SkiSparks
SKI FOR FUN
AGES: 4-14
GREAT FOR: Kids looking to get outside and have fun while learning something new.
SKILL LEVEL: Six different skill levels that grow with your child.
DURATION: Eight-week season with 1.5 hour weekly meetings, led by trained, volunteer coaches.
SkiSparks: The Basics
What is a SkiSparks Club?
SkiSparks clubs are independent, volunteer led groups of like-minded youth, families and adults that come together to celebrate winter through cross-country skiing and community.
Vision
We envision a world passionate about access to outdoor recreation, winter and lifelong health for all.
Mission
We empower youth to be joyful, confident winter enthusiasts by building inclusive communities that reduce barriers to cross-country skiing.
Values
Lifelong Health: We promote lifelong health and an outdoor lifestyle through cross-country skiing.
Accessibility: We proactively and deliberately position accessibility, equity, and inclusion at the center of our programs.
Connections: We deepen connections to family, community, and winter.
Fun: We embrace fun and develop skills through play.
Transformation: We intentionally reflect and aspire to create transformation.
Find A Club
Our Find A Club page is an important place to see information about the club(s) in your area. Click on the club name for even more details.
In the metro area, you will want to pay attention to this list to see which clubs have space and rentals available.
For club specific questions, please contact your local club leader (emails can be found on the club pages).
Volunteers Make our Community
Our clubs are 100% volunteer run and coached. Most of our families volunteer in some capacity and skiers with volunteers in their family have the best outcomes.
Beginner skiers make excellent youth coaches! We have an easy-to-use SkiSparks curriculum app and trainings to support you. We make it easy and fun.
You don't need to ski to volunteer! Clubs also have Leadership Roles and some non-skiing roles.
Here are our Volunteer Roles.
Volunteers get priority access to skier registration! A volunteer application must be submitted and approved and you will then get an email with next steps.
Skill Levels
TIPS:
- If your skier is new to SkiSparks, select the lowest level for their age
- Ski Level is selected in the skier's profile. Only appropriate levels based on age and experience will display.
- Skiers MUST complete Level 4 before moving on to skating (Level 5)
- It is common to repeat levels
- If friends want to ski together, they must be registered for the same level and the lower level if their is variation
Ski Equipment
There are two types of ski equipment; classic (Level 1-4) and skate (Level 5-6).
Classic Equipment includes:
- Skis
- fish scale or skin classic skis
- or waxable classic skis (for parents that know how to kick wax)
- No strap-on skis please
- kids should grow out of skis rather than into them (too short is better than too long)
- Boots
- boots that match bindings
- Snug fit with thin wool sock
- Too much movement can cause blisters
- Poles
- to middle of should in height (see chart)
- practice using straps at home
- NO poles needed in Level 1
Skate Equipment Includes:
- Skis
- skate skis
- skate skis will require glide waxing (usually done by club volunteers or parents)
- Boots
- boots with a hard cuff
- must match bindings
- Poles
- mustache height
- lightweight
- usually velcro straps (practice at home!!)
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Most of our clubs have some club-owned rental equipment. Some facilities have rentals as well.
Please refer to the Find A Club page to see a summary of equipment options at each club. In most cases, equipment will "sell out" before the clubs are full.
If you are not able to reserve rentals during registration (requires payment, not just entering sizing), please consider attending our Ski Swap in November. You can also shop at speciality retailers, such as FinnSisu, Pioneer Midwest or GearWest.
Please enter accurate information on sizing in your skier profile. You can log back in and edit after registration if you need to double check. This is especially important for boots. We use Euro sizing:
Ski Equipment Rental Agreement
EQUIPMENT ALLOCATION
Our rental equipment is in very high demand and we appreciate your cooperation in the allocation of equipment.
In any SkiSparks club, a skier is allowed to rent one pair of skis and they must match the Level in which the skier participates. Example: Classic skis should be rented for Level 1-4 and Skate skis for Level 5-6.
Families that reserve rentals through our clubs are expected to fully participate in club meetings. If you know your family will miss more than two club meetings, please do not reserve rental equipment.
PROPER USE OF EQUIPMENT
Equipment rented through a MyXC club is intended for use in our clubs and under supervision of a MyXC Coach, Assistant Coach, or Sweeper.
We allow limited use outside of club meetings under parental supervision:
- Level 1-2 skiers are allowed to ski on any sufficiently snowy surface (back yard, local park, etc).
