There is a special moment reserved for ski racers, which happens only once every four years, and that is the moment your co-workers and friends all realize what you do on the winter weekends. Every four years, they watch the Olympic Alpine events, and finally understand why you complain about random bruises from gates smacking you, and how spend all those Friday afternoons training. It is almost as if we live the alpine skiing social hardship only to be vindicated when the entire world turns to watch our sport. And we love it!
No one needs to know just how our ski races compare to the Olympic courses, and if they ever ask, your answer can be honest and simple; both are very exciting!
While this is being drafted, the Men’s Super Combined is underway, and the ski racing world is still reeling from Mikaela Shiffrin’s tough go at the Women’s Slalom. Many skiers, including Erin Mielzynski and Lindsey Vonn, have said in reassurance to Mikaela, that one race does not make a racer. We all know this as GDHL’ers, and we know the feeling of gut wrenching, angst, and frustration that she felt as she skied out. This sport can be so cruel, and it takes no prisoners. For once, we have seen that the greatest skier of a generation (maybe all time), is human.
At Craigleith, our drama comes in different forms! This past weekend we enjoyed another double-header, starting on Saturday NIGHT, under the lights on Little John, and ending on COMET with a short GS course. Both races were surrounded with excitement and great participation from the GDHL racers. The results are all now posted, so you can take a look at the GDHL page. For more insight on last weekends race performances, keep reading below.
You will also find details on the remaining two races on our schedule (Saturday, February 12 Comet SL; Sunday, February 20 Little John Dual Slalom), Glenn’s Coaching tips, training details for the weekend, and probably a lot more fluff.
This Weekend’s Races
The GDHL committee has always prided itself on delivering consistent, safe, and fun venues for our racers. This past weekend we decided to add a new verb to describe some of the racecourses, exciting! On Saturday we experienced the most exciting race venue many racers have ever skied, under the mood lighting set up on Little John. The slalom course was set within our capabilities – unlike the first run course in the Women’s Olympic Slalom – providing the 55 participants quick, 20-30 second runs. Down below, at the finish coral, spectators gathered with pitchers of beer to cheer on the athletes as they crossed the finish line. Adding to the fun atmosphere of the event was Jamie Schwalm, who was sitting in for Bill Barclay as the finish hut announcer. We all love the great work that Bill does for us, But Jamie had a certain swagger to his approach, ensuring the crowd was educated on each racer as they came down the course. Of course, he knows the GDHL racers well because he’s coached half of them and drank crispy boys at Après ski events with the other half.
The excitement continued into the results, with Megan Peterson winning the race! Megan’s time of 20.72 seconds might be the fastest winning run in GDHL history. Following Megan on the women’s side of the race, Katie Farrow had a blistering time of 21.52 to take 2nd place, and Cheryl McConachie laid down 21.94 in her second run to claim the bronze in just her first race of the GDHL season.
On the men’s side, Duff Isberg showed that his skill set is not only for speed events. His technical prowess delivered him to the bottom in 20.86 seconds. Gordon Bruce’s first run of 20.88 was the fastest first run of the day, but only kept him in the silver position, and Taylor Simms-Brown rounded out the podium in bronze with a best time of 21.21.
Jeff Sutherland made his first appearance this season, taking 7th spot (time), and Mackenzie Irwin made her season debut (time) claiming 11th overall. Both of these athletes carried over their great Saturday results into productive skiing on Sunday!
On Sunday, a new type of drama was introduced to our ski racing crowd… the race hill was switched! The GDHL committee realized far too late that the schedule change was imminent, and even with our best efforts some (maybe most?) had to be redirected.
Trusting that all those who chose to race, made it, the rest of the day had its own excitement baked into the course. Rarely does the GDHL race GS down comet, making this a special moment. Beyond just a slight change in pitch angle, there was a small roller just off the pitch that threw a few skiers for an unexpected loop. Regardless of the course set, Ben Williams arrived ready to take care of business. In his fourth race this year, he has won the overall GDHL title. Ben’s 24.39 time bested Taylor Simms Brown’s and Gordon Bruce’s times of 24.81, and 24.99 – as side note, both Taylor and Gordon had impressively productive weekends.
The Women were in tight, keeping their ranks competitive (as predicted by this newsletter months ago), with Megan Peterson taking top spot (again) with a time of 26.06, followed closely Katie Farrow (26.11) and Mackenzie Irwin (26.36). You cannot script a better drama than the battle these three athletes are living out in front of our eyes! Also, for those who are curious, we were glad to have Bill Barclay back on the microphone in the finish hut.
One item before moving onto this weekend’s races. The GDHL committee are here to listen to your concerns and questions. If you have feedback regarding the race season, please email us at GDHL@GDHL.org. Or find Brook, Doug, or Pete in and around the races. We are easy to find, and we like to listen. We appreciate the patience you have provided the GDHL committee to enable us to have a successful race season.
Thank you to the Coyotes, volunteers, and athletes for making this weekend an absolute blast!
Draw Items
The GDHL held a bib draw for our big event on Saturday night, however given the fun, and circumstances, realized it would be better to just relay the winners here. Everyone who started a run at the Saturday night slalom was entered to the draw and the winners are listed below, with the item they won. All items will be available for pick up at the race office this Saturday.
PEDLAR M. Patrick - Leki Poles
IRWIN MacKenzie - Leki Poles
LACHANCE Allan - Sweet Protection SL helmet
MCLORIE Scott - Boot Heaters
SPROULE Brad - Sweet Protection Goggles
FARROW KateLynn - Sweet Protection Goggles
KENDELL John - Sweet Protection Goggles
JARVIS Douglas - SL Gloves
LEBLANC SMITH Stephane - SL Gloves
HOLLAND Brian - Sidas Footbeds
The balance of Schedule
This weekend we race on Saturday, back on comet for Slalom at 1 pm.
Next weekend, which is Family Day weekend, we race on Sunday, February 20th. It is a dual slalom for points, starting at 10 am. It will be a full day affair type activity. We expect spectators to gather, cheer us on and enjoy the racing.
Fantasy Update
This is already an absolute novel, so take a look at the updated fantasy standings here. More commentary to come next week!
Coaches Update
From Coach Glenn:
We will be training SLALOM on Friday, February 11, both morning and afternoon. The GDHL race this weekend is slalom on Saturday afternoon on Comet at 1 pm. Be sure to sign up by noon Thursday so we can organize coaches.
Date: Saturday, February 12th
Time: 9:00 to 11:30 am
Hill: Birches
Discipline: Slalom
Equipment: Slalom skis and protective equipment: guards for hands, shins and face
Coaches: Glenn Blaylock, Greg Roe and Cheryl McConachie
Important: Please slip the hill after your last run on the course. This will help us re-set the course part way through the session and prepare the hill for the youth group training after us.
Weekly Coaching Tip: The Outside and Inside Arms
Start pressing the new outside arm “DOWN THE HILL” when you start applying pressure on the new outside ski. This action will move your body into a forward position which will apply more pressure on the outside ski and put you in a better position to start your next turn. Its important to keep our new inside arm up in front of you to prevent the body twisting away from the fall line.
A good analysis of how Hirscher effectively “squares his body to the fall line” by planting his pole down the hill as compared to Kristofferson whose arm moves in the direction of the skis is provided by the following video. Be sure to turn up the volume to listen to the narrative. (LINK)
Reminder: You have plenty of time during the training session to ski runs out of the course to work on technique as the session is 2.5 hours.
See you on the slopes this weekend,
-Doug