Volunteering
Volunteering on competition days is vital to ensure the BOC continues to be able to run top quality races for not only our athletes but also athletes across the Southern Vermont Council and Burr and Burton Academy. We need parents to volunteer time as gatekeepers, announcers, timers, course workers etc. The Club constantly needs extra hands to help with a myriad of activities. The BOC will provide the instruction to carry out your duties as well as a great lunch for your service. Volunteering will give you an insider’s view of the competition and will also serve to acquaint you with fellow BOC parents.
Each family is required to earn credits for volunteering during the season for each athlete the family has enrolled. Each family has committed to a $350 dollar volunteer bond per athlete to help ensure we have support for our Club. You must earn 2 credits per athlete through the season to earn the volunteer bond back. For larger families the volunteer commitment is capped at 5 credits.
Many opportunities exist both off and on the hill to satisfy your volunteer credits. Work-day credits vary per position ranging from 1/2 to 1 day credit. If a position requires experience and/or certification, it is noted in the description. Registration for work-days is completed through our volunteer website.
It is required that each family must participate in at least one (1) all day, on hill volunteer activity. Working 4 race registrations or bib collections will not satisfy the requirement. Only a few of these positions are indoor positions. We realize that this may be an inconvenience for some, but skiing is an outdoor sport and it requires plenty of outdoor volunteers so our children can experience a quality event.
Families will be able to sign up for volunteer opportunities via a signup genius link being sent December 15, 2024 – an email will be sent out prior to this date. We will be releasing opportunities throughout the season to ensure each family has a chance to meet their volunteer requirements.
If you have any questions regarding volunteering please do not hesitate to contact Mike.
Mike Healy: Executive Director – mike@bromleyoutingclub.com Toni Harkins: Race Administrator – raceadmin@bromleyoutingclub.com
We will be reaching out to you at the beginning of the season with additional information about clinics and training. Helping out on race days is fun and a great way to meet other BOC parents to share a sense of the camaraderie we all share! Please join us.
The following are descriptions of the volunteer positions on race day.
Please note – you will need to check in for all positions between 8:00 and 8:30 at The BOC clubhouse on race day to sign in and complete waivers. The times indicated below are approximate to the position, after sign in has been completed.
Announcer (1 credit):
9:00am – 2:00pm
. No experience necessary.
. Reports to the timing building 1/2 hour prior to the start of the race, and finishes after the last racer crosses the finish line.
. Responsibilities include: Announcing bib number, name, team, in start, on course and finish time of each (this information is read directly from the timing computer screen); Ensuring proper and clear pronunciation of each racer’s name;
Bib Collector (1/2 credit):
1:00pm – 2:00pm
. No experience necessary.
. Reports to the finish area at the start of the second run with a bib collection bag/box. Responsibilities include:
Ensuring you get the bib from each racer, whether or not he/she crosses the finish line (i.e. DNF); this may require chasing down the racer as he/she exits the finish area and helping him/her to take off the bib;
Bring all bibs back to club to sort and return to correct storage bin;
Note any missing bibs and return this information to the Race Administrator;
. Bibs at Bromley are the racer’s tickets. If they intend to go up the hill again explain that the must be visible to the lift attendants. All bibs should be returned by end of the second run or at the BOC by 4:00 PM. Bib Collection requires you to be at the start during the girls second run and at the BOC in the afternoon.
Gate Judges (2 credits):
8:15am – 2:00pm
. No Experience required. Gate Judge training will be offered twice during the Christmas Holiday break as well as refreshers each race morning;
. First time Gate Judges will be instructed on proper gate judging techniques prior to the start of the race;
. Gate judges must check in at the clubhouse by 8:00 AM. Gate judges will meet at 8:30 in the upper level of the ski club with the head Gatekeeper to obtain gate judge bibs, clipboard, pencils and papers, and to meet with the Head Gate Judge to receive instructions;
. All Gate Judges need to arrive at the top of the course approximately 20 minutes prior to the start of the first and second runs;
. At the end of each run, each Gate Judge will remain in place until the Head Gate Judge collects each individual’s card;
. After each run or morning and afternoon session Gate judges will return to and remain in the finish shack or immediately outside for approximately 15 minutes after the end of each run in the event there are any challenges to the posted disqualifications;
. All Gate Judges should return materials to Chief Gate Judge. NON-SKIERS CAN PARTICIPATE AND BE ASSIGNED TO GATES WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE
OF THE FINISH. Snowmobile service to the race course will be restricted to only those with medical conditions
Race Course Crew (1 credit):
9:00am – 2:00pm
. Experience includes strong skiing ability and basic knowledge of race hill procedures for slipping, gate repair and course work. Less experienced members should select U10/U12 races to learn basic skills;
. This position requires you to be on skis and ready to go at 7:30 AM. You must check in with Toni Harkins by 7:15;
. Race Course Crew works to ensure the course, start and finish corral are ready prior to start. Crew will work with the Start and Finish Referees or course setters and will be directed overall by the Chief of Course;
. During the race they are directed by the Chief of Course as to what they are to work on, including but not limited to: slipping, shoveling, resetting gates, and shuttling equipment. The purpose of the Race Crew is to help ensure the race fairness through the very last racer to the best of their ability. For U16/U18 and above slalom races radios with separate channels may be assigned;
. Race Course Crew is also responsible for the breakdown of the course/venue at the end of the day, including gates, finish and start areas;
. Race Course Crew should have knowledge of setting gates with drills, raking and repairing course holes, helping setters set outside gates for delays, hairpins and flushes. These skills can be learned over time and those with limited experience should consider working U10/U12 races to gain experience. Coaches and staff will be available to
provide general instruction to members who wish to acquire the basic skills needed to be an effective race crew;
. Race Course Crew must have strong skiing skills. Race Course Crew will help slip the course prior to the race to establish the track and then to clear outside the track to ensure a suitable racing venue which requires both strength and skiing skills;
. Race crew will be on the mountain during the entire race.
