Volunteer Job Details
At WMSC, we take great pride in being a strong community where members care for each other and work together to create high quality races and events. Volunteering with the Club can be a highly rewarding and fun experience and many of our families have become life-long friends while working on races or on Club committees. Although the fees for ski racing are significant they do not cover all the costs of running a first-class ski program, so the role of parent/guardian volunteers supplements our program costs and contributes to the Club’s ability to deliver a high quality program.
Each season, there are typically over 150 racers enrolled in WMSC programs. As such, there are upwards of 300 parents who are all needed to help put on the many club events that take place throughout the season. The coordination of this number of volunteers requires a fair amount of organization to ensure everyone has a positive experience and the tasks are shared fairly amongst the group.
Below are descriptions of the types of volunteer positions we need throughout the season. Sign up takes place several weeks before the race and will be announced through the WMSC eNews. If you are unsure of the best position to take, please contact the WMSC alpine chair at alpinechair@wmsc.info.
Season Long Roles
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Ensures all race events hosted by WMSC are of a high quality and in line with the values of WMSC
Ensures an adequate supply and succession of keen, trained and skilled volunteers are available now and in the future
Ensures a fair share volunteer policy is implemented
Each race event will have its own committee
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Tracks program parents’ participation of all program parents
Maintains data base of parent’s skill sets and interests
Coordinates with Race Chair, Fundraising Events Rep and Socials Rep to ensure parents volunteer as required
Organizes program committee meeting with all program reps as required.
If you have any questions concerning volunteering, please contact the volunteer coordinator at volunteering@wmsc.info.
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One socials rep per U group
Reports to WMSC Overall Socials Coordinator
Recruits volunteers to organize assigned socials
Organizes coaches' cards for year-end celebration
Initiates and organizes program specific social events
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One rep per U group
Reports to WMSC Overall Media Liaison
Writes up report on all significant program events (races, athlete achievements and news) and submits to WMSC Media Liaison
Coordinates photos and submits to WMSC Overall Media Liaison and uploads photos to the website
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One parent rep per year of birth
Welcomes all new members personally, encourage officials course participation
Prior to each event works with volunteer coordinator to ensure all new members volunteer for appropriate roles
Actively reach out to all new members monthly throughout the season, as a liaison between head coach and parents
Selecting Parent Representatives
The parents who assume these jobs are representatives of all the parents. As a result, at the beginning of each season we ask all returning parents in each program to indicate, who they would like to represent them in each of the various roles. Parents are allowed to nominate themselves and are asked how they would like to fulfill their volunteer duties during the upcoming season.
Race Roles
WMSC usually hosts various races during a typical season: the organization of these races takes the committed effort of all parents. For those new to ski racing, it can be quite overwhelming and intimidating. However, rest assured that it does not take a long time to understand ski race organization. Taking officials courses can help tremendously and as such all new parents are expected to take at least their Level 1 course.
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The weekend before the race gets under way is usually a safety setup weekend. Parents are required to help put up the safety nets. We organize into crews of typically four to six lead by a more experienced parent. Unless otherwise announced we meet at Garbo Hut at nine o’clock on set up days.
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Generally work inside, like:
Getting the race office in order
Preparing start lists and programs
Sorting prizes
Arranging for a parent/volunteer social
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Under the direction of the chief of course, the course crew is responsible for the preparation of the course and its maintenance throughout the race. This requires being responsible for the course marking, including direction marking and marking pole positions as well as providing the course setter with assistance and all the necessary equipment to be productive. The course crews also:
Prepare the start and finish areas
Ensure the course is well prepared and maintained while the race is underway
Hold a position in a key place along the course and use rakes and shovels to kept the course in good condition.
Hold a position at the top of the course and run equipment down to places where it may be required during the race.
Act as a slipper, to side-slip the course to minimize the ruts and berms.
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A gate judge is responsible for judging the passage of each competitor through the gates and deciding whether the passage is correct. Gate judges must have completed their Level 1 Official’s course certificate, so they are aware of the rules concerning correct passage. Gate judges are assigned a certain number of gates to watch by the chief of gates. They stand to the side of the course and watch each competitor pass through their designated gates. If a competitor does not have the correct passage through the gates the gate judge marks this down on a gate judge card.
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The start area is overseen by the start referee who must be a Level 2 Official. Volunteer positions at the start include the starter, assistant starter(s), and two manual timers.
The starter wears a headset and is in communication with timing. The race is started on the signal from the starter.
The assistant starter organizes the racers according to their start order.
The manual timers work in pairs using a stopwatch and a recording sheet to record a manual time at which each racer starts. This forms a backup time for all the electronic timing system.
The assistant starter and manual timers are appropriate volunteer positions for inexperienced volunteers.
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The finish area is overseen by the finish referee who holds a Level 2 Official certificate.
The finish crew consists of the following roles:
The finish spotter has a headset and informs timing of the bib number of races as they cross the finish line.
Two manual timers work in pairs using a stopwatch and a recording sheet to record a manual time at which each racer finishes.
