As I write, we've almost finished two weeks of gate training camps, the nine week programs are ready to begin and, best of all, the Calcutta and the first race are barely hours away. Big improvement from last year, eh?

Weekend Schedule

Nine week programs for Adult Gates begin on Saturday and Sunday at 0930 - GS on Big John
Nine week programs for Adult Tech and Fast & Female begin on Saturday and Sunday at 0930 - meet at the National chair
Calcutta on Saturday at 5:00 pm in the South Lodge - details below
First GDHL race on Sunday at 1:00 pm - GS on Big John - be ready to inspect at 12:15 and finish inspection by 12:45

Calcutta Details

SWAG ETC. FOR ALL RACERS

$30 gift card from Squires
Card for free 30 minute massage from Sonya Lee Reimer of Living in Balance - more details below
Beer tasting from Side Launch (I was discouraged from announcing FREE BEER, but you don't have to pay)
And don't forget to pick up your bib

DRAW PRIZES

Buy a $20 ticket (cash or member charge) for the chance to win one of the following:

Bib 10 or bib 20 in one of the first six GDHL races - these are transferable, but no racer may use a preferred bib more than once a season
Sync Athlete Pack (not a black hole)
Sync Burrito 4 Pair Ski Bag (would also take two skis and a medium sized child if you're economizing on airfare)
Leki World Cup Racing SL Poles (slightly revised paint job this year, but same great pedigree)
Leki Fore Arm Protectors (fend off gates or spouses)
Reusch racing gloves (possibly not exactly as shown but very neat in any case)
Oakley Canopy Prizm Goggles (premium low light lens)

And there are three special separate draws, each for a $250 Squires gift card. Two draws are for those GDHL racers who have never participated before and one is for those who have participated before but are being welcomed back after at least one year's absence. No ticket needed for those eligible.

JACKETS

I'll bring the remaining jackets for distribution at the Calcutta. We offered jackets to our long-time sponsors. Michel Pratte is hopefully now wearing his in Aspen. However, Ron Warren and Squires have generously donated theirs back to the cause, so the last two of these great jackets will be available by silent auction at the Calcutta. Men's black, with the full colour logo - one medium and one large. If you've decided that your jacket doesn't fit or doesn't match your eyes, you can bring it to the Calcutta. No promises but, if it's in new condition, we'll try to include it in the silent auction. Any profit on resale to GDHL.

MASSAGE!

Sonya Lee Reimer is a Registered Massage Therapist who has very generously offered to provide a free 30 minute massage to every GDