OVWSF 2010-2011 Course Worker TrainingFirst Draft 1-10-11

Prepared for Ed CallantinePrepared by Charles A. Townsend, aka

“Chuck”USSA# I6153571

First Draft 1-10-11

Agenda• Introductions• Purpose• Goals/Expectations• Basics• Next Steps

First Draft 1-10-11

Introductions• Ed Callantine

– Olympics 2002 Course Crew Trainer– World Cups– US Nationals

• Supporting OVWSF and OVST (Snowbasin Alpine Team) for many years

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Goals/Expectations1. Understand the basics of preparing and

maintaining a race course (course crew work)2. Make the Course as good for the last racer as

it was for the first.3. Be on time or early. Be ready to go (7:30am)

with skis and boots on. (no poles)4. Know your role as designated from the Chief

of Course ASAP

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Basics of Course Crew• Eat Pocket Snacks – Need to eat on the

Gondola or Chair Lift– No time for a lunch break – reset of course

• Fast Turn Around – Need to have workers at start ready to ski down

and perform repairs– Do Watch your child Ski– No lingering at the Score Board (Use Live Timing)

• Be Prepared to Work

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Be Prepared to Work NO Ski Poles NO baseball caps or loose gear Backback stored at start or finish area Lunch (packed) – No time for buying lunch Water Extra Layered of Clothes, spare gloves Rain gear

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Personnel Assignments• Chief of Course• 3 Assistant Chiefs of Course

– Worker City Mayor (Must be in Command)• Stationary at Start• Controls operations and taskings

– Other Assistants:• Rotating• ?

• Course Crew Workers

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Race Preparation 10 or more Course Crew Workers 3 Assistant Chief of Course (One Worker City Mayor) Drills (4 with one always at the start) Gate Wrenches (4 with one always at the start) Batteries (8) Shovels Gates Construction Chalk Sprayer for Dye with extra dye concentrate available B-Netting with spare B-net poles for repairs

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Shovels• Flat Steel Shovels (3)• Grain Scoop (6) preferably long handles as

they are easy to store. Drill hole and place handle in hole

• Rakes (4)

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Number of GatesCONFIRM WITH GORDON/HOMOLOGATION

• South Series GS ( Less than 40 Gates) on City Hill– Need 6 extra complete sets of gates (turning pole,

inside pole, and Banner)– 3 complete sets at Start and 3 sets at City Hill

Knoll– 4 extra sets of Gates required for Course Reset– Attrition for South Series Average 1-3 Gates

• YSL None• More for advanced races

• Total Estimated Gate Sets: 48 Sets of Gates

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Dye• Construction Chalk used for turning gate (pole)• TD and Jury have to approve course before

Dying• Dye freezes, must keep sprayer warm (Porky’s

Lift or timing shack)• If visibility is good – 1/3 of the way down dying

starts or as required by TD/Jury• Supplies:

– Construction Chalk– Dye– Sprayer

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Radios• Five (4-5) Required• Chief of Course (Jury and Maintenance Radio)• Assistant Chief of Course (Maintenance Radio)

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Time Lines• 0730 Start• First Load (Gates must go on Equipment Gondola)• Set Course, • Inspection (nothing can be done to the course), sometimes

you’ll have a few grain scoops on course working the buildup areas during inspection so they don’t get out of control. Mostly depends on the snow conditions and course set.

• Slip Course and shovel piles on the low line and around the gates after Inspection

• Maintain Course (Race Starts)• Reset Course• Tear Down Course• Sort and bundle gates

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First Load and Reset 4 Things to Do1. Carrying Bundles of Gates2. Slugging (red and blue gates for turning and

inside poles)3. Drilling and Screwing (Course Set and Outside

Gates)4. Banners (Red and Blue)

You should be doing one of these things on the Hill

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Maintaining Course• Shoveling requires an experienced course

worker– Ruts must be repaired properly

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Course Break Down• After last racer has cleared the finish and no

re- runs are ordered.– Pull the Gates– Shuttle everything to finish area– Sort by color, turning pole, and inside pole and

bundle– Bag banners by color and ensure they don’t freeze

• Race Department Responsibilities

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Issues and Concerns• HEADS UP ALWAYS!!! BE AWARE OF THE

INTERVAL OF RACERS, SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY!!!

• Wide to remove piles of snow outside the race course line – Required

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Next Steps• Prepare for Race• Train Course Workers• Lesson Learned