In order to be able to successfully organize and run races within the current budget, as described by the Open League Race Committee, race day course workers are needed on a volunteer basis from the current adult racer list. If every adult racer volunteers for just one task on one race course per race season (about 2 hours) then the league will not need to raise the current racer fee to cover the costs of hiring professional race course workers. The positions available for volunteers are: Course Starter (lines up the racers at the top of the course), Scoreboard (records the race times for each racer at the finish of the course), Gatekeeper (please watch videos below). 

Scoreboard

• Please arrive 15mins early at the Finish area!

• The scoreboard person coordinates with another person in the timing shack. The person in the timing shack will periodically provide a list of bib numbers and times, which the scoreboard person uses to update the scoreboard. 

• Occasionally, the scoreboard person has visibility to the timer as the racer goes through the Finish line. In that case, one person announces the bib number and the time, and the person at the scoreboard person uses to update the scoreboard. 

NOTE: A reminder that there are 2 runs per race! 

Starter

• Please arrive 15mins early at the Start area!

• The starter gets the start sheet before the race starts (typically, a league race official will be at the top of the course, with that sheet).

• The starter reads the start sheet and lines up the racers, ensuring 5-7 racers are lined up and ready to go at any time (one racer in the gate, the next close behind and so on, going up the hill). It is easiest to call out the class and the racer's first name (eg, S1, Junior Men, Alex). A strong, loud voice is preferred! 

• On any course, you will have Forerunners (usually resort employees or resort racing teams), Pacesetters (whose time is used to derive and calculate the percentages for all levels), and finally Racers. Forerunners always go first! 

• • On the Lower and Middle Courses, pacesetters go next. After the 5-6 pace setters have gone, the racers for that course go, by class, and in this order: Women, Men and by age group (eg, 5 junior women, 5 junior men, 5 open women, 5 open men, 5 vet women, 5 vet men, etc).

  • On the Upper Course, the same as above applies. However, pacesetters race within their own classes. Their race time counts as their pacesetting time.

NOTE: If someone arrives late for their race, they race at the end of the current class that is in the gate. 

Gatekeeper

• Please arrive 15mins early at the Start area!

• Gatekeepers will meet with the head gatekeeper who will station where needed.

• Gatekeepers are assigned a stretch of gates to watch, typically a few above and a few below where the gatekeeper is positioned. There are usually 2-4 gatekeepers for a course. 

• You will be provided a package containing a clipboard, a score card and pencils in a plastic bag. 

• Once assigned a spot, take your skis off and try to get comfortable, in a safe spot. Having glove liners will help keep your hands warm, as snow gloves are too bulky to wear for writing...

• On the card, write your name, bib #, which race and which course, at the top. On the back of the card, draw a diagram of the gates you are assigned. Typically, the head gatekeeper will tell you which gate numbers to watch, and then you should number them accordingly on your card. Alternatively, you can number them (starting with the gates uphill of where you are, then work your way to the gates downhilll of you). Be sure to denote the colors! You need to get this done before the race starts. 

• To score the racers, write their bib number in the spot provided and put a check mark in the pass box if they make all the gates OK. Put an F in the Fail box if they do something wrong. If a racer does something wrong, you are expected to draw a diagram of his fault on the reverse side of the card, where you have drawn in the gates you are watching, along with his bib number. (If you miss the bib number, put a question mark, and the start sheet will allow the timing officials to fill in any blanks). 

• The pass/fail is fairly simple: a racer's skis and bindings have to pass through the imaginary line between the gates (if there are two poles of the same color, typically for Giant Slalom), or around the outside of the gate (if there is only one gate at a time, typically for Slalom). A racer can do this from any direction they manage to do so. A racer is also allowed to hike back to a gate they have missed and cross that line. A racer is not allowed to put a ski back on if a ski comes off. A racer can, however, finish on one ski if within the last 2 gates.  

• We do not need to replant any games that are pulled out as the race department will maintain those. 

NOTE: You are allowed to answer Yes or No if a racer asks if they need to hike back for a gate or if they are OK to continue from where they are. Other advice is not encouraged.

Gatekeeping #1

Gatekeeping #2