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Registration: We again had an excellent recruiting season and it's remarkable the passion and commitment you have for Talon Crew. Registration is now closed as we are full.
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Crew Guide:
If you haven't done so already, we strongly encourage you to visit our website and read through the posts under the Crew Guide. This should be your go to place for most things you need to know for this year's program, especially for our First Timers.
VicNet (Volunteer Information Center):
Please visit the VicNet on our website to confirm your schedule, assignment, and Chair 6 load times. At your option you can Opt-In to the text messaging system. We strongly encourage you to do this as this is the most efficient means we have of communicating with you for last minute schedule changes due to weather.
Schedule Changes: If you need to change your schedule, please go to the website and click on the yellow button Change Schedule. You will receive and email confirmation once your change has been made.
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Daily Schedule Reminders and Load Time Text: All volunteers will receive an automated Daily Schedule Reminder via email the day before a scheduled volunteer day. You will only receive this reminder if you are a scheduled volunteer the next day. Please read this email carefully, otherwise you might interpret this as a reminder for today, when in-fact, it will be for tomorrow. If you have Opted In to our Text Messaging, you will receive a Load Time text confirming the load time for the next day. . If you haven't opted in, you will not get this notification.
Loading Lift 6 Centennial Express: The times listed on your schedule are the time we expect you to Load Lift 6, not before! We have about a 15 minute window built in to the program in case you are slightly delayed. Please get to Spruce Saddle as quickly as possible so that we can get our morning meeting started. We want to keep these meetings short so we can get out on the hill promptly.
Other crews will need to load ahead of you and you will be denied lift access before your scheduled load time. Please try and cue up out of the way until your scheduled load time so that other earlier crews will have load access. Everybody will need to have their pass scanned in order to load.
Credential Pickup and Lift Access:
You will need to stop by VHQ on or before your first volunteer day to pick up your credential and lift access before you proceed up the escalators to load Lift 6 Centennial Express. You will need a lift access to load the lifts as Beaver Creek will be open to the public at this point. If you have a full Epic or Employee pass, at your option you may use that. It does save us a little money, but it is more convenient for you because they have the RF chip and you don't have to dig for your credential which only has a bar code. VHQ will be open early enough for you to stop by and get your credential, but you may not be able to pick up your jacket at that time if the are really busy as we need you to get to Spruce Saddle on time.
Your credential will have lift access which is good at both Beaver Creek and Vail from Nov. 23 thru Dec. 3, 2018. As a way of thanking you for your efforts, you are welcome to use this pass on your days off. Vail typically has the most terrain open at this time of year, but your lift access is good at both areas. If you are free skiing, make sure that you aren't scheduled to be on-course that day and we shouldn't be free skiing in our uniform until after Dec. 2.
Uniform Pick Up and VHQ Volunteer Headquarters:
Please visit to website to find location and hours of operation. You need to stop by VHQ in Ford Hall prior to loading Lift 6 Centennial Express. Hours have been expanded so at your option you can stop by ahead of your first day to pick up your uniform and credential.
Check In/Out: You are required to check-in and check-out each day. For most, Check In will be at Spruce Saddle and Check-Out will be at the Birdhouse Tent. At Spruce Saddle, please proceed to the upper level. There will be self-service iPads set up for you to check-in. It's super simple, all you will need is your volunteer number which will be on your credential. For a few specialty crews, your Crew Chief will let you know where to check in.
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Parking: Free parking will be provided in the Elk Lot. This is the first lot on your left on Hwy 6 when coming from I-70 via the main Avon Exit. Enter the lot as you normally would and take the ticket and the gate will go up. When exiting, keep your volunteer credential handy. There will be a parking attendant at the gate. Show your credential to the attendant and you will receive a get-out-of-jail-free card that you just put in the machine and away you go. If you are late exiting and there is no attendant, just push the call button and tell them you are part of Talon Crew and they will open the gate remotely.
Ski Tunes: The expectation is that you show up on the first day with a lethally sharp tune on your skis. Once you get out on course, you will understand why, so please get your skis tuned prior to your first volunteer day.
Free ski tunes will be available during the event at Beaver Creek Sports located at the top of the first escalator in Beaver Creek Village. You get two free tunes during the event; credential required. Generally they are open early to accommodate next morning pick up prior to loading the lifts, but you should confirm this when you drop your skis off. These guys stay late and then get up super early to accommodate us. Please show them your appreciation by saying thanks.
First drop off date: Fri. Nov. 23 until 7:00pm
Last drop off date: Sat. Dec. 1 until 7:00pm
Last pick up date: Sun. Dec. 2, starting at 6:00am
Skis Off; Traction Devices ON! : If you indicated on your application that you "have crampon experience and own them" you should plan on bringing them. If your assignment location is at; Top of Net 1, Top of Net 2, Bottom of Net 2, Top of Net 3, or Top of Net 3B, you are expected to have or borrow crampons. If you need to borrow crampons, make sure your Crew Chief introduces you to Howard at the Tuff Shed and he will loan you a pair. Typically owning crampons is better because then you just have to adjust them once.
All other on-course locations require some sort of "other traction device", such as the Kahtoola micro-spikes. Devices that have just cables on the bottom for traction, typically aren't good enough. AT boots also don't provide enough traction. You'll need something additional for sure. Make sure that what ever traction device you use, that they are sized to fit tightly over your ski boots.
