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NHARA Alpine Officials Education Advantage

By MCasale, 12/05/19, 9:15PM EST

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NEW for the 2019-2020 Season

NHARA Alpine Officials Education Advantage

 

We are excited to introduce the NHARA Alpine Officials Education Advantage, a comprehensive approach to instruction.

NHARA leaders and the Alpine Officials (AO) Committee share the common objective to cultivate New Hampshire racing into a sought after, family-fun winter activity. We are enthusiastic to carry forward the momentum from last season’s successful pilot launch.

From a big picture perspective, the AO Committee is committed to help clubs/mountain organizations host quality race events. There are a number of pathways that as a group, alpine officials may effectively accomplish a rising tide in well run ski races.

Over the past three seasons stakeholder input has been pulled together and integrated to establish a three pronged educational platform. New Hampshire alpine race stakeholders are athletes, parents, coaches, program directors and administrators, officials, volunteers and friends of ski racing. In nutshell, the upgrade effort includes:

  1. The improvement and expansion of content on the NHARA AO webpage and throughout the clinic platform

 

  1. Delivery of a dynamic, innovated race event learning system that integrates alpine official information throughout NHARA…at updates and clinics, as well as the expertise of a Technical Advisor, and separately, race support.

 

  1. Bringing clinics to clubs; on-hill clinics and mini-seminars at a race host’s home venue; providing a Technical Advisor for race events; and race support/assistance at events.

Welcoming more parents and friends of racing into the alpine official’s community is part of the program. We are robustly recruiting at clinics and events. Another key to champion NH alpine racing is to proactively understand that in the future there will be a wave of aging officials creating a need for more volunteers. To expand the officiating ranks, we are energizing NHARA members by developing optional education that is compelling, complementary to US Ski content, and demonstratively values teamwork, while encouraging continuous system wide/race event improvement.

 

The bottom line: the AO Committee seeks to help New Hampshire alpine racing achieve excellence.

In an effort to engage more parents to participate, we have instituted the concept of bringing the clinic to the club:

                Away from race day hustle, the on-hill clinics are presented with casual conversation, while demonstrating best                                 practices.

                The mini-seminar content has been designed with flexibility and incorporates individual club needs; there are                                 several tracks: Jury Advisor training and certification testing is one option, another is a review that compliments      the on-hill content.

                There is a Technical Advisor program led by Ted Sutton. Like a World Cup event, Ted helps the club and Jury                                 to carry out a successful, fun event. NHARA is very fortunate that Ted is so willing to share his experience and                        knowledge.

                Race Support is hands-on education; clinicians attend a race to assist with non-jury positions: Chief of gates,                                gate keepers, Start and Finish Referees, Chief of Course and course workers (this is an excellent opportunity to   have newer officials shadow positions). 

The AO Committee views member education as an ongoing, evolving process. The delivery must be progressive and viewed as welcome and chalked full of positive change that generates member engagement. Just as importantly, we are committed to sharing a forward leaning vibe, providing leadership focused on all stakeholders, while remaining flexible and policy driven. We are offering quality AO education with integrity and transparent guidance.

 

The NHARA Alpine Officials Education Advantage is an engine starter for more

active member participation in alpine officiating and volunteering.

On behalf of Mike Cosman, Ted Sutton and the AO committee, we are greatly appreciative of NHARA’s and the Kelly Brush Foundation’s shared vision of innovative education and support.

See you at the race!

 

Please check out the 2019-2020 clinic schedule and other AO resource information at: https://www.nhalpine.org/page/show/3281793-alpine-officials-information

If there are questions or you would like to attend another club’s clinic, kindly contact Mike Cosman at mfcosman@comcast.net.