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Good Afternoon: As promised, registration to join the Mpls Alpine Ski Team opens Sunday morning starting at 12:01AM. This if the first of two registration steps you will need to take to be fully registered for the 2023-24 alpine ski season. The second step will open on October 26th. This is when you will be able to register for Alpine Skiing as your high school winter sport with Minneapolis Public Schools Athletics Department. Please find attached the instructions that will guide you through both steps of the registration process. You will find the links to register in the instructions. Do NOT try to register with your smartphone. Use a computer or tablet. If you are a returning athlete, please look through all of the data points you entered last year for accuracy. In other words, make the appropriate changes to any information that is no longer accurate in your Team Snap account: your grade, school, hone numbers, email addresses, home addresses, health insurance, medical conditions, etc. Also, know that your parents will need to download, sign and upload a MAST Assumption of Risk and Release of Liability form. I have attached a copy to this update for you to download in advance. If you have any questions, I will be available next week to assist you. Just give me a call. For students who are new to MAST, we have an information meeting scheduled for Monday, October 2 at Fuller Park (48th and Grand Ave S) at 7PM. The title of the much anticipated presentation is "Orientation to High School Ski Racing and MAST. Our goal is to fill your brain with all the information you need to discern whether the Mpls Alpine Ski Team will be a good fit for you. Parents and athletes should attend this presentation together. If you have another commitment and cannot make it, I will be posting a narrated slideshow to our website by the end of the first week of October on our website. But you should attend in person if possible. A lot is happening this month. Please look through our website carefully for detailed information and sign ups.
Enjoy the weekend. Mark Conway 612-275-8392 
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Hello MAST Supporters! The fourth annual MASTers Golf Event is just over a week away and we need more teams to sign up! 4PM Thursday 10/5 at Hiawatha Golf Course with pizza, beverages and prizes in the Clubhouse to follow. It’s a great way to support MAST – and an even better excuse to get out and enjoy some fall weather before the snow flies! Sign up below: MASTers Golf Signup We’re also looking for donations for the Raffle and Silent Auction for the event – no item too big or too small! MASTers Golf Tournament Raffle Donation Please join us for a round. Have some laughs. Brave the gales of October. It is not necessary to be any good at golf to enjoy this event. And as long as I am playing, know that there is always somebody on the fairway who hits the ball more poorly than you. I look forward to seeing everyone there. Mark MAST UPDATE #4 Friday, September 15, 2023 Hello MAST Athletes, Parents, Friends, and Coaches: First, I would like to welcome the new athletes/families to MAST who have expressed interest in our team. Our means of communicating with our athletes and families is through email. Our sport is more complicated than most, but also more rewarding once you settle in for the journey. You will find that most of your questions will be answered simply by taking the time to read these Updates carefully and following through on any action requested. Second, I am having trouble adding “mpsedu” email addresses to our google groups address book. There might be a setting you can change so that your email address can be added and you can start receiving Updates to your "mpsedu" account. But MPS might also be blocking outside organizations from directly adding people to our address book. Parents, until we figure out a fix, please share these Updates with your athlete. And if anyone has a fix, please let me know. We have a lot of stuff coming up in October. Mark your calendars, sign up, participate, engage, learn, befriend, expand, and thrive. Here we go. I. Hyland Season Passes On Sale Through MAST Now Through October 29 Attached is a roster of athletes who purchased a 2023-24 Hyland season pass in the Spring of 2023 at the discounted rate of $449. For those who still need to purchase a 2023-24 Season Pass to Hyland, you can do so THROUGH MAST and save money because you will avoid paying MN sales tax. Unfortunately, the price is now set at $474 until the end of October. To purchase your pass through MAST, send a check made payable to Mpls Alpine in the amount of $474 to: Hope White 4945 Clinton Ave South Mpls, MN 55419-5660 Deadline for ordering your pass through MAST: Sunday, October 29. A BIG THANK YOU to Hope for once again managing our season pass sales effort. You can also purchase your pass directly from Hyland and Three Rivers Park District. Then, mark Monday, November 13th from 6-7:30PM on your calendar. That is when we all meet at Hyland to take our season pass photos and pick up our passes. We also knock off some other administrative business at that time. II. New Family Orientation to High School Ski Racing and MAST Monday, Oct 2, 7-8:30PM Fuller Park Rec Center (4802 Grand Ave South) MPS Students in grades 7 through 12 and their parents/guardians are invited to attend a presentation on high school alpine ski racing and the Mpls Alpine Ski Team. The presentation will help students and parents discern whether our sport and our team is a good fit for you. (Hopefully, you will decide to give it a try.) Returning athletes and parents are invited as well, especially if you missed last year’s presentation and still have questions about our season and program. We will be holding a full team (athletes and parents) online presentation titled “Orientation to the 2023-24 Alpine Season” on Sunday, November 12 at 6PM. If you can’t attend, the presentation will be posted on our website so you can view it over and over again at your pleasure. But in-person is so much better. III. MASTers Golf Tournament Thursday, October 5, 4PM Tee Time. Earlier this week I sent you notice about our MASTers Golf Tournament Team Fundraiser on Thursday, October 5 at 4PM at Hiawatha Golf Course. This fundraiser is for adults only... parents, grandparents, neighbors, alumni.... Pizza and beverages will be served in the clubhouse afterwards and we will be holding a raffle (that has proven to be very lucrative for the Conway household in the past.) We are seeking donations for the raffle. If you have something to donate (gift cards, a service, an experience, apparel, equipment, etc), please donate here: MASTers Golf Tournament Raffle Donation. To book your tee time, sign up HERE: MASTers Golf Tournament Sign UP. IV. Mr. Paul’s Supper Club Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser Monday, October 9 The other BIG team fundraiser coming up is sponsored by MAST Families Tommy Begnaud, Carrie Begnaud, Levi Ehlers, and Phoenix Ehlers at their restaurant Mr. Paul’s Supper Club. They are hosting a pasta dinner just for us. All money raised comes back to MAST. Last year’s dinner was a huge success. Great food. Great atmosphere. Festive, delicious, energizing. Here are more details. Where: Mr. Paul's Supper Club. 50th & France (3917 Market St, Edina, MN 55424) Two Seatings 6:00pm & 7:30pm Tickets: $25 for adults & $15 for Kids under 12 (Paid in advance. If your athlete is a volunteer - they eat free!) Drinks available for purchase Food: Buffet style: Pasta, (with a gluten free option), vegetarian red sauce, meatballs, salad, bread, dessert Please sell tickets to family, friends, neighbors, teachers, grandparents- anyone looking to support MAST, eat great food, and dine at the Twin Cities Best Restaurant -Mr. Paul's Supper Club! TO MAKE RESERVATIONS, CLICK HERE: Mr. Paul’s Supper Club MAST Dinner. Attached is a flyer that you can send out to anyone in your world who might be interested in enjoying an outstanding meal with exceptional athlete led service in a joyous atmosphere. V. Equipment and Equipment Sales and Swaps A. Educate Yourself About Ski Race Equipment. As you know, ski racing is an equipment intensive sport. Which makes it an expensive sport. If you are just getting into ski racing, the costs can be overwhelming. To help you manage these expenses, we encourage new families to buy as much used equipment as you can (with the exception of a race helmet—buy that new and don’t skimp on the price). The first of several “ski swaps” starts next Friday, September 22 at Buck Hill. Ski swaps are also held at Afton and Hyland in October. These swaps are good places to buy used boots and skis, race suits, jackets, poles, and protective equipment. I advise you to do your homework ahead of time so you know what you are looking for. My other piece of advice: be there when the doors open, especially if you are looking for slalom race skis. Those go quickly. Before you go to a swap, make sure you know the following information about equipment. Slalom race skis: distinguishing between a recreational ski and slalom race ski, jr race vs tweaner vs adult FIS, proper length, differentiating between “used but serviceable” vs “worn out”. Race boots: distinguishing race boots from recreational, ascertaining proper fit and flex number, identifying used but serviceable. Race poles: vs recreational poles, compatible with pole guards, proper sizing. To help you become educated, follow this link to the MAST Guide to Buying New and Used Equipment. Read this before you go to a swap so you know what you are looking for and how to discern race from recreational and quality from worn out. The MAST Guide is also attached. B. Upcoming Ski Area Swaps Buck Hill: Friday, September 22 and Saturday, September 23 Afton: Friday, October 6 and Saturday, October 7 Hyland//Team Gilboa: Friday, October 27 and Saturday, October 28. C. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11TH MAST Equipment Night At Pierce Skate and Ski If you are in the market for new equipment, remember that Pierce Skate and Ski is holding its annual MAST Equipment Night on Wednesday, October 11. MAST coaches will be on hand from 3PM to close to assist you and the Pierce staff with properly matching and fitting athletes with new gear. If you need new boots, be sure to make an appointment in advance by calling Pierce Skate and Ski directly. 952-884-1990. Again, you can make an appointment on October 11th when a MAST coach will be on hand to help, or any other day of the week. Boot and ski models and sizes do sell out, so if you know that you will be buying new equipment this year, I suggest making the appointment for either October 11th or earlier. D. Saturday, October 14, 9-Noon MAST Equipment Swap & Tuning Clinic & Individual Fundraiser Kick-Off 1. MAST Equipment Swap MAST is also holding an equipment swap on Saturday, October 14. You can sell or donate your old equipment and look for used equipment as well. Coaches will be on hand to assist you with selection and sizing. Here are some instructions. You can also find these on our website at https://www.mplsalpineski.org/mast-equipment-swap.html. Location: 4800 Harriet Ave Equipment Check In: 8-9AM Equipment Sale: 9AM to Noon. Equipment Pick Up/Cash Out: Noon to 1PM. And... Added Bonus Events During The Swap.... Tuning Clinic: 10AM Individual Fundraiser Kick-Off: 10AM to Noon. 2. MAST Ski Swap Instructions If you have any equipment you would like to sell at the swap, you are encouraged to post this information on our website in advance. This includes skis, boots, shin guards, poles, gs suits, bibs, etc. Here is what to do. Step One: Take one or more pictures of each item you would like to sell. Be sure to get as much detail in as possible, i.e., condition of the boot soles, model information, flex number, sizing, etc. Step Two: Fill out the Equipment Sales Form on our website. https://www.mplsalpineski.org/mast-equipment-swap-sales-form.html Step Three: Send the photos to Cyrus Vahhaji ([email protected]) and Mark Conway ([email protected]), along with a short message that you would like these photos on the website and that you have filled out the sales form for each item. If the item does not sell before the swap on Oct 14, then bring it to the swap to sell. Equipment is already posted on our website for sale. Check it out if you are looking for used equipment: https://www.mplsalpineski.org/equipment-swap-inventory.html 3. MAST Tuning Clinic: Saturday, October 14 at 10AM (During the MAST Ski Swap) All MAST athletes should be able to tune your skis (sharpen your edges and wax your bases). Parents are encouraged to also learn how to tune the skis so you can help your athlete do this properly without damaging the skis. Two brains are better than one. Our tuning clinic will teach you the basics of tuning and will help you get started. Join us at 10AM on Oct 14th. 4. MAST Individual Fundraiser Kick-Off MinneSalsa and Urban Ventures Coffee Sales. 10AM-Noon on October 14th at the MAST Equipment Swap. Receive instruction on how to sell salsa from MinneSalsa and coffee from Urban Ventures, pick up order forms, and get fired up to earn money to cover some of your expenses for the season. Use the money to pay for Saturday Supplemental Training Sessions, purchase Away Race Lift Tickets, help cover the Winter Break Training Camp Fee, purchase tickets for the MAST Banquet, or buy MAST apparel. VI. Registration for MAST and Alpine Skiing Finally, a word about how to register for MAST. The Mpls Alpine Ski Team is a 501c3 non-profit organization that administers the alpine ski racing team of the Mpls Public Schools. To become a team member, you need to register twice: once with MAST the non-profit and again with MPS Athletics. Registration with MAST opens on October 1 and registration with MPS Athletics opens October 26. At the point of registration, you will also be asked to pay two fees: $275 to Mpls Alpine and $75 to Mpls Public Schools. You