To all CR1 Ski Families:
 
This email is about our volunteers and there is important information all the way through it, so please read everything (some of it is time sensitive and needs to be dealt with in the next week).

It is time to start preparing for the ski race season. CR1 schedules races and clubs host those races. For a race to take place, we need a lot of people doing a lot of jobs. Most of those jobs are done by ski racer parents as volunteers. In CR1, we have avoided increasing our costs by keeping our volunteer forces high and engaged. Over the last few years, we have seen some fall off in the number of people participating as volunteers while our racer numbers have increased. We need everyone's help to change this trend this year or we will certainly see the cost of racing go up most likely causing our race community to get smaller and that would drive costs up even more. So, let's all do our part and be prepared to get involved in race days to support our teams hosting races for our kids. We have prepared this email to try and get your questions answered and help everyone in CR1 stay involved, including a form for every family to fill out.  

Please take the 2 minutes needed to fill out this form  24-25 Volunteer Survey form for every race family. The remainder of this email tries to answer questions you may have before you fill out the survey. 
 
I am new to ski race volunteering where do I start?
The CR1 website has new detailed information on all of the race day jobs here:
https://www.skifast.com/volunteerdibs See the Job Descriptions tab.
The quick version is you will want to start in a non-certified position, and you will find something that you like and be able to progress in that area in the future.  

Do I need to be certified to start as a volunteer?
No. We need help across the race from non-certified people, we want people to find an area they enjoy and from the non-certified roles and then level up in that area over time.
All roles are detailed here:  https://www.skifast.com/volunteerdibs See the Job Descriptions tab

I want to get certified, where do I sign up? 
You fill out the volunteer form above (and link just below- same form), it includes the ability to indicate an interest in getting certified. Study Guides and Alpine Officials Rules Update paper will be available HERE soon. You will need to take the Competition Official short quiz before attending the Clinic at Buck Hill it is available now at https://www.usskiandsnowboard.org/sport-development/officials-development/alpine-officials. If you have questions, start with your coaches or Program Director.
 
I am certified and need to attend the Alpine Officials Rules Update this year, what do I do?
Certified Alpine Officials and Certified Coaches need to attend an AO Rules Update every other year. Central's will be virtual through Zoom (link below) on October 29, 2024 at 6PM Central Time. If you did not attend last year, then you MUST attend this year. Don’t know if you attended last year, you can look it up in your US Ski & Snowboard account under your officials “More Details”. The Clinic Year MUST read 2024. If it is 2023 or earlier, you MUST attend this year (2025). To get credit for attending, you must register HERE. To get the Rules Update paper when it is available, click HERE
 
24-25 Volunteer Survey form 
 
When are the new certification clinics this year?
Nov 16 and 17th @ Buck Hill 9am-3pm, detailed schedule TBD
When is the Rules Update this year?
Tuesday, October 29th at 6pm CST - Virtual Zoom meeting details below
 
Are there pre-prep classes for the certifications?
Yes, we will have some sessions or office hours for your pre-prep depending on the certification you are interested in. We are very interested in helping get you certified so we will work with you to make sure you have the prep needed to be successful.  The first class will be Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at 7pm CST using the second Zoom below and will be a general information meeting teaching people where information is and how to use the Comp Guide to find rules.



I have been a non-certified volunteer what is the next level?
The paths to the next level: 
RA office assistant -> Certified RA we do not need you to be Caryn but the region desperately needs certified help for Caryn
Finish or Start assistant -> Jury Advisor Certification to be able to serve as Start or finish Referee OR Chief of Race Certification to be able to serve as a Start or finish Ref and then able to be a Chief of race without needing a new certification
Timing assistant -> Chief of Timing certification
Gate judge -> Jury Advisor Certification to be able to serve as Start or finish Referee OR Chief of Race Certification to be able to serve as a Start or finish Ref and then able to be a Chief of race without needing a new certification
Course Worker -> Chief of Course Certification 
Job descriptions here: https://www.skifast.com/volunteerdibs See the Job Descriptions tab
Study Guides can be found here soon: https://www.usskiandsnowboard.org/sport-development/officials-development/alpine-officials

