RACE WORKER REQUIREMENTS & JOBS

It takes roughly 40 workers to run a race.  FSC has the reputation of running some of the best organized races in New Hampshire, a reputation which the club is very proud.  However, because there are only about 100 families with racers, it is imperative that parents volunteer to work rather than pay the non-worker fees.  Sign up for races will be handled electronically this year.  No more running over to Ernie's to get your name on a sheet! Instructions for sign up will be emailed to all members in early November.

Please make note that there are several midweek races.  If you have a “flexible” schedule and can work those races it is a big help to the club. Club members with children in the race training program are expected to assist in the running of races and to accumulate a MINIMUM of 6 RACE CREDITS (although everyone is encouraged to help out more than the minimum).  Families with J6 athlete(s) ONLY are required to work 1 race credit.  Families not meeting this obligation will be billed $200 per credit not worked.  Those who work will also receive a voucher which will entitle the bearer to purchase a lift ticket for any other day at a nominal price during a specified period (approximately 1 year).

IT IS THE RACE WORKER’S OBLIGTION TO FIND A REPLACEMENT WORKER IF THEY CANNOT WORK A RACE.  LAST MINUTE CANCELATIONS PUT THE CLUB AND OTHER WORKERS AT A SIGNIFCANT DISADVANTAGE.  PLEASE BE COURTEOUS TO YOUR FELLOW MEMBERS.

Families with special circumstances should speak with the President of the Club to make other arrangements.  Supporting members without children in the program are encouraged to volunteer but not required. 

Alpine Official Licenses

The club is currently recruiting members to become USSA Alpine Officials (AO).  This status allows you to work many positions within the race environment.  The cost is $60 and takes approximately 3-4 weeks to complete due to background screening.  Please visit the USSA (ftp://ftp.ussa.org/Public/Athletics/Forms/2010-2011/membership/App%20Alpine%2011.pdf) website to obtain the application and obtain the license.  This will be helpful to the club and advantageous to the member who would like to try different jobs on race day.  Alpine officials are now required to attend training classes and earn “level” certification.  Training opportunities are advertised on the NHARA website.

Description of Race Jobs

Chief of Race: The Chief of Race, a member of the Race Jury, must be a licensed USSA Alpine Official and is the official in charge of organizing the race, assigning the workers, directing and supervising the race and the work of all officials, etc.  In addition to his/her responsibilities to the Race Organization, the Chief of Race is a member of the Race Jury according to the International Competition Rules.  He/she must know and understand the rules and answer technical questions, participate in Jury inspections and other meetings, and vote on questions brought before the Jury.

Chief of Course: The Chief of Course is the official in charge of preparing the course and its safety features, working the event, and supervising the clean-up immediately following.  Successful completion of these responsibilities requires organization, leadership, personnel and equipment.  The Chief of Course will need to maintain communication with Ski Area Management in order to promote full cooperation between mountain and ski club personnel.  He will need to have capable assistants even for a small race.  The Chief of Course must understand course preparation and must be able to evaluate the courses set under his jurisdiction.  His/her responsibilities include the Start and Finish Areas as well as the actual race course.  He/she is often called upon to manage equipment, repair timing and communication systems.

Chief of Timing and Calculations: The Chief of Timing and Calculations (CTC) is responsible for supervising the timing, communications, and calculations, and oversees the timers, recorders, calculations, and coordinates the officials at the start and finish.  This is an extremely important job because the entire integrity of the race depends on the timing.  Accordingly, the CTC must have in-depth understanding of the timing equipment (both the primary and the backup as well as the stop watches), the rules relating to calculations in the event of a timing failure, the rules relating to racing in case there is an unusual event (e.g., overtaking racer), etc. and must have a cool head and diplomacy in the event of problems.  The CTC usually supervises the primary timer.  The timing personnel are as follows:

Primary Timer (Split Second), Secondary Timer, Announcer, Scoreboard, Hand Timer #1 (at the Start) and Hand Timer #2 (at the Finish).

Chief of Gatekeeping: The Chief of Gatekeeping (CG) is in charge of all gatekeepers.  The CG holds a meeting of all gatekeepers at 8:45 AM (assuming a 9:30 Start) where they are given bibs, clipboards, pencils, and gatekeeping cards and the rules and procedures are reviewed.  The CG then meets all of the gatekeepers at the top of the course and assigns the gates.  Just before the Start, the CG checks that all gatekeepers are in place, that each gatekeeper understands which gates are his/her responsibility and that each gate has a gatekeeper.  During the race, the CG continually checks on the gatekeepers to be sure that everything is OK.  At the end of each run, the CG collects the cards and reviews them with the Referee to see if there are any disqualifications (DQ’s).

Registration/Bibs: The personnel in charge of registration should arrive at Ernie’s by 7:00 AM to set up the registration tables and get the bibs out of storage.  The Race Secretary will have several copies of the start order for registration purposes and Registration should be sure that copies are posted.  Registration will collect the race fees, hand out lift and their designated bib in exchange for the racer’s USSA and NHARA cards which are put into the envelope corresponding to the racer’s bib #.  During the finish of the second run, registration collects the bibs and returns the USSA/NHARA cards to the racers.  Coaches will also sign in at registration and receive designated armbands in exchange for their USSA cards to be returned later.

Starter and Start Referee:  The Starter and Start Referee should pick up a start order from the Race Secretary and be at the Race Start no less than 15 minutes before the Start.  The Starter is stationed at the start gate, wears head phones and is responsible for starting each racer.  The Starter must be familiar with the countdown for Slalom and GS and other rules relating to racing.  The Start Referee is responsible for getting the racers organized for the start by calling out the bib numbers (usually in groups of 10) to determine who is present and then getting them lined up in order so they are ready to start when their number comes up.

Finish Referee:  The Finish Referee stands at the Finish and checks off each racer as they finish, much like a gatekeeper.  Any racer who thinks he/she is entitled to a rerun must make the request for the rerun to the Finish Referee who then speaks to the Technical Delegate for a determination as to whether the racer is entitled to a rerun.

Food Table:  A minimum of two people are needed for running the Food Table in the lobby of Ernie’s.  The Social Committee has overall responsibility and requests volunteers for help.  Items sold include candy, juice, coffee, doughnuts, muffins, hot-dogs, etc.  Supplies should be checked (cups, coffee, sugar, cream, all perishable items, etc.) for adequacy.

Parking Lot:  The Parking Lot Attendants (PLAs) are responsible for making sure that only authorized personnel are allowed up the road to Ernie’s.  All others must park in the Echo Lake Parking Lot and walk to Ernie’s.  Authorized personnel are all race workers and, if space, FSC members.  Once the left hand side of the road to Ernie’s is full (from Ernie’s to the hard turn by the Maintenance Area), no more cars will be allowed in.  They must be in place by 7:00 AM and stay until about 9:30 (assuming a 9:30 Start).  The PLA then goes up on the hill to help with course maintenance.

Race Secretary:  The Race Secretary collects the entries, prepares the start lists and results, notifies the Treasurer to make the requisite payments to the Mountain for lift tickets and NHARA, Eastern and USSA for the head tax, and acts as a trouble shooter during the race.

Nonskier Jobs:  Workers who do not ski can help in the following capacities:

Registration, Timing, Announcer, Scoreboard, Food Table, Finish Referee, Finish Hand Timer or Gatekeeper on bottom section of course.