Mission Central for Volunteer Alpine Ski Race Workers 

Mouse over the images.  Please don't click, it wears holes in them!      

 2008 Pontiac GMCCanadian National Alpine Skiing Championships.     
January 31, Preliminary activities: the Weasel Army arrives in two days    

More Photos from the 2008 Canadian Alpine Ski Championships          

Lock up the women and children, dogs and cats, they're coming back! The 2008 version of the Canadian Alpine Skiing Championships is about to unfold on Whistler Mountain. The Weasel Army is on the move!
The Weasel Army moves on its stomach. Joyce and her Soup Tent crew have been preparing for weeks. No instant soup for the Weasels, just the 'Real thing'"

Home cooking at its best. Sue and Joyce fill the stock pots with fresh veggies. The "prep crew" carry on a tradition of community-produced volly and ski club dinners that dates back for thirty years.
The Soup Tent is new to the Weasels, brought back from Beaver Creek in 2007. For two years, we've had the assistance of the original BC Soup Lady, Lauren Williams. Here ex-racer, Lisa & ex-chef, Ian share some clean-up duties.

The Soup Production Crew work for months before the event. Some are non-skiers who never come to the event, but all are supporters of our National Ski Team and are happy to do their part. They all happen to be great cooks and chefs in thier own right.
Rod MacLeod's grooming team has been working for weeks trying to harden up the track. The weather has been much drier this year, but almost too dry to develop the required water density in the snow, and resulting hardness. Here two groomers pass over the new skier tunnel on Hwy 86.

Skier tunnel under the new Ladies Olympic Downhill course. This course is going to be one of the most challenging ladies courses on the circuit.
A watering program has been undertaken to increase the water density and hardness of the track. Brad demonstrates his watering technique

Brad abd Bruce, two volunteers among many from other parts of BC who have travelled to Whistler, well before the event, to help with the many preparations for the Canadian Championships. There is lots of work to be done and many hands are needed.
Egos and self-importance are left at the bottom of the hill, up here we are separated only by knowledge and skill. Hard workers with good disposition are most welcome. If you don't have the knowledge, we'll teach you and help you to develop skills.

A winch cat takes a pass on the Ladies Olympic Downhill course. It takes many passes to knock the air out of the snow and to achieve the necessary hardness. Racers break through soft snow surfaces to create dangerous ruts that are difficult to repair.
One of the new Alpina A-Nets. The dark blue colour make the rets difficult to see against a backgropund of dark green trees..

Sandi and Bruce, respectively, our Race Secretary and the Chief of Race for all of the senior races on the new Ladies Olympic Downhill track.
Terri and Brad, Sun Dogs from central BC offer great expertise, knowledge, enthusiasm, and very good cheer.
And the watering program continues. The point is to increase snow density. After many passes by grooming machines, the dampended snow is compressed, freeazes and becomes very hard.
Meanwhile, in the valley, the Ground crew and the Beer Crew erect the Beer Tent. The roof is built on the ground and then jacked up onto legs.
Jason operates a tent jack. Once the tent is jacked up, Legs are placed underneath.
Moving the tent into position. One person on each support and a mighty heave.
Raising the roof.
Peter and Lockie unload Beer Tent equipment, including heat cannons, generators, and lights.  The Resort Municipality of Whislter loans us picnic tables, for which we are very grateful.
Terri raises the roof of the Weasel Beer Tent.
Crew Chief Peter Allan, man of infinitie talent and resource and Finish Area & Beer Tent volunteer, Sharlene. Peter's the 'go to' man for unusual needs, and he always comes through.
Sandi, our Race Secretarry takes a break from her organizational duties to share her many skills. At a ski race, eceryone is prepared to help with any job.
Our World Cup Ladies Finish Referee, Terri is a SunDog from the Okanagan. A marvellous contributer at all levels, from putting up tents to shovelling snow to applying a broad knowledge of ski racing to any number of official race positions.Terri shared her birthday witrh us. Her last 14 birthdays have been spent at ski races.
Finally in opereation, the 2008 Weasel Worker Beer Tent is enjoyed by hard-working volunteers, at least those who get off the mountain before our 7:00 PM closing time. When we have late-working crews, we try to 'push the envelope' so they have a place to warm up and enjoy some social time before a late dinner and an early bedtime..
Always on the job, Terri serves past Weasel President, Don Appelle.