MAST Update Week 8 (Sunday, December 31, 2023)

MAST Update Week Eight
Sunday, December 31, 2023

Dear MAST Athletes, Families, Coaches:

Although our training plans were disrupted by warm temps and rain, we made the most of the poor snow conditions and abbreviated training schedule. Please know that the drills you performed and the discipline you embraced in lieu of training in gates resulted in massive improvement to your technical skills toolbox. Hopefully you will have a chance to test those skills in a course sometime this week. I’m sure Hyland will be letting us know soon when we can expect to resume training in gates. Let’s hope it is Tuesday, but if not, keep your focus and resolve. The advantage is yours because we make the most of every run out of the course to keep you improving. Other teams do not do this so THEY are falling behind, not you.

The RACE season begins. Please complete ALL Race Intentions for the remainder of the year this week. 
 Click This Link For Stating Your Race Intentions Here.

I. Races
A. Who Is Racing When?
1. All athletes are invited to race in the races scheduled at Hyland this season.
2. Race starts are limited for the races at Welch (Jan 4),  Afton (Jan 10), Giants Ridge (Jan 13), and Wild Mt (Jan 15). Your head coach will notify you of the his or her team selections for each of these three races sometime on Monday.

B. Transportation for Races—PLEASE READ. URGENT CHANGE.
Normally, MPS provides transportation to AWAY Races. I have been informed that they are unable to secure bussing for our races on Thursday, Jan 4 at Welch, Wednesday, Jan 10 at Afton, and Thursday, Jan 30 at Welch. Parents, we will need you to drive your athlete or work with other parents to form a carpool to these races. Most urgent is the need to find transportation for the athletes competing at Welch on Thursday, Jan 4.

C. Race Schedule and Details.
Thursday, Jan 4 at Welch
NO Buses... need to carpool.
Schedule:
2:00 Early Release to change and depart.
3:30 Arrive at Welch... Ticket. Bib. Boot up.
4:00 Warm Up
4:30 Inspection
5:00 Run One

Race Workers Needed

• Gate Judges: 3
• Course Workers: 2

Please email Mark at [email protected] if you would like to take one of these coveted race worker positions.
Volunteers need to complete the Welch Waiver HERE.

Monday, Jan 8. Hyland Race with Wayzata.
2:30 Early release.
3:45 Inspection Opens.
4:30 Run One
Jan 8 Hyland Race Worker Sign Up Here.

Wednesday, Jan 10 Metro East Conference Race at Afton
2:00 Early Release to change and depart.
3:15 Arrive at Afton... Ticket. Bib. Boot up.
3:30 Warm Up
3:45 Inspection Opens
4:30 Run One
Race Workers Needed.

Volunteer SignUp- Afton Alps Varsity MEC #1 Race- Jan 10.
Saturday, Jan 13. MLK Invitational at Giants Ridge
Sunrise Race
7:15AM Arrive at GR. Ticket. Bib. Boot Up.
7:30 Warm UP.
8:10 Inspection Run One
8:45 Run One
10:00 Inspection Run Two
10:30 Run Two

Sunset Race
11:30AM Arrive at GR. Ticket. Bib. Boot Up.
11:45 Warm Up
12:30PM Inspection Run One
1:00 Run One
2:15 Inspection Run Two
2:45 Run Two
4:45PM Awards

Monday, Jan 15. MEC Race #2 at Wild Mt
8:30AM.    Load Bus at Washburn.
10:00         Arrive Wild Mt... Ticket. Bib.  Boot Up.
10:30         Warm Up.         
11:15.        Inspection Run One.
Noon.        One Run Start
Race Worker Sign Up Coming Soon
Wednesday, Jan 17. Hyland Race with St Cloud Breakaways.
2:30 Early release.
3:45 Inspection Opens.
4:30 Run One
Jan 17 Hyland Race Worker Sign Up Here.   

III. Training Week Eight
Monday, Jan 1: REST

Tuesday, Jan 2.
3:45-6:00PM Pods 10, 11, 12. Lanes 4,5,6.
5:00-7:15PM Pods 7, 8. Lane 6.
6:30-8:45.PM Pods 9. Lane 6.
Wear Rope Tow Gloves.

Wednesday, Jan 3.
3:45-6:00PM Jan 4th Race Varsity Athletes. Lanes 4,5.
5:00-7:15PM JV Athletes. Lane 5,6.
Wear Rope Tow Gloves.

Thursday, Jan 4.
5:00-7:15PM All Pods. Lane 5,6.
Wear Rope Tow Gloves.

Friday, Jan 5.
3:45-6:00PM Pods 11, 12. Lanes A,B,C.
5:00-7:15PM Pods 7, 8, 9, 10. Lane A, B, C.

Saturday, Jan 6.
7:45-10:15AM All Pods. Lanes 1,2,3.

Finally, please watch Mikaela’s two runs from her latest record setting world cup victory. This might be the most dominating sports performance of her career. She made a very difficult second run course set look easy. Watch it at 25% playback speed. Study her ankle flexion, matching edge angles, high edge angles, pressure in the fall line, direction her skis are pointing in the transition, direction her skis are pointing when she contacts the gate, how she consistently contacts the gate with her inside shin guard, how she keeps her upper body facing downhill of her outside ski tip, how she keeps her shoulders level as she enters the fall line and completes the turn, how she makes a pole plant on every turn, how she bends the ski to create the tight arc back to the gate....World Cup Victory #93
Happy New Year!   Don't be stupid in celebration.  See you Tuesday for Training...
Mark