Volunteers Needed For 2015 World Championships

VAIL, Colo. (CBS4)- Vail Valley is looking for thousands of people to help bring the 2015 World Championships to life.

It's going to be one of the biggest events Colorado has hosted in a few years.

"It's a big deal and it's only happened in the United States three times in 100 years so we're thrilled it's here," said Vail Valley Foundation Ceil Folz.

In just 509 days the Alpine skiing world will descend on Vail Valley and the organizers need a lot of help.

The Birds of Prey course will be center stage for the entire world in February 2015. Before any of the stands can be constructed and the crowds come to Colorado the Vail Valley Foundation is looking for more than 2,000 volunteers.

"It's a commitment, a minimum of 60 hours during the duration of the championships themselves plus advance work so it's a commitment for sure," said Folz.

The activities for volunteers include just about everything and every skill level.

"We need volunteers for everything," said Folz. "The largest area of volunteers we need is up on the hill. We need really great skiers who know ski racing."

The alumni of volunteers includes some well-known household names in the ski world, Lindsey Vonn volunteered during the last world championships in Vail. Now she's won five World Championship medals.

"Lindsey was a volunteer in 1999. She tells the story of being on the course, she was a course volunteer and thinking some day that's going to be me racing," said Folz.

Race organizers are hoping the call for volunteers will include all of Colorado.

"We look at these championships as not just being Vail and Beaver Creek's but Colorado's championships. So the more people we can welcome and embrace in any capacity including volunteering, the better we think it is for the event," said Folz.

One of the reasons volunteers are needed so early is that some may need to go through security training. That's been standard practice at events for the past 12 years but emphasized in the aftermath of the bombings in Boston.

For additional information on the volunteer application process for the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Vail and Beaver Creek, visit www.vailbeavercreek2015.com or contact vvfvolunteer@vvf.org.