I am certified but I feel I am still not qualified what do I do?
Please let us know in the survey (last question) and we will get you the help you need to be successful. 
If I get certified will I have to volunteer at every race? 
No, your clubs need you but each club is in charge of providing certified positions at certain races. So, the burden is spread around. 
What does a club Hosting a race mean?
That club is responsible for finding all of the certified officials for that race. The club also fields as many non-certified positions as possible for that race. 
Why don't we just pay for professional help?
The cost of sport is a concern in Ski racing and paid officials would immediately add cost to every race and every racer. 
 
If you have any questions at all please feel free to contact Bill (call/txt/email)
 
Bill Titler CR1 Training Coordinator 
952-451-8482
Bill@Stayonthesnow.com
 
 
ALPINE OFFICIALS RULES UPDATE ZOOM
6 PM Central Time (7 PM Eastern) Tuesday, October 29, 2024
https://usskiandsnowboard-org.zoom.us/j/89516177010?pwd=N3pIbjhYS0ljN3J4ek5NN0NiaHZTZz09
Meeting ID: 895 1617 7010
Passcode: 606709
If you are unable to attend this meeting, you have to coordinate through another US Ski & Snowboard Division. Make sure that the clinician emails your attendance to Brewster McVicker at bmcv@hotmail.com or brewster@nubsnob.com so that it can be recorded from your home Division to US Ski & Snowboard.
 
STUDY GROUP ZOOM
6 PM Central Time Wednesday, October 30, 2024
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3509289633?pwd=ZnN6b09zTkl3YnYxWU9Kc0FpMFJrQT09
Meeting ID: 350 928 9633
Passcode: 602096
 
Study Guides and the Update will be available soon here: https://www.usskiandsnowboard.org/sport-development/officials-development/alpine-officials

Volunteering is an enjoyable and important part of our ski racing community.

Region 1 races are run by parent volunteers and coaches. 

At least 1 parent / guardian is needed to volunteer at at least ½ of the races your athlete attends for the system to work because ski racing requires many volunteers. 

Please signup early for volunteer positions so that we can plan races and avoid last minute staffing issues.

There are two types of jobs. Race Support Staff can just signup and show up. Officials have to go through a 1-day training certification process and maintain a USSS license. This process occurs in November of each year before the ski season commences. We will post signup and other information here and send it out to the community.

See all of the jobs under the Job Descriptions tab.

NO SKI RACING EXPERTISE IS REQUIRED TO BE A REGULAR VOLUNTEER OR OFFICIAL.

There are indoor jobs, outdoor jobs, jobs that you get to ski for and jobs that you can do without skis. Your commitment allows you to get to know other parents, enjoy the race day, and help us run efficient, fair and fun races. 

If you hold no USSS membership, a Volunteer Waiver from the Race Office is all that needs to be signed before you go out on the hill or start your job for the day.   When you check in, you will sign the waiver at each race. 

All Race Support Staff positions should sign up on the Region 1 website Volunteer Signup form (DIBS) to ensure getting the job you want.

Race Jury Officials (appointed by CR1)

• Technical Delegate
• Chief of Race
• Referee

• Assistant Referee (speed only)

Other Officials (must be certified; sign up through DIBS)

• Race Administrator
• Chief of Timing and Calculations
• Chief of Course
• Start Referee
• Finish Referee

Race Support Staff
(use volunteer sign up through DIBS; no certification or USSS membership required)

• Race Office Assistants
• Volunteer Coordinator
• Timing Assistants
• Assistant Starter
• Hand Timers
• Hand Time Recorders
• Course Worker / Course Crew
• Chief Gate Judge
• Gate Judges
• Scoreboard Recorder
• PA Announcer