TCAPS Learning, Enrichment & Athletic Program

About Nordic Flyers: Nordic Flyers is Vasa Ski Club’s flagship middle school skier development program, and has been in place for nearly 30 years. Each season, 60-100 middle school students participate in a very fun, on-ski on-trail Nordic ski instruction program staffed by over 20 volunteer coaches. Nordic Flyers is for middle school skiers of all skill levels, from beginner to advanced, and they are broken up into groups accordingly. Besides learning cross country ski technique, the skiers are exposed to a healthy outdoor activity in a fun environment, in beautiful winter surroundings at the wonderful Hickory Hills ski area. This program lays the foundation for a lifelong recreational activity students can share with friends and family. For any kids who might be interested in later joining the high school xc ski team, Nordic Flyers provides an excellent learning platform. We are back to bring another exciting year of XC ski fun and instruction for area middle school students. Join your friends for our three-day-a-week program, Tuesday & Thursdays after school from 4:30 - 6:00 pm and Saturday mornings from 9:00 am - 10:30 am, beginning January 7th. The Vasa Ski Club Nordic Flyers Program is a learn-to-cross-country-ski program and is open to boys and girls in 6th - 8th grade from any Traverse City area school (both TCAPS and non-TCAPS students). The program runs 8 weeks, and is for beginner through advanced skiers... no experience necessary! Program Details: Program Director - Abigail Jean Season - January 7, 2025 through March 1, 2025 Sessions - Tuesdays & Thursdays 4:30 - 6:00 pm and Saturday mornings 9:00 am - 10:30 am Parents must drop off and pick up their children before and after practice at the designated drop off location. Holiday Camp - During Winter Holiday break at Hickory Hills 2 day camp, 9:00 am - 10:30 am December 27 & 28 Participation in this camp is not required Ski Up Option: Some more experienced skiers may want the option to ski up with the Vasa Raptors high school team. Skiers wanting to ski up can do so on Wednesdays. This will allow skiers to get exposure to detailed technique training and to ski side by side with the high school athletes. Skiers interested in this option should plan to participate in pre-season dry land technique with the Raptors. More information will be available at the Raptors pre-season meeting November 7, 7:00 pm at Hickory Hills. Please let the Flyers program director know if your child is interested in this opportunity. Equipment: Skiers must own or rent both classic and skate skis. Rentals - The Vasa Ski Club offers rentals to Flyers participants. Classic Skis - $55 Skate Skis - $55 Rental payment is accepted during registration. Junior ski equipment is available to purchase locally from Brick wheels or XC Headquarters. Registration Details: Flyers Program Participation Fee: $150.00 Includes 3 sessions per week. Includes a Vasa Ski Club membership. Ski rentals are an additional cost. Hickory Hills Ski Passes New this year, each skier must have a Hickory Hills season pass. This may be an Alpine or Nordic specific pass. Family passes are also welcome. Season passes will allow skiers to ski at Hickory Hills any time during the season. Registration Deadline: Saturday, December 14, 2024 Participation Cap - 75 athletes Skiers will be admitted based on the order in which they register..so hurry and register soon!! All athletes must register using TCAPS LEAP registration platform regardless of whether the athlete is a TCAPS student Scholarships: Vasa Ski Club offers a limited number of partial and full scholarships. DO NOT complete the online registration process if you are applying for a scholarship. Email nordicflyers@gmail.com to request a scholarship application. Location: Hickory Hills and Hickory Meadows Ski Area, 2000 Randolph Street, Traverse City, MI 49684 Transportation: Parents must drop off and pick up their skiers at the designated Hickory Hills drop off area. Helpful Information: Please have your skier dress appropriately for the weather. This is NOT a Hickory Hills sponsored program. ALL questions/concerns should be directed to the Program Administrator, Pamela Jean nordicflyers@gmail.com or 231-633-4663 Communication will be done primarily through email - and is often last minute in regards to weather/trail conditions - please ensure the email address attached to your registration is an active email that is checked regularly. During sign up please provide shoe size in Euro / EU size as per the chart below: ***IMPORTANT: All skiers must have both classic and skate style skis to participate (either your own, or rented) Failure to not answer height, weight and boot size may result in not having equipment for your student. ****Rental skis will be available on a first come first served in order of registration. VASA Ski Club offers a limited number of partial and full scholarships. To have your student considered for a scholarship, please DO NOT complete the online registration process but contact the Program Administrator at nordicflyers@gmail.com to begin the scholarship application. Participation Limits Nordic Flyers will be limited to 75 skiers this year. Skiers will be admitted based on the order in which they register..so hurry and register soon!! NOTE: Payment is required at the time of registration. You may register online using a Discover, MasterCard, Visa, or ACH (via a checking or savings account) please register below. Payment with cash or check can be made at the LEAP office located at: Traverse City East Middle School, 1776 Three Mile Road, Traverse City (call to make in person payment arrangements) School Year Office hours are Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. Please call the LEAP office at 231.933.7480 for more information. Registration is not complete until your course appears in your dashboard. If you did not receive an email from Eleyo or see your course in your dashboard, the payment did not process and the student is not registered.

