Nordic Skiing
Overview
If your student-athlete joins the Minnehaha Academy Nordic team, they will not only be joining a sport, they will be joining a supportive community that takes care of one another. Coaches, teammates, and family members cheer from on the trail – even if it's below zero!
Minnehaha Nordic is about good fun, good sportsmanship, and good health. It is about appreciating the cold parts of God’s creation, making friends, and learning life’s lessons.
The Upper School skiers practice 5 days a week including Saturday mornings for a nice long ski in the woods. Middle School skiers can practice as little as two days a week if you’d like – just to try it out and see how you like it. By being a part of the MA Nordic Ski Team, it will be difficult for you to determine the best part of being on the team: the ski trips, the ski trails, the ski races, or the ski friendships. Join us!
Minnehaha Nordic Team Culture
When you join Minnehaha Nordic, you join a team that is supportive and caring and fun. On the MA Nordic Ski team, everyone participates. There are no benches, no sidelines. If you want to race, you’ll be in a uniform and on the starting line! If you don’t feel ready, we’ll help you get to the point where you are. Everyone belongs and plays an important role on the team.
Growing as a Skier
If you join the team with little ski experience, you’ll leave someday with a lot! If you join the team with a lot of ski experience, we’ll help you train to ski faster.
Minnehaha Nordic begins in 6th grade and whether an athlete has skied since they were small or are just starting the sport, there is a practice group for everyone. Your coaches and teammates will help you learn how to ski. Because we rent equipment to families, skiers can try the sport without having to financially invest hundreds of dollars into a sport their child would like to experiment and see if it's a good fit. Athletes can rent equipment each year, making it a sport that is accessible to anyone.
Practices are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday for Middle School skiers and Monday-Friday and Saturday for Varsity/JV skiers! Saturday mornings are great for a nice long ski in the woods, but can also be used for intense work outs and technique instruction. Middle School and new skiers can practice as little as two days a week if needed but are always encouraged to participate as much as they would like. If an athlete wants to be pushed, we will push. If an athlete wants to take a practice to learn technique, coaches will respect all needs.
Coaching Emphasis
The four pillars emphasized and developed in Nordic skiing are: endurance, strength, technique/balance, and grit. It's about learning life’s lessons, learning more about one's determination, and of course, learning not just to Nordic ski, but to Nordic ski fast. It might not be in that order, but it’s all important.
Nordic skiing is an individual sport but it relies on the team atmosphere for success. It's a sport where it's not just about when you cross the finish line, it's also about how your teammates got your there.
Competition Level
We have a lot of fun but our team works very hard. Our boys’ and girls’ teams are often the Conference Champions. Our boys team has enjoyed being Section Champions as well as being on the podium at State. For the past 20 years we’ve always sent someone (or two or three) to the State Meet each year. Our best skiers work hard all year long – and it shows.
Skiing & Faith Integration
Nordic Skiing allows for time to enjoy God's creation in the quiet woods blanketed in snow. We pray before practices and racing, thanking God for the opportunity to ski in the wonder of His design. The culture of the team gives every athlete the opportunity to use his or her skills and see their value on the team because our important motto is that everyone belongs.
Nordic Team Traditions
Minnehaha Nordic has several opportunities to come together and bond in community. In November, the team goes to Adventurous Christians (AC) camp to volunteer time to prepare the camp for winter splitting and hauling wood. The team then returns to AC for training over the Christmas Break. It is a trip designed for anyone who wants to enjoy the sport of skiing in the north woods. Coaches supervise, coach, ski and enjoy the quiet/technology-free space along with the team. We ski each day, take time to train and work technique while experiencing each other and the outdoors. In January, the team also participates in the Giant’s Ridge Invitational. It is the largest high school ski meet in the country where 20 athletes can attend. We spend time not only racing but training on some of the most challenging trails in the state. We ski in Mora and Cable, WI on the Birkie Trail to give skiers the opportunity to ski across the Midwest!
More Details
- Season: Winter (mid-November and runs through mid-February)
- Grade Levels: 6-12
- Competition Levels: Middle School, JV, or Varsity, no prior experience is necessary
- Practice Locations: Throughout the Twin Cities
- Team Communication: Once you register for this sport, the coach will communicate with student-athletes and parents via email. These detailed emails are sent every Sunday. It outlines the weekly schedule with practice/race locations, start/finish times, and other important information needed to know exactly how to plan for the week ahead. Families and athletes also communicate via GroupMe which is a valuable app to stay connected everyday to know when the bus will return to campus after a race, or communicate a change to a practice location, or just a fun way to cheer on athletes with supportive messages. The Nordic website also has all information about the season listed from a Google calendar with practices and races included, race results, captain statements, and areas to learn about the sport from waxing to appropriate gear to have stay warm on cold days.
- Equipment Requirements & Transportation: Detailed information can be found in the Athletic Team Info document. Additional information can also be found on this website.
How to Join
Coach
- Britt Guild, Head Coach
- Began Coaching: 2017 at Minnehaha Academy, 10 years of coaching at Minnesota Youth Ski League.
- Minnesota State Head Coach of the Year, 2026
- Section 3 Head Coach of the Year, 2026
Photo Credit: Ezra Victor, Student