​Mpls Alpine Ski Team - Update 9: Week Three-Monday, November 26, 2018
 
Good Day MAST Athletes, Families and Coaches:
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We are in week three of our season and once again we are busy...City Kids Java Fundraiser concludes...Hyland Training continues...Supplemental Training begins...Giants Ridge Camp Registration opens...We will continue to work on developing our fundamental skill sets using various free skiing drills.  Please continue to focus hard on learning the proper execution of these drills. We will start to get into gates tonight, but our course sets will allow you to test out the skills you have been learning, like rolling up your edges using your lower legs and keeping your upper body disciplined and quiet.  Don’t expect to see a true slalom course this week with corridors, delays, hairpins and flushes and all that jazz.
 
I.  City Kids Java Individual Fundraiser
City Kids Java(CKJ) orders are due today.  Please bring your order forms and the money you have collected to practice today.  If you can’t make it to practice tonight, please email your order form to Kirsten Arbeiter or drop it off at her home today: 4841 Aldrich Ave. S.  Kirsten needs the form to place the order first thing tomorrow morning.  You can make arrangements via email to get the money to her at another time this week.  Orders will be ready for pick up and distribution after practice on Saturday, Dec 1 at Fuller Park at 48th and Grand.
 
II.  Week Three Training Schedule
The training schedule for the week is posted on our homepage.  For Monday through Thursday practices this week, we will meet on South Chair for directed free skiing at 6:30pm.   We will move over to our training lanes on either the North Chair or the rope tow at 7:15 or shortly thereafter.  Be sure to wear ROPE TOW GLOVES so you can use the rope tow if we are on the lanes closest to the rope.  And you can bring your shin guards if you have them as well as your pole guards.
 
III.  Supplemental Training at Wild Mt on Saturday, December 1
We will be holding our first Supplemental Training Session at Wild Mt this Saturday. Note that the venue has changed.  Welch is not yet ready to open their hills for gate training, so we switched to Wild.  Meet the bus at 2:45pm at Washburn HS. We will return at 10:30.   We will continue to test our fundamental skills with some directed free skiing and set some early season drill courses on South Wild, the same run we ski for the Section IV Championships. The cost is $50 for bus transportation, lift ticket, lane space and coaching.  You will take a short break to eat supper.  We encourage you to bring a sack supper so you can eat quickly and get back out onto the hill.  If you prefer to eat ski area food, bring money.   Please register online here.  When you check out, you will have two options for submitting payment.  I would ask you to please PAY WITH A CREDIT CARD if possible.   If you need to pay with a check, please send it to: Mpls Alpine, 4800 Harriet Ave. S., Mpls, 55419.  Make checks payable to Mpls Alpine.
 
IV.  Giants Ridge Camp
The THIRTEENTH ANNUAL Giants Ridge Camp will be held from December 31, 2018 to January 3, 2019.    Registration opens tomorrow, November 27. 
 
Who Can Attend? 
The camp is open to all MAST athletes on a first come, first serve basis.  We can take roughly 35 boys and 35 girls.  Seventh and eighth graders are encouraged to attend just as much as the everyone else on the team. 
 
What Happens?  
In addition to training on longer pitches and in 60 gate course sets for three days, you will enjoy a race on Thursday (day four) against the Northern high school teams in the Hibbing Invitational.   Because camp falls on New Year’s, we will celebrate the arrival of 2019 back at Camp Chicagami.  We will also hold our annual MAST Talent Show… so start thinking about what talent you might be able to share.   In the past we have enjoyed dramatic readings, skits, stand-up comedy, magic, piano, fiddling, guitar, singing, and dance.   Of course, you don’t have to participate, but please don’t be shy about doing so.  
 
How Much? 
The cost is $460 and includes bus transportation, camp lodging, meals, lift tickets, and race fees.  You will need to bring money to purchase a meal in Cloquet on the drive home on Thursday.    

What About Parents and Siblings? - Parents, please consider joining us.   You will need to arrange your own lodging, but you can pre-order daily lift tickets through MAST for $33 per day.   We would love to have your help with the race on Thursday should you happen to be around that day. We will need gate judges, scoreboard recorders, and maybe a starter and assistant starter.   Come and enjoy the beautiful scenery and slopes at Giants Ridge on the historic Iron Range of Northern Minnesota.  
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How To Register?
Here is a link to more information about camp and registration.   
 
