2007 Canadian Death Race August 3rd - 6th, 2006 Volunteer Package

Help others:
Survive 125km of extreme racing. Cross three mountain summits.
Gain over 17000ft elevation. Raft across a major river.
Go Like Hell!

What is the Canadian Death Race Anyway?

The Canadian Death Run is held every August long/first weekend over extreme mountain trails. The events are organized by the Canadian Institute of Extreme Racing, a non-profit incorporated society of Alberta, Canada that is dedicated to promoting the sport of extreme racing.

Volunteers! Volunteers! Volunteers!

It is the people behind the scenes that make a race great. As you can well imagine it takes a small army of volunteers to safely stage an event of this magnitude. We recruit approximately 400 reliable and motivated individuals for the Run to handle a variety of functions. Although volunteering can be challenging and exhausting in some cases, the rewards for the adventurous at heart are immense, leaving one with lasting memories. Some say that the only thing harder than competing in the Death Race is volunteering for the Death Race. So right they are! The race is epic and so is the challenge for the people behind the scenes.

If you have a partner, family or friend and they are not racing, they can help us out too with various tasks any time between Friday morning and Monday afternoon in approximately 5 to 8 hour shifts. Volunteers get an ultra-cool special Canadian Death Race T-shirt (while supplies last), ticket to a pizza lunch on Saturday, and many, many smiles for helping at least 5 hours. Helping out with the race is actually lots of fun. Fill out the Volunteer Registration Form to sign up. Submit completed form on-line through our web site OR to any of the following locations:
- drop it in the mailbox next to the front entrance of 10330 Hoppe Ave
- drop it off at the Grande Cache Tourism Centre
- mail it to “Volunteers”, PO Box 477, Grande Cache Alberta, T0E 0Y0
- fax it to (780) 827-4194.

To find out more information send an email to volunteerinfo@canadiandeathrace.com or call (780) 827-5413.

Volunteering positions fall into 16 broad categories (“Crews”) as follows:

1. Administration/Office
These jobs primarily involve work before the race. Assignments include answering email and telephone queries, computer data entry and marketing and recruiting administrative tasks.

2. Aid Station
Help organize aid stations, all food and equipment provided. Hand out water, gatorade and food to racers. Help racers with gear and filling water bottles, etc. Stations range from accessible to remote. First Aid, nursing/MD or EMT training is an asset.

3. Announcing
This is your chance to be a star. Available assignments include acting as MC at the opening ceremony, announcing racers’ times and bios as they cross the finishline and acting as MC at the awards ceremony.

4. Backup Racer
Are you fit and ambitious? Be available to run (for free!) if a team member drops out at the last minute. There is no guarantee that you will get to run and you won’t be eligible for a plaque/goodies that the racers get.

5. Communications
Be in the centre of the action at Command Central! Receive data from the field and enter it into the computer database. Track racers and coordinate with Search and Rescue / Rapid Response to dispatch help where it is needed.

6. Course Set Up
Maintaining 125 km of the Death Trail is a monumental task. We invite racers in training or anyone else interested in hiking the trail to help with marking the trail in the weeks and months prior to the race.

7. Horse Patrol
The Mounted Death Patrol monitors racers’ well-being along the old mine road. You need you own horse to be a member of this crew.

8. Marshal
Make sure racers go the right way. Use giant full arm gestures to indicate the way, cheer racers on, give racers verbal direction when required. Postings range from within town to remote mountain summits.

9. Media
Help coordinate aspects of the media, getting the media with quads and 4x4 vehicles to interesting locations to film and photograph racers. Several TV and newspaper crews will be here.

10. River
Help boating racers across the Smoky River. Indicate if you have your own boat to do so.

11. Registration
We have two assignments here: Volunteer and Racer Registration. Be at the check-in station and distribute packages.

12. Rapid Response Team
This team with specialized skills ensures that the race is safe for all competitors over the vast distance of extreme mountain terrain. Should problems arise on course, you may be called upon to transport supplies, personel or aid in a complex extrication.

13. Set-Up – Race Weekend
Assist with setting up and/or taking down the course downtown, at the Rec Centre and at Hell's Gates.

14. Sweeper
Follow the last racer to ensure their safety and close the course and collect signs and pylons. A quad is required for most segments but some must be hiked. Communicate with Command Central.

15. Timing
Ensure racers receive a time at various points on the course and manage the Relay Points. Timers form the communications network of the course using cell phones and radios. Timing data is entered by racers directly into portable computerized timing devices in the field.

16. Videography
Videotape the course during the race for presentation at the awards ceremony.

Remember this is the Death Race. We encourage a Halloween style/Mardi Gras atmosphere on race weekend. We encourage volunteers to dress up and play the part - costumes, masks, face paint, and noise makers all add to the extra special nature of the Canadian Death Race.