax skis for Level 1-4 skiers. 

We have a small supply of skate ski equipment available on a rental basis for Level 5-6 skiers.

MYSL encourages children skiing in level 5 or above to have their own skate skis, boots, and poles. In addition, for children skiing at level 4 or above, waxable classic skis are highly recommended.

We do not offer adult rentals. We do recommend that you get skis and come along with the kids!

Getting a new set of boots, skis, and poles that fit well at a local ski shop makes skiing fun for the whole family! Most shops offer package deals.

REGISTRATION

Please register early to ensure a spot at Woodland Wapiti. Register on the main page for MYSL. Scholarships are available.

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 level 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.

PARENTS ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO SKI ALONG WITH THEIR KIDS AT ANY LEVEL - Consider signing up to be a Coach, Assistant Coach or Sweeper if you know you will be on skis.

Classic Ski Lessons: (club equipment rentals available)

Level I: Ages 4-5 (parents will ski or walk along with the child) ; Will not use ski poles. This group will typically end a little earlier than the rest of the club.

Level 2: Ages 6-8 (parents check in occasionally)

Level 3: Ages 7-10

Level 3 STARS: Beginner Skiers Ages 11-14

Level 4: Ages 8-14

Skate Ski Lessons: (limited club equipment rentals available) 

Level 5: Ages 9-14

Level 6: Ages 11-14

COMMUNICATIONS

We will be communicating with Woodland Wapiti SkiSparks families via email. When you register please include ALL appropriate contact e-mail addresses.

MYSL is on Facebook! You can “like” the MYSL page to get general announcements, photos and videos from each of the MYSL club.

Woodland Wapiti Youth Ski Club is also on Facebook.

Need to contact us? Email us at woodland@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. Following are some suggested areas of volunteer service: Contact us at woodland@myxc.org to sign up.

LEVEL 1 ATTENDANT: Level 1 Skiers need a parent or two registered as an attendant who will ski with them during club. 

COACHING: This is our biggest need and is one of the most rewarding ways in which you can help the club.

Our SkiSparks Coaching App makes it easy for a coach to know what to do. An eight week curriculum has been prepared for every class level with daily lesson plans and game ideas right on your phone. 

You do not necessarily need to coach at your child’s level.  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. The club will provide coaching supplies.

JUNIOR COACHES: Middle & 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 Woodland Wapiti Ski Sparks qualifies for service hours. Think about how great this will look on a college application! 

ASSISTANT AND SUBSTITUTE 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.   

SWEEPERS: As a sweeper you ski along at the back of a group encouraging any skier having difficulty and ski with the kids who need to go back to the meeting area for the bathroom or rest. 

SNACK COORDINATOR: We like to finish up every club meeting with hot chocolate/apple cider and a snack. Snack Coordinators can help set up a sign-up for parents to bring weekly snacks and send reminders. They help distribute snacks and fill hot chocolate/cider cups. They could get a bonfire going in the fire ring and help with marshmallow management and s’more assembly. No skis needed, just be available on ski days to help organize and clean up snacks. 

CLUB PHOTOGRAPHER: Document all the winter fun, create and share an album with other club members.

EQUIPMENT DONATIONS

If your kids have grown out of their ski equipment consider donating it to the club, every set of skis in our rental fleet is another club member! If you have any old adult ski equipment gathering dust we will take that as well to give to parents who want to get out with their kids.