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Mpls Alpine Ski Team
Update #3: September 20, 2018 Subject: Registration Update, MAST Picnic, Equipment Update, MAST Equipment Swap, MAST Equipment Night at Pierce, Pierce Oktoberfest Team Fundraiser, MAST Parent Party and Racing Workshops, Hyland Pass Payment Reminder Dear MAST Athletes and Families: Welcome to the 68 RETURNING athletes and 31 NEW athletes who have registered to date with MAST for the 2018-19 season. If you are a returning athlete and have not yet registered, please do so as soon as possible. If you can't formally register at this time for any reason, please send me an email so I know to hold your spot. Thanks to those of you who have done already. Here is a link to register with MAST. MAST BBQ Picnic and Annual Meeting: Sunday, September 23, 2018 This annual event at Beard’s Plaisance (44th and Upton Ave S) runs from 4:30PM to 6:30PM or sunset, whichever comes first. The BBQ and Picnic will allow athletes, parents and coaches to meet one another, to share information about the upcoming season, to kick off the MAST apparel sale and fundraising activities, and to hold the Annual Meeting of the Minneapolis Alpine Ski Team (our 501c3). MAST will provide charcoal and light the grills located at Beard’s. Families should bring something to share with the team and something to throw on the grill for your family. If your last name begins with: A-G: Bring Salad or Side Dish H-M: Bring Dessert N-Z: Bring Beverage(non-alcoholic) or Chips SENIORS: please arrive early (4:00) to help with set up. JUNIORS: please plan to stay a bit longer and help with clean up duties. PLEASE NOTE: At 4:45, the Captains, Coaches and Board Members will start a short presentation covering team finances, training and camp plans, apparel sales, fundraising, and parent volunteer needs. It will be riveting. Print the attached flyer as a reminder of this fun and informative event. Equipment Update - With registration underway, it is time to make sure everyone is finding the equipment you need. This will take a bit of time and possibly some research if you are new to the sport, so I recommend getting started now. 1. Ski Area Swaps - the first of three local ski swaps open this weekend. Slalom race skis go fast. If possible, you might want to get there before the swap opens on the first day, so you have a shot at finding a good pair at a reasonable price.
2. Used Equipment Online - ski equipment is also available online. A good site I found and just used is Sidelineswap. It worked well for me and the skis arrived in less than a week from Vermont. The PNSA site sells equipment from skiers in the Pacific NW. Slalom skis from there might be in better shape than even those sold locally because the snow is softer there and they ski less slalom than skiers do here--in other words the slalom skis might have more life in them. Craigslist is not yet populated with many race skis as of today, but it is a good source later in the fall. Remember, if you are going to buy online, you need to know exactly what you are looking for--brand, model, length. The ad needs to clearly state that it is a slalom race ski. Usually this information is located in the skis graphics. I am happy to review any purchase you might be considering and offer an opinion on sizing, send the link to me. If you are in the market for used skis or boots, you should download and read the MAST Guide To Buying Used Ski Equipment. 3. MAST Equipment Check and Swap: Saturday, September 29, 9am-Noon - If you are unsure about whether it is time to switch out your boots or skis, bring them to the swap for a coach to advise. Whether you are looking to buy, sell, or just double check to see if your equipment is still right for you....
4. MAST Equipment Night at Pierce Skate and Ski: Wednesday, October 10, 5-9PM - new this year, Pierce will add additional staff to the floor on Wednesday, Oct. 10 to help size and match MAST athletes with any new equipment they might need for the coming season. One item I would like all new athletes to purchase new is a race helmet. Not all helmets are equal. Proper fit affects performance. And some brands will fit your noggin better than others. You can also get properly sized for skis, boots and poles. There is no obligation to purchase. I will be in attendance and available to help and hopefully we will have a few more coaches there as well. Finally, if you want to check equipment off your list before the 10th, you can always call Pierce to make an appointment. Many of you have enjoyed working with Tyler Pierce, Dave Hinz or Dave Anderson, but know that everyone who works the floor is well qualified to assist you.
