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Show wwwx "THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 17 February 15, 2006 WORLD CUP cont. from page 1 Specifically, the workers behind the racers at only men’s World Cup ski race in the U.S.—the Birds of Prey World Cup at Beaver Creek, Colorado. Some are professional race workers; some are professional ski patrollers; most are voluntee The Men’s World Cup at Baaiat Creek is held in early December of each year. It follows the late November races at Canada’s Lake Louise, and includes all alpine events—the Downhill, Super G, Giant Slalom, and Slalom. Preparing four courses for four different races and two training runs i for a grueling task. strong friendships with our teammates. Allin a Day’s Work The Talon Crew’s day starts before the sun We're on the lift at around 6 a.m. headed to a mountain lodge where we check in, get a update, and assemble into teams. That lift ride zero Fahrenheit) AND snow-making machines blowing icy crystals into our faces. Many mornings we’re hauling equipment and supplies up with us. Sometimes the lift stops, and we’re stuck in the dark and cold for 5, 10, or even 15 minutes. At the top, it’s off the lift and down—in the dark—to the lodge. This is particularly tricky when it has snowed over night. Some 7 a though, have enough ae to bring headlamy Once insi head straight b itz hot drinks. Then, it’s up the eis to check-in and attend morning meeting. That’ where s we learn that suit can only get hurt i 1 Clearing snow from the start. Racing’s Volunteers Each year on the day after Thanksgiving, over 450 volunteers begin to descend on Beaver Creek to carry out this grueling task. Some are timers; Most are members of the Talon Crew—the volunteers who prepare and maintain the race course. Over 250 volunteers make up the Talon Crew. On any given day, anywhere from 100 to 230 show up to shovel snow, install fencing, prepare start areas, haul netting, assemble gates, and do whatever it e these races happen. Volunteers come from all over the U.S. and the world. Most in the U.S. come from Colorado, but we’ve got a good-sized contingent from Utah. Plus, many from California, New Hampshire, Wyoming, New Mexico, New York, and more. unteers from Canada, Scotland, Italy, Austria, and Slovakia. What brings these volunteers together is a love of skiing, plus the strong attraction of camaraderie that pulls in almost anyone who gets involved. Most are hot-shot skiers. Some (like me) can’t handle the steep, rock-hard course or the long days in the elements, and so get assigned to other less harrowing duties. All of us work hard and develop rises. midbrief up in cra: hing Hopefully, though, we’ll get down to Red Tail Camp around midday to have a cold lunch inside a heated room! That’s after shoveling, hauling, lifting, moving, digging, installing, and working hard in the cold, snow, wind, or whatever mother nature throws our way. Red Tail Camp is the site of all the off-course action—finish area, timers’ hut, media tent, worker lunch room, athletes’ break room, an more We share a room with the athletes and have been warned repeatedly that we are not to interfere with them or invade their privacy. They get threefourths of the room; we’re squeezed into a small area with a lunch-line and a few tables that we cram into for a welcome break from the elements. By mid week, Red Tail Camp has been transformed into a circus-like area—finish aren: tent, spectator stands, vending booths, music, jumb into a course ene We get a weather forecast and the status of course prep. As the week progresses, we’re updated on details of the race schedule—inspection, course closure, first forerunners, TV breaks, and so on. By 8:00 a.m.—earlier on race days—we'’re out to take the lift up to the top of the mountain and then ski to the tuff shed, or to wherever our assignment takes us. Some of us may work the start area, cutting stairs up to the start tent or shoveling snow away from the area. Some may assemble gates near the tuff shed. Some may haul equipment. Most are on the course, putting up d fencing, and sl The courses’“icy surfaces have been prepared ini the days leading up to Thanksgiving. So, our job is to install the fencing, netting, and gates. When it snows, though, our job becomes a race against time—and nature—to get the snow off the course. A snow cat with a HUGE snow blower handles the bulk of this, but we have to do our share. a 2005, over 5 feet of snow fell starting