2022 Xfinity Birds of Prey Confirmed Volunteer Program

Talon Crew Race Course Volunteers

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Talon Crew Confirmed Program
Nov. 25 - Dec. 4, 2022
2022 Xfinity Birds of Prey
YOUR REGISTRATION IS CONFIRMED. Let's GO!

WELCOME TO TALON CREW

Congratulations and welcome to Talon Crew for the 2022 Xfinity Birds of Prey. You are receiving this email because your application has been accepted and you are scheduled and confirmed to be part of Talon Crew. Soon the White Circus will be rolling into town and it's time for us to get ready to go. We are super stoked that you decided to join us. The Vail Valley Foundation, along with the Talon Crew team, have put forth a tremendous effort to ensure that you have a fantastic volunteer experience.

This newsletter is intended to help guide you through your time at Beaver Creek and begin the communication process of our program for this year, let's GO!

RACE SCHEDULE CHANGES

Every year is a new challenge, and this year will be no different. To accommodate the European prime-time live broadcast, FIS has moved our race start time to 10:15am local time on Friday and 10:00am local time on Saturday and Sunday. This will impact all aspects of our operation, including Talon Crew. (More about this later). Again we will be hosting all speed events this year; DH Friday, DH Saturday, SG Sunday. This plays to the strength of the Beaver Creek venue and our ability to stage speed events early in the season and provide a world class course.

REGISTRATION UPDATE

We have had an amazing recruitment season this year, and we are full, but volunteer registration is still open so that we have extra help during the race days especially given the earlier start times. All in, we'll be close to 360 Talon Crew volunteers this year. This will be our largest group ever, other than the 2015 World Championships.

Last call. The registration link will go dark next week.

COURSE UPDATE

It's winter here. The weather pattern this year has been ideal and we are in really good shape. We've had a continuous flow of storm cycles, producing more than 3 ft. of natural snow in the higher elevations and this pattern is predicted to continue. More importantly, it is and has stayed cold so Beaver Creek Mountain has been able to make snow round-the-clock. As of yesterday, the snow is being blown well below the Pump House. Mountain Operations is currently finishing up the snowmaking and the Winch Cat Crew is in full operation. Diesel power is our friend; the more they push, the easier our job will be. We're shooting for Snow Control around Nov. 18 and I'd be hard pressed to see why we wouldn't get a positive snow control.....trending well.

At this point we are likely to have good conditions on the Goshawk Connector and several runs for front side egress. If this pattern continues, we might even get Red Tail and Dally, but these will be confirmed after Snow Control.

WEBSITE + CREW GUIDE

The taloncrew.com website is your friend. We continue to keep it updated as items change. Your volunteer experience will be greatly enhanced if you please spend some time reading the Crew Guide and familiarize yourself with it, as well as the Volunteer Schedule, and VicNet buttons. Be sure to click on the LEARN MORE and + buttons to view the full contents. This should be your go-to source for most of your questions. If you need to change your schedule, there is also a button for that too.

CHECKING IN / OUT

Check-In Times: The times listed on your schedule are the time we expect you to Check-In at Powder 8. You should allow 30 minutes to park and ride the bus up from the Elk Lot, maybe longer if it's a busy day or the buses are slow.

Check In/Out: You are required to check-in and check-out each day. For most, Check-In will be at Ford Hall Powder 8. Please self check-in using the scanners or tablets. You'll need your credential in order to do this. The Admin. staff will be available if you need assistance, to answer any questions, and to point you where to go next. For a few specialty crews, your Crew Chief will let you know where to check-in.

Please be sure to check-out at the end of your shift as this is how we ensure everyone is off the mountain safely. Check-out will be stationed in the lower level of Ford Hall, just across from the Volunteer Headquarters. If you fail to check out, you can expect a call from the Admin. staff to ensure you are off the mountain safely.

YOUR SCHEDULE

VicNet (Volunteer Information Center):
Please visit the VicNet on our website to confirm your schedule, assignment, and Check-In times. You can choose to Opt-In to the text messaging system. We strongly encourage you to do this as it is is the most efficient means we have of communicating with you for last minute schedule changes.

