Ride the Lift with.. Megan Feeney!
Assistant Timer volunteer
Athletes: Lydia Geelan U14 and Jack Geelan U10
Gilboa: Hey Megan, any fun things you did this fall with your racers Lydia and Jack?
Megan: Hi, Gilboa! Lydia and Jack both had a great time mountain biking through programs at Theodore Wirth Park this fall. What a wonderful and lively gem in our city!
G: What’s it like working as an assistant timer on race day?
M: It's a lot of fun. In the timing shack, you get a front-row seat to the race 'stage,' and to the smart and scrappy people working 'behind-the-scenes' to make it all happen. Because you're on the radio with the starting gate and finish line, you really get a bird's eye view. And, maybe best of all, it's warm!
G: How did you get started as an assistant timer? Do you need to be certified?
M: I just signed up. You don't need to be certified. The software is user-friendly, and there are always some seasoned veterans around to answer any questions. All the Chiefs of Timing I worked with last year were fantastic!
G: Have you learned any cool new skills volunteering on race day?
M: I don't know if it's a skill, but I sure do like wearing the headset.
G: Any advice for parents wanting to volunteer for the assistant timer position?
M: It's easy, fun, and rewarding. Volunteers make race days possible, so we'll all be called on to step up. So, just do it. Sign up for the best volunteer gig on the hill!
Thanks Megan for taking the time to answer our questions! And for being an awesome volunteer for Team Gilboa!
Ride the Lift with... Pat Barrett!
Gate Juge volunteer
Athletes: Ellie Barrett U12 and Marley Barrett U16
Gilboa: Hey Pat, any fun things you did this fall with your racers Ellie and Marley?
Pat: We did lots of fun things. Marley and I went duck hunting and had a great hunt in Northern MN together that involved a lot of exercise paddling through thick wild rice paddies. Ellie and I have been practicing soccer in the back yard and yes, she continues to beat me and exhaust me. Some fun ping pong games in the basement have helped provide some diversion from our favorite pandemic.
G: What’s it like working as a gate judge on race day?
P: It’s a front row seat to all the action. Watching all the athletes come down the hill and seeing the strategies they have approaching the different types of turns and the tight, most difficult areas of the course is much more fun from the side of the hill. And for what might be a long day at the hill watching from the bottom or sitting in the chalet, the day goes quickly when volunteering as a gate judge.
G: How did you get started as a gate judge? Do you need to be certified?
P: No certification is needed! There are always other parents and volunteers around that have done the job before and are more than willing to answer any question.
G: Have you learned any cool new skills volunteering on race day?
P: The most critical skill I have learned is how to create a flat spot on the side of the steep hill by kicking out the snow where your uphill foot will rest. Suddenly, you are no longer on a steep hill and you can stand comfortably for the race. This also prevents the potential of falling down, yard saling your coffee, donut, hat etc. and sliding down the hill in front of all the athletes and other spectators.
G: Any advice for parents wanting to volunteer for the gate judge position?
P: Just do it. You will not regret it. Like I said, the day moves quickly and it feels good to help the race volunteer team pull off a successful race for the athletes.
Thanks Pat for taking the time to answer our questions! And for being an awesome volunteer for Team Gilboa!
Ride the Lift with... Lindsay DiLorenzo!
Course Worker volunteer
Athletes: Leo DiLorenzo U12 and Alessa DiLorenzo U16
Gilboa: Hey Lindsay, any fun things you did this fall with your racers Leo and Alessa?
Lindsay: Hey Everyone! Alessa, Leo and I went on some beautiful walks through the woods at our cabin, soaking in the gorgeous fall days. Even snuck in one last tube on the lake in sub 60 weather!
G: What’s it like working as a course worker on race day?
L: I'm always surprised at how much more quickly the day goes by when I'm a race day volunteer. Not only is it fun to connect with other parents and coaches on the hill, but seeing the course in its entirety from top to bottom has given me a whole new appreciation for what all of our amazing Gilboa athletes do. You slip the course, adjust panels, remove gates at the end of the race - generally just keep busy with whatever is needed. Bonus - you get a free lift ticket and can ski with your kids!
G: How did you get started as a course worker? Do you need to be certified?
L: I just signed up online. No certification needed. And take it from me, no serious ski skills required either. If I can do it, anyone can.
G: Have you learned any cool new skills volunteering on race day?
L: Hmmm...I figured out how carry a lot of jackets and ski simultaneously!
G: Any advice for parents wanting to volunteer for the course worker position?
L: Just dive in and ask a lot of questions. Everyone is so helpful and appreciative. And especially this season with new lodge restrictions, on the hill is the place to be!
Thanks Lindsay for taking the time to answer our questions! And for being an awesome volunteer for Team Gilboa!