MAST Team Fundraiser: Pierce Skate and Ski Oktoberfest-- October 5-7, 2018. Once again, MAST will be grilling and serving hot dogs at the Pierce Skate and Ski Oktoberfest from Friday, October 5 through Sunday, October 7, 2018. Shifts are a little over two hours in length and require a minimum of two people per shift. One adult is required per shift to supervise the work. Note that shifts are available during the school day on Friday. Parents, we will need your help to fill these spots since the athletes are in school. A big thank you to Roger Finney who has already signed up to staff a couple of Friday morning shifts. Please sign up for the 2018 Pierce Oktoberfest Team Fundraiser HERE! [To help recruit and organize volunteers during the season, MAST uses SignUp.com. It is easy to use. Just enter your email address and select your shift. You will NOT need to create an account on SignUp.com. SignUp.com will send you an automated confirmation and reminders.] Sunday, October 14, 2018--MAST Parent Party and Racing Workshop Back by popular demand, we bring you the MAST Parent Party and Workshop! For those of you unfamiliar with this event, last year we combined the parent kick off meeting, the volunteer workshop and the parent social into ONE BIG PARTY! Attend workshops on everything from ‘What is Ski Racing’ to ‘Advanced Ski Tuning’ and more. We’ll have chili & cornbread, beer & wine. AND start training for the Second Annual All Parent Race. Jeremy Graff and Greg Abel will be defending their title, and the right to hold onto The Golden Ski. WHEN: Sunday, October 14 from 3:00-7:00* WHERE: The Tanner’s Home at 18 Park Lane on Cedar Lake in Minneapolis (some activities will be outside, dress appropriately) WHO: MAST parents new and ‘experienced’ WHY: Because it will be fun, you’ll see old friends and meet new ones, and you’ll learn a thing or two! *Workshops will be offered from 3:15-6:00. Our Second Annual All Parent Race will be from 6:00-7:00. Some comments from last year…best parent MAST event ever…kickoff parent party was a great success…got to know MAST better and have fun…what a hit – the stations, the setting, the race…we had a blast! WHAT TO DO: What for a follow up email with instructions to RSVP, sign up for workshops, and bring something to share. Hyland Season Pass Fee Payments Thank you to everyone who has sent a check to cover the season pass fee. We will schedule a season pass photo and pick up night the first week of the season. If you ordered a Hyland Season Pass this fall and still need to submit payment, please do so before October 19. Please send payment in the amount of $424 to: Mpls Alpine c/o Mark Conway 4800 Harriet Ave. S. Mpls, MN 55419 Please call or email if you have questions. If you have equipment questions, it is easiest to answer these over a phone call. Thanks for reading. Mark Conway 612-275-8392 [email protected] Mpls Alpine Ski Team
Update #2: September 6, 2018 Subject: State Fair Re-Cap; MAST Registration Update; MAST BBQ Picnic and Annual Meeting, Equipment, Parent Social and More… Dear Athletes and Parents: THANK YOU TO ALL who helped clean the goat barn on Monday evening. We finished in record time. Our supervisor from the State Fair had this to say: “your group is flippin’ amazing.” I’ll take that as a compliment. He told me that the last group to clean it didn’t finish until 11PM. Everyone just started digging in, working together to get the work done and do it well. I was really impressed by the number of NEW families and athletes who helped. I picked up a blue Henri Lloyd jacket from the bleachers after everyone left. Please give me a call if you would like to retrieve it: 612-275-8392. Registration Update Thank you to ALL 79 of you who have registered to ski with MAST as of this morning. Thirty of you are new to MAST, so “Welcome.” Returning athletes and families: I suspect that most of you are planning to register since so many of you already purchased a season pass back in March. If you still need to register, here is a link: 2018-19 MAST Registration. If you are waiting to register for some reason that is fine, but please send me a note to confirm your intentions: [email protected]. If you need instructions about the MAST 2-STEP REGISTRATION PROCESS CLICK HERE. One small clarification about payment: you have the option of paying the MAST team fee ($175) and MPS Activity Fee ($75) by credit card or check. If you do pay by check, please make the check payable to Mpls Alpine and mail to: Mpls Alpine Ski Team, c/o Mark Conway, 4800 Harriet Ave S, 55419. MAST BBQ Picnic and Annual Meeting: Sunday, September 23, 2018 This annual event at Beard’s Plaisance (44th and Upton Ave S) runs from 4:30PM to 6:30PM or sunset, whichever comes first. The BBQ and Picnic will allow athletes, parents and coaches to meet one another, to share information about the upcoming season, to kick off the MAST apparel sale and fundraising activities, and to hold the Annual Meeting of the Minneapolis Alpine Ski Team (our 501c3). MAST will provide charcoal and light the grills located at Beard’s. Families should bring something to share with the team and something to throw on the grill for your family. If your last name begins with: A-G: Bring Salad or Side Dish H-M: Bring Dessert N-Z: Bring Beverage(non-alcoholic) or Chips SENIORS: please arrive early (4:00) to help with set up. JUNIORS: please plan to stay a bit longer and help with clean up duties. PLEASE NOTE: At 4:45, the Captains, Coaches and Board Members will start a short presentation covering team finances, training and camp plans, apparel sales, fundraising, and parent volunteer needs. It will be riveting. Print the attached flyer as a reminder of this fun and informative event. MAST Team Fundraiser: Pierce Skate and Ski Oktoberfest-- October 5-7, 2018. Once again, MAST will