La Crosse SkiSparks Club

Welcome to La Crosse SkiSparks Youth Ski Club!

update  12/13/24: 

If you rented equipment and still need to pick it up, please reach out to JP at nordicskijpe@gmail.com to arrange pickup. If you'd like to pick it up at the first club practice, that works too, just let us know! Questions? Feel free to email lacrosse@myxc.org

Coaches, please look for an email directing you to enter in your availability for the coming 8 weeks of club practices on a shared spreadsheet. Continue to update the spreadsheet as you can!

Sunday 1/5/25 - First SkiSparks practice! 3pm at Lower Hixon (Levels 1-4) and Forest Hills (Levels 5-6)

Sunday 1/12/25 - Online apparel shop closes

Please check out our facebook page for more information!  Think snow - it's coming!

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lacrosseyouthskiclub

Schedule and location: Sundays, 3pm to 4pm (4:30pm for the older kids) starting Jan. 5, 2025 going through February 23, 2025

Meeting locations: Lower Hixon Forest parking lot (SkiSparks levels 1 through 4) and Forest Hills golf course parking lot (for levels 5/6 and our MS/HS skiers). We will NOT be registering our MS/HS kids through SkiWerx this year, so please sign up for SkiSparks levels 5 or 6 and email Sara at skiwerxlacrosse@myxc.org to express your interest in the MS/HS group.  MS/HS group will meet on Thursdays from 4-5:30 in addition to the group practice Sunday and will primarily use skate equipment. We also have arrangements for MS/HS racing this year. If your child is interested in racing, please email Sara at skiwerxlacrosse@myxc.org to learn more.

Our make-up day will be Sunday March 2 if the snow holds.

Sign up to be on the email list and get news/myXC newsletter at: https://www.myxc.org/newsletter-signup

Weather and cancellation policy

We will make a preliminary weather call on Thursdays or Fridays and post it right here.

We will make a final weather or conditions call on Sunday morning by noon. If a cancellation is necessary, it will be posted here and sent via email to families. Assume practice is on if you don't hear otherwise!

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. Because the little kids ski out in the open, wind is a big factor on the golf course at Forest Hills. Always check the website or email lacrosse@myxc.org with questions. Cancellations will be posted on Facebook and this webpage.

REFUND POLICY

• Membership and equipment rental fees are refundable until Dec 1, less a $10 processing fee per skier. Equipment fees will be fully refunded if we can not provide properly sized equipment to the skier. After Dec 1, there are no refunds, unless for medical reasons (we must be notified before the first club meeting).
• We do NOT guarantee that we will meet on-snow for eight sessions. We do our best, but as this is an outdoor activity, it is not uncommon to have weather cancellations. We typically reserve one day as "make up" at the end of the season. In cases of low or no snow, we try to meet and do alternative activities.
• MyXC Refund Policy here: https://www.myxc.org/policy2?lsid=361024&msid=707085
  

Clothing

Winning at Winter: How to Dress Your Skier

"There is no bad weather, only bad clothing" -Swedish Proverb SkiSparks Levels 1-2 should dress like they are going sledding. SkiSparks Levels 3-6 should dress in layers. Cotton is rotten; the best choices are wool and synthetics. Base layer, fleece, and then a wind resistant ski jacket and pants (something that snow won't stick to). Skiers need to move freely in their clothing and adjust layers as they sweat. All Skiers should wear dry wool socks (completely necessary). A hat, mittens or lobster (two finger) mitts (not gloves) and a muff (to cover ears and neck). Pro Tips for when its really cold - under 10 degrees and/or windy (like this week!) Add a fleece layer in addition to your usual layers (top and bottom) For Level 3-6 and Coaches (Level 1-2 should always dress like this): consider going "full puffy", that is, wearing your big winter jacket. Skiers can take it off if they get too warm. Make sure socks are fresh and dry before you put your on boots Everything needs to be completely dry when you start out. Hat, boots, and mittens! Use Vaseline or other balm on exposed skin (face) Activate some hand-warmers (let them get going for 10 minutes) and put them in their pockets. Hand warmers can be tricky to fit into gloves/mittens, but it helps to have them in pockets and hot. More important than you would think: Mind the gaps! Tuck in shirts, Synch up jackets. If a jacket it too big, consider wearing a bottle belt to close the gap. Coaches: Remember to dress like a "coach", not like you are going skiing. You will be standing around more than you think. So dress appropriately with an additional layer. And please carry some extra hand warmers in case skiers might need them! More Winter Clothing Tips can be found on our Resource page

https://www.myxc.org/resources

Equipment

Rental

Children grow quickly and so we are happy we can offer quality rental equipment for a low fee ($35/classic, $80/skate) for the entire season. The club typically distributes equipment in early December and collects it once the snow melts in the spring. That means that your children can take their equipment home and ski whenever they want.

You can can rent equipment at the same time you register for SkiSparks. Supplies, especially larger sizes, are limited, but we try our best to secure rental equipment for all skiers who request it. If you pay for rental equipment when you register and we ultimately cannot outfit your child(ren), we will reimburse you for the fees.

Purchase

If you plan to purchase skis this season, we encourage you to do so early because ski shortages are becoming more common. You can also purchase used equipment at MYXC's annual ski swap.

Communications

We will be communicating with La Crosse myXC families via email. When you register please include an active 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 or event.
3. To clear up any questions we may have about your registration.
4. To be given periodic updates with news and information about the ski club.

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, who should register as a Level 1 Attendant volunteer. Coaching at level 1 is a great way to accompany your child. 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. 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 available via a mobile phone app OR printed on a card that can be carried in your pocket. The 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 encourage high school volunteers who are fun, friendly enjoy skiing!. Coaching for MYSL could qualify as a service commitment for National Honor Society or other groups and think about how great this will look on a college application!

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 and have an adult to take them to the bathroom, change clothes, assist with activities, etc..

If you have ideas about how to help kids learn to ski, now is your chance to make it happen!

Adult and Youth Ski Rentals (not through myXC)

UWL Rec Sports - Outdoor Connection https://www.uwlax.edu/recsports/#tab-18591

Winona Adventure Cycle & Ski https://advcycle.bike/

Other Links

Share Winter Foundation - To enrich the lives of youth through winter sports. Share Winter funds youth learn-to-ski programs to create a more diverse, inclusive, and welcoming snow sports community. https://sharewinterfoundation.org/

Protect Our Winters - POW helps passionate outdoor people protect the places we live and experiences we love from climate change. https://protectourwinters.org/.

What is the AMERICAN BIRKEBEINER? (It's the largest and most publicized cross country ski race in America!) Get Birkie Fever here: https://youtu.be/nxSoznNhBuw?si=KmzSsZ0yWmD1_Iqm

Contact info

Please email us at lacrosse@myxc.org (Chris Cogbill) or skiwerxlacrosse@myxc.org (Sara)