2021 Season Kickoff

2021 Season KickoffNashoba Valley Ski Club Race Team

Welcome!● Welcome to the 2021 kickoff

● We are the Nashoba Valley Ski Club Race Team, one of five EMBWL teams (Eastern Massachusetts Buddy Werner League)

● Normally by now we’d have had several practices and our first race!

● Board and coach introductions

Agenda● Team Communications

● Lift Tickets

● This Year Impact From Covid-19

● Practices and Races

● The Heart of the Program, Volunteers and Responsibilities

● First Practice This Sunday

● Newcomer Orientation

Team Communications● Team mailing list - the primary way we communicate● Weekly reminders:

○ Online ticket purchase (more on that shortly)○ Pre-practice notes (GS vs. SL, drill plan, etc.)○ Cancellations if necessary○ Pre-race reminders

● www.nvscracing.com○ Loads of info, race results, training videos, competition rules and

much more○ Videos, photos, share what you have!

● Team Calendar○ Add to the NVSC calendar to your smart phone○ Go to our events page

Lift Tickets● Buy individual tickets through the Nashoba Valley Ski

Area online reservation system● Or, buy season passes● Or, buy through NVSC● Cost savings strategies - multi-packs and gift cards● Buy through NVSC

○ Thursday Practices - $46 (ticket valid 5-8pm)○ Sunday Practices/Races - $57 (ticket valid 9-1pm)○ Must purchase the day before on NVSC website○ Guaranteed

● For consideration when deciding○ 7 practices planned, plus 4 races○ Of course, weather could cancel some dates

This Year Due to Covid-19● Racers must boot up at their car● Lodges closed except for restrooms● Parents will need to remain in cars (or the Outlook Restaurant)

during practice and much of the races.● The Pod System

○ All racers are assigned a pod of 10 racers and a 2 coaches (1 adult and 1 junior coach)

■ U8 pods will be smaller○ Pods will remain the same for the entire season.○ Pods practice and race together○ More about pods a little later○ If your child tests positive for COVID-19, you need to email

[email protected]

This Year Due to Covid-19 (continued)● Physical Distancing

○ Maintain 6+ feet at all times, lift line, starting queue, etc.○ Face coverings worn at all times - must be 2 or more layers, not just gaiters,

covering the nose and mouth○ Behavior - no pole fighting, tackling, etc. SOCIAL DISTANCING at all times -

violations, will be asked to leave○ Triple Chairs - 2 racers, Double Chairs - 1 racer

● All racers will be given a race bib for use for the entire season○ Bibs must be brought to every race○ Bibs must be returned clean and in good shape after season○ Missing or damaged bibs, $25 charge

This Year Due to Covid-19 (continued)● Health attestation

○ Prior to a practice or race, all athletes must check in with their pod (via a pod parent) ○ You will be asked the following questions to insure that your child can participate that day

1) Within the past 10 days, has your child experienced any COVID-19 symptoms?2) Within the past 10 days, has a household member tested positive for COVID-19 or been asked to self-isolate by a doctor or public health official?3) Within the past 10 days, has your child been informed of exposure to a COVID-19 positive individual and asked to self-quarantine?4) Within the past 10 days, if your child traveled out of state and has he/she adhered to the Massachusetts Travel Policy (quarantine for 10 days or obtained a negative COVID-19 test)?

● Any further questions, please email: [email protected]

● Impact on volunteering, explained shortly by Patricia

Practices ● We are Coaches, Jon Weintraub (U8) and Glen Gaebe (U10-U19)● Practices - Thursdays

○ Thursdays 6:00 - 7:30 for U8, 6:00 - 8:00 U10 and older■ Scheduled: 1/10, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, 2/25

○ Sundays 9:30 - 11:00 for U8, 9:30 - 11:30 for U10-U19■ Scheduled: 1/10, possibly 1/17

● Racers should have ticket, on the snow and ready to go● Notes about Equipment - reference NVSC website● Typical practice routine● What happens if my racer gets hurt?

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Races● Race on Sunday but no race the first weekend of February

vacation (1/24, 1/31, 2/7, 2/28)○ Two types of races: GS and SL○ Seed list will be by Pod, results still by group (U10, U12, etc.)

● What is a typical home race like?● Course inspections

○ Some coaches will be on hand for races

● Racers must know their Pod number○ Pods will get called to the top of the hill as the event progress

● No podium / award ceremonies this year○ Results to be posted online as always○ No DSQ/DNF posting between runs, no traditional gatekeepers

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Races (continued)● Spectators will not be allowed to congregate in the usual way

○ Please watch your racer(s) run and then return to your car.○ Must maintain proper distancing○ Please respect requests from the NVSC Covid volunteer and ski area staff

● If Nashoba closes for any reason, practice or a race will be canceled○ Conversely, if the ski area is open, the event is on.

● Equipment needed (or not needed)○ race suits, helmets, chin guards, shin guards, pole/hand guards

● Pay attention to communications daily, before each race● Tickets were already covered by Mark, you need these● Worker assignments to be covered next by Patricia

Volunteers and Responsibilities● Key points about the volunteer program (Patricia)

○ We rely on you!○ All positions are important○ No-shows stop an event, delay race starts, etc.○ For 2021, pod parents replace gate keeper as the top position in

terms of numbers○ ...

● Pod Parents at a Detailed Level (Juli)○ A detailed list of the roles and responsibilities for the pod parent will be emailed

○ Pod parents need to arrive 30 min before practice/race to be ready to check kids in

○ Pod parent obtain your clipboard and pre-ordered tickets from Juli (or Patricia)

○ Order of events: check kid’s in, confirm that they are able to practice per NVSC

covid guidelines, direct them to the location where their coach is waiting, return to

your car

First Practice, This Sunday● Nashoba opens at 9:00 - early arrive early to get in a couple warm up runs● Practice starts at 9:30

○ All racers should be with ticket, fed, watered, on snow and ready to go at 9:30 sharp!○ U8 ends 11:00○ U10-U19 ends 11:30

● Waivers○ Paper waivers will need to be turned in at this first practice○ They’ll be sent in advance, please print, sign and bring to practice

● Bibs○ Race bibs are being distributed at this first practice and used for the entire season○ Returned last event, $25 fee

● Meeting up with your Pod○ After completing waivers, look for pod sign

Newcomers Orientation● Becky Leonard, NVSC Race Chair● What is EMBWL?● Where do our members come from?● In a normal year (briefly):

○ Who do we compete against (Ward, Bradford, Bogastow, and Prospect) ○ Where are the races held (Bradford, Ward, Nashoba, and Blue Hills) ○ Regular races, the trophy race, and championship race

● Volunteers, everyone must help● Other topics?