It takes many workers and volunteers to successfully run a ski / snowboard race.  Jobs filled by the Open League Race Committee include Chief of Race, Chief of Course, Timing and Scoring, Head Gatekeeper and Safety Officer.  Jobs filled by racers the day of a race include Starter, Scoreboard Recorder and Gatekeeper.  In order to prepare to be a knowledgable and prepared Gatekeeper, please watch the following two videos before coming to a race.  If after watching these videos you still have some questions, please contact your race director for more detailed instruction.  And thank you for helping to make Open League the best race league in Far West Ski Association.

These videos are from the United States Ski and Snowboard Association http://www.ussa.org/.  They show how Gate Judges (Gatekeepers) function at the National or Regional level. There are three main differences between what is shown on the video and the duties of a gatekeeper in the Open League.

---

1) A gatekeeper in a national race may have to watch only 3 to 5 gates.  While we strive to place our Gatekeepers so that they can easily watch the racers on the course, sometimes a Gatekeeper may be asked to watch 6 to 8 gates.  Because of this, we only ask you to make a diagram when a racer faults.

2) Open League Gatekeepers are not responsible for setting or replacing gates or flags.  There are course workers supplied by the resort that set and maintain the gates.

3) The last difference is that Open League does not use Dye Spots to mark the location of poles or gates.

How to be a Gatekeeper video #1
How to be a Gatekeeper video #2