Volunteer

1. Easy. Suitable for volunteers who are new to alpine ski racing.

   Easy, new volunteersThe region's green circle

2. Medium. Entry-level U.S. Ski & Snowboard certification, or no certification but some familiarity with alpine ski racing.

   Medium, some familiarityThe region's blue square

3. Difficult. Certification from U.S. Ski & Snowboard or FIS, or significant experience.

   Difficult, certifiedThe region's black diamond

4. On skis or a snowboard. This role requires you to ski or snowboard.

   On skis or a snowboardThe region's skiing symbol

5. Skis may not be needed. Some roles may not require that you ski or snowboard. Confirm with the volunteer coordinator. You may have to hike and walk.

   Skis may not be neededThe region's hiking symbol

6. Indoors or in shelter. Conducted primarily or entirely indoors or within a shelter.

   Indoors or in shelterThe region's indoor symbol

Race support positions

1. Race office assistants. Help the race administrator with on-site registration, pace team, volunteer lift tickets, copies and filling in the scoreboard. Mostly a morning job with brief needs between runs and at the end of the day, so there is time to watch your athlete race. Race office; no skis required. Report when the race office opens.

   Easy, new volunteersSkis may not be neededIndoors or in shelter

2. Volunteer coordinator. Help recruit and organize volunteers going into the race, and check them in at the start of the day. Set up mentoring for new volunteers. At some races, arrange the volunteers' lunches. No U.S. Ski & Snowboard membership required. Race office; skis optional. Report when the race office opens.

   Easy, new volunteersSkis may not be neededIndoors or in shelter

3. Timing assistants (up to three). Help the chief of timing set up the timing equipment and fill out the paperwork, and run the secondary timing equipment. Timing shack at the bottom of the race hill; no skis required, though some venues mean a walk to the shack. Report when inspection opens.

   Easy, new volunteersSkis may not be neededIndoors or in shelter

4. Assistant starter. Line athletes up so they enter the starting ramp in the correct order, from the start list the race office provides. Start of course; skis required at most venues. Report 10 minutes before the race start.

   Easy, new volunteersOn skis or a snowboard

5. Starter. Wear the headset for constant communication with timing, to keep the race flowing, and give the start command to each athlete. Start of course; skis required at most venues. Report 10 minutes before the race start.

   Easy, new volunteersOn skis or a snowboard

6. Hand timers, start or finish. Run a stopwatch that records times in case the electronic timers miss one. Press a button and read off the time as athletes start or finish. A good starting point for new volunteers. Start (skiing) or finish (non-skiing); skis are recommended for the start.

   Easy, new volunteersOn skis or a snowboardSkis may not be needed

7. Hand time recorders, start or finish. As the hand timer reads the minutes, seconds and hundredths, write them down. At the end of the run, turn the sheets in to the start or finish referee. A good job for new volunteers. Start (skiing) or finish (non-skiing).

   Easy, new volunteersOn skis or a snowboardSkis may not be needed

8. Course crew. Help set the race arena and courses before the races. During the race, slip, shovel, reset gates and shuttle equipment as the chief of course directs. At the end of the day, carry the equipment down. On skis all day, both genders' races, strong intermediate skiing. Always a complimentary lift ticket. Report when the lift opens for officials and coaches.

   Easy, new volunteersOn skis or a snowboard

9. Chief of gates. On skis all day, with gate judge experience. Get the gate judges' names from the race administrator. Meet them about half an hour before each run to check ability and explain the job, then place them. After each run, collect every gate judge card and take the cards straight to the timing shack. Report to the race office 45 minutes before the race.

   Medium, some familiarityOn skis or a snowboard

10. Gate judge. Read the gate judge guide first. Meet the chief of gates 30 minutes before the first run, take your position, and watch each racer carefully through your gates. After the run, wait for the chief of gates to collect your card; if you recorded a fault, wait through the 15-minute protest period. A good job for new volunteers. Skis required.

    Easy, new volunteersOn skis or a snowboard

11. Scoreboard recorder. Post racers' times on the scoreboard as they finish. Skis are not required at most venues. A good job for new volunteers. Report to the race office 45 minutes before the race.

    Easy, new volunteersSkis may not be needed

12. PA announcer. In the timing building, announce racers' names, bib numbers and times as they finish, straight from the timing screen. A good job for new volunteers. Skis not required.

