MAST Update #3

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Dear MAST Athletes, Parents and Coaches:

We would like to give you a brief update on our planning for the 2020-21 alpine ski season.   

First, the MAST Covid Task Force is up and running.   We held one meeting thus far and identified the many issues we need to consider this winter with Covid-19 remaining a health risk.  As you probably anticipated, there are many more unknowns than knowns at this point. 
Here is what we know:
No State Fair, so no goat barn cleaning fundraiser.   This represents an $1800 fundraising loss for MAST.
At this point, we will not have any large in-person pre-season gatherings: i.e., ice cream social, orientation meeting, parent party.  The Hoigaard's Tent Sale may or may not be held.  Either way, we will not be participating.

Here are the unknowns:

1.  Equipment Swap, MAST Equipment Night at Pierce; Coffee Sales Fundraiser.
These smaller gatherings are still up in the air.  Whether it will be safe to hold these annual events will be determined by the Covid-19 infection rates as the dates draw close.

2.  Transportation.
Will it be safe to use buses to transport athletes to races and supplemental training?  
Can we utilize carpools to safely transport athletes to and from Hyland practices? Races? Supplemental Training?

3.  Giants Ridge Camp.
Our four-day winter break camp is not cancelled yet, but it is hard to see how we can hold a camp this year unless there is a near miraculous turn of events.  Sadly, Randy had to cancel all summer camps this year at Camp Chicagami.  Obviously, Camp Chicagami will first need to re-open in order for us to offer a winter camp this season.    The growing body of science suggests that transmission is more easily facilitated with increases in proximity, duration, and poor ventilation.  All three factors are part of the experience of being at a GR training camp.   In normal times, having long periods of time together in close proximity is one of the reasons you enjoy going to camp.  Needless to say, a 2020-21 camp is highly unlikely, but we can all hold out hope, right?  At least for a while.  We will probably need to make a final call in early to mid-October, unless Randy makes a decision sooner to stay closed for the winter. 

4.  Supplemental Training and “Away” Race Venues.
How the transportation questions are answered will be an important factor in whether we will be able to offer Supplemental Training sessions or compete at Invitationals or venues other than Hyland this winter.  And how we travel and house the team at the State Meet will need to be considered carefully this season.   It is unlikely that we will have community meals this year: i.e., pasta dinners, our celebrated burrito bowls at Invites.

5.  Hyland.
Three Rivers Parks and Hyland have not yet determined what new practices they will be implementing this season to mitigate the spread of Covid-19.   We will need to adapt to whatever safeguards Hyland implements, such as limits on participation numbers at practices, shorter practice sessions, social distancing on chair rides, in lift lines and in the chalet, etc.   ​

Please feel free to share questions and concerns you have that are not addressed here.   You can send them via email to me at [email protected] or give me a call at 612-275-8392.   For now, know that the MAST Covid Task Force will be monitoring all guidance issued by MPS, Minnesota Department of Health, the MN State High School League, and other governing organizations.  Our top priority is to keep our athletes and families healthy through the 2020-21 season. 

Second, we have a number of volunteer positions to fill this season due to graduation.  Here are two we would like to fill sooner than later.

1.  MAST Website Administrator.   
We need one or two volunteers to keep our website up to date during the 2020-21 season. I have made some updates to the home page recently, but more work needs to be done.  During the fall and winter months, the website becomes an important tool for informing, teaching, and celebrating our athletes’ success and improvements.   The website platform we utilize (Weebly) is easy to learn and use.  

2.  MAST Registrar.   
Tracking team registrations in the fall is an important volunteer role within the MAST organization.   The MAST Registrar maintains the team database and helps update the team’s Google-Groups contacts roster.  Most of the work is performed September through November.  
Please call or email if you have any interest in filling either of these positions for the 2020-21 season.   Email: [email protected]. Phone: 612-275-8392.

Third, the MAST Summer Strength and Conditioning Program continues... online. If you are not already following @Mplsalpineski on Instagram, please click this link and follow our page: https://www.instagram.com/mplsalpineski/ 
The link should prompt you to create an Instagram account if you do not have one already.  

Finally, if you would like to send PHOTOS and/or SHORT (as in 15 seconds) videos of you and/or your friends working out, I will post these on our website.   Just send them to me at [email protected].  

My hope is that all of you are staying healthy and maintaining some measure of sanity and even a bit of joyfulness occasionally.

All the best.

Mark Conway
612-275-8392
[email protected]

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