Ride the Lift with… Gavin McLain!
Assistant Starter volunteer (8 times last season!!!)
Athlete: Owen McLain U14
Gilboa: Hey Gavin, any fun things you did this fall with your racer Owen?
Gavin: The highlight of the fall was when Owen and I went to the Team Gilboa early fall camp in Vail.
G: What’s it like working as Assistant Starter on race day?
Gavin: It is an important role to make sure that the race stays on track. You make sure that all the racers are lined up and ready to go. As an assistant starter you get a great view at the top of the hill and are part of the action of the race. You also get to see the great coaches prepare our kids for the race and all the excitement of the team members cheering each other on.
G: How did you get started as an Assistant Starter? Do you need to be certified?
Gavin: It was easy all I had to do was sign up on the CR1 website. No training needed. A loud voice does help as well as cat herding experience.
G: Have you learned any cool new skills volunteering on race day?
Gavin: I learned how to pronounce a wide variety of names. I also have a better appreciation of all the hard work that coaches and volunteers put in to make sure the races are successful for the racers.
G: Any advice for parents wanting to volunteer for the Assistant Starter position?
Gavin: This is a position that comes with a free lift ticket. I usually like to volunteer for the girls races so I can watch the boys race but watching Owen from the top of the hill is fun too.
Thanks Gavin for taking the time to answer our questions! And for being an awesome volunteer for Team Gilboa!
Ride the Lift with... Bridgett Erickson!
Finish Referee volunteer
Athlete: Bennett Erickson U16
Gilboa: Hey Bridgett, any fun things you did this fall with your racer Bennett?
Bridgett: Bennett’s little bros were in person learning in September and October so it was fun (for me) and sweet to share some lunch breaks with him!
G: What’s it like working as a Finish Referee on race day?
B: Being a Finish Referee is engaging and social! I got to know some other parents and really see all the athletes giving it their all. I had fun, and the cold was much less noticeable when I was making pals and helping out!
G: How did you get started as a Finish Referee? Do you need to be certified?
B: I showed up, said I could help and another parent gave me a patient and clear run down of the duties and hung out with me until I got the hang of it.
G: Have you learned any cool new skills volunteering on race day?
B: I did! Once I announced and I learned how to get confident in name pronouncing, and if you get it wrong, have fun with it ;)
G: Any advice for parents wanting to volunteer for the Finish Referee position?
B: Bring extra hand warmers and a glove for your writing hand!
Thanks Bridgett for taking the time to answer our questions! And for being an awesome volunteer for Team Gilboa!
Ride the Lift with... Brian Chou!
Start Referee volunteer
Athletes: Maddox Chou U14 and Emmett Chou Jr Race
Gilboa: Hey Brian, any fun things you did this fall with your racers Maddox and Emmett?Brian: For sure we had fun times – we would review Schoology together for missing assignments, teach and learn together on quadratic equation homework, research and report on the Theizinosaurus for II projects…LOL. Just joking, looking back it was pretty great even with remote school - mild weather stretched out fall so we could dial-in our backyard flag football skills, perfect the sushi roll with the help of the sushi bazooka, use power tools together to make stuff and simply slow down and hang out as a family. But now it is nice to be in Minnesota with Hyland open and at least a dusting of snow!
G: What’s it like working as a Start Referee on race day?
B: Start Ref seems like the coldest spot to work a race but it is a fun race day duty. Essentially the position is top of the hill making sure the race is Safe, Fair and the start is Organized. There are some great people volunteering from Gilboa and other clubs and that I met as a Start Referee. An interesting side opportunity when in the starting corral is seeing how athletes and coaches from different clubs support, encourage, and coach.
G: How did you get started as a Start Referee? Do you need to be certified?
B: I got started through Maddox’s passion for skiing and wanting to support him. My first on hill volunteer duties were at the Gilboa pot luck races when we had three kids in the program – we made casseroles, I tended gates, wrote times on the board, removed bibs at the finish and gathered kids at the top of the hill. There are lots of fun ways to get involved in those races. Certification and continued education for the Start Referee is required.
G: Have you learned any cool new skills volunteering on race day?
B: For me race day is about supporting the kiddo racing and setting up the rest of the family to have a fun day whether they are also skiing at the venue or off doing something else in the area. Getting the DIBS as the Start Ref then gives me something fun to do while those other things come together.
G: Any advice for parents wanting to volunteer for the Start Referee position?
B: Sure, some races have volunteer positions such as assistant hand timers that do not require any certification and you get to be right in the chaos of the starting area. From there you can see what the Start Referee position entails. Hope to see you again this season!
Thanks Brian for taking the time to answer our questions! And for being an awesome volunteer for Team Gilboa!