be grilling and serving hot dogs at the Pierce Skate and Ski Oktoberfest from Friday, October 5 through Sunday, October 7, 2018. Shifts are a little over two hours in length and require a minimum of two people per shift. One adult is required per shift to supervise the work. Note that shifts are available during the school day on Friday. Parents, we will need your help to fill these spots since the athletes are in school. A big thank you to Roger Finney who has already signed up to staff a couple of Friday morning shifts. Please sign up for the 2018 Pierce Oktoberfest Team Fundraiser HERE! [To help recruit and organize volunteers during the season, MAST uses SignUp.com. It is easy to use. Just enter your email address and select your shift. You will NOT need to create an account on SignUp.com. SignUp.com will send you an automated confirmation and reminders.] MAST Equipment Check and Swap: Saturday, September 29 We are holding our second annual equipment check and swap the morning of Saturday, Sept 29. Location: 4800 Harriet Ave. S. (across from Fuller Park) Equipment drop off: 8am-9am. Swap: 9am-Noon If you are unsure about whether it is time to switch out your boots or skis, bring them to the swap for a coach to advise. Save The Date: Sunday, October 14, 2018--MAST Parent Social and Training Once again, we will be gathering on the scenic shores of Cedar Lake at the home of Lisa and Doug Tanner for an afternoon of food, drink, mingling and alpine racing education. More details coming soon. For now, reserve the afternoon/early evening of Oct 14. You won’t want to miss it! Equipment First, all returning athletes to should TRY ON YOUR BOOTS to see if they still fit. If they are tight, know that a ski shop can stretch and cut boots so that you can get one more year out of them. Not always, but frequently. Make sure you are trying on boots with a ski sock. If you are wearing a medium or heavy weight sock, try a lightweight ski sock. It might just make a difference and you will not sacrifice warmth. If you are new to ski racing, you will want a pair of racing boots. They will give you a better position over your skis and the ability to flex your boots properly. Recreational boots do not serve ski racers well once we get into a race course. Caution: your feet do not need to be uncomfortable in ski boots, but ski boots should not and will not feel like tennis shoes either. Second, everyone should have SLALOM race skis. Slalom race skis will serve you well once you get into a slalom course. They will hold on ice (provided you keep them sharp); they will execute a tight radius slalom turn (provided you have learned the proper technique and tactics); and they will handle the high speeds you will attain without rattling your brain matter. Third, ski swaps are starting up soon. Buck Hill holds one the weekend of Sept. 28-30; Afton Alps will be held October 5-7 and 12-14; Team Gilboa at Hyland Hills holds one the weekend of Oct 26-28. If you plan to purchase your skis or boots at a ski swap I have two pieces of advice: 1. Know your sizes and preferred models/brands beforehand. The sales help at swaps has been hit and miss—mostly a miss. 2. Bring the phone numbers of your coaches (they should be listed on our website) so that if you have any questions, you can give us a call while you are making your decision. In addition, you can find used equipment for sale at several sites on the worldwide web. Check out this link to our Equipment page on our website for more information. Explore other pages on our website for more information about the equipment you need and the proper size. Attached is the MAST Guide To Buying Used Ski Equipment. If you are in the market for used skis or boots, you should download and read this document before making a purchase. And if you are buying new for the first time, this document might be useful to you as well. You will at least know whether the salesperson has sized you properly. Finally, attached is a letter from Bart Pierce, the owner of Pierce Skate and Ski. In my opinion and in my experience, the staff at Pierce Skate and Ski does a great job fitting and matching our athletes into the best boots and skis possible. If you are looking for new equipment, Pierce offers a special pricing program to our athletes on most race equipment (boots, skis, bindings, poles and even waxes) from now through the middle of October. See the letter for details. Also know that Bart has an inventory of skis from last season that he has specially priced for high school racers. The skis are adult lengths and models and come with bindings, mounting and a race tune included in the package price. This will save you a few hundred dollars over buying this year’s model. The shop gets busy this time of year, so if you are looking for new equipment, I suggest making an appointment. A proper boot fitting usually takes 90 minutes to complete at Pierce. Be sure to tell Bart and his staff that you ski for MAST. And if you are a returning skier with MAST, download your best Sprongo video clip so the staff can see how you ski. This will help the salesperson determine which models are best suited for your ability level. Raise the MAST Signs If you are in possession of a MAST Lawn Sign, feel free to set it out in your yard. If you are new to MAST, a lawn sign will be delivered in the near future. If you are a returning athlete and you do not have a sign, please send me an email: [email protected]. Hyland Season Pass Fee Payments If you ordered a Hyland Season Pass this fall, please remember to send payment in the amount of $424 to: Mpls Alpine c/o Mark Conway 4800 Harriet Ave. S. Mpls, MN 55419 As always, please contact me by email or phone if you have any questions. Mark Conway 612-275-8392 [email protected] |
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