The annual Birds of Prey World Cup Races are scheduled for Nov. 30 – Dec. 2, 2018, with race week starting up Nov. 25 with the first optional day of Downhill training.
That means volunteers will be needed starting Nov. 2. Race venue volunteers will be needed as well as course volunteers.
For expert skiers, being a course volunteer on the renowned Talon Crew is the opportunity of a lifetime, as you'll help prepare one of the world’s best venues for World Cup racing.
The Talon Crew is an intensely dedicated and experienced group of volunteers who strive to produce the best FIS Men’s World Cup Ski Race. Partnering with the Vail Valley Foundation , Vail Resorts, and Beaver Creek resort, home of the 1989, 1999, and 2015 World Alpine Ski Championships. The Talon Crew represents the largest work force at Bird of Prey and every year finds itself on the icy slopes of the Birds of Prey building fence and installing safety devices, watering, preparing a race-ready surface, and providing course maintenance.
Birds of Prey volunteers must be in good physical condition and an expert skiers, capable of negotiating a steep, icy course while carrying equipment. Volunteers will also need to be prepared to perform assigned duties in inclement weather (high winds, marginal snow conditions, heavy snowfall, low visibility, rain and other extreme weather conditions) for prolonged periods of time.
Sign-up opportunities include:
Course set up: will take place from November 23 – 27 and will include setting up b-net and other safety features. A typical set up day would be from 8am – 4pm.
Training and Competition Days: will be November 28 – December 1. Jobs will include course slipping and gate running. Anyone who wishes to volunteer on a training or competition day must have completed at least three set up days. A typical training and competition day would be from 6.30am – 3pm.
Birds of Prey Jackets: to be eligible for a jacket, you will need to complete four days of volunteering.
If you would like to volunteer, contact Julie Heaydon at jheaydon@skiclubvail.org or 970-790-5122.
