The Going Down Hill League, commonly called the GDHL, is Craigleith’s adult racing house league. The league offers a series of weekend races in January and February with both individual and team scoring and hosts an opening Calcutta evening and an awards dinner to close the racing season. Racers have a wide range of ages and abilities.

Format

The schedule is normally seven races, including three giant slaloms, three slaloms, one of which is extra long (the full length of Partridge in the past, but in 2014 moved to a start at the top of Millennium, running down to Venture and then the full length of Venture), and one super G (also held on Partridge in the past, moved to Cruiser, Bowie and Comet for 2014 to 2016 and moved to Landslide in 2017). Depending on the schedule, one or both of the Club Championship races may be counted as GDHL races.  Each racer may take two runs in each race (except the Super G, which may be only one run), the better of which is counted for the day’s results. The second run is held on the same course, immediately after the first. Some racers don’t take a second run, so it tends to move quickly. Each racer’s best four results are counted towards the overall individual and team championships. 

Ranking

Before the season, each racer is ranked in sequence. Number one is normally the previous year’s individual champion. Rankings are based on past results when possible, or on other information available to the GDHL committee.  (No gender distinction is made in rankings.)  If you are new to the GDHL, please complete the questionnaire that is part of the sign up to help us determine your ranking.  We will also try to arrange for newcomers to have some trial runs during the adult gate training offered by the Club's Alpine Programs at Christmas to help us establish appropriate rankings.  Watch for details to be announced as the season approaches and be sure to sign up for the adult racing newsletter in order to receive them.

If you're not new, amuse yourself by choosing whichever of the following applies to you:

• I think that having more FIS points is better

• I think that having fewer FIS points is better

• I used to have less than 100 FIS points

• WTF are FIS points?

• I used to race with Steve Podborski or Kate Ryley at Craigleith. I was faster, but then ...

• I used to race with Steve Podborski or Kate Ryley in Europe

• Who are Steve Podborski and Kate Ryley?

• I'm Steve Podborski or Kate Ryley

Teams

Racers are then assigned to teams by the GDHL committee. Teams normally consist of 8 to 12 members, depending on the number of racers participating. Assignments are based on rankings, with the highest ranked racer assigned to the first team, second ranked to the second team etc. Once each team has one racer, the order of assignment is reversed for the second racers. This approach is continued until each team is full, with the result that each team will have the same average ranking. Some racers, especially those who may be unable to race regularly, prefer not to be assigned to a team. If this is you, let us know that you prefer not to be placed on a team by completing the appropriate section on the questionnaire that is part of the sign up.

Calcutta

The highlight of the season opening Calcutta is the introduction of the teams and the highly contested live auction to buy teams. The often substantial proceeds of the auction are divided among the owners of the winning teams at the end of the season.  After a 10% deduction to support GDHL expenses, 50% of the proceeds are paid to the first team, 30% to the second and 20% to the third.  Team members are entitled to purchase a share of a half interest in their team promptly after the Calcutta. For example, if teams have 10 members each and a team is sold at the auction for $2,000, each member may purchase a 5% interest for $100. The cost is charged to the member’s account at the Club. Although most racers take part in the “buyback” of their team, there is no obligation to do so.

Bib Numbers

It is no secret that early starters usually have an advantage, as race courses tend to deteriorate with use. The method of determining start order has varied over the years. Generally, faster racers start later and some preference has usually been given to women and older racers.  At the Calcutta, a raffle gives racers an opportunity to win bib 10 or bib 20 in a race. Each competitor is only allowed to use either of these special bibs once each year, and winners may transfer the right of use to team members etc.

There has always been discussion among GDHL participants regarding the preference that should be given to older racers in the start order, especially when they continue to perform well.  Traditionally, when one reached a certain age, one became eligible for a preferred starting position.  However, the age has varied from time to time, and has been getting older as the men's baby boomer generation continues to participate in large numbers and in many cases with considerable success. As there was no consensus among those who responded to our survey on this subject, after considerable lively debate the 2014 GDHL committee adopted what seemed to be a sensible compromise that weights age one-third and results two-thirds.  

It works like this.  We assign people notional bib numbers based on ranking / results.  Slowest gets bib 1, fastest gets last bib.  We also assign people notional bib numbers based on age (YOB).  Oldest gets bib 1, youngest gets last bib.  Everyone in the same YOB gets the same bib number, which is an average of the highest and lowest bibs that would be assigned to that YOB.  We then add the bib number from the YOB list to two times the bib number from the reverse ranking list (this gives the uneven weighting) and then do a new list.  Lowest total gets bib 1, highest total gets last bib.  For 2015, we adopted a couple of adjustments.  Men 60 and over get even weighting for YOB and ranking.  For social reasons, women start in two groups, one early and one about midway through the start list.

