SLP NORDIC SKI TEAM INFORMATION OVERVIEW
scroll down
SLP Nordic Ski Team 2024-2025 Season
Coaches:
Doug Peterson pdoug1065@gmail.com
Brian Houts brian@brianhouts.com
2024-25 Season Captains:
Nora Lindeman, Ale Coronado, Ailish Fitzpatrick, Kaylee Crump, Lucas Tangelson, Jacob Skelly, Henry Horstman Olsen, Jack Larson
Team and League Structure:
The Nordic coaches manage all day-to-day aspects of the team including practice schedule, races, training, etc.
The SLP high school Athletic Director, Andy Ewald, is in charge of administering the team ( budget, equipment etc)
.
SLP Nordic is a part of the Minnesota State High School League ( MSHSL). MSHSL determines general rules governing all Nordic teams in the state.
Please refer to the MSHSL website for rules for the season and further information:
SLP Nordic is in Section 6A in the MSHSL.
SLP Nordic is in the Metro West Conference.
For conference race schedule :
https://www.metrowestconference.org/
Please remember that this schedule can change.
Communications:
Website: https://www.slpnordic.com/ This is a great place to access resources such as training tips, equipment lists, team photos and link to all sorts of information.. The website does not have schedule or day-to-day information.
Emails: This is the main source of information including weekly practice and race plans. You need to be on the email distribution list.
To receive emails please sign up here.
The Gmail account is managed by a parent volunteer, Catherine Crowley. For coaching questions or concerns, please reach out to the coaches at their personal email addresses listed above.
Remind: To join the Park Nordic Remind: Text @skison2 to 81010. This is how we will communicate important reminders and last minute changes. Nordic is a very weather dependent sport and changes happen! You need to be on the Remind
Instagram: Follow the captains on Instagram at @slpnordicski. This will have announcements, team photos and other fun things.
GroupMe: This is for communication between skiers only. Contact a captain to join.
Practice:
The schedule is weather-dependent and will be determined each week by the coaches. The planned weekly schedule will be sent out via email each week.
Last-minute schedule changes will be communicated via Remind and Email.
Typical schedule:
Pre-snow:
After-school practices:
High school: Monday-Friday meet at the Ski room (aka “the dungeon”) for running or roller skiing and core workouts.
Middle School: MS students take the activity bus from the middle school to the high school, meet the coaches at the Athletic doors for running, roller skiing, and core workouts.
Practices typically end at 5:30 p.m.
There is no bus home from the high school after practice.
Morning Strength and conditioning (HS skiers ONLY):
Monday and Wednesday mornings: 7:15 -7:45 in the weight room at the HS.
There is no transportation available to or from this practice.
Snow:
After-school practices:
High school: Buses transport skiers to and from Wirth park 3-4 days per week.
Middle school: Transportation to Wirth is TBD due to transportation logistics. Skiers will ride the bus back to the HS for core workout..
Practice end time varies typically 6:30pm
There is no bus home from the high school after practice.
Waxing day (day before races):
High school: skiers meet in “the dungeon” after school.
Middle school: Take the activity bus to HS and meet in “the dungeon”
End times vary
There is no bus home from the high school after waxing. .
Race day schedule: Varies for each race. Information will be included in the weekly schedule each week.
Buses will pick up skiers from the middle school and high school to take all skiers to the races. The bus will bring all skiers back to the high school after the race. There is no transportation home for the high school.
Races:
Regular season:
All skiers are encouraged to race but are not required to race. Some new skiers choose not to race until they are more confident in their skills.
Varsity boys and varsity girls: Approximately 10 racers each per race. The roster for varsity may change from race to race and will be announced by the coaches a few days in advance of the race.
The remainder of the racers will race in the JV races.
For race results: gsetiming.com
Invitational Races:
Some skiers may participate in invite races either at Wirth (Loppet Invite) or at Giant’s Ridge (Mesabi Invite) in January. These opportunities change each year and are typically for Varsity racers. Communications about these races will be sent out via email.
