Officials

Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton is hosting the Intercontinental Cup (Skeleton) and North American Cup for Skeleton and Bobsleigh at the Whistler Sliding Centre from November 1st to November 7th and World Cup Skeleton and Bobsleigh from November 21st to the 25th and are in need of some extra help. If you are available to help out for any of the race days, please email info@slidebc.ca. This is a great opportunity to get up close to the lightning fast action! No experience required!

 

Definition - Sports Official :

A sports official is in charge of making sure that standards of play are maintained and he or she also enforces the rules and policies that govern a particular sport.

Definition – Bobsleigh/Skeleton Official:

A bobsleigh/skeleton field-of-play official  has responsibilities of ensuring a safe and fair race for competitors by creating and maintaining both flow and control in the start and finish areas of the race venue. This is achieved by officials through a specific set of race protocols and rules created by the Federation Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (also newly known as the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation). These officials also seem to have an affinity for ice, snow and standing out in the cold.

Bobsleigh/Skeleton Officials in Canada

In Canada our officials are members of the provincial bobsleigh and skeleton associations in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. Additionally officials are linked to the national sport organization, Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton – most notably track side during international events hosted in Calgary and Whistler.

Earlier in 2012  at their AGM, Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton (BCS) appointed a Director of Officials. This important volunteer position is currently held by Astrid Wolf , who has 23 years of official experience working in every area involved with a race/event, with a career highlight  of being Race Director for bobsleigh at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.  Astrid’s  involvement began in the sport of bobsleigh as one of the first women to compete in the sport and grew over the years to encompass many other roles, becoming an FIBT official in 2005.

The Director of Officials  will be the main point of contact for all bobsleigh and skeleton officials groups within Canada and be the representative for these groups to BCS.  Among the many duties involved with this position, Astrid will also be liaising with all the provincial organizations and the Canadian Association of Skeleton Officials (based in Calgary) and assisting the provinces with training of officials.

In October 2011 the Canadian Officials Development Committee released the Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton Officials Manual. The officials program outlined in the manual is intended to standardize the requirements, duties and responsibilities at all levels of officiating within the sports of bobsleigh and skeleton, to the extent possible and to build a team of proficient officials for all levels of competition. The manual explains the three levels of official certification and various roles and responsibilities.

Our Officials

Many of our officials are part of the legacy of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games! Two of those officials from the Games have passed the FIBT exams to become Jury members (the highest level of officiating that can be attained with the FIBT).

Our officials have diverse backgrounds, and bring a lot of experience in volunteerism to the track for each event. The crew is close-knit and works hard to provide the best officiating to every event at the Whistler Sliding Centre. We even do something that no other officiating crew does – which has garnered us rave reviews from skeleton athletes the world over (and if you want to know what it is, you will have to come see it in person).

BCBSA is continuing to work with BCS to meet our current officials education needs as well as recruit new officials to our crew. For more information on getting started as a new official and officials courses (including refresher sessions) please click here.

If you have any questions regarding the BCBSA officials program please contact officials@slidebc.ca.

2017 - 2018 Races

The following are the races taking place in Whistler for the 2017-2018 season in which we need officials:

January 12 - BC Cup OT
January 13 - BC Cup #1
January 14 - BC Cup #2


February 16 - BC Cup OT
February 17 - BC Cup #3
February 18 - BC Cup #4

March 16 - BC Champs OT
March 17&18 - BC Champs

For more information on these races and our officials needs please email officials@slidebc.ca .

Returning Officials please remember to complete the BCBSA Membership membership form.