Volunteers
Every race runs on parents.
Each Region 1 race is put on by parent and staff volunteers from the clubs that race. It is the best seat on the hill, and the fastest way to meet other families.
How it works
Earn your family's credits all season.
Every US Ski family signs a volunteer pledge at registration. Shifts earn credits, and the whole household counts toward one goal.
6 credits per family
One credit is about a half-day shift. A full race day on the hill earns two.
1 goal for the household
Shifts worked by either parent, or any adult in the family, count toward the same total.
$450 if a family does not volunteer
Short at the end of the season? The rest is $75 a credit.
Pick a shift
Open the Team Scout app, choose a race day or club event, and tap the job you want.
Get a reminder
The app reminds you the day before, two hours before and 30 minutes before your shift.
Swap if plans change
Post your shift for a swap and another family can pick it up. You both see the change right away.
Watch your credits
Credits post after the shift, and your family's total is always in the app.
The race-day requirement does not apply to Jr. Race families.
Volunteer jobs
Find a job you'll like.
Most jobs need no training, and every race day mixes newcomers with veterans who are glad to show you the ropes.
Home race day: About 56 volunteers
When Team Gilboa hosts, our families run the hill: the start, the gates, the course, timing and the finish. Outside jobs on the hill come with a lift ticket for the day.
The jury and certified officials
Technical delegate Chairs the jury and makes sure the race runs to the rules; appointed through Region 1.
Certified official2 creditsAll dayChief of race Organizes and runs the race, sits on the jury, and sends the race schedule a week ahead.
Certified official3 creditsAll day, plus planning the week beforeReferee The athletes' advocate on the jury: checks the course, signs the referee report and posts disqualifications.
Certified official2 creditsAll dayAssistant referee (speed events) A second athlete advocate on the jury, used only at speed events.
Certified official2 creditsAll dayRace administrator Runs the race office: registration, volunteer lift tickets, start lists, results and the paperwork for U.S. Ski and Snowboard.
Certified official2 creditsAll day, with downtime while the race runsChief of timing and calculations Sets up, runs and tears down the timing system and the PA, and prepares the timing report.
Certified official2 creditsAll dayChief of course Leads the course crew: equipment up the hill, courses set and kept fast, everything down at the end.
Officials membership2 creditsAll day on skisStart referee Sets up and controls the start, judges late and false starts, and keeps spare bibs for racers who forgot theirs.
Officials membership2 creditsFrom inspection to the end of the race, on skisFinish referee Sets up and controls the finish corral, timing and crowd control at the bottom.
Officials membership2 creditsFrom inspection to the end of the race
At the start
Starter Wears the headset to timing and gives each racer the start command.
Learn on the day1 credit30 minutes before each run until it ends, on skisAssistant starter Lines racers up so they reach the start in the right order. A strong voice helps.
No training1 credit30 minutes before each run until it ends, on skisHand timer, top Runs a synchronized stopwatch at the start in case the electronic timing misses a racer.
No training1 credit30 to 60 minutes a runHand time recorder, top Writes down each hand time at the start as the timer reads it out.
No training1 credit30 to 60 minutes a run
Gates and course
Chief of gates Briefs and places the gate judges, then collects their cards after each run and takes them to the referee.
Experience needed2 creditsBoth runs, on skisGate judge Watches every racer through the gates in your section and marks any missed gate on your card.
Learn on the day1 creditBoth runs of one race, about 3 to 4 hoursCourse crew Sets up the course and safety fencing, resets knocked-out gates, slips and shovels during the race, and carries it all down at the end.
No training2 creditsAll day on skis, both racesSlip crew, between runs Side-slips the course smooth between runs and resets any gate a racer knocks out.
Learn on the day1 creditBetween runs and between racers, about 3 hours
Finish, timing and the race office
Hand timer, bottom Runs a synchronized stopwatch at the finish in case the electronic timing misses a racer.
No training1 credit30 to 60 minutes a runHand time recorder, bottom Writes down each hand time at the finish as the timer reads it out.
No training1 credit30 to 60 minutes a runTiming assistant Helps the chief of timing set up and runs the backup timing system.
Learn on the day2 creditsAll day, in the timing shackScoreboard recorder Posts racers' times on the scoreboard as they finish.
No training1 creditEach run, at the finishPA announcer Announces names, bib numbers and times as racers finish.
No training1 creditEach run, in the timing buildingRace office assistant Helps the race administrator with check-in, volunteer lift tickets, copies and start lists.
No training1 creditMorning, plus a few minutes between runsRace-day volunteer check-in Checks volunteers in, hands out assignments and pairs first-timers with a veteran.
No training2 creditsRace office opening to middayBib table Hands out bibs to team captains in the morning and collects every bib at the finish.
No training1 creditBefore the first run and after the last
Around the race
Volunteer lunch and hospitality Keeps coffee, water and lunch going for the volunteers and officials.
