News Release

Girdwood, Alaska -- March 22, 2004

Volunteers Get Up Close And Personal With Skiers

Thawack! Thawack! Swsh! Thawack! Thawack! Swsh! This is the sound of the country’s top skiers flying through gates and down the course mere feet from cheering race fanatics. And this is what Chevrolet 2004 U.S. Alpine Championships volunteers heard as they helped on race courses at Alyeska Resort this week.

“You’re right there, up close to the pros, and you get to hear all the background stuff,” said Trevor Carbaugh, a gate judge assigned to the first three gates of Sunday’s slalom course. “I have a lot more respect for these things. You know, you see them on TV, but it's different when you're actually there volunteering.”

“I would definitely do this again,” Carbaugh said.

According to Gail Pattison, event administrator, about 400 people signed up to volunteer. “We had overwhelming support,” she said. “We even had to turn away about 150 volunteers.”

The University of Alaska Anchorage Outdoor Club, the Seawolf Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, the Alyeska Ski Club and the Mighty Mites youth ski club were among groups volunteering for the races. And volunteer positions ranged from course slippers and gate judges to bib collectors and media assistants.

Michael Taylor, a UAA student and course slipper, said he had a blast. “I’ve basically been a human snowplow,” he said. “I would definitely do it again. You get to see the U.S. Ski Team up close and personal, and you also get to see the upcoming new stars.”

Sheilagh Lepine, who was a gate judge, volunteered with her five children throughout the event. The Lepines have lived in Girdwood and been involved in Mighty Mite racing for three years but have never volunteered as a family for this type of event.

“The races are the biggest thing to happen in my town,” Lepine said. “How could I not be a part of this?” The Alyeska staff and coordinators made volunteering very easy, Lepine said. They were all helpful and encouraging, and there have been no negatives. And they’ve been very generous too.

Four of Lepine’s children helped collect race bibs and congratulate the racers, and one was a course slipper. For their help throughout the event, the Lepines received ski jackets, which they had the star skiers autograph.

“This is great,” Lepine said. “We get to talk to all the athletes, and we get our coats autographed.”

Those who worked with the volunteers said they were grateful for the help on and off the course.

“They’re here to work, and they work hard,” Pattison said. “Some of them are working 12- to 14-hour days.”

“And we haven’t had a bad volunteer,” added Alex Nelson, volunteer coordinator for the event. “They’ve had great attitudes. They’re here to have fun, and they have smiles on their faces.”

Lepine said she’s just grateful to Alyeska for letting her family be a part of the races and for getting her kids involved.

“We just want to extend our thanks to everyone who came forward,” Pattison said. “Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to put on such a great series of races.”

Written by: Leah R. Boltz
UAA student and PRSSA Seawolf chapter member