Skis ON, Helmets ON:
Ski helmets are required, no exceptions. Once you are in location, it's OK to take your helmet off if you become overheated. Make sure you use the chin strap to attached you helmet to your pack or a secured object.
Backpacks: These are a good idea to have with you so you can store extra clothes, dry gloves, goggles, snacks, sun screen, and most importantly water. A clip of some sort is a really good idea too. Work with you Crew Chief as to where to store your pack when not in use. Generally a location outside of the fences is a better location. It's best to keep your pack with you when moving around so in case you end up someplace you didn't expect, which is not uncommon, you'll still have access to your pack.
Hydration: Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, and then drink a bunch more water. One of the biggest challenges you will have is staying hydrated during the event. You will spend the bulk of your day at 10,000 ft and the atmosphere is really dry. Start your hydration program a few days beforehand. Bring a refillable, and insulated, water bottle with you. We will have tons of water available at the Spruce Saddle and Birdfeeder along with Gatorade G2.
Ski Storage: Free self service ski storage will be available for you during the event, beginning Fri. Nov. 23 in the Bird Bay (garage door on west side of Race City next to Lift 6). It will be locked at night and opened again by the time you get there in the morning. Due to limited space, ski storage is only for volunteers working the next day. Please do not leave your skis there if it's going to be a few days before you are back. All skis must be removed by the end of day on Sun. Dec. 2. There is not heated boot storage, so you should plan on taking them home each day.
Ski Poles: If you are on-course, leave them at home. Remember, that once you are on course, we never make ski turns; snow plow or sideslip only. When you make ski turns on course, you leave a mess for one of your co-workers to clean up.
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Early Work Week BBQ Will be at Talons Restaurant near Red Tail Stadium on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 25, 2018. Free, but only for those who worked that day. You will be released from the mountain as conditions permit. Timing of this is weather dependent and will be confirmed day of. Also weather dependent will be whether or not we have to return to the course after the BBQ.
Talon Crew Party: Will be at Northside Kitchen in Avon on Tue. Nov 27. Doors open starting at 5:30 pm, but it's ok to arrive casually late as he helps the kitchen. They have a nice room for us, awesome! food, a convenient location, and plenty of free parking. These are the same people who provide us with those killer breakfast burritos. For $27.50 (plus tax and tip) you'll get a Caesar Salad, choice of pre-selected gourmet entrees, dessert, and your first two beers or glass of wine. We'll also have a raffle with some cool swag and gifts. Bottles of wine, cash bar, and gourmet upgrade menu items available. We had a great party there last year and a fantastic turn out. No formal RSVP but please sign up at Spruce Saddle so we know how many to expect. This is a particularly nice event for those who are unable to attend the Volunteer party on Sunday because they have to travel. Guests welcome and encouraged. Pay at the cashier after your meal.
Volunteer Party: will be on Sun. Dec. 2 at 6:00pm in the Powder 8 room at the Hyatt in Beaver Creek Village. The event is free but you will need to show your credential at the door. Volunteers only. Park in the Elk Lot and take the shuttle up. Elk Lot is free if entry after 1:00pm.
Birdhouse Tent: It will be open daily starting Fri. Nov. 23, and is free to all volunteers. After you check out, please join us for some camaraderie and share your experiences of the day with your friends. We will be serving craft beers on tap, lite beer in cans, white and red wine by the glass, soft drinks and light snacks.
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For those desiring a true "race tune", we can highly recommend Venture Sports in Avon. This is who I use for all my tunes because they are quite simply the best in the valley. They do an awesome job and will tune your skis to your specification. Typically, a race tune is 0-1 degree on the bottom and 2-3 degrees on the sides. i.e., a bevelled edge. See $25 coupon below or just stop by and ask for a Talon Crew tune.
Airport Shuttle Service: Ride CME, now branded as Epic Mountain Express, is absolutely the way you want to go if you are arriving via plane and you won't need a car. They run a fleet of Sprinter Vans that are very comfortable and have professional drivers. They will pick you up curbside at the airport and drop you off right at your door in a timely manner. They have been generous in offering us employee pricing, 50% off, but you need to use this link in order to receive the discount. Everyone tends to leave at the same time, so make sure you get a reservation.
To make your reservation and receive the discount, please us this link:
Epic Mountain Express
Apex Ski Boots: is offering 55% off to all Talon Crew members until the end of the year. To get the deal, use Promo Code TALON3000 in the shopping cart at this link:
Apex Ski Boots
If you want to try out Apex Boots during the race, you can stop by the Apex demo center at 3015 Younfield St., Suite 104, Golden, CO. 80401 303-530-3340. You can also purchase the boots under the pro deal at the demo center. Fitting takes about 1 hour. If you have questions, you can email Brian Ellwood ad brian@apexskiboots.com
Shred Optics: is helping us out with a 30% discount on helmets and goggles. If you have kids in a race program you can also order protective gear for them. Use discount code FOSTER30 at check out on the Shred Optics website. For help with sizing or questions contact Dan Gump via email: dgump719@gmail.com
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Final Thought:
We are completely at the mercy of what Mother Nature may, or may not, throw at us. All times, locations and events are subject to change up until the point they actually happen. There will be times where there is too much to do and other times where you can recharge. A roll-with-the-punches attitude will serve you well.
Typically there are some last minute changes, so we'll get out one more newsletter right before the event if there are additional updates. The Early Course Build crew starts in a about 10 days from today.
Save travels and we'll see you on the hill soon,
The Talon Crew Team
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