No training1 creditLate morning to early afternoonAwards Sets out medals and ribbons by age class and runs the awards ceremony.
No training1 creditAfter the last run, about 1 hourRace video and photos Films each Gilboa racer's run so athletes and coaches can review it.
No training1 creditOne run, top or bottom
Away race: A small crew
When another club hosts, a few Gilboa parents look after our racers: the tent, food, video and overnight trips.
Parent captain The go-to parent for one age group: race-day schedule, lift tickets, the team tent and the volunteer list.
No training4 creditsSeason, one per age groupTeam tent Puts up the Gilboa tent at the finish area and takes it down at the end of the day.
No training1 creditBefore inspection and after the last runVolunteer lunch and hospitality Keeps coffee, water and lunch going for the volunteers and officials.
No training1 creditLate morning to early afternoonRace video and photos Films each Gilboa racer's run so athletes and coaches can review it.
No training1 creditOne run, top or bottomTravel chaperone Travels with athletes on overnight race trips and camps: hotel, meals, curfew and getting to the hill on time.
Experience needed2 creditsPer day of an overnight tripHill shift at another club's race Worked a job at a race another club hosted? Log it here and it counts toward your family's credits.
No training1 creditPer half day worked
Worked a job at another club's race?
Sign up with the host club, work the shift, then log it in the Team Scout app. It counts toward your family's credits once the volunteer coordinator approves it.
Six jobs need certification
Technical delegate, chief of race, referee, assistant referee, race administrator, and chief of timing and calculations. The start and finish referees and the chief of course need a U.S. Ski and Snowboard officials membership, and certification is encouraged. Region 1 trains and tests officials every fall: this year's clinic is October 31 and November 1 at Buck Hill, and testing is optional.
Off the race hill
Credits count all year.
The Ski Swap, Volunteer Training Day, Hill Clean-Up Day and board or committee service all earn credits, so a family with a tough winter schedule still has plenty of ways to help.
Ski Swap: equipment drop-off and tagging
Checks sellers in, tags each item with its price and gets it to the sales floor. No training, 1 credit. About 3 hours.
Ski Swap: customer check-in
Greets shoppers at the door and handles early-access entry. No training, 1 credit. 3 hours.
Ski Swap: floor sales
Helps shoppers find the right size of skis, boots and gear. No training, 1 credit. 3 hours.
Ski Swap: security
Watches the exits and the sales floor during the sale. No training, 1 credit. 3 hours.
Ski Swap: unsold pickup
Returns unsold gear to sellers and packs what is left for donation. No training, 1 credit. About 3 hours.
Volunteer Training Day
Learn the race-day jobs at Hyland before the season starts. No training, 1 credit. About 3 hours.
Hill Clean-Up Day
Work alongside other families getting the hill ready. No training, 1 credit. About 3 hours.
Wax room and equipment
Keeps the club's wax room, gates and timing gear organized and ready for race days. Learn on the day, 1 credit. About 2 hours.
Board or committee member
Serve on the board or one of the club's committees. No training, 6 credits. Season.
Mark these first
Volunteer dates this season.
The Swap and the races we host are the days our families are needed most. Shifts open in the app as each date is set.
Sat, Oct 17: Ski Swap drop-off
Seller check-in and tagging at the Team Gilboa building, Hyland Hills. Drop-off continues Thursday, October 22 and Friday morning, October 23.
Oct 23 to 25: Hyland Ski and Snowboard Swap
Customer check-in Friday noon to 3 PM, security Friday 5:30 to 8:30 PM, and floor sales Sunday 10 AM to 1 PM. Unsold pickup Sunday, October 25 and Tuesday, October 27.
Oct 31 and Nov 1: officials clinic, Buck Hill
Region 1's clinic and optional testing for the certified jobs.
Sat, Dec 12: Giants Ridge scored GS
The Region 1 opener, Biwabik.
Sat, Dec 19: U10 and U12 scrimmage
Non-scored racing for U10 and U12.
Jan 16 and 17: Nagy races, Mt. La Crosse
Scored slalom Saturday and U14 Ski Up slalom Sunday.
Sun, Feb 7: Giants Ridge U8 to U12 GS
Three GS races for the younger groups.
Mar 6 and 7: Planet Cup Finale, Afton Alps
Co-hosted with Afton. U8 to U12 Saturday, U14 Sunday.
It is better that a mistake goes unpunished than wrongly punished.
Signing up
Join the volunteer team.
Get the Team Scout app to sign up for shifts, see your assignments and swap a shift with another family. Every race day and club event is in one place.
Race days
Gate judge, timer, course crew and the other jobs that run a race.
Club events
The Ski Swap, Volunteer Training Day and Hill Clean-Up Day.
Board and committees
Serving on the board or a committee counts too.
The goal
Six credits per family, and $450 for a family that does not volunteer.
Questions
Questions about volunteering?
Jessica Scherer, our volunteer coordinator, is happy to help: volunteercoordinator@teamgilboa.com.