Hiawatha Sunday Afternoon SkiSparks Club (2:00 PM)

Welcome!

We are looking forward to a wonderful 2025 season for our skiers in the Hiawatha Ski Club on Sundays at 2:00.  Whether your family is new to cross-country skiing or you're a veteran Ski Club participant or volunteer, we are excited to have you in our club.

Since Ski Club is volunteer-led, our success depends upon family involvement and we encourage every family to help in some way:

• THANK YOU to our awesome coaches, assistant coaches and sweepers!  We have huge groups at Level 2 and Level 3 this year and we are in need of additional Level 2 and Level 3 Sweepers

• We plan to have post-club snacks again this season so look for the sign-up as we get this organized.  We could still use one Snack Coordinator to help this run smoothly.

• The Hiawatha Hustle is our capstone event at the end of the season and we will need many volunteers to make it an awesome afternoon!   Stay tuned for volunteer opportunities.

Session Location and Timing

We ski at the Hiawatha Golf Course and meet in the open area just south of the historic Solomon R. Hughes Sr. Clubhouse.  Beginning in the 1930s, Hiawatha was the first golf course in the Upper Midwest to admit African Americans, at a time when they were often excluded from other public spaces in the city.

We will meet for eight Sundays beginning January 5, 2025.  Our last regular club meeting will be February 23 and we are planning the Hiawatha Hustle for Saturday, March 1, depending on snow conditions.

All skier levels will begin at 2:00 PM.  Level 1 and 2 kids will ski for about an hour and then have fun on the big hill and around the gathering area.  Levels 3, 4, 5, & 6 will be out skiing for about an hour and a half. Please make sure your kids are dressed appropriately for the weather and ready to be outside for this length of time. 

***Please note that the first session or two we will assess the skills of skiers to ensure that we have kids in the right level.***

Hiawatha Golf Course Ski Path Etiquette

The folks who groom the trails at Hiawatha work hard to maintain our beautiful course. We need to do our part to keep the trails in good condition.  Only skiers should be on the groomed ski trails. There is a hiking path on the inside of the trail for walkers. Sweepers and coaches who are not on skis may walk with their groups as long as they stay on the hiking path. 

Ski Passes

Make sure you've purchased necessary ski passes prior to our first session. All ski passes can be purchased through the Loppet Foundation.  

No pass needed:

• Youth skiers 11 and under
• Adult volunteers who will not be on skis 

Purchase a NATURAL SNOW PASS:

• Youth skiers 12 and over
• Adult skiing volunteers 

Purchase an ALL-ACCESS PASS:

• All skiers (youth and adult) who plan to ski on snowmaking/lighted trails at Theodore Wirth Park during the season

Weather and Session Cancellation

We will cancel Ski Club if the air temperature is below -2˚ F, the wind chill is below -10˚ F, or at Leadership Team discretion.  Because the Hiawatha course is out in the open, wind is a big factor in our decision.

Cancellations will be posted on the webpage.  We will also email you on Thursday evening if we are considering canceling a session due to weather, and email a final decision by Saturday evening.

Important reminders

Please have your skier(s) with skis and boots on and ready to go promptly at the 2:00 start time.

Be sure your child has eaten before coming to ski club, and bring water for your skier when you pick them up.

Please make sure all skiers have used the bathroom before ski club begins - the clubhouse will be open!

❄️❄️❄️THINK SNOW!!❄️❄️❄️