will pay these fees during the registration processes of both organizations. Both registrations are online. I will send links and instructions in advance of the dates when each registration opens. When you register with MAST on or after October 1, you guarantee your place on the team. Registration for Alpine Skiing with MPS opens on October 26. If you have not registered with MAST by this date, there may not be any open positions remaining on the roster. There have been years when our roster has filled by the time registration opens with MPS Athletics. We don’t have tryouts and we don’t cut athletes. Nonetheless, because training space at Hyland is limited, we have to put a limit on our team size, which is roughly 120 skiers. I hope you enjoyed this very long --but useful-- MAST Update #4. I held my breath the entire time it took me to write it. If you missed any of our previous Updates you can always find them on our website under the About MAST Header. If you are not in a Fall sport, I hope you are doing something daily to improve your strength, endurance, balance, speed and agility. Be well. Make good decisions. Study hard. Be kind to your siblings and parents. They love you. Mark Conway 612-275-8392  
MAST UPDATE: MASTers Golf Tournament Fundraiser
Monday, September 11, 2023 Hello MAST Athletes, Parents, Friends, and Coaches: Now that the State Fair goat and poultry barns are sparkling clean, it is time to sign up for the first of two “social” fundraisers we will be holding this Fall. Please feel free to extend this invitation to family and friends who might enjoy nine holes of golf on an autumn evening in Minnesota. Fourth Annual MAST(ers) Golf Tourney! When: Thursday, October 5th. 4pm shotgun start Where: Hiawatha Golf Course Cost: $75/person The format will be a 9-hole, 4-person scramble, meaning that all players hit a shot, you choose which of the four balls is best, everyone picks up their balls and plays from the best spot and you continue until you get the ball in the hole. Your foursome will maintain a single score. This will be a fun, casual event with very little golf experience required and will have some on-course competitions where you might win a prize! In fact, the only real golf experience you need is the ability to fork over some cash. Sign up as foursome, or one, either way we’ll take care of you. All are welcome – no need to be part of the MAST family to be included! Golf Sign up at the link below 4th Annual MASTers Golf Tournament Sign Up Link After the golf and fellowship on the course, we’ll head inside the clubhouse where you can grab snacks & beverages as we run the raffle drawing and silent auction. And to make the event come to life, we need donations for the raffle and auction items. If you have anything to offer up as a giveaway, enter it in the link below. These donations have played a key part in helping fund the supplies we need to keep MAST running! Ideas for donations: Gift cards at stores/restaurants, access to sporting event, wine, golf gear, tickets – nothing is too big or too small – we just appreciate your generosity! Make A RAFFLE DONATION HERE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CAN ALSO BE FOUND OUR AWARD WINNING WEBSITE: https://www.mplsalpineski.org/masters-golf-tournament.html One more (profound) thought to share: Why We Fundraise. The 2023-24 MAST Team Fee of $275 is unchanged from 2022-23. We had a successful year of fundraising last year and for the first 23 years of our existence the MAST Board and Coaches have been very good stewards of the team’s finances. So it made sense to hold the line on our team fee for 2023-24. $275 may still seem expensive, but keep this in mind. Way back in 1975-76, I paid over $300 to join my club ski team. We trained four days a week back then. MAST will be training five to six days a week. The fundraising we engage in during the Fall months helps us keep our team fees low, relative to 1975 especially. I hope you will participate. Much More News to come in a day or two. For now, sign up to golf and make a raffle donation if you have the means. And spread the word. Mark Conway 612-275-8392 [email protected]—but only text or email until further notice... my iPhone 7 finally said NO MORE! It couldn't even hold out another ten days. Argh! MAST UPDATE #3