For Invite races out of town, there is typically an additional charge per skier including lodging and food. Transportation is not provided.
Conference Championship:
There is a conference championship meet at the end of the regular season. This typically occurs over 2 days with one day for varsity racers and one day for JV racers.
The varsity conference race is during the school day. Each racer will race in 2 races, one classic and one skate, in a pursuit fashion.
The JV race is held after school and is only one race for each skier.
Sections:
There is a Section meet at the end of the season. Racers need to qualify for this meet.
This race occurs during the school day. Each racer will race in 2 races, one classic and one skate, in a pursuit fashion.
State championship:
There is a state meet in mid-February. Racers need to qualify for this race.
Spectators:
Spectators are welcome at races. Wear your orange scarf! Bring a cow bell!
Spectators may stand at the start and/or finish area to cheer on the skiers.
You may also ski onto the course or walk along the edge of the course (no walking on the groomed areas) to find a good viewing spot. Please stand off the course during the race. Be mindful of staying back from the course to avoid contact with skiers.
Dress more warmly than you think you need. There is a lot of standing around at races and you will get colder than you think. Be sure to wear warm boots even if you plan to stay at the start/finish area. Your feet will get cold standing on the snow.
Race Suits:
All racers will be given a race suit from the school. Racers will keep their suit through the season. Each racer is responsible for cleaning and caring for the suit. Racers will return their suits to the coaches at the end of the season.
Washing instructions: Wash in a delicate cycle in cold water and hang to dry.
The suits are very thin and do not provide warmth. Racers are advised to wear warm layers over the suit for transportation, warmup, and cool down.
Racers will provide their own hat/headband, mittens/gloves, and socks, etc.
Male skiers are strongly advised to wear wind briefs when racing.
Ski Passes to Wirth:
All access passes are provided for each skier from the school budget. Passes are digital and there are no physical passes provided.
Passes are good at all Minneapolis Park and Rec ski areas including Wirth, Hiawatha, Columbia and the Chain of lakes. For more information including trail conditions, trail maps and how to buy additional passes: : https://www.minneapolisparks.org/activities-events/winter_activities/cross-country_skiing/
Fundraising:
We have a coupon sale each year. All skiers are expected to participate if at all possible. Funds are used to cover costs of ski trips, travel races, the banquet and other equipment needed by the team and not covered by the school budget.
Parent volunteers are needed to help run the coupon sale. Watch for volunteer requests via email.
NEW for 2023: fundraising event at Steel Toe brewing!
Pasta Parties:
The team hosts several team pasta parties for the skiers. Typically, they are scheduled the night before races.
Dates, information and sign ups to contribute to the meals and requests for volunteers will be sent out via email.
Parties are typically held at the HS cafeteria immediately following practice.
Winter Trip:
The team may organize an overnight trip for any interested skiers to a Nordic ski location out of town.
There is an additional cost for this trip to cover lodging, food and passes.
Trips usually happen in December.
Information will be communicated via email.
Parent volunteers:
There are many opportunities to help the team!
Race day: Volunteers are needed at each race to help the skiers find their place in the starting line, remove layers and/or manage the warm-up capes, help the coaches with various tasks, and help other parents with questions or concerns. Watch for sign ups/requests in the Race emails.
Fundraiser: Lots of Volunteers are needed to make this work! Drivers are needed on the day of the sale to bring skiers out to sell, people are needed to help organize the selling groups, collect unused books and cash after the sale, help the treasurer, help with pizza after the sale, set up and clean-up.
Chaperones: Chaperones are needed for all travel events and some team bonding events. Requests will be sent via email.
Pasta Parties: All food and supplies are provided by families. Please watch for sign-up via email to contribute food etc and/or to help with set-up, clean-up and serving.
Donations: Direct donations are gladly accepted! Funds are used to offset the cost of travel events, team bonding events, the end-of-season banquet, Senior skier gifts/photo collages and to pay for equipment and other team needs as determined by the coaches. Donations are accepted via the team Venmo @SLP-Nordic