ABOUT MAST
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who May Join?
MAST is a “cooperative” team combining students from multiple schools in the Minneapolis Public School system. Alpine skiing is a varsity athletic sport of Southwest, South, and Washburn High Schools. All Minneapolis Public School students in grades seven through twelve are eligible to join MAST. Minneapolis residents in grades seven and eight who attend private, parochial, or charter schools may also be eligible to compete. MAST team members possess a wide range of skiing ability levels, from beginner to expert. All ability levels are welcome. Our coaching staff will work with you to help you improve whatever skills you bring to the slopes.
Where Do We Ski?
Our primary training facility is Hyland Ski And Snowboard Area in Bloomington. In addition, we offer short training camps at Welch Village Ski Area and Giants Ridge Ski Area. Races in 2013-2014 are currently scheduled for Hyland, Wild Mountain, Welch Village, Mt Kato and Giants Ridge.
When Do We Ski?
Our season starts with physical conditioning (dryland) training beginning in late October and is organized by the team captains. The season officially begins November 11. The first week or two of training consists of additional conditioning work from 4:30-6PM at Washburn High School.
Skiing begins when Hyland opens for the season, usually the week after Thanksgiving. The season ends on February 12 with the Minnesota State High School Championships held at Giants Ridge in Biwabik, Minnesota.
Once on snow, practices run from 6:30-8:45PM on Mondays, 5-7:30PM and 6:30-8:45PM most Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and 5-7:30PM most Fridays. Saturday practice is usually held from 8-10:30AM or 10:30AM-1:30PM. A finalized training and race schedule will be available late October.
MAST is a “cooperative” team combining students from multiple schools in the Minneapolis Public School system. Alpine skiing is a varsity athletic sport of Southwest, South, and Washburn High Schools. All Minneapolis Public School students in grades seven through twelve are eligible to join MAST. Minneapolis residents in grades seven and eight who attend private, parochial, or charter schools may also be eligible to compete. MAST team members possess a wide range of skiing ability levels, from beginner to expert. All ability levels are welcome. Our coaching staff will work with you to help you improve whatever skills you bring to the slopes.
Where Do We Ski?
Our primary training facility is Hyland Ski And Snowboard Area in Bloomington. In addition, we offer short training camps at Welch Village Ski Area and Giants Ridge Ski Area. Races in 2013-2014 are currently scheduled for Hyland, Wild Mountain, Welch Village, Mt Kato and Giants Ridge.
When Do We Ski?
Our season starts with physical conditioning (dryland) training beginning in late October and is organized by the team captains. The season officially begins November 11. The first week or two of training consists of additional conditioning work from 4:30-6PM at Washburn High School.
Skiing begins when Hyland opens for the season, usually the week after Thanksgiving. The season ends on February 12 with the Minnesota State High School Championships held at Giants Ridge in Biwabik, Minnesota.
Once on snow, practices run from 6:30-8:45PM on Mondays, 5-7:30PM and 6:30-8:45PM most Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and 5-7:30PM most Fridays. Saturday practice is usually held from 8-10:30AM or 10:30AM-1:30PM. A finalized training and race schedule will be available late October.
What Equipment Is Needed?
Slalom skis and bindings, boots, poles, ski helmet, pole and shin guards (as you improve you will need more of this type of “protective” equipment), and ski tuning and waxing supplies. You will also need layers of warm, winter clothing. Used equipment can be purchased in September and October at “ski swaps” held throughout the Twin Cities area by ski clubs, shops, and areas. Several ski shops in the area offer discounts on new race equipment to high school racers so be sure to ask. New equipment can also be purchased on line.
What Are The Costs?
Due to MPS budget constraints, MAST is self-funding. Team fees for 2013-2014 are $450. These fees do not cover the true cost of operating an alpine ski team. Fundraising makes up the difference. Here is an estimate of the other costs associated with high school ski racing.
•$349 for an unlimited season pass at Hyland Ski Area;
•$17-45 for the MAST Training Sessions at Welch, Wild Mt or other ski areas;
•$210-$270 for the MAST Training Camp at Giants Ridge Jan. 23-26;
•$??? for all ski equipment.
Are Scholarships Available?
A limited number of scholarships are available. Please contact either MAST President Dave Krueger or MAST Treasurer Marianne Carolan for more information on obtaining a scholarship.
Slalom skis and bindings, boots, poles, ski helmet, pole and shin guards (as you improve you will need more of this type of “protective” equipment), and ski tuning and waxing supplies. You will also need layers of warm, winter clothing. Used equipment can be purchased in September and October at “ski swaps” held throughout the Twin Cities area by ski clubs, shops, and areas. Several ski shops in the area offer discounts on new race equipment to high school racers so be sure to ask. New equipment can also be purchased on line.
What Are The Costs?
Due to MPS budget constraints, MAST is self-funding. Team fees for 2013-2014 are $450. These fees do not cover the true cost of operating an alpine ski team. Fundraising makes up the difference. Here is an estimate of the other costs associated with high school ski racing.
•$349 for an unlimited season pass at Hyland Ski Area;
•$17-45 for the MAST Training Sessions at Welch, Wild Mt or other ski areas;
•$210-$270 for the MAST Training Camp at Giants Ridge Jan. 23-26;
•$??? for all ski equipment.
Are Scholarships Available?
A limited number of scholarships are available. Please contact either MAST President Dave Krueger or MAST Treasurer Marianne Carolan for more information on obtaining a scholarship.
Who Are The Coaches?
The MAST coaching staff consists of four paid coaches: Head Coach Mark Conway, Assistant Head Coach Joel Hedrick, and Assistant Coaches Daniel Polland and Elora Koepcke. MAST is incredibly fortunate to have a committed core of Volunteer Assistant Coaches: Gary Griffin, Jake Yockers, Jon Cohen, George West, Thorn Turner, Kris Lyons, Scott Griggs, Bill Kirkpatrick, Amy Quinlivan, David Streitz, Deb Bistodeau, Rich Berg, Julie Flaskamp, and Tom Fraser. The MAST coaching staff is dedicated to helping you become as good a skier and racer as you would like to be.
How Do We Get Places?
Athletes are responsible for securing transportation to and from Hyland for practices and races. Parents will be asked to help with transportation to and from races at other ski areas during the season. Many families set up car pools.
The MAST coaching staff consists of four paid coaches: Head Coach Mark Conway, Assistant Head Coach Joel Hedrick, and Assistant Coaches Daniel Polland and Elora Koepcke. MAST is incredibly fortunate to have a committed core of Volunteer Assistant Coaches: Gary Griffin, Jake Yockers, Jon Cohen, George West, Thorn Turner, Kris Lyons, Scott Griggs, Bill Kirkpatrick, Amy Quinlivan, David Streitz, Deb Bistodeau, Rich Berg, Julie Flaskamp, and Tom Fraser. The MAST coaching staff is dedicated to helping you become as good a skier and racer as you would like to be.
How Do We Get Places?
Athletes are responsible for securing transportation to and from Hyland for practices and races. Parents will be asked to help with transportation to and from races at other ski areas during the season. Many families set up car pools.
MN State Race 2013
Who Races, Whom Do We Race and What Is A Ski Race Like?
All MAST athletes race. If you practice, you will be entered in races.
MAST sets its own competition schedule. Some of the teams against which we have competed in past years are: Minnehaha Academy, Holy Angels, Edina, Orono, Virginia, Eden Prairie, Armstrong, Benilde-St. Margarets, Mound-WestTonka, and Mankato. MAST will also enter two to three invitational meets during the season. In February, MAST athletes ski in the Minnesota State High School Section IV and, for those who qualify, the Minnesota State High School Championship.
The varsity squads consist of 10 male and 10 female athletes for dual meets and 6 male and 6 female athletes for invitational races and Section Championships. The varsity roster is determined by time trials and race results and can change at any time, depending on who is skiing fast that week.
At most dual meets, all team members race. Those designated “varsity” score in the varsity race and everyone else competes as “junior varsity” and scores in the junior varsity race. In addition, we try to enter our junior varsity athletes into one or two invitational races each year. Finally, Hyland hosts a junior varsity race series on Friday evenings in January and February. MAST JV athletes are encouraged to race in these races when we are in town.
Races consist of two race runs, usually down two different slalom courses. The times from both runs are combined to determine the race finish order. Athletes are given a short period of time to inspect the courses before the race begins.
How Is MAST Administered?
The Mpls Alpine Ski Team is a non-profit 501(c)3 administered by a Board of Directors. The Board is responsible for managing the team’s finances, initiating fundraising efforts, and marketing the team to Mpls students and families. The Board also works closely with the coaching staff to make the camps and races run smoothly throughout the season. Most important, MAST would not exist without the many parents who volunteer to raise money, drive athletes, coach, shoot photos and video, cook, set up race venues, gate judge, etc. Without them, MAST would not exist.
All MAST athletes race. If you practice, you will be entered in races.
MAST sets its own competition schedule. Some of the teams against which we have competed in past years are: Minnehaha Academy, Holy Angels, Edina, Orono, Virginia, Eden Prairie, Armstrong, Benilde-St. Margarets, Mound-WestTonka, and Mankato. MAST will also enter two to three invitational meets during the season. In February, MAST athletes ski in the Minnesota State High School Section IV and, for those who qualify, the Minnesota State High School Championship.
The varsity squads consist of 10 male and 10 female athletes for dual meets and 6 male and 6 female athletes for invitational races and Section Championships. The varsity roster is determined by time trials and race results and can change at any time, depending on who is skiing fast that week.
At most dual meets, all team members race. Those designated “varsity” score in the varsity race and everyone else competes as “junior varsity” and scores in the junior varsity race. In addition, we try to enter our junior varsity athletes into one or two invitational races each year. Finally, Hyland hosts a junior varsity race series on Friday evenings in January and February. MAST JV athletes are encouraged to race in these races when we are in town.
Races consist of two race runs, usually down two different slalom courses. The times from both runs are combined to determine the race finish order. Athletes are given a short period of time to inspect the courses before the race begins.
How Is MAST Administered?
The Mpls Alpine Ski Team is a non-profit 501(c)3 administered by a Board of Directors. The Board is responsible for managing the team’s finances, initiating fundraising efforts, and marketing the team to Mpls students and families. The Board also works closely with the coaching staff to make the camps and races run smoothly throughout the season. Most important, MAST would not exist without the many parents who volunteer to raise money, drive athletes, coach, shoot photos and video, cook, set up race venues, gate judge, etc. Without them, MAST would not exist.