This is a very preliminary report on what we've heard about preparations for 2010. Presume that the information belwo is subject to change.
Owen Carney is chairing a Volunteer Advisory Committee intended to present volunteer needs to VANOC. Other members are Pat Taylor, Bob Miller and Dave Shefley.
A number of people have been asked by Owen to liase with VANOC on particular issues. These include:
Peter Allen -
Transportation,
Lockie Brown - Accommodations,
Pat Taylor - Registration,
Natalie Pereman – Equipment,
Ailsa
Siemens – Radios.
Training - Dave Moore
Here are the March 2009 minutes of a recent meeting with VANOC.
We will attempt to publish information as it comes available. What we understand at this time includes the following.
Registration
VANOC is slowly working through its huge list of volunteer applicants.
Applicants are first telephoned and then scheduled for a training
session. If you have not yet been telephoned, they say they
will get to you. As of Jan 31, 2009, there is a shortfall of
about 800 Alpine volunteers. If you know of any prospective
candidates, please encourage them to register.
Crew Chiefs should make sure their crew members are registered. We anticipate that Crew Chiefs will begin to select their crews sometime in April.
A youth program has been established to allow 15 to 19 year olds to volunteer and work with a parent or guardian. Details to follow.
Newcomers to the Alpine Skiing Volunteering scene may wish to read about A Day in the Life of a 2010 Alpine Olympic Volunteer or any of many articles about the Whistler Weasel Workers.
Venues
The Men's Alpine
races will be held on the Dave Murray downhill and the Ladies' Alpine
races and all Paralympic events will be held on the Franz's downhill.
Both courses share a common finish at the Timing Flats.
2010 Schedule
It
is expected that Rod macLeod's Net Crew will have all the A-Nets and
some B-Nets in place prior to Feb 5, 2010, when the "Volunteer Army" is
scheduled to start work. Volunteer Work Days run from Feb 5
through Feb 28th.
Testing of the two downhill tracks will commence Feb 8th and the downhill draining runs will start on Feb 10, the opening day of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. The Men's Downhill race is scheduled for Feb 13th and the Ladies Downhill is scheduled for Feb 14th.
VANOC Operations Manager, Rod MacLeod will be prepared to start snowmaking as early as end-October 2009 to build a high density base on both downhill tracks. Rod has build up a cadre of snowmakers, groomers and a core Net Crew that will be building up the tracks and rigging the A-Nets as early as weather permits.
Transportation
Getting around in Whistler in January/February 2010 is
expected to be a challenge. Don't count on using your own
car. There will
be no public/volunteer parking in Creekside. The
bus system will be significantly beefed up and we hope that VANOC's
Transportation Plan will make ample provision for the special needs of
our Alpine volunteers. There will be transit available 24/7 in Whistler and to/from Pemberton and Squamish.
VANOC says that there will be no restrictions on private car travel on Hwy 99 (except for congestion) and they will broadcast the best times to travel, on a daily basis. However, there may be road closures and traffic flow changes in Creekside.
Peter Allan has been actively working with VANOC during the 2009 J1 Nationals and the IPC World Cup. He says things have been going well. Stay tuned for more.
Accommodation
No information yet regarding volunteer accommodation. VANOC has
launched its Homestay program, with Sliding Center and Olympic Park
tickets offered as a perk for hosts who accommodate volunteers.
Security
A security perimeter will extend from the Timing Flats
down to Creekside base. The Creekside security zone will
include portions of the World Cup Plaza, Dusty's Bar and Grill, Franz's
Trail retail area and all of the Creekside parkade. Accreditation is
necessary to access the security zone.
We don't know yet about the security zone above Timing Flats
The volunteer stewards will perform their traditional tasks, controlling public access to viewing areas and controlling skier traffic in designated areas, such as the tunnels.
Access to Ski
Runs
The Dave Murray Downhill and Franz's Run will be closed to
the public from Jan 25 through Mar 27, 2010.
Creekside Gondola will be closed to the public during the month of February, 2010.
The Creekside Gondola will be open to the public during the Paralympic Winter Games, with priority loading given to athletes, officials and workers.
Sorry we can't relay more. We'll try to provide more
information as it comes available.
