VOLUNTEERING

The Middlebury Ski Club survives thanks to our dedicated corps of volunteers. Our club is able to keep coaching costs very reasonable thanks to the help that our families provide as volunteers.

RACE WORK

Our main source of funding comes from hosting and running races at the Middlebury College Snow Bowl. These races require a significant amount of work and in order to make these events successful, every family is asked to contribute a specific number of volunteer days per season.

Racing Team families are asked to volunteer for 4 race days per season. Saturday Mountain Team families must volunteer for 1 race work day, and Two-Day Mountain Team families must volunteer for 2 race work days. Race day volunteer duties are outlined at the bottom of this page.

What it's worth: Each person day of volunteering during races saves the club money and helps to keep our program fees the lowest in Vermont. If you are unable or unwilling to volunteer, you do have the option of making a payment in lieu of your volunteer commitment.

See the Race Day Job Descriptions below for information on Volunteer Jobs

"Being involved with the races can be a lot of fun. It provides an opportunity to be on the hill watching some really good ski racing, an opportunity to learn more about the sport, and an opportunity to meet a lot of interesting and dedicated people!"

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT

There is a lot of behind-the-scenes work that is required to keep our ski club going. We are a non-profit organization that has a very involved board of directors, all of whom volunteer a great deal of time. If you have specific skills that you think could benefit our club, we would be happy to hear from you!

SOCIAL AND HOSPITALITY

Social volunteers offer their strengths and interests in gathering people together to have a good time, and to make sure that our club is approachable and accessible to new members. We are currently looking for a social coordinator to help develop a calendar of social gatherings for the 2014-15 season.

RACE DAY JOBS

The Middlebury Ski Club provides on-the-job training for all of our volunteer positions. Some positions that are marked "official" require licensing and training. We are always looking for more officials. If you are interested in becoming an official, please contact us!

--->>> Please note that most on-hill positions require you to be out on the hill for up to two hours at a time without a break. Please dress appropriately. You can never be overdressed!

POSITION DESCRIPTIONS: 

Registration & Bib Collection
(Volunteer, No Experience Required, Good for Non-Skiers, Indoors and Outdoors)
7:00 AM - 9:15 AMInside Base Lodge for registration
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Outside at Finish for Bib Collection 
Registration is an early morning, very fast paced opportunity. You give the racers their bibs, tickets and a run order. You also distribute tickets to coaches and officials from other mountains. Bib collection occurs as soon as the second run begins. You stand at the outlet of the finish corral and collect the bibs from each racer. You must be in your position when the first racer finishes the second run until the final racer finishes.

Announcer 
(Volunteer, No Experience Required, Good for Non-Skiers, Indoors)
9:00 AM - Finish of Race with break between runs
Announces the times of racers. This person is in the timing room and must announce the racer's bib number, name and time over the PA system. The announcer also announces the racer’s home hill when they start. This job is a perfect indoor opportunity for someone with a great announcing voice!

Scoreboard 
(Volunteer, No Experience Required, Good for Non-Skiers, Outdoors, Breaks Available)
8:30 AM - Finish of Race with break between runs 
Prepares scoresheet early the morning of the race (Race Administrator provides racer list) by writing competitor’s names on the large scoreboard sheets. As finish times are announced, write them on the scoreboard for the first run, second run, and combined time.

Assistant Timer
(Volunteer, No Experience Required, Good for Non-Skiers, Indoors)
8:30 AM - Finish of Race with break between runs 
Works with the Head Timer in the timing room (the head timer will provide an introduction to specifics and be available to assist the assistant timer), monitor computer screen to be sure that the right time is being assigned to the correct racer.

Starter
(Volunteer, No Experience Required, Outdoors, Must Ski to Start)
8:30 AM - Finish of Race with break between runs 
Be in position 30 minutes before the start of the race.  In start shack, sends racers, is in constant communication with finish, checks start wand and communication before the race. Starts the competitors with a simple direct command; “Ready” followed a few seconds later by “Go”. Once the command is given, the competitor has about 10 seconds to advance through the wand and proceed on course. It's a fun position where you are really involved in the racing!

Assistant Starter
(Volunteer, No Experience Required, Outdoors, Must Ski to Start)
8:30 AM - Finish of Race with break between runs 
Be in position 30 minutes before the start of the race. Helps line up racers for Starter; assures smooth flow of racers.

Hand Timing Start
(Volunteer, No Experience Required, Outdoors, Must Ski to Start)
8:30 AM - Finish of Race with break between runs 
Be in position 30 minutes before the start of the race. When a competitor’s lower leg crosses the start line, the Start Hand Timekeeper pushes the appropriate button on a time-of-day manual timekeeping device, which freezes the running display. The Start Hand Timekeeper records that time on a recording form along with the competitor’s bib number. This is very important, as these times serve as back-up for our electronic timing.

Hand Timing Finish
(Volunteer, No Experience Required, Outdoors, Good for Non-Skiers)
8:30 AM - Finish of Race with break between runs 
Be in position 30 minutes before the start of the race. When any part of the competitor crosses the finish line, the Finish Hand Timekeeper pushes the button on time-of-day manual timekeeping device that is synchronized to the manual timekeeping device at the start. The Finish Hand Timekeeper records that time on a recording form along with the competitor’s bib number. This is very important, as these times serve as back-up for our electronic timing.

Chief Gatekeeper
(Volunteer, Experience Required, On-Mountain Position, Skiing Required)
7:30 AM - Finish of Race with break between runs 
Recruits gatekeepers, numbers gates, organizes gatekeepers and places them in position, collects gatekeeper cards after each run and brings them to the finish. Follow course-setter and number all gates. Then go into the lodge and pass out gatekeeper bibs, control cards, pencils, and clipboards, designate assignments of physical location for each gatekeeper and distribute start list to all gatekeepers.  Review the gatekeeper job description with volunteers, determine if any gatekeepers are not skiing and assign them to the gates at the lower part of the mountain.  30 minutes before the race, meet gatekeepers at top of race course and assign gates by number and description. Check in with gatekeepers from time to time to make sure they do not have questions or issues to discuss.  At the end of the run, quickly ski down to where each gatekeeper is stationed to relieve them of their duties until the next run. Collect the control cards (with Gatekeeper cell phones noted) and promptly deliver them to the Referee.

Gatekeeper
(Volunteer, No Experience Required, Lower hill positions do not require skiing)
8:30 AM - Finish of Race with break between runs 
One of the most important positions on the hill. Be at the start of the race course 30 minutes before the start of the race. You will be given a section of gates and be asked to make sure that the racer has “rounded” or passed through each gate correctly. You are required to keep track of the racers, and if a fault occurs (not passing through the gate correctly), then you must draw a diagram of the fault that occurred.

Course Crew/Course Maintenance
(Volunteer, No Experience Required, Strong Skiing Skills and a High Degree of Visual and Aural Awareness on the Hill are Required)
7:00 AM - Finish of Race with break between runs 
Helps maintain course, replace gates, reports to Chief of Course to assist with all course-related tasks. This involves slipping the course and keeping the track smooth. (Several people needed)

Start Referee
(Official, Experience Required, On-Mountain Position)
Oversees the Start area of the race. The Start Referee is responsible for assuring that each competitor receives a fair start. Requires USSA Alpine Official License and training.

Finish Referee
(Official, Experience Required, On-Mountain Position)
Oversees the Finish area of the race. This person is approached by racers if a rerun is to be considered. Requires USSA Alpine Official License and training.