Information to Our Volunteers Thank you to our 2006-2007 season volunteer coordinator Carol Hibbs and our parents Tina & Leon Skiles for compiling the information on this page. Many of our volunteers have not volunteered for snowboard or skiing events before, and they have no idea what to expect. Therefore, we worked with Leon and Tina Skiles (who do this type of volunteering frequently for the Metro League) for information about the duties of the volunteers. Information for Competition Volunteers Parking: Park at Mt. Hood Meadows Main Lodge. There is a volunteer meeting at about 8:30 a.m. on race day. In order to make sure you are there by 8:30 a.m., you should plan to arrive and be parked at the Main Lodge parking lot by 7:30 to 7:45 a.m. Otherwise, you may end up in an overflow lot and be too late for the meeting. Volunteer Meeting: The 8:30 a.m. volunteer meeting is located on the second level of the North Lodge at Mt. Hood Meadows. In case you haven't been to the Main Lodge, it consists of two buildings (South and North) connected by a breezeway, and there are four levels of the lodge; basement (mostly lockers), first (has shops), second, and third. There is a lodge floor plan here. The Gorge League meets at the tables in the cafeteria seating area located between the second-level restrooms and the Meadows Mart. At the 8:30 a.m. meeting, volunteers are told generally what will happen that day and when and where. The various volunteer jobs are described in general terms. There might be a second volunteer meeting at the top of the hill. Note: Volunteers from Summit High School seem to know the most about the various roles. A woman with bright white hair (approximately shoulder length) is very knowledgeable and helpful, so you may want to find her. She is generally at the 8:30 a.m. volunteer meeting. Your Free Ski Pass: As a competition volunteer, you will receive a card showing that you are a race official. That card serves as the lift pass for the lifts that are used for the competition. You have to turn in the card after the competition is over. At that time, you will get a coupon (chit) that is good for one all-day pass. You can use the coupon to get a free pass for the rest of the day of the event, or you can use the coupon for a future day. The coupons are only good during this season. The coupons are freely transferable, so anyone can use them. How to Get to the Top of the Hill: If you ski or snowboard, ride the lift (usually Daisy) to the top of the hill for the second volunteer meeting. However, some volunteers do not ski or snowboard. They should do one of the following: (a) use snowshoes to walk to the top of the hill; (b) walk to the top of the hill in boots (more difficult, since the powder can be very thick - and the hill is steep); or (c) find out from the coordinators at the first meeting (the 8:30 a.m. meeting) if there is a volunteer job available at the bottom of the hill and negotiate to fill that position (then, get detailed information about the job from the coordinator so you don't need to go to the top of the hill). Second Volunteer Meeting: This is the meeting where each volunteer is assigned a specific task and where the responsibilities of the job are fully described. The coordinators will tell you what to do, where to do it and when to be there. The available jobs differ depending on what type of competition is being held that day. For example, races have different needs than half-pipe competitions. Clothing: It is usually very cold on the mountain. Always be prepared for very cold weather. Your job may involve standing for 3-4 hours with no break. Dress in layers and have: (a) hand warmers; (b) something to cover your face; and (c) really warm gloves. Depending on your job and the weather conditions, you may want to remove your ski boots and wear snow-boots. At other times, you may decide to wear your ski boots all day, so they don't get full of snow. (Leon suggests taking snow-boots with you on the mountain, so you have the option to change into them.) Food and Drink: Since you may need to stay in the same place for several hours, you should bring some food and, perhaps, a thermos of coffee or some other warm liquid. However, you usually do not get any bathroom breaks, so judge carefully how much liquid you drink. Equipment Needed: In general, if equipment is needed (such as, a stop watch), it will be provided to you. However, if you already own a walkie- talkie, it is a good idea to take it with you. Although there are some walkie- talkies available on the mountain, you may find it helpful to have your own. There is no need to buy a walkie-talkie, if you don't already have one. Some volunteer jobs require reading, so, if you use reading glasses, take them with you. Cell Phones: Take your cell phone if you have one. However, reception is unpredictable, so you can't rely on being able to use it. Transportation: Carpooling is encouraged. Lodging volunteers (who need to go up on Friday) may ride the bus with the coaches and students. They need to let Tom Handel know if they are riding the bus, so no one gets left behind. We encourage volunteers who are driving up (on either Friday or Saturday) to carpool when possible. We will let everyone know who the volunteers are for each weekend, so they can coordinate rides among themselves. Be Flexible: This is very important. This organization is run by the coaches and volunteers. The Gorge League has been around for several years, but it has grown a lot recently, and many of the coaches and volunteers are new (and inexperienced). Things change every week. Decisions are often made on the spur of the moment. There may be delays, confusion (even chaos). Everyone is learning as they go - be patient and keep your sense of humor. Have Fun: This is the most important thing. We have a great group of kids, and it is fun to be able to spend time with them. Leon said he volunteers almost every week (at Wilson) and he thinks is it a lot of fun. It also is a great adventure to be working with the very first snowboard team at OES. Please let our volunteer coordinator, Peggy Noto know if you have other questions, and she'll try to find out the answers.