A scoreboard volunteer has either a headset connected to timing or can visually see an electronic scoreboard on which times are displayed. They manually records these times on the scoreboard, so the racers can quickly see their times.
A bib collector collects the bibs from racers after their final race.
The finish spotter, two manual timers, scoreboard, and bib collector are appropriate volunteer positions for inexperienced volunteers.
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Under the supervision of the Chief of Timing, the timing crew is responsible for the electronic timing systems of the race.
There are usually two independent electronic timing systems. Each requires two pairs of wire to be in place from the start to the finish to carry both the timing signal and communications between the areas; the start wand, finish beam, and a timing unit to receive and process the start and finish signals.
Regardless of how the system is set up, the principles of timing are the same. The starter gives the start signal. When the racer opens the start wand, the circuit is broken and the start signal is sent to the timing machine. When the racer breaks the light beam at the finish the circuit is again broken and the finish signal is sent to the machine which calculates the elapsed time of the racer and prints it out.
Members of the timing crew work together as a team to ensure the systems are in place and functioning correctly. Any volunteers with electrical know how would be welcomed as part of this team.
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Overseen by the Chief of Administration, also known as the Race Secretary, the Race Office takes care of the considerable amount of paperwork that a race inevitably requires. This includes:
Sending the race notice
Taking minutes at all Race Committee, Jury and Team Captain’s meetings
Handling all correspondence,
Receiving all entries and race entry fees
Preparing the draw cards and start lists
Distributing and collecting bibs as well as giving out information.
The preparation and the distribution of the race results.
The Race Office is an appropriate place for volunteers who do not wish to be outside for the duration of the race and have excellent organizational and administrative skills.
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All volunteers are supplied with a lunch which in addition, most races include a social function to thank all the volunteers.
Volunteers are needed to:
Help organize the socials.
Help prepare and serve food
Pick up and distribute lunches
This is a great volunteer position for individuals who do not wish to be or cannot be on the hill and perhaps have other commitments such as younger children.
Events
Various events are held throughout the year and each event can only successful with the help of volunteers.
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The Ski Swap and Turkey Sale are annual events the club hosts over the Thanksgiving weekend at the base of Blackcomb and at the club cabin. Under the management of the Swap Director, the event involves the receiving of skis, snowboards and boots from public and retailers for sale. The club manages the inventory, pricing and sale of items for a percentage of the final sale price. The club also assists with buyer’s selection and fitting of items. Upwards of 60 volunteers are required each of the 4 days to work in shifts to staff a variety of positions from set-up / tear down, receiving and tagging merchandise, to sales and support roles.
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Each season, the club hosts an annual fundraising Event and Auction where guest enjoy an evening of food, entertainment as well as silent and live auctions. Under the management of the Event / Auction Director auction items are solicited from members and local businesses for display and bidding the night of the event. There are several of ways volunteers can assist in the pre-event set up to the night of the event including: receiving and pricing of auction items, reservations and ticket sales, guest check in and collection of bid amounts during check-out. Typically, 10 volunteers are needed to communicate and manage pre-event planning with an additional 20 helpers the night of the event.
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Each season the club host a few informal socials at the club where members can get together for snacks and drinks and enjoy an après ski atmosphere with other members and alumni. The club’s social director plans and coordinates appetizers and refreshments with the help of 6-8 volunteers in the preparation, decoration and tidy up afterwards.
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Item description
The Do’s and Don’ts of Being a Race Volunteer
Most parents find volunteering for a race to be a fun and rewarding experience. However, we ask that you respect the following guidelines:
Make sure that at least one parent volunteers for each day of the race as well as at least one day of the set-up weekend.
If both parents cannot volunteer all day because of other obligations, even portions of the day will be appreciated.
If you have volunteered for a position, please ensure you show up. Many people are relying on you to be there. If an emergency arises and you’re not able to make it, please contact your crew chief [you will be given their phone number ahead of time] as soon as possible.
If you want to see your child race, consider being a course worker. That way you will be right on the course when your athlete races.
Do not slip the course just before your athlete races and then disappear. While there is nothing wrong with slipping just before your child, so you can meet them at the bottom of the course, please be aware that other racers are depending on you to return to the start to the course as soon as possible.
If you are volunteering in the start area, please let the coaches do their job and manage the athletes. Parents often do more harm than good at the start of a race, despite their best intentions.
If you do not know what to do, just ask a more experienced parent. No one has any expectations that you be perfect.
Do not worry about carrying clothing [pants and jacket] down to the bottom of the course for the racers. The boys and girls ski at different times and usually perform this role for each other.
Please avoid using your cell phone during the race. It can be distracting for the racers and other volunteers.
Volunteering at Away Races
Although we are under no obligation to volunteer when another mountain hosts a race, often they rely on WMSC parents to help as we are generally the biggest club. In addition, volunteering means you are supplied with a lift ticket and you can get to see your athlete race on the hill. Typically, other clubs require course workers and gate judges. To sign up, open the event file on the BC Alpine Calendar http://bcalpine.com/calendar/. There you will find a place to volunteer.