Become a U.S. Ski & Snowboard Official

Hello fellow Birchleggers. This is Bob Aldrich. I’d like to invite you to think about becoming an Official for U.S. Ski and Snowboard. Why?? Well, look....you have proven that you know how to negotiate a challenging ski course. You know what to expect when you begin a race, whether it is a local citizen race, or something as complex as the Birkie. This is open to men and women, and as more women participate in Cross Country (and win gold medals at the Olympics), it would be good to have more women Officials.

I started many years ago volunteering for U.S. events, attended some seminars, and began studying the rule book. I became an Official in 1992, and have attended many races in many capacities. The more one experiences different conditions, and formats, the more jobs you will be given. Setting V board, marking courses, monitoring course safety, setting fencing, moving other equipment, are a few types of jobs that must be done. As an Official, you would start by working a number of races, with other Officials, and under supervision of the Technical Delegate (TD). “Working”, involves all the setup and takedown of the stadium area, start/finish zones, helping to haul equipment, helping run a particular area of the race such as the start line, or finish line, perhaps being a course controller, and generally, helping to insure a race meets the standards for a sanctioned event.

A sanctioned event is one that meets U.S. and sometimes International standards and rules, so that points may be awarded to those athletes who are registered with U.S. Ski and Snowboard. If an athlete wants to pursue points toward making the U.S. Ski Team, they must ski in sanctioned races.

If you like working outside in the winter, with dedicated people and being around those that “make races happen”, consider the path into becoming an Official.

Here is a link to U.S. Ski and Snowboard Cross Country Officials page.

https://usskiandsnowboard.org/sport-development/officials-development/nordic-officials-judges

If you’d like more information, and to know who to contact in your area, please email me at: badpa@earthlink.net, or Scott Wilson at: wilson@cresthillresort.com Scott is the Central Division “go-to” guy.

I wish you a healthy, successful season...just ahead!! THINK SNOW!!

Bob