Minneapolis Alpine Ski Team 2026-2027 FACT Sheet
FACT SHEET:
Alpine skiing is a sanctioned winter sport of the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL). Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) offers alpine ski racing as a varsity and junior varsity sport for boys and girls in grades 7th through 12th grades who attend a Minneapolis Public School (MPS). Most students and parents who participate in alpine skiing are unfamiliar with how the sport is administered. This “Fact Sheet” provides a quick overview of high school alpine ski racing with Minneapolis Public Schools.
Alpine skiing is a sanctioned winter sport of the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL). Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) offers alpine ski racing as a varsity and junior varsity sport for boys and girls in grades 7th through 12th grades who attend a Minneapolis Public School (MPS). Most students and parents who participate in alpine skiing are unfamiliar with how the sport is administered. This “Fact Sheet” provides a quick overview of high school alpine ski racing with Minneapolis Public Schools.
Organization
Training
Commitment and Expectations
MAST welcomes students of all ability levels, from beginner to expert. Our coaching staff will work with you to help you to improve whatever skills you bring to the slopes.
Competition
Transportation
MPS partially funds six paid coaches and bus transportation to away races. Team fees help to fund additional coaches and cover a portion of the other costs associated with operating a ski team (i.e. race entry fees, training equipment and services such as gates, drills, two-way radios, timing system, online video sharing, etc. No student will be turned away for non-payment of the
team membership fee).
Parent Involvement
Parent involvement is critical to the success of MAST. Parents are encouraged to become involved with the team in a variety of volunteer roles. Ski racing could not exist for Minneapolis students without the active involvement and support of parents.
Equipment
Optional equipment as athletes improve and they become more competitive: GS suit (to
enhance aerodynamics), additional tuning equipment/waxes.
Used race equipment can be purchased during September and October when local ski teams hold “ski swaps” at their home ski areas (Buck Hill, Hyland, Wild Mountain, Powder Ridge, Afton Alps, etc). Used race equipment can also be found on various online websites. Please be advised to review any online purchases with your coaches before making the purchase. They are happy to assist you to make sure you are getting the proper equipment in the correct size and for a fair price. Pierce Skate and Ski offers deeper discounts to MAST athletes on new equipment when purchased in September through mid-October. The MAST website offers detailed information on how to buy used equipment at ski swaps. MAST also has a ski swap inventory. MAST coaches and parents hold tuning seminars to help you learn how to keep your edges sharp and bases waxed.
Communications
All of our communication is done by email and Team Snap (TS) to parents and athletes.
For Immediate Questions, Contact your school Core Member:
Washburn/Paige
David Payne
[email protected]
612-600-6666
Southwest/Anthony
Bill Bray
[email protected]
507-301-7109
MAST- All other schools
Owen Moldow
[email protected]
612-730-4818
- Minneapolis Alpine Ski Team (MAST) is an incorporated non-profit 501c3, governed by a Board of Directors.
- MAST has been providing organizational and financial support as an MPS sanctioned team since 2000.
- MAST is funded through a combination of sources: Minneapolis Public Schools, Club Membership Fees, MPS activity fees, and fundraising.
- The MAST Head coaching staff: Joel Hedrick, Eleanor Goodnow, Mathew Polland, Paige
Alampi, Andrea Savage and Ben Anderson - Assistant coaches will be added for the 2026-2027 season.
- All the coaches work hard to maximize skill development for all athletes and to teach safe skiing habits and maintain safe training environments at all times.
Training
- Season officially opens on Monday, November 9, 2026, and closes on February 9, 2027.
- Start the season with dryland training at Washburn HS Stadium from 4:30-6:00 PM.
- Training on snow starts when Hyland Hills opens.
- Practices are held at Hyland Ski and Snowboard Area in Bloomington.
- Monday-Friday after school. Training sessions are: 3:30-5:45; 5-7:15; and sometimes 6:30-8:45.
- Saturday mornings- 7:45-10:30AM
- Supplemental Training sessions - held at Wild Mountain or Welch, dates TBD
- Cost is approx $60 per supplemental session.
- Cost is approx $60 per supplemental session.
- Finalized training schedule published on TeamSnap in late October.
- Monday-Friday after school. Training sessions are: 3:30-5:45; 5-7:15; and sometimes 6:30-8:45.
- MAST Alpine Ski Athlete Retreat and Tuning Clinic- November 14th.
- Winter Break Training
- Daily practices at Hyland Hills- schedule to be published on TeamSnap.
- Giants Ridge Training Camp December 30th 2026 6AM- January 2nd 2027 9PM.
- Daily practices at Hyland Hills- schedule to be published on TeamSnap.
Commitment and Expectations
MAST welcomes students of all ability levels, from beginner to expert. Our coaching staff will work with you to help you to improve whatever skills you bring to the slopes.
- Athletes are expected to attend a minimum of four practices per week if in high school and three practices a week if in middle school.
- Athletes are expected to be on time and stay for the duration of practice. Athletes are expected to come to the hill each day with the goal to develop and improve their technical and tactical skills in the sport of ski racing.
- Athletes are expected to help clean up the hill and put away equipment.
- Use of the chalet is limited to warming up and using the bathroom. Pack snacks in your pockets and bring a water bottle.
Competition
- During the season, students from all Minneapolis high schools compete for their respective schools team (as shown below)
- Southwest
- Washburn
- MAST: South, Roosevelt, Edison, North and Camden.
- MAST sets its own competition schedule.
