Please visit the official Minnesota Youth Ski League Page at: www.mysl.org

The Detroit Lakes page is found by clicking the "Clubs" link on their page.

The Minnesota Youth Ski League (MYSL) is a volunteer organization that offers children between the ages of 4 and 12 and their parents the opportunity to learn, develop and enjoy cross country skiing skills together. The League is a collection of neighborhood clubs, administered by a Board of Directors, offering leader training, festivals, and outreach programs which builds interest in cross country skiing.  Programs emphasize fun, fitness and development of a life-long love for outdoor activities, (especially cross country skiing!), as the primary focus of this family organization. Parents are strongly encouraged to come and participate with their children. Skiers of all skill levels are welcome.

Membership in MYSL costs $40 for each child (Family discounts available for three or more children). Children must have their own equipment, though there is equipment rental available in very limited quantities and sizes at Detroit Lakes.

Welcome to the MYSL in Detroit Lakes! About us:

 Register online here!

All registration is online this year!

No paper registrations will be available.

Parents interested in coaching: please contact Nikki before registering. Thanks!

2012 Schedule: Sunday 3:00-4:30 PM

Mountain View Rec Area

Jan.: 8, 15, 22, 29

Feb.: 5, 12, 19

Practice: Due to limited light in the evening we start skiing at 3:00. If you need a few minutes to get ready it may be prudent to arrive at 2:45 pm. We will not wait for late arrivals, so if you arrive late you must find a way to catch up with the group. If your children are 6 years old or younger we require that you stay with your child. 

Practice Conditions:  We will cancel practice if the temp is below 0 degrees, or the wind-chill below -5. It is often warmer in the woods due to the wind being blocked. We will make the call at noon of that day if the weather is questionable and I will post it on www.detroitlakesxcski.com on the Youth Skiing page as well as ask KDLM to announce it.

Clothing: Please dress appropriately for outdoor winter activities. Make sure you are warm enough but still able to move freely. Layers are best, and synthetic fabrics (NOT cotton!) are best for the layer right against your skin. You may want to consider a lighter jacket for warm days (20 degrees or warmer) as the kids will be moving around a lot and tend to get hot!

Levels: There are six levels of skiing that MYSL has put together. When you have mastered the 10 or so goals at the end of each season you may move up to the next group. We do encourage all children regardless of prior skiing experience to start at Level One so they have the correct foundation as they move through the other levels.

Coaching and Volunteering:  You are the reason for the success of this program! No experience is needed, curriculum is laid out for each practice and I will be available to help out if you’re not sure how to do something. We need at least to 4-5 coaches to make this club function well, and the more coaches we have, the easier it is if you can't come one day. (2 adults per group is ideal.)  When on the trails we can often use a “caboose” to bring up the rear of the group. You will also improve your skiing skills!

If you are interested in coaching please contact Nikki before registering your child.

Snacks: are very appreciated at practices, or getting the word out about our organization in the community will be a huge help! (Never underestimate the power of a chocolate chip cookie!)

Trails: Do not walk on the ski trails. Our trails are groomed by volunteers, and a single session of grooming 5k of trails can take up to 6 hour. Having to fill in footprints adds additional time and creating holes in the trails can be dangerous to skiers.

Skis: We have a very limited number and sizes available for rental. The skis will remain with the coach during the week.  If you are planning on investing in skis please talk to Nikki for suggested equipment, retailers and deals. If you have old skis please consider selling them to new club members.

Special Days: Sunday, February 19^th (last day) will be an open ski day. Please come and ski with your children and allow them to show you what great skiers they have become! There will be no group activities this day.  Sunday, March 5^th there will be a 1k kids race at Maplelag at noon. (Very fun!)

Ski buying suggestions:

- We suggest the NNN II binding system for resale and sharing purposes.

- The ski should be slightly taller than your child. If anything, buy them too long and they can grow into them. Remember weight is important and a "soft" flex is best for children as it is more forgiving when gripping the snow.

- Poles should be up to their shoulders. Again, buy too tall and they will grow into them as they get taller. It's better to have poles too long than too short.

Announcements:

We will ski on the minimal snow this Sunday (Jan. 15th) at Mountain View. If you have old skis, please bring those as there isn't much snow!

Please make sure you are registered! 

The Skiing Sessions will all meet at Mountain View Rec Area! Directions:

From Downtown DL: Go East on Hwy 10 and turn left onto County Rd 54.(Also the intersection of 10 and East Shore Dr by Country Inn & Suites). Take the second left onto Tower Road. Follow Tower Rd and Mountain View Rec Area is on the right just after the sign!

We also need coaches! We will be talking about coaching at the Parent's Meeting if you are interested.

What Should My Child Wear To Ski?

Wearing the correct clothing is vital to a good skiing experience. As local resort owner/skier Jay Richards always says "There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing."

- Kids are active when skiing! They will get warm and need to be able to have unrestricted movement. Bulky jackets, snowpants and mittens are uncomfortable and don't lend themselves to skiing- they often end up being taken off. 

- Dress your child in layers that can be removed when he or she gets too warm! The layer next to his or her skin shouldn't be cotton- cotton absorbs sweat and your child will be wet and clammy. Synthetic fabrics or wool are best next to the skin. Same goes with socks. No cotton socks!!

- The outer layer should be a shell that sheds snow. We fall down quite a bit and don't want to have the snow stick to us and melt.

- It's not a bad idea to have an extra hat and gloves in the car for your children when you pick them up. Get them out of their sweaty clothes ASAP!

We Need Kids Skis!

Please email Nikki at nikki@detroitlakesxcski.com  if you have children's cross country skis you would like to sell!

Places to Purchase Skis (Online):

Skiing Classifieds

Gear West

REI

Reliable Racing

AAkers

Head coach/Organizer: Nikki Caulfield

nikki@detroitlakesxcski.com

Coaches needed for next year! Please email if interested.