Race Day Volunteering

There are a number of ways to support the club during race day, and we need all families to help us run races at Crotched mountain. We usually host three to four races every year. Below is the list of all positions we need to fill for each race:

General Roles

These roles do not require any certifications, and the Club will provide training for all volunteers. Please reach out to your coaches, or admin@crotchedmountainraceclub.org for any additional information.

Coach and Volunteer Check-in and Registration: This volunteer is responsible for checking in coaches from other mountains the morning of the race.

Bib Collection: Collect bibs from athletes as they finish their last run and store for next race.

Pot Luck Coordinator: Coordinate parent pot luck dishes at all races hosted by Crotched Mountain, includes clean up.

Hand Timers - Top of Mountain: Responsible for accurately running the hand timer and recording the time for each racer. This timing is critical as it is the back up in the event that the electronic timing system fails. The Hand Timer is required to bring all completed timing sheets to the finish shack at the end of EACH run.

Hand Timer - Bottom of Mountain: Responsible for accurately running the hand timer and recording the time for each racer. This timing is critical as it is the back up in the event that the electronic timing system fails. The Hand Timer is required to bring all completed timing sheets to the finish shack at the end of EACH run.

Back up Time Recorder: The backup timer is responsible for the "B" (backup) timing system, monitoring it for proper recording of racers times.

Announcer: The announcer is located in timing booth and announces "racers on course" including the bib number, name and club affiliation as well as finish times. The announcer also makes general announcements as requested.

Starter: The Starter is the member of the Timing team that is responsible for starting each racer. They are in radio contact with Timing and help to control the rate racers are put on the course.

Assistant Starter: Helps the Starter by getting athletes in correct order, helping prep athletes, etc.

Course Maintenance: Course Maintenance workers are responsible for prepping the race course and maintaining it during the race. Installing and removing B-net and finish corral are two of the prime responsibilities.

Head Gate Judge: The Head Gate Judge is responsible for organizing gatekeepers. They distribute gate judge score cards, pencils, etc and collect the score cards at the end of each run, giving the cards to the Finish Referee. They are also count and number gates after the course is set, assign gate judges and ensure they understand their responsibilities.

Gate Judge: The Gate Judges monitor a section of gates during the race to ensure that all racers pass correctly through the gates. Gate Judges record all faults on a scorecard and report information to the Head Gate Judge at the end of each run. The job is critical, but not difficult. Attention to detail is important. To learn more, watch this training video: 

Alpine Official (AO) Certified Positions:

Chief of Course: The Chief of Course is familiar with all local snow conditions on the race terrain and is responsible for the preparation of the course. The COC generally supervises course maintenance during the races and supervises all clean up operations.

Start Ref: The Start Referee is responsible for controlling access to the race hill during inspection period and the race and recording each racer leaving the start in the exact order of start. The Start Referee remains at the start throughout training and the race to make sure that the regulations.

Finish Ref: Responsible for recording each racer as they cross the finish line in exact order of finish.

Computer Timer: Runs the "A" (primary) timing system computer and communicates with the starter and Chief of Race to determine pace that athletes are put on course.Volunteers should meet at the ATC at their assigned time and check in with someone on the BOD for instruction. Please dress warmly and appropriately for the mountain and have fun!

Chief of Race: The Chief of Race is responsible for organizing and administering the race and must be AO certified. They are one of three members of the Jury. The COR coordinates all volunteers and sends out the race schedule at least 1 week prior to the race (with coordination form race secretary). Volunteers should meet at the ATC at their assigned time and check in with someone on the BOD for instruction. Please dress warmly and appropriately for the mountain and have fun! 

Chief of Timing: The Chief of Timing is responsible for coordinating all timing officials as well as other officials at the start and finish, for deciding the interval between starts, assuring the synchronization and accuracy of the timing and the accuracy of the official results.Volunteers should meet at the ATC at their assigned time and check in with someone on the BOD for instruction. Please dress warmly and appropriately for the mountain and have fun!