Schedule Changes: We have been able to accommodate almost all schedule, assignment and friend requests. If you need to change your schedule, please go to the website and click on the Change My Schedule button. You will receive an email confirmation once your change has been made. If you wish to work an extra day, just show up and check-in at Powder 8. If you have any concerns what so ever about your assignment, please feel free to reach out to us using the CHANGE MY SCHEDULE button.

Calendar: If you find all of these dates, times, and locations too much to remember, we have conveniently posted them, on your friend, the website. Please visit the website and click on the Volunteer Schedule button. There is an iCal feed if you are so inclined. We will try to update the calendar, but as is true with all aspects of the event, 'times are subject to change up until the event actually happens'.

VOLUNTEER HEADQUARTERS AND UNIFORM PICKUP

Credential and Uniform Pickup:
You will need to stop by Volunteer Headquarters (VHQ) on, or preferably before, your first volunteer day to pick up your credential, lift access and uniform. You will need a card with lift access to load the lifts as Beaver Creek will be open to the public at this point. VHQ will be open daily at 6:00am, starting Nov. 25, which is early enough for you to stop by and get your credential. Please be aware you may not be able to pick up your jacket at that time if they are really busy as we need get you fed and loading the lift on time.

If you receive a lift pass, access it is good at both Beaver Creek and Vail from Nov. 25 thru Dec. 4, 2022. 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 Beaver Creek has an amazing snowmaking and grooming operation as well. 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. 4. Your lift access is not transferable and is good for only the name printed on the credential.

VHQ will again be in Ford Hall and will operate daily beginning Wed. Nov. 23, 2022:

Nov 23: 10:00am to 2:00pm
Nov. 24: Closed all day
Nov. 25 to Dec. 3: 6:00am - 10:00am and again from 2:00pm to 6:00pm
Dec. 4: 6:00am - 2:00pm

Jackets:
This year's jacket is an uninsulated weatherproof technical shell. This will be a nice year round addition to your wardrobe and will be great during the part of the day we are out working. However, you should expect the morning to be cold. PLEASE COME PREPARED WITH INSULATION LAYERS FOR UNDER YOUR JACKET ! Items like a puffy or wool mid-layers should be on your packing list and brought with you to the mountain. The expectation is that your uniform jacket should be your outer layer and be worn during your shift. There will be many teams on the course and this is how we are able to identify who's who. The expectation is that everyone is in-uniform no later than Tues. Nov. 29.

Pro Tips:

You will be able to try on your jacket for sizing when you pick it up.
Jackets sizing is first-come, first-served, so you'll want to get this chore done as soon as you can.
You will be allowed to pick up for a friend/spouse, but understand that once the tags are removed you cannot make an exchange.

FOOD SERVICE

We will provide you with breakfast and lunch daily. Please keep eating through the day as you will burn a lot of calories. Consider bringing a thermos so you can bring hot water or coffee with you while you are on course. Always have an insulated hydration container with you. Some sections are hard to get in and out of and you may not have a chance to cycle around to the Bird Feeder for a while, so plan accordingly. Always have some food, snacks and hydration in your pack. If you have a big appetite, please feel free to take more than one sandwich or grillable. Our goal is to provide you with as much food as you need, just please don't be wasteful.

Breakfast: We will have the Powder 8 room set up with two buffet lines. There will be plenty of good, chef prepared, hot and cold food with a wide selection. Because we are starting so early, we want to encourage people to eat breakfast at Powder 8 instead of at home, unless you have very specific dietary needs. We did this last year and it was very well received. Let's get some calories in you, because you'll need them later.

We will also have a hydration station set up for you to fill your own thermoses or insulated container. One of the biggest challenges you will have is staying hydrated during the day, so this will be your best chance to be prepared.

You should expect the morning breakfast meet-up to be rushed as we have a lot of people to process in a very short period. We need you to be laser focused on checking in, finding your crew table, getting breakfast, getting your instructions from your Crew Chief and getting out the door, as we only have 45 minutes to do all this.