A note on submitting payment:  Please PAY BY CHECK if possible.  We get charged for credit card payment and if everyone pays by credit card we will incur nearly $1000 in credit card charges.   As I have said before, we are very careful with your money. Consequently, we have set the price for the camp as low as possible.  Any savings we can enjoy means we can keep those prices low for everyone.   If you can pay the $460 by check, please do so.  Checks can be made payable to MPLS Alpine and mailed to 4800 Harriet Ave S, Mpls 55419.   Please do NOT hand me checks at practice.   If you have earned and stored account credits through your Sports Illustrated Play account, you will be asked if you would like to apply those credits at check out.   Registration is secure once payment is received in full.  If you are waiting on credits you earned through the Hoigaards Tent Sale, please know we are still waiting on payment from Hoigaards/Vail.   Since it is taking so long, MAST will post the credit you earned to your account by the end of the day tomorrow so you can use it to pay for camp or supplemental training.  Hopefully, we will receive payment for the tent sale hours soon.   And as soon as we have your CKJ sales numbers, we will enter those credits as well.

V.  Will There Be Training At Hyland While Camp Is In Session?
That is the plan.  We will confirm the exact times and days as we get closer to camp.  Most likely, training will be some combination of morning and evening training, depending on coach availability.
 
VI.  Sprongo
I ran into some technical difficulties trying to upload video to Sprongo last week.  I hope to
Have these solved by the end of the day Tuesday as well.   Sorry for the delay.
 
VII.  Save the Date: Sunday, January 13, 2019
Steve and Gail Arnold are opening up the Great Harvest Bakery for a MAST Team Fundraiser on Sunday, January 13th.  I am so grateful to them for this generous offer to help us raise money to keep our team financially accessible to more Minneapolis students.  Families will be asked to PRE-sell bakery products prior to the 13th and then to come into the bakery in shifts to bake, sell, serve, and clean on January 13th.  Parents are an integral part of this fundraiser as well.   Please set aside January 13th to help with this very important fundraiser.   In 2017, we netted almost $8000 for the team.   Just so you know, Gail and Steve donate all bakery ingredients and payroll for the staff that they bring on to assist us.   This is an unbelievable gift on their part, so please be sure to not only thank them, but to help with this fundraiser and frequent their wonderful bakery.
 
See you on the hill.
Mark
612-275-8392

Mpls Alpine Ski Team
Update 8: Week Two--Monday, November 19, 2018
 
What a wonderful first week.  Season pass pick up went very smoothly. Chipotle was packed and delicious.   Two good days of dryland.   Two excellent on-snow practices.   Due to the early start on the slopes, this was the best first week of the season we have ever had.  I want to encourage everyone to take advantage of this unique situation of early season skiing.  We will have seven days of skiing under our feet by the end of this second week of the season.  If you are in town, please come out to practice.   Working on the fundamentals of the sport is the key to ski racing success.  The more fundamentals you build now, the bigger your improvements in the latter half of the season.  By the way, the other coaches and I were very impressed with everyone's work ethic and focus on Friday and Saturday.  Great job.  That is how you improve quickly.  
 
One racer who understands and preaches the importance of drills is Mikeala Shiffrin.  Below is a link to a series of drills that she narrates and that you will be learning over the season.  I would like you to take some time to watch these drills several times over the next week.   Put these images into your head so that when we teach you these drills, you will already have an idea of how to do them.  They are really fun.  Click HERE for Mikeala’s Drills.
 
Mikaela Shiffrin won the season opening World Cup Slalom in Levi, Finland, by a large margin.  Study her winning run.  We are working on the fundamental skills of STANCE AND BALANCE, EARLY LOWER LEG ENGAGEMENT, AND OUTSIDE SKI PRESSURE in our own MAST practices this week.  Use the pause button on the screen to stop the video and check out these technical points in her skiing:

• Shins pressing forward into the front of her boots to create ankle flex.
• Flex at the knee.
• Hands up, forward and outside her shoulders.  
• The angle of her upper torso matches the angle of her shins.
• High edge angles on her skis created by driving her ankles, lower legs, and knees into the center of the turn.
• Strong outside ski pressure by her outside leg (like pushing on a bike pedal) when the ski is in the fall line.
• Upper body and lower body work separately.  The upper body stays quiet and the upper torso faces down the fall line or at least downhill of the outside ski. 

Here is a link to her second run: 
https://www.nbcsports.com/video/mikaela-shiffrin-takes-home-33rd-career-slalom-victory
 
We are practicing this week: 
Monday and Tuesday: 6:30-8:45PM.
Wednesday: 5-7PM
Friday: 5-7:30PM.  
Saturday: 8:45-11:30AM
 
Practice times are always posted on the home page of the website: www.mplsalpineski.org. 
Meet in front of the Center Chair at the posted start time.   
 