Race Day Registration (1/2 credit): 6:45am – 8:30am
. No experience required.
. Volunteers arrive and are ready at 6:45 a.m. on race day, at the BOC office. Athletes and coaches will pick up bibs and information on our deck outside of the office
. Responsibilities include:
. Distribute bibs and start lists to team coaches
. Distribute parent ticket vouchers
. Help to answer coach and/or parent questions
. Ability to use a computer and access the internet may be required;
. Clean-up registration area after registration is complete
Starter (1 day credit):
8:00am – 2:00pm
. Starters must have experience and be USSA certified.
. The starter should arrive with a start list at least 20 minutes prior to the first racer (forerunner) on course. He/she is responsible for:
. Helping Timing as needed;
. Giving start commands to racers as instructed by the Start Referee;
. Ensuring relative accuracy of intervals between racers for GS races;
. Basic training in radio and headset protocols will be provided;
. Basic training in start commands will be provided;
. The Starter wears a headset during the race for constant communication with the timing tower to help keep the flow of the race going. Skis are required to get to the course.
Start Organizer (1 credit):
9:00am – 2:00pm
No experience is necessary however a booming and resounding voice is!
. The Start Organizer’s main job is lining up athletes so they enter the starting ramp in the correct order.
. Racers will not hear numbers called, will forget bibs, are plugged in…. you are there to help resolve the issues before the racer is in the start gate. It is important to have racers ten (ten) out from their start know they will be starting.
. Prior to the race the Start Organizer will coordinate changes to the start list with the Chief of Timing and the Starter.
Assistant Starter (1 credit):
9:00am – 2:00pm
. No experience required. Great way for volunteers with younger skiers to learn about the start and to prepare for becoming the starter.
. The assistant Start Organizer helps organize racers;
. May be required to secure start lists before each run;
. Assists the start referee if the Start Referee is working with the Jury and needs assistance recording starts and DNS;
. May be asked to assist with running materials down the hill, including replacement gates, drills and rakes;
. May be asked to flip the start wand
Hand Timers at Start & Finish (1 credit):
9:00am – 2:00pm
. No experience required.
. The Hand Timer should plan to be on course at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the race.
. Finish Hand Times receive instruction, paperwork and a stop watch from the Start Ref and Finish Hand Timers receive the same from Chief of Timing and Calculations or
Chief of course either in the Timing building or at the Start. Hand Timers push a button on a start clock for each racer’s start or finish. This is a back-up time for any racer who does not receive a time due to the possibility of an error with the hardwired times. It is important for Hand Timers to be consistent with all racers when the time is started/stopped on the stop watch so that all times are consistent. Skis are required for Hand Timer at Start, though not at finish if you choose to walk…
Lunch (2 Credits) (1 credit each if shared by two families)
USSA says Gatekeepers are the most important person on the hill. Don’t believe everything you read. The Lunch team is the most important team on the hill.
. Prepare lunch for approximately 25 hungry and cold officials and volunteers;
. Bring lunch to the BOC by 8:30 AM;
. Ensure that heating instructions have been sent or communicated
We are resurrecting the infamous BOC “lunch of the season” award. The Outing Club has a long tradition of providing incredible lunches to our race volunteers and officials on race day. We have a microwave, hot water urns, a propane cook top and oven at the finish shack and outlets available for appliances.
Early AM lift attendant (1/2 Credit)
7:15am – 8:30am
We need a parent volunteer at each race event to act on our behalf as a lift attendant at the Alpine chairlift. Between 7:15 and 8:30am, only our race staff and race officials can use the lift. Please dress warm, and bring a smile! We will provide you with a BOC coaches jacket for your shift.