on day tw through the end ofthe events. The intemational ski racing the races off without a hitch. iney don’t call us the best crew in the world for nothing! The Tuff Shed and Red Tail Camp The tuff shed is a heated tent (well, heated when the heaters are working) where the Talon Crew can rest between assignments or get a quick snack or cup of hot soup. We have our own soup-making group—Lauren, the “Soup Lady” makes yummy home-made soups that keep us going when it’s cold and we’ve been working hard all day. The lunch crew ships up hot coffee and cocoa along with lunch stuff. Rolling up at day’ end. day— add hundreds of spectators and lots “of action! Vendors giving away samples, real live birds of prey to see and hear, food and music and commentary...and...oh, the races! A Well- Deserved Party By Sunday, many of us have been working for ten days straight. We’ve shoveled tons of snow, built dozens of steps in the ice, installed miles and miles of netting and fencing, and torn down miles and miles of netting and fencing. So, that last slalom run is a welcome sight. The race sponsor throws a fantastic volunteer party in a tent at the base of the mountain that night. Food, music, friends, and lots and lots of cool stuff raffled off—hats, gloves, skis, helmets, boots, and more! We’re so tired we begin to go as soon as the raffle is over. But it’s tough to leave our teammates—we did the impossible together and now it’s time to say so long; that we’ll see you at next year’s Birds of Prey. Oh, and what about those racers? Daron first and Bode second in the Downhill. The next day, they flip-flopped, and it was Bode first and Daron second in the Giant Slalom. And young Ted Ligety from Park City took hid, in the slalom. What a showing! Water etrede| UDOT ¢ ¢ cont. from ee 1 gate noise impac Improved oe? aesthetics. New Intelligent Transportation System elements, such as electronic roadway signs, traffic speed sensors, and CommuterLink cameras. Project Timeline inor construction work will t place within the project boundaries until spring when motorists will begin seeing lane ae Completion date is set for fall 2 re is 5 utilizing the Design-Build process to reconstruct this section of I-15. This innovative method allows Weber County Constructors, the selected designbuild team, to begin construction before all design details are finalized. Taxpayers will get more value for the dollar and I-15 NOW will be completed much more quickly than if all details had to be finalized before construction begins. Designbuild is the same method used to reconstruct I-15 in Salt Lake County, which was completed under budget and ahead of schedule. Construction Impacts “Our goal is to minimize impacts to travelers as much as possible,” said I-15 NOW Project Director Brent DeYoung. “However, reconstruction on such a major route presents significant challenges. This will require patience and support from motorists, nearby businesses, and_residents.” Construction crews will maintain two lanes of travel in each direction during peak travel hours, on holidays, and around special events. During off-peak travel times, crews will restrict I-15 to one lane in order to complete the project as soon as possible. While there will be some complete closures of I-15, closure times will be minimal and kept to off-peak hours with advance notice. An extensive public information campaign will keep motorists, businesses, and residents updated with the latest construction schedule, alternate routes, and other ways to deal with the major construction project. isit www.udot.utah.gov/ilSNOW for more information. RESORT PROPERTIES www.wolfcreekresort.com Look at Life from the Bright Side! The Highlands is Wolf Creek Resort’s premiere residential address. These spectacular building sites offer “Top of the World” views of Pineview Lake, Snowbasin and 10,000 ft. Ben Lomond Peak. Consider these valuable features: Strict design guidelines protect architectural integrity Sports membership to Wolf Creek’s club program included Within Wolf Creek Resort’s amenity filled master planned community Bathed in sunshine - literally enjoy the last sun in the valley! Water, sewer and all utilities provided by the developer Priced from $290,000 - $670,000 Wolf Creek Resort Properties (Toll Free) 1.877.492.1061 ext. 212 (Office) 801.745.2218 3900 N. Wolf Creek Dr., Eden, UT. Sales Offices in the Wolf Creek Clubhouse and Moose Hollow Discovery Center Elevation: 5,550 ft. Views: 360° Vistas: Unbelievable! |