On examination of the output of testing, this approach seems to result in a reasonable compromise of the competing schools of thought (i.e. favouring age or starting strictly on results).  It also has the advantage of avoiding big changes as people move into another age band.  That is, you won’t suddenly jump 20 or more places ahead when you turn 50 or 60 or whatever.

Schedule

Races are normally scheduled to start at either 10:00 am or 1:00 pm on either Saturday or Sunday. There is usually only one race each weekend. The course will be opened for inspection approximately 45 minutes before the start time and inspection will end approximately 15 minutes before the start time. Depending on course conditions, racers may be asked by the race crew to side slip during inspection to remove loose snow, or to avoid skiing around gates to avoid creating ruts prematurely. In any case, racers may not ski any part of the course at speed during inspection, or shadow the course at speed, on pain of disqualification.

Scoring

In each race, the winning racer is awarded points equal to the number of racers in the GDHL plus one, and each successive finisher is awarded one point less. Overall awards for individuals are based on the four best finishes.

Team success is more complicated. The first ranked racer is expected to win every race and thus can’t exceed expectations. Winning teams invariably have one or more lower ranked racers who significantly exceed expectations and have strong participation from everyone on the team. Lower ranked racers can contribute a great deal simply by showing up and skiing well in every race, as there is never full participation in every race, so lower ranked racers will almost always score above their rankings. Weekly team results are not always a good indicator of overall success, as they can be significantly affected by the absence of one or more team members, which may not affect overall results because of the best four of seven scoring. Adjustment points for racers who are not able to complete four races are awarded based on the average points for races finished less 10 points per race. If no races are completed, points are awarded based on ranking (e.g. 60th ranked skier is awarded points for 60th place) less 10 points per race.

We sometimes consider changes to how we adjust scoring if a racer isn’t able to attend four races. Please click here and let us know your thoughts.

Closing Ceremonies

At the end of season dinner, individual success is recognized in men’s and women’s overall and aged 50+  categories. Greg Lee awards are also given to those who have made the greatest improvements on their rankings over the season. (First time racers aren’t eligible for this.) The key to individual success is of course to ski faster than everyone else, although for most success is measured by climbing in the rankings or succeeding in the many informal rivalries that develop among peers (to the extent that the Randy vs. Trent trophy has been dedicated to recognize one friendly rivalry).  Winning teams are, of course, also recognized, including by the awarding of the cash proceeds of the Calcutta bidding as described above.

Race Management Principles

GDHL doesn't have a lot of rules or officials.  We rely largely on racers to report their DSQs and not ski across the finish line when they haven't skied the course properly.  Usually it all works well, but occasionally there's a problem, usually having to do with weather and/or snow conditions.  As a result of occasional confusion, the GDHL, in consultation with the Club, has established the following principles in order to manage those situations:

1.           Safety of racers, race crew and others is the paramount consideration.

2.           Because of the difficulty of re-scheduling races to another date, races may be run in less than perfect conditions, and start times may be subject to reasonable delays.  The GDHL committee will endeavor to notify racers of changes and status during delays and the Club will endeavor to allow a reasonable time for racers to reach and inspect the course before a race is started if it is delayed, but racers are ultimately responsible for being at the start when a race is held.

3.           The decision to hold, cancel, abandon or delay a race is made by the Club.  If the problem is a general operational one, such as lift operation, extreme weather etc., the decision will be made by the Club’s General Manager or his nominee.  If the problem relates to race operation or safety, the decision will be made before a race begins by the Club’s Alpine Programs Manager or his nominee, and during a race by the course setter (Keith Farnand in 2020), assuming the course isn’t set by a racer.  The decision maker may consult the race crew (Coyotes) and members of the GDHL committee if desired, but committee members who are racing should not normally play a significant role in a decision. 

4.           If deteriorating conditions or time constraints mean that not all racers can be given an opportunity to have a second run, it is acceptable to allow only those who did not finish their first runs to attempt a second run.

5.           The GDHL committee retains the right, on very rare occasions after notice to GDHL racers, to exclude the results of a race from the GDHL standings or to award reasonable scoring adjustments to individual racers who are differently affected than other racers by factors beyond their control.

Budget and Sponsors

Although GDHL is largely operated by a committee of volunteers, there is some money involved. Registration fees are, however, a pretty good bargain, especially if you sign up by 15 November and get the early bird discount or are 35 or under.  We also have several sponsors who have generously donated money or goods to benefit our activities.  For more information about becoming a sponsor, click here.