Individual Fundraiser Reminder
Just 1 week remains to raise money for your ski season.  City Kid Java coffee is locally roasted in small batches in NE Minneapolis and is good coffee (coming from a coffee drinker).
The coffee, cocoa and chocolate covered espresso beans make perfect gifts for the holiday season!  Product information and order forms are available on the website.  Order forms and money will be collected at practice Monday, November 26th, and orders will be available for pick-up and delivery Saturday, December 1st, at Fuller Park Rec Center.  Questions?  Contact Kirsten Arbeiter at 612.839.6363 or [email protected].
 
See you tonight at 6:30.   
Mark Conway
612-275-8392

Mpls Alpine Ski Team
Update #7: Week One--Sunday, November 11, 2018
 
Here we go!   Cold temps have arrived.  Snow is being made.   Life is good.  We have a busy week ahead already, and an action-packed fourteen-week season scheduled. Know that the website is updated continuously so please check our website first if you have any questions.  If you can’t find the answer to your question there, send me an email or give me a call.  Hopefully we will be adding the full on-snow schedule in the next day or two. We are waiting to hear back from Hyland about our lane and practice assignments.   For now, our race schedule is posted.   I will be sending additional messages this week with important information and instructions about various topics:

• Sprongo--our video sharing service
• Stating your RACE intentions
• Signing up for Supplemental Training
• Giants Ridge Camp

Please read these emails carefully and take whatever action is requested.  For now, here are the important things to know to get through the next few days.
 
Concussion Baseline Testing –Make Up Test Tomorrow at Southwest
Thank you to all of you who took the concussion baseline test last week.  The Athletic Trainer at Southwest is offering one additional testing date for those of you unable to attend last week’s sessions.  If you need to take the baseline test or update a previous test, please attend one of these two sessions tomorrow.
When: Monday, November 12.  
            Session I— Arrive no later than 3:15PM.  
            Session II— Arrive no later than 4:15PM.  
Where: Southwest High School 
(Enter Through The Link off 47th Street between Beard and Chowen).  
Room: E106 
 
Season Pass Pick UP at Hyland --Bring a Signed Hyland Hills Waiver
Monday, November 12, 7PM-7:30PM
Pick up your season pass tomorrow.  Arrive NO LATER than 7:30PM.   
If you can’t make it tomorrow, you can pick up your pass during Hyland’s posted business hours.  Tell the clerk that you are from the Minneapolis Alpine Ski Team and that you are there to pick up your season pass.  If you purchased your pass through MAST, your name will be in the system under the MAST account.
 
Attached is a WAIVER from Hyland that your parents need to sign if you are under 18 years old.  BRING THIS WAIVER WITH YOU TO PICK UP YOUR PASS IF YOU ARE COMING WITHOUT A PARENT.  MAKE SURE A PARENT HAS SIGNED IT. 
 
Chipotle Fundraiser
Monday, November 12, 5-9PM
No cooking allowed tomorrow….   Chipotle is on the menu.   Attached is a MAST Chipotle Flyer that you can either print and turn in with your order or store on your phone and show at check out.   MAST earns 33% from all sales associated with MAST between 5 and 9pm.  Please encourage all your friends and family and enemies to eat out.  We are dining at the Edina location on York Ave South (across the street from Southdale and across the parking lot from Cub Foods).   Eat before or after you pick up your season pass…. It is virtually on the way.
 
City Kids Java Fundraiser
Just 2 weeks left to raise money for your ski season.  City Kid Java coffee is locally roasted in small batches in NE Minneapolis and is good coffee (coming from a coffee drinker).
The coffee, cocoa and chocolate-covered espresso beans make perfect gifts for the holiday season!  Order forms will be available on Monday night at Season Pass Pick Up Night at Hyland Hills or feel free to print from the link on the MAST website.
Order forms and money will be collected at practice Monday, November 26th and orders will be available for pick-up and delivery Saturday, December 1st at Fuller Park Rec Center.
Questions?  Contact Kirsten Arbeiter at 612.839.6363 or [email protected].
 
Dryland Training This Week--Tuesday Through Friday, 4:30-6PM at the Washburn Stadium
Although Hyland is making snow, it does not appear that they will be opening over the next five days.  We will certainly learn more tomorrow when we are picking up passes at Hyland.  Dryland training begins Tuesday and will continue through Friday unless Hyland opens sometime this week. DRYLAND TRAINING is what we do when we can't ski: we engage in strength and conditioning drills to improve your strength, agility, speed, and endurance.  Be prepared to work both indoors and outdoors.   Wear athletic shoes and clothing.  Make sure you dress in layers of warm clothing and wear a hat and gloves.   BRING A WATER BOTTLE.  There is no water available at the stadium.  
 