- Hyland Hills Races: 3-4 races
- Race included JV and Varsity
- VS Wayzata, Mounds, West Tonka, Bloomington Jefferson, Academy of Holy Angels, De LaSalle and/or Benilde-St. Margarets
- Starts at 4:30- early school release
- Metro East Conference- 3 Races
- Race includes Varsity (10 athletes per boys and girls team) and JV
- Compete against Hastings, Hill-Murray, Mahtomedi, St. Thomas Academy, and Visitation
- Location: varies, Welch, Buck Hill, Wild Mt.
- Start at 4:30 pm- early school release.
- Invitational Meet: 2-3 Races
- Varsity only- team of 6 per Boys and Girls team.
- Location: varies, Wild Mt, Giants Ridge, Welch
- Held during school day- full day release.
- Minnesota State High School Section IV Championships
- Varsity only- 6 per team.
- Location: Wild Mountain on Wednesday- February 3th, 2027
- Held during school day- full day release.
- MN State High School Alpine Championships.
- For those who qualify
- Location: Giants Ridge on Tuesday, February 9th, 2027
- 2 day school release- one day of trainers, next day is race.
- Hyland Hills Races: 3-4 races
- Varsity: The varsity roster is determined by each team's head coach based on time trials and race results.
- If you are not racing for varsity you will be on JV
- To participate in races each athlete must complete their race intentions, if not completed, athletes will not be permitted to race
- All MAST athletes have the opportunity to earn high school letters and athletic honors in alpine skiing.
Transportation
- Athletes are responsible for securing transportation to and from Hyland for practices and races. Many families set up carpools.
- MAST will charter a bus to transport athletes to supplemental training sessions, camps and “away” competitions. Occasionally carpools with need to be arranged.
- $300: Suggested and optional MAST Team Membership Fee
- $75 MPS Activity Fee (helps fund additional coaches).
- $524 for an unlimited season pass at Hyland Ski and Snowboard Area if purchased through MAST through October 2026.
○ All athletes are required to purchase an unlimited season pass to Hyland Hills.
○ Athletes can purchase the pass directly through MAST until October 24 th and save the expense of paying MN state sales tax or you can purchase directly from Three Rivers Parks/Hyland Hills. - Hyland Pass price goes up to $549 on November 1, 2026.
- $60 for MAST supplemental training opportunities at more challenging training venues
(optional; approximate cost per training session). - $30-35 to help cover the cost of a lift ticket at competition venues other than Hyland
Hills. - Approximately $650 for our optional four day, three night winter break camp at Giants
Ridge. - $??? for all ski equipment.
- End of Year Banquet- $15 per person, max $60 per family. Payment by families TBD.
MPS partially funds six paid coaches and bus transportation to away races. Team fees help to fund additional coaches and cover a portion of the other costs associated with operating a ski team (i.e. race entry fees, training equipment and services such as gates, drills, two-way radios, timing system, online video sharing, etc. No student will be turned away for non-payment of the
team membership fee).
Parent Involvement
Parent involvement is critical to the success of MAST. Parents are encouraged to become involved with the team in a variety of volunteer roles. Ski racing could not exist for Minneapolis students without the active involvement and support of parents.
- Race workers- pre season training sessions with coaches and seasoned parent volunteers.
- Practice help- parents will be on hill during team practices, helping coaches, giving guidance. Coaches will hold training sessions for this.
- MAST Board roles: accounting, marketing, fundraising, website management, statistics, equipment, registration and administration, photography, cooking, race tent management, etc.
- MAST Task Groups-openings will be announced
- New Racer Information Night- Lynnhurst Community Center-September 28th at 7 pm.
- MAST Parent Social at Dual Citizen Brewing Company- December 6th 5pm-7pm.
Equipment
- Athletes need to secure the following equipment:
● Slalom race skis and bindings
● Boots
● Poles with pole guards
● Alpine race helmet
● Shin guards
● Warm winter outdoor clothing
● Basic ski tuning supplies (edge tuning system, wax, iron, scraper).
Optional equipment as athletes improve and they become more competitive: GS suit (to
enhance aerodynamics), additional tuning equipment/waxes.
Used race equipment can be purchased during September and October when local ski teams hold “ski swaps” at their home ski areas (Buck Hill, Hyland, Wild Mountain, Powder Ridge, Afton Alps, etc). Used race equipment can also be found on various online websites. Please be advised to review any online purchases with your coaches before making the purchase. They are happy to assist you to make sure you are getting the proper equipment in the correct size and for a fair price. Pierce Skate and Ski offers deeper discounts to MAST athletes on new equipment when purchased in September through mid-October. The MAST website offers detailed information on how to buy used equipment at ski swaps. MAST also has a ski swap inventory. MAST coaches and parents hold tuning seminars to help you learn how to keep your edges sharp and bases waxed.
Communications
All of our communication is done by email and Team Snap (TS) to parents and athletes.
- Consequently, be sure that we have your correct email addresses and that you check your email daily once the season is underway. TS is used primarily for registration and to provide you a calendar of events. The bulk of communication is through e-mail.
- Athletes and parents and guardians can get on the MAST Update distribution e-mail list by filling out a simple form here: New Athlete Inquiry Form.
- Once you are on our MAST Update distribution list, you will receive all communications regarding the registration process, pre-season orientations and trainings, equipment, sales, fundraising, MAST apparel, and volunteer opportunities. Once our season opens, the MAST Updates will keep you informed about training, racing, camps, results, and everything else you need to know in order to make the most of your involvement.
- The MAST Website address is: www.mplsalpineski.org. Please check out our website carefully. Not only will you find current and in-depth information about MAST, but also useful information about ski racing, ski tuning, gate judging, equipment, etc.
For Immediate Questions, Contact your school Core Member:
Washburn/Paige
David Payne
[email protected]
612-600-6666
Southwest/Anthony
Bill Bray
[email protected]
507-301-7109
MAST- All other schools
Owen Moldow
[email protected]
612-730-4818