Lake Louise NorAms

We just completed our volunteer stint at the 5-day NorAm series at Lake Louise.   It is always great to be part of the team, and to re-connect with the volunteers who - like us - return year after year to make this event happen.

My days are long because as the Start Referee I have to be in the Start area before the racers and their coaches arrive for course inspection, I don't leave until the last racer has crossed the Finish some time in the afternoon. 

Just after 7am I ride up two lifts, then - before first light - ski carefully across the "top of the world" to the Start hut.  It is definitely exciting to be up there before first light, and to see the first hint of daylight as the mountain peaks begin to emerge from the night.   Depending on the schedule, the racers and their coaches begin to arrive before 8am and wait for me to open the course for inspection.  They drop their race skis for their technicians, who also arrive early to stake out an area to prepare skis with special race wax.

After inspection I work with the Timing people who arrive around 9am, about an hour before the race. We set up the Start wand, clock and all sorts of connecting wires.  Then I clean set up the Start area a little more while course crew come by to prepare the track.  One team dyes the course, which involves carrying heavy packs with nozzles so they can paint lines across the course.  This helps the racers see the terrain in flat light. 

Soon medical personnel arrive, the racers and coaches return, and we get underway.    During the races I make sure everything happens the way it should at the Start, which - like sailing - is easy so long as everything goes well.   I am always alert for potential issues, and always ready to stop the race when another Jury member calls about something happening further down the course.  It may be a broken gate, some damage to the track, or a fallen racer.  

Start Referee is my favourite role at the races and I am excited to have this role during the Paralympics in March.

Toria was racing in this series.  One day she earned a 3rd place overall, 1st place among Juniors, and was the top Canadian.  One other day she went out on a tricky section and on another race day she did something acrobatic that cost her a few seconds, and her anticipated podium result. 

In this article you can read a couple of quotes from her:
http://bcalpine.com/news/article/?1784