No GDHL race this week, but plenty happening nonetheless.

Rat a Tat Tat

Regular Friday gate training is GS at 9:30 and 1:00. Contact Laurel to register.
Training is on the usual schedule - gates will be GS at 9:30 Saturday and Sunday, Adult Tech will meet at the National chair at those times and Fast & Female will be Saturday at 9:30. Look for signage and Natalie's newsletter for hill space details. (I hope you've noticed the detailed signs for gate training and GDHL in the new notice boards at the entrances to the lodges.)
Interclub final race is at Craigleith on Saturday afternoon - GS on Big John starting at 1 pm, winner takes all.
Next GDHL is GS on Big John on Saturday the 27th and the final GDHL race will be combined with the GS race in the Club Championships on Saturday 5 March.
The GDHL closing dinner will be held on the evening of 5 March - Marlene Jackson is arranging another splendid social. Cocktails at 7 pm, dinner at 7:30. Tickets will go on sale through the Club starting this Friday - $45, or $30 for racers under 35 and their guests. BYO wine and pay only a $15 corkage charge. Also live entertainment, by which I think Marlene means someone other than J-F, Doug and Randy. And taxis and shuttles to get you home safely.

The Long Slalom

It's become a tradition to have one GDHL slalom each year that's a bit longer than the rest. Previously on Partridge, we've recently moved to a start at the top of Millennium, a run along the ridge, then a hard left down Venture and all the way to the Millennium finish line. Sandy Nattress set a generously spaced course that allowed the big shots to fly, but it was still a good workout. Rich Lavery set the early pace from his preferred bib, eventually finishing 14th, then was surpassed by Cheryl McConachie, who finished 12th and first female. Allan LaChance had the next turn in the hotseat, but Chris Barber drove no. 111 to his fourth first of the season, thereby establishing an unbeatable mark for the season's spoils. Alec Libert was second (despite losing a ski at the first gate in his second run), followed by Phil Ruffolo and the Jackson two. Sarah Latimer, who is quietly having a fine season, was second woman, followed by Stephanie Pennal. Jeff Sutherland, Allan LaChance and Craig Shibley were leaders among the mature gentlemen, while Leslie Morgan, Mary Riopelle and Elspeth Gaukrodger were their distaff counterparts. Warren McDougald continued his unsurpassed run in the mis-ranked overachievers category, finishing 10th overall, followed by increasingly usual suspects Ed Barnicke and Bob Waite. Both members of the Jarvis family had good days, while John Barber continued his successful sophomore season. Full results are here. Don't forget to check out the team standings as well, since we have a rather tight four way race for three spots in the money.

Meanwhile in Other Competition

Mikaela Shiffrin won gold in her first race after a couple of months recovering from injury, with Mitch Gagnon taking third for Canada.

More importantly, Kate Ryley made her interclub debut for Craigleith at the Caledon SL the day before. The field was a bit depleted when the usual challenge of the drive to Caledon was compounded by the climate. Kate prudently remained in her down parka throughout the race, but beat the entire field by nearly a second in a less than 22 second race. Greg Cavers, Jeff Sutherland and Craig Shibley led the Craigleith men at a respectful distance, while the rest of our representatives succeeded in securing the "regular season" title for Craigleith and setting us up for more success in this weekend's final. Full results are here and here. Enthusiasts can make a good case by comparing margins of victory over common opponents that Kate could beat a stronger field of men at the final, but she demonstrated a fallible side at Sunday's GDHL race. Despite wearing bib 44, Kate started just after Chris Barber. Whether this was a sporting attempt to level the playing field or the result of a late arrival from the metropolis is unclear. In any event, Bill Barclay soon declared her to be "abandonnee" and, acknowledging that she was a bit tired, she eschewed a second attempt.

Diversions

HOW TO START A FIGHT – Someone’s wife (to be clear, not mine!) sat down next to him as he was flipping channels. She asked, "What's on TV?" He said, "Dust." And then the fight started...

A bit of a reminder of Saturday's temperatures, but mostly I just like the song.

Watch a few guys who are even older than Mick go ski racing along with the rest of the interclub finals field on Saturday. See you there!

James Mathers