Wirth Sunday SkiSparks Club



Welcome to the Sunday MYSL Skisparks Club at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis!

The MYXC Sunday Wirth Skisparks Club is an all-volunteer club that teaches cross-country skiing to children at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis. Children ages 4-15 and their caregivers are welcome, as are other volunteers who share in our goal of generating a love for Nordic skiing in youth and having fun in the snow.  Our club welcomes all families regardless of skiing experience.  

 

Meeting Dates:

We meet on Sundays from 3 - 4:30 pm, beginning on January 5, 2025 and tentatively ending on Sunday February 23, 2025. We may not be able to meet February 2 due to the Loppet Ski Race and may be able to have club dates into March, to be determined.

Curriculum & Levels:

The MYSL curriculum uses games and activities to teach skiing in an orderly progression through six distinct levels, Levels 1 through 6. These levels do not necessarily correspond to specific ages or years; in fact, most skiers (especially at the lower levels) will spend two years in each level, e.g., a beginning skier will spend two years in Level 1, at ages 5 and 6.  To progress to the next level, a skier must meet specific goals for their level.

Please familiarize yourself with Levels 1-6 and their corresponding goals (view levels here) to select an appropriate level for your skier.  Club leaders and coaches can also explain the curriculum and goals to you, and offer a recommendation for a suitable level. If your child would better fit into a different level, coaches may make adjustments after the first session.

WEATHER:

Theodore Wirth park offers both snowmaking and indoor shelter, allowing our club to meet in almost any conditions. However, we will cancel skiing if the temperature is forecast to be below -2 degrees F or if the wind chill is forecast to be less than -10 degrees F. The club may also cancel or change locations if snow conditions are poor. A cancellation notice will be sent by e-mail to the address provided when you register. 

PARKING:  There are two lots near the Trailhead and they fill up quickly.   You may need to park just north of the Trailhead in the Chalet parking lot. It is highly recommended to avoid parking on the medians in the Chalet lot and in the circle at the Trailhead - the Minneapolis Park Police have been known to ticket cars parked in these areas. 

SKI PASSES: A MPRB (Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board) Ski Pass is required on groomed trails in the MPRB system (Chain of Lakes, Columbia, Hiawatha, and Theodore Wirth Regional Trails). This must be visible at all times.  Volunteers and SkiSparks/ members qualify for a discount on one adult All-Access Ski Pass. Everyone that uses the MYSL group discount code must be a registered volunteer or skier at a SkiSparks or Skiwerx program at Wirth Park. 

 

The All-Access Ski Pass has two age categories:
Adult (Age 12 and older)
Child (Age 11 and younger)

 

The discount is only for the initial pass purchased for an adult (skier age 12 and over). There is no discount for additional adult passes or for the child pass. With the discount code all adult passes are $50 and all child passes remain $30.

 

To purchase the pass please follow these steps:

1. Go to: https://www.tempotickets.com/event/vvQnid
2. Enter the discount code: (will be provided at a later date) and click APPLY.
3. Select the appropriate MPRB All-Access Ski Passes for skiers in your family.
4. Check out.
5. After you have paid for the passes online, print your check-in pass. Bring the check-in pass to The Trailhead (main building at Wirth) where you can pick up the physical pass which needs to be with you when you are skiing.

HATS: We will have hats for our new members - they will be available where we hand out the bibs and snacks.  Replacement hats for returning members are available for $15. 

WATER BOTTLES: Consider whether your older children skiing farther (Levels 5 and 6) should carry a fanny pack with a water bottle.

Volunteers: 

We need you! The Wirth Club is an all-volunteer club. We depend on caregivers and other volunteers to coach, encourage and help organize our children, and we expect at least one adult volunteer from each family registered. With your participation, we can create a great winter experience for our kids. We need these volunteers:

·   Club Leaders: Over the years, long before we were leading the club, this club has produced some of the top skiers in the region and transformed families into lifelong skiers. This is your chance to be part of that. MYSL looks for a 3 year commitment and it takes just a few hours each week, including coming out on Sundays.

·  Coaches: Coaching is one of the most important and enjoyable ways you can volunteer. While the Club is fortunate to have some of its coaches returning this year, we need more adult coaches to keep our coach-to-skier ratio high.  Anyone can coach – you don’t need to be an expert skier to volunteer. MYSL has an excellent week-by-week curriculum, which includes many games on skis. Also, MYSL typically holds training opportunities for new coaches in December. 

·  Junior Coaches: In addition, junior coaches have made a real contribution to the Club. If you are a high school skier and would be willing to serve as a junior coach, we need you! The skiers LOVE the junior coaches!

·   Chalet Attendent We like to have a parent or two available in the Trailhead in case any skiers need to come in early, as well as to set up snacks - contact the club leader to volunteer.

·   End of Season Party Coordinator: Would you like to help plan an end of season party?  Please contact the club leader.

·   Parent skiers: The Club encourages parents and caregivers to ski with their kids – they love to see you doing the same thing and being able to show you what they can do!  We encourage you to ski with your child's level and to help with games and exercises. You may learn how to coach!

·   Activity Leader: Help prepare a fun (crazy?) activity for the kids to enjoy during the class, such as a treasure hunt, face painting, a destination ski to find a special treat, ski acrobatics, or anything you can think of.  A fun activity is a great way to teach skiing without the kids knowing they are being taught. We have built snow forts, served s'mores on the trail, had costumed mascots make appearances. We are always open to new ways to make skiing fun.

·   Photographer: We'd like to capture pictures of our skiers for sharing at our end-of-year potluck.  Are you tech-savvy and able to organize a slideshow? 

 

We look forward to another fun season! Please contact us with any questions at wirth@myxc.org.