Lunches:

Lunches will be distributed at the Commissary, downstairs in Ford Hall adjacent to the restrooms. During the first four Course Build days, we will have Boars Head deli sandwiches and Mountain House Adventure Meals (instead of soup), along with a variety of chips, cookies, fresh fruit, and energy snacks. During the six Training and Race days, we will also include "grillables" featuring brats from Charcutnuvo. We've had these in the past and they are excellent! During those days we will also have a selection of frozen hamburgers and turkey burgers. All the grillables are frozen and fully cooked and will include bakery buns and condiments. There will be gas grills and utensils in your section for you to cook with.
It won't be practical to cycle all of us downstairs to the Commissary, so we'll have each section send a representative to do the grocery shopping for the crew.
We encourage you to take as much food as you need to be fueled up during the day. Please be sure to cook everything you take and adjust your selection the next day so we aren't wasteful. Please don't bring anything back that you didn't consume; either feed someone or trash it.
There will be no food distribution available at the Bird Feeder at the Top of Lift 9. This facility will be available as a Warming Hut, and yes, it is heated. We will have plenty of hot and cold beverages and snacks. We'll also have hot water for your Mountain House Adventure Meals as well as water and Gatorade G2 to fill you insulated container or hydration pack.

Due to the logistical complexity of this event, we are unable to accommodate special dietary needs so please plan accordingly.

PARKING AND BUS SERVICE

Free parking will be provided in the Elk Lot. This is the first lot on your left on Hwy 6 (frontage road) when coming from I-70 via the main Avon Exit. Just follow the signs to the day skier parking lot. Enter the lot as you normally would and take the ticket and the gate will go up. At this point, the exiting plan has not been finalized. You will be updated when it is. Regardless of what the final plan is, you will not be charged for parking as long as you park in the Elk Lot.

Bus service from the Elk Lot to Centennial Station (Covered Bridge) will operate daily starting well before you should be there. We should have extra buses during peak times, so hopefully you shouldn't have to wait for more than the next bus.

Please note that beginning Fri. Dec. 2 the bus drop off and pick up point will change from Centennial Station to the VPAC (Villar Performing Arts Center). This is to relieve congestion during race days at Centennial Station where spectators will take the bus to the venue. The VPAC is located one level below the ice rink. Don't worry, just follow the person in front of you as you are all going to the same place.

For the few of you who need to take the bus from Centennial station to the Finish Venue, they will also be operating well before you should be there.

SKI TUNES AND STORAGE

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, courtesy of our partner at Beaver Creek Sports. They are located at the top of the first escalator in Beaver Creek Village, across from the ticket window. 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. New for this year, ski tunes will be available before the event. 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: Tues. Nov. 22, 10:00 am until 7:00pm.
Last drop-off date: Sat. Dec. 3, until 7:00pm
Last pic- up date: Sun. Dec. 4, starting at 6:00am

For those of you who are getting your skis tuned at home prior to your arrival in Beaver Creek, you might be well served by requesting a 'race tune' at your local ski shop. Typically a race tune is a minimum of 0° base and 2° or greater on the sides.

Emergency ski repairs: Even with our favorable snow conditions this year, there is still the potential that there will be boney spots getting in and out of the course. We will have our master ski tuner, Chip Ford, stationed in the Bird Cage at the Top of Lift 9. He will be glad to help you with any core shots or edge touch-ups, free of charge. Please understand that this is more of an 'urgent care' service and not for full race tunes as we need you back on the course as quickly as possible.

Ski Storage: Free self service ski storage is available for you during the event, beginning Fri. Nov. 25 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 the next morning by the time you get there. Due to limited space, ski storage should be only for volunteers working the next day. Please do not leave your skis there if it's going to be a few days before your next shift. All skis must be removed by the end of the day on Sun. Dec. 4. There is no heated boot storage, so you should plan on taking your boots home at night. You'll find that having a pair of shoes in your backpack is useful at the end of your day.

Each year we have a few ski swaps that tend to originate from the Bird Bay Ski Storage. Having your name on your skis is helpful. Please make sure you are taking your skis!