Vasa Ski Club Raptors High School Team Welcome to the Vasa-Raptors! We are the Traverse City Area High School Nordic Ski Team. Our focus is on developing junior skiers of all abilities and fostering a love for the sport through hard work and plenty of fun. Athletes on the team participate in local ski races throughout the winter and are encouraged to take part in regional and national events as well. Coaches Head Coach: Ethan Goss tcvasaraptors@gmail.com Assistant Coaches: Amy Powell, Hannah Goss, Jordyn Ross Informational Meeting Date & Time: November 7th @ 7 PM Location: Hickory Hills Lodge Registration Deadline: December 7th Eligibility: Open to all 9th-12th grade athletes. 7th and 8th graders should register for the Vasa Flyers but can "ski-up" with the Raptors starting November 11th. Participation Fee: $350 (This includes: a team uniform for the season, race support at MI Cup and CXC Junior National Qualifiers, and State Championship registration fees. Other race registrations and travel costs are not included). Hickory Hills Passes: Skiers are required to purchase their own Hickory Hills Nordic season passes. Scholarships: Available through our team website. Under the resources tab. https://www.tcvasaraptors.com/scholarships.html NOTE: Payment is required at the time of registration. You may register online using a Discover, MasterCard, Visa, or ACH (via a checking or savings account) by clicking the enrollment button to the right of this page. Registration is not complete until your course appears in your dashboard. If you did not receive an email from Eleyo or see your course in your dashboard, the payment did not process and the student is not registered. Please call the LEAP office at 231.933.7480 for more information. Team Communication Weekly email updates from the Head Coach will include training schedules and important announcements. We use the TeamReach app for direct communication, and the Teambuildr app for strength workouts and progress tracking. Both athletes and parents should ensure these apps are downloaded for efficient communication. Practice Start Date: Monday, November 11th Schedule: Five days a week at 4:15 PM, lasting about 90 minutes. Locations: Before snow conditions permit skiing, practices will be held at TC Central High School, Hickory Hills, the Civic Center, or The Commons near Greenspire School. Once snow arrives, practices will primarily be at Hickory Hills. A weekly schedule will be sent outlining practice details, including location and time. Racing Local Races: The Vasa-Raptors compete in MI Cup races throughout the season and at the MI High School State Championship. The coaching staff will select key races to best prepare athletes for the State Championship. Regional Races: As part of the Great Lakes Division (GLD), we compete in CXC Junior National Qualifiers. Athletes who perform well may qualify for Junior Nationals or postseason trips like U18 or U16 events. Details: Visit CXC Junior Cup Events for more information. Skier Expectations Attendance: Attendance is essential for both individual progress and team cohesion. Missing practices or races impacts not only personal development but also the team dynamic. Athletes must communicate any absences in advance, and consistent attendance is required for varsity letter eligibility. Sportsmanship: Sportsmanship is a core value of the Vasa-Raptors team. Athletes must show respect to coaches, teammates, competitors, and the public at all times. Negative behaviors, such as disrespectful language or unsportsmanlike conduct, are not tolerated. Athletes should help maintain practice facilities, leaving them in good condition for others. The goal is to foster a positive and supportive environment where everyone feels valued and motivated to perform their best. Varsity Letter Criteria Junior Varsity Letter: Earned by participating in activities, including practice attendance, races, state events, and volunteer work. Athletes need