- Level 3-4 skiers are allowed on groomed trails.
- Level 5-6 skiers (skate skiers) should use extreme caution (skis are more fragile) and only ski on well-maintained, well-covered groomed trails.
Equipment can not be used in any program outside of MyXC (for example, a Middle School Team).
DAMAGE AND REPLACEMENT FEE
If equipment is damaged while skiing responsibly, there is no charge, but please alert your club Equipment Manager.
If equipment is lost, damaged due to misuse or in a non-skiing incident, we will ask for a replacement fee. Examples: skiing in a parking lot, dog eats a ski boot, pole gets broken in the car, severe damage to skate ski bases.
If any part of the equipment is damaged (including scratched skate ski bases), lost, and/or rendered unusable, the family will be expected to pay the wholesale replacement value of the entire item.
We do not accept replacement equipment.
PROPER STORAGE
When equipment is not being used, it should be kept somewhere dry and above freezing. This will prevent bindings from icing up. Boots should be dried thoroughly (in the house or heated garage).
Skate skis should ALWAYS have ski ties on when not in use. The bases are fragile and can be damaged by them rubbing together and by ski poles tips.
Registration Schedule and Tips
Our clubs fill up fast (especially in the metro). The MOST important thing you can do to make your registration experience smooth, is to volunteer. Volunteers get priority registration!
Things to know before registration day:
- Login and password
- If some one in your family volunteers, that is the person that has to log in to get priority skier registration
- Which club? Which second choice club? Be careful with locations that have multiple time slots
- Don't be afraid to pick a club option a bit further away. We have lots of great trail systems that are a joy to explore
- Which skill level? Suggested levels will display.
- Do your skiers need rental equipment? Classic (Level 1-4) or Skate (Level 5-6)
- Sizing (height, weight and euro shoe size for your skier)
- Would you like a scholarship? (this is asked in the Parent profile)
Dress for Success
LEVEL 1-3
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. No cotton! A thin wool sock is best.
- Warm, dry mittens. Try to stay away from gloves to avoid cold fingers.
- Warm hat that covers your ears.
- Something to cover your neck.
LEVEL 4-6
Some skiers may wear more specific xc ski pants and jackets so it's easier to move fast, but it's not necessary. The most important thing is dressing your skier in layers (on the top) so they can take off a layer when they get hot.
- Winter jacket
- Fleece jacket/light jacket
- Long sleeve (not cotton) shirt
- Warm, dry socks. Thin wool socks are the best.
- Warm, dry mittens
- Warm hat that covers your ears.
- Something to cover your neck.
Weather, Snow and Backup Plans
We provide weather guidelines to clubs, but Club Leaders will make weather related decisions for their clubs. If you are unsure if your club is meeting, please reach out to your club leader.
League temperature guidelines:
- Northern Clubs: -10 air temp, -15 windchill
- Southern and Metro Clubs: -2 air temp, -10 windchill
We do NOT guarantee that your club 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 cancelations and plan changes.
Most clubs will reserve one day as "make up" at the end of the season.
In cases of low or no snow, some clubs will choose to meet and do alternative activities, some clubs will meet at a location with man-made snow (typically at a different meeting time because of permit limitations), and some clubs may cancel.
Club Meetings
SkiSparks club meetings are joyous and chaotic events at busy public facilities.
Arrive early
- Be sure to arrive (especially on the first day) with plenty of time to figure out parking, equipment, ski passes, meeting location, get your bibs, etc.
- For man-made snow facilities we recommend arriving 30 minutes prior to meeting time. Parking will be challenging at Hyland, Elm Creek, Battle Creek and Wirth Park.
- For natural snow facilities we recommend arriving 15 minutes prior to your meeting time.
Snack it up
- We recommend snacking before skiing. Extra calories will help keep everyone warm (and happy).
Look for your Leader
- Watch your email for exact instructions from your leader about the process for the first club meeting.
- Skill levels are organized by color (there are colored signs and colored coach bibs) to help you find the right group.
K Counter
We have a K Counter for skiers to track their kilometers skied during the winter (they can start as soon as it snows).
We have awards at the end of the season and an overall Leader Board. Clubs also list their top K Counter skiers as well.
This can be very motivational for some kids and is a great way for parents to get in shape too (because, of course, you'll be skiing along).