BE SURE YOU ATTEND ALL DRYLAND TRAINING SESSIONS.  UNLESS YOU ARE IN COLORADO SKIING, DRYLAND TRAINING IS NOT OPTIONAL.  IN ADDITION TO ENGAGING IN CONDITIONING WORKOUTS, WE WILL BE HOLDING IMPORTANT TEAMS MEETINGS EACH DAY.  
 
Are You Cleared To Practice?
I will send out a roster tomorrow with a list of everyone who has been cleared to participate by their Athletic Director. Check to see that your name is on this list.  If it isn’t, check with your Athletic Director to see what you are missing.  It might be as simple as a signature or you may be missing a form. NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO PRACTICE IF THEY ARE NOT CLEARED TO PARTICIPATE.
 
Give To The MAX
The Minneapolis Alpine Ski Team is a 501c3 non-profit and participates in Give to the Max.  Please consider making a contribution if you have the means.   You will be receiving a separate email with more information in the next day or two.   Thank you for your support.
 
See you all tomorrow at Hyland.  
 
Mark Conway
612-275-8392

Minneapolis Alpine Ski Team
Update #6.1: October 31, 2018
 
Dear MAST Athletes, Parents and Coaches:
I just added two dates to our calendar next week.  These dates are very important for the health and well-being of our athletes.   
 
Tuesday, November 6 and Thursday, November 8: Concussion Baseline Testing
Background: As you have heard me say, ski racing is a contact sport.  Skiers fall and there is always the risk that when this happens an athlete can suffer a concussion.    The big risk to long term health is not a single concussive event but multiple ones.  Scientists and physicians have learned a great deal in the last fifteen years about concussions.  Perhaps the two most important things they have learned are

1. We need to take them very seriously
2. Once concussed, it is very difficult to know when the brain has healed enough to resume activity without running the risk of doing long term damage to the brain should a second concussive event occur.  

One imperfect tool a physician has to determine when an athlete can return to play is a Concussion Baseline Test.  The test is done on a computer and is designed to measure a person’s cognitive functions when the brain is known to be healthy.   It takes about an hour to administer from start to finish.  Should an athlete suffer a concussion, a physician MAY ask the athlete to re-take the baseline test in order to measure whether ALL cognitive functions have returned to baseline.  The test is re-taken when ALL the symptoms of a concussion have resolved. It is one tool that a physician might use to determine whether an athlete’s brain is healed. Even then, athletes follow a five-day return-to-play protocol before they are allowed to fully participate in the sport.
 
Our high school athletic trainers are offering baseline concussion testing to MAST athletes. 
Here are the details.

​Who Should Take Test Baseline Test?
Attached is a roster of our team.  If you have taken the test before, the date that you took the test is listed.   Note that my records may be imperfect, so if you think you took the test last year and it isn’t listed, check with your high school’s athletic training to confirm. 

• If you are new to MAST this year and did not take the test this Fall, YOU need to take the test.  
• If you are a returning MAST Athletes who took the test in 2016 or prior (two or more years ago), YOU need to re-take the test on Nov 6 or 8.
• If you took the test last year, you will need to re-take the test in the Fall of 2019. 

 
Where: Southwest High School.  Room: E106 (Enter Through The Link).
When: Tuesday, November 6. 
            Session I— Arrive no later than 3:15PM.  
            Session II— Arrive no later than 4:15PM. 
 
Where: Washburn High School.  Room: Cafeteria (Enter Door 5).
When: Thursday, November 8.
            Session I—Arrive no later than 3:15PM.
            Session II—Arrive no later than 4:15PM.
 
Please arrive ON TIME.   The validity of the test is compromised when there are disruptions to accommodate late arrivals.
 
You do not need to be a student at Washburn or SW to take the test at either location.  Roosevelt and South athletes are WELCOME to take the test at either Southwest or Washburn.  You can also check with the Athletic Trainers at your schools to see when the test is offered there.   Middle school students should plan to take the test at 4:30 unless your school is an early release school like Barton.
 
Everyone needs to have a baseline test on record.  The test results are stored with TRIA and your school’s athletic trainer will be able to help your physician access those test results should you need to do so in the future. Let’s hope you don’t.
 
Please select a date and put it on your calendar.  
More to come…
Mark
612-275-8392