WHAT TO BRING

Daily Packing List:

Your credential and lift access card.
A backpack, and keep it with you during the day.
A Helmet. The rule is: Skis On, Helmet On, no exceptions.
Insulating layers for under your uniform shell. Extra gloves.
Traction devices that fit over your ski boots and have a short spike. For those above the Pump House, bring crampons if you own them, otherwise borrow from the Tuff Shed. Your Crew Chief will help you coordinate this.
A thermos, 16oz or larger, to carry hot water for the Mountain House Adventure packs, or coffee or hot cocoa.
Extra water in an insulated bottle or insulated hydration pack.

What NOT to bring:

Ski poles. (Except for Course Security)
Single use beverage containers.

SAFETY AND TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF

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 only 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 sufficient. 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 very 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 your helmet to your pack or a secured object.

Trail Closures, Entry Points, and Egress:
Before loading Chair 6 each day, make 100% sure you know about this. It's early season and weather dictates a lot of this. Please listen for these daily announcements and if you don't know, ASK YOUR CREW CHIEF!

In General:

The ski-doo lane is always 100% closed.
We never cut ropes or ski in closed areas.
Course entry and exit is only through opened gates.
Winch cats will be operational on the mountain. Never, ever, go near them. If you see a winch cat operating on-course, you are probably too close and you need to go around.
You've received your first warning. These are no exception rules and one violation will result in your dismissal from the event. (Sorry to sound so terse, but this is serious business folks and we don't want any injuries.)

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. 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 super 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 Powder 8 and the Bird Feeder along with Gatorade G2.

SOCIAL EVENTS and VOLUNTEER STORE

Volunteer Thank you and Kickoff Party: We will be celebrating our efforts on Wed. night with an all volunteer Thank you and Kickoff Party. This is so that those who have to travel on Sunday can still attend. The party will be on Wed. Nov. 30 at 6:30pm at Ford Hall. The event is free but you will need to show your credential at the door and is for volunteers only. You must RSVP in order to attend. Park in the Elk Lot and take the shuttle up. Elk Lot is free if entry after 1:00pm.

Via a separate email, you will receive an RSVP request for this event. The deadline is Nov.18 by 12:00pm as we need to allow time for the Park Hyatt to order the food.

Volunteer Hospitality (aka Beer Tent): After you check out please stick around and enjoy an adult beverage or two on us and share your day's experience with your friends. Each day you will receive beer coupons for a social gathering at various bars/restaurants. We will not be having Volunteer Hospitality on days that there are parties and social events. Please confirm with the Admin staff at check-out for the location of that day's gathering.

Team Picture: We will have our annual "groupie" in the Finish Arena after the race on Friday Dec. 1. We will need to hold volunteers at the top of Red Tail Jump until the arena is clear. Helmets and backpacks off; hats and sunglasses at your option, jacket required. Afterwards, we are expect to Load Chair 9 and get back to our sections to prepare for the next race before exiting the mountain.

Volunteer Store: We know that you can't go home empty handed and you want to share your experience, so we have completely restocked the store. We'll have lots of new items, including backpacks, available for purchase during check-out. This year we've also included selected items that will have the Birds of Prey branding. This will be a good opportunity to do a little Christmas shopping. Credit card payment will be preferred.

ONE TEAM; SAME DREAM

Final Thoughts:

While the Talon Crew team may represent the largest work force on the hill, we are only one of many teams that comprise the Event Staff. We work closely with Mountain Ops, Snowmaking, Grooming, Race Dept, Ski Patrol, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, and the Venue Volunteers. Each team has their own task, all of which are equally critical to the successful execution of a world class ski race. Please consider that when the going get's tuff, and it will, we all need to work together, regardless of the color of your uniform.

The Vail Valley Foundation, which owns and operates the event, is extremely reliant and grateful for the spirit and dedication of the volunteer community. The best way they have to show their appreciation is to work really hard to ensure that you have a fantastic Volunteer experience. Their thanks goes beyond the jacket, social events, and thank you's. The hidden gift for you is the gift of camaraderie and the knowledge that you performed at your personal best.

Save travels and we'll see you on the hill soon,

The Talon Crew Team