at least 75% of possible participation points and must volunteer at least once. Varsity Letter: Based on both participation and performance. The top 7 male and female athletes will receive varsity letters, with 4-year seniors also earning varsity status if they meet JV requirements. Points System: Participation: Practice (1 pt), Team Race/Practice (2 pts), Race (5 pts), State Championship (30 pts), Volunteer (2 pts per hour) Performance: Local race points are awarded based on placement among teammates; State Championship points are double local race points; JNQ participation earns 4 pts. Athletes are responsible for logging their volunteer hours using this form. Volunteering and Fundraising Our expectation is that athletes and parents/guardians will volunteer for team events. Team fundraising contributes significantly to our budget, helping keep participation costs reasonable and retaining dedicated coaching staff. For inquiries, contact the Parent Board. If a family is unable to volunteer, a donation of $200 is welcomed as an alternative. We host Tuesday night sprint races every week and are looking for volunteers to assist with setup, bib distribution, registration, and timing. Athletes are also expected to volunteer at Vasa-sponsored events, with points earned contributing to varsity letter eligibility. Equipment It's essential that athletes come prepared for each practice and race. We recommend labeling all equipment and clothing with your name and phone number. The coaching staff is not responsible for lost or misplaced items. Required Equipment: Dryland Training: Ski boots compatible with NNN bindings for rollerskiing Skate & Classic ski poles with rollerski tips Optional: Elbow and knee padding for new rollerskiers Athletic clothing, running shoes, and socks Winter Ski Clothing: Base layers (synthetic or wool) Thermal weight long-sleeve shirts and long underwear (men may need windstopper tights) Nordic ski pants (wind-resistant front, stretchy back) Ski jacket (light insulation, windproof front, breathable back) Ski gloves (at least two pairs) Wool socks, mid-weight hat, neck gaiter (similar to BUFF) Ski Equipment: Skate skis (purchase for the athlete's weight, not height) Classic skis (waxable and weight-appropriate, flex tested) Skate poles (reach to the athlete's nose) Classic poles (90% of the height of skate poles) Ski boots (preferably separate pairs for skate and classic) Ski ties (two per pair) Recommended Equipment: Practice (rock) skis for bad conditions Yoga mat for dryland training Water belt for long sessions Ski bag for travel Wax cork and scraper Rentals For athletes just starting out, XC Ski Headquarters offers affordable rental packages. This is a great option for those still deciding how serious they want to be about the sport. Local Purchasing Options We encourage athletes to shop locally for their ski equipment. Great options in the area include Sutton's Bay Bikes, Brick Wheels, and Don Orr Ski Haus, all of which offer a range of Nordic ski gear and expert advice. Supporting these local shops helps ensure you receive the right equipment for your needs, including properly fitting skis based on weight and flex. Suttons Bay Bikes Curated Store: Suttons Bay Bikes has set up a curated store for the club with recommended equipment options at a significant discount. Orders take up to 2 weeks to process, so please plan accordingly. Link to store (site password: TheClub). Uniforms Uniforms will be distributed before the first race of the season. Athletes are responsible for keeping their uniforms clean and returning them laundered at the end of the season. Transportation Athletes are responsible for their own transportation to and from practices and races. Assistance with carpooling can be coordinated via TeamReach or by reaching out to the Parent Board. Race Schedule Current race schedules will be shared at the Informational Meeting on Thursday, November 7th at 7:00 PM at Hickory Hills Lodge.