    Easy, new volunteersSkis may not be neededIndoors or in shelter

1. Technical delegate (TD). U.S. Ski & Snowboard alpine officials membership and TD certification (U.S. Ski & Snowboard or FIS). Coordinated through Region 1. The highest-ranking official in ski racing and the chairman of the jury. Oversees that every rule and procedure is followed. Checks that the timing, scoring and results paperwork is correct before it goes to U.S. Ski & Snowboard.

   Difficult, certifiedOn skis or a snowboard

2. Chief of race (COR). Alpine officials membership and COR certification. Coordinated through Region 1. Organizes and administers the race, as one of three jury members. Coordinates every volunteer through the Region 1 sign-up and sends the race schedule at least a week ahead. Region 1 is recruiting more Chiefs of Race; meet Angie on the region's Facebook page.

   Difficult, certifiedOn skis or a snowboard

3. Referee (REF). Alpine officials membership and REF certification. Coordinated through Region 1, typically a coach from a participating program. The athlete advocate on the jury: signs the referee report and posts disqualifications immediately after each run.

   Difficult, certifiedOn skis or a snowboard

4. Assistant referee. Alpine officials membership and REF certification. Another athlete advocate on the jury, used only during speed events.

   Medium, some familiarityOn skis or a snowboard

Other race officials

1. Chief of course (COC). Alpine officials membership and COC certification. On skis all day, both genders' races. Coordinates the course crew. All equipment goes to the top of the courses first thing and is spread through the hill before the races. The crew slips and fixes the course as the jury directs, then cleans up at the end of the day. Report at least 15 minutes before the chairlift opens.

   Medium, some familiarityOn skis or a snowboard

2. Race administrator (RA). Alpine officials membership and race administrator certification. Coordinated through Region 1. An all-day job with work before and after the race. With the race office assistants: on-site registration, pace team, volunteer lift tickets, copies and the scoreboard. Runs the computer in the morning, between runs and at the end. Turns every required paper and result, with signatures, in to the Region 1 administrator.

   Difficult, certifiedSkis may not be neededIndoors or in shelter

3. Chief of timing and calculations (COTC). Alpine officials membership and timing and calculation certification. Coordinated through the chief of race. Responsible for the overall timing of the races and for the timing assistants. Sets up and tears down the timing equipment and the PA system, and runs the primary timer during the race. Report to the timing shack at least an hour before inspection opens.

   Difficult, certifiedSkis may not be neededIndoors or in shelter

4. Start referee. Alpine officials membership and referee, jury advisor or COR certification. A non-voting jury member, listed as a jury advisor. Sets up the start area and helps timing set up the start wand. Controls the start before, during and after the run, recording the order every athlete started and any issues. Report an hour before inspection; collect the start box at the Region 1 trailer. Skis required at most venues.

   Medium, some familiarityOn skis or a snowboard

5. Finish referee. Alpine officials membership and referee, jury advisor or COR certification. A non-voting jury member, listed as a jury advisor. Sets up the finish corral and helps timing set up the finish; controls the finish arena before, during and after the race. Report an hour before inspection; collect the finish box at the Region 1 trailer. Skis not required at most venues.

   Medium, some familiaritySkis may not be needed

1. 2025-26 Lifetime Achievement: Bert Finsand, a Region 1 volunteer for more than three decades, from hand timing and gate judging to technical delegate. His one question at every race committee was how this makes sure the kids are having fun. Volunteers of the Year: Matt Stein, Mike Strahl and Bill Titler. Athlete Sportsmanship: Liam Burns (Afton) and Brenna Peltz (Buck Hill).

2. 2024-25 Lifetime Achievement: Skip Wipson, for his years as a volunteer and board member, including leading the region through COVID as president. Volunteers of the Year: John Barrett and Kev Amirayan. Athlete Sportsmanship: Grace Anderson (Gilboa) and Jackson Reents (Afton / Stowe).

3. 2023-24 Ski Area Outstanding Partner: Giants Ridge Recreation Area. In a year with very little snow, it stepped up at the last minute to host over half the region's races. Volunteers of the Year: Jonathan Hopke and Gavin McLain. Athlete Sportsmanship: Petey Jones (4Degrees) and Jaclyn Lundeen (Afton).

4. 2022-23 Volunteers of the Year: Shelby Wolf, Chuck Robb, Steve Mihalik, Mark Pendergast and Scott Burns. Athlete Sportsmanship: Penny Robinson (TB Fast), Nadia Tessier (Duluth), Caden Burns (Afton), Olivia Mihalik (Duluth) and Elanore Robb (Afton).