Thursday, September 7, 2023 Hello MAST Athletes, Parents, Friends, and Coaches: We had a great start to the season on Monday evening, cleaning the goat barn AND the poultry barn in record time. I want to extend a heartfelt word of thanks to all of you who came out to help. Best of all, you put in the hard work with smiles and enthusiasm and somehow made the steamy endeavor a great deal of fun. It was great to reconnect. Many of you told me how excited you are for the ski season to open and what you are doing to strengthen your body in preparation. That was really inspiring to hear. Again, THANK YOU! We have one date change to announce and a time change. Plus, I can give you the date of our end of season banquet so you can plan accordingly. SAVE THE DATES SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1 MAST Registration Opens Online! MONDAY, OCTOBER 2 at 7PM MAST Information Night for New Athletes and Families “Orientation to High School Ski Racing and MAST” Fuller Park, 48th and Grand Ave THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5 (moved from the 4th) 4th Annual MASTers GOLF TOURNAMENT Hiawatha Gold Course 4PM Shotgun Start (moved from a 3PM start) More Information and Sign Up Coming Soon! MONDAY, OCTOBER 9TH MAST Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser at Mr. Paul’s Supper Club Two Seatings: 6PM and 7:30PM We are excited to announce that Mr. Paul’s Supper Club Fundraiser for MAST is back! Set aside the evening of October 9th to enjoy the culinary delights and the festive setting of Mr. Paul’s Supper Club. Once again, our older athletes are invited to volunteer to work this event. You can sign up to work HERE: Mr. Paul’s Athlete Volunteer Work Sign Up. Ticketing information is coming soon! WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11TH MAST Equipment Day at Pierce Skate and Ski Equipment You are welcome to go to Pierce any day to purchase any new equipment you need for the season, but on Wednesday, October 11th, MAST coaches will be on hand to assist you and the Pierce staff with properly matching and fitting athletes with new gear. If you need new boots, be sure to make an appointment in advance by calling Pierce Skate and Ski directly. 952-884-1990. Again, you can make an appointment on October 11th when a MAST coach will be on hand to help, or any other day of the week starting now. Boot and ski models and sizes do sell out, so if you know that you will be buying new equipment this year, I suggest making the appointment for either October 11th or earlier. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26TH Winter Sports Registration Opens with Minneapolis Public Schools MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH Alpine Ski Season Officially Opens! Hyland Season Pass Photo Night, Pass Pick Up, and Team Meeting. 6-7:30PM at Hyland Hills. DECEMBER 18th-21st. Giants Ridge Camp! SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 5PM MAST BANQUET Southwest HS Finally, I was excited to hear that some athletes are already studying video on Sprongo. This “visualization” training is excellent. You should also utilize our website to access dozens of excellent instructional videos that you can find on the web. These can be found under the header Training and Racing, then click on Training, then click on Technique and Tactics and Mental Training. Here are links to get you there. https://www.mplsalpineski.org/technique--tactics.html https://www.mplsalpineski.org/mental-training-learning-from-the-pros.html Some of these videos are produced by the 1984 Olympic Giant Slalom Champion, Deb Armstrong. Her videos are incredibly informative and detailed. In addition to the ones listed on our website, you can go directly to Deb’s website to find many more. She produced some gems last year that are not yet on our website. https://www.youtube.com/@DebArmstrongSkiStrong That’s all for now! Our website is getting updated weekly so be sure to scroll around it regularly to stay informed. [email protected] Hope you are off to a great start to the academic year. Be inquisitive, study well, and do your best every day. Mark Conway 612-275-8392 Good Morning MAST Athletes and Families:
Thank you in advance to everyone who will be helping clean out the Goat Barn today (and Poultry Barn). The action begins at 5:30. PLEASE BRING A WATER BOTTLE, WORK GLOVES. WEAR CLOSED TOE SHOES/BOOTS. YOU MIGHT WANT TO HAVE A MASK IN YOU POCKET JUST IN CASE IT GETS TOO DUSTY FOR YOUR SINUSES. We could still use more hands on this fundraiser. We are sitting at 82 sign ups, but another 10-15 people would be perfect. Sign Up to clean the barn by clicking on this link. https://signup.com/go/bddNCgq Tickets are still available for pick up today at the McConville residence if you want to join us: 5057 Newton Ave. S., MPLS in plastic bin on side deck. Last Minute Questions: Call or text Matt McConville at 612-802-9560 See you at 5:30pm today at the Goat Barn (actually, it is marked as the Sheep Barn)... 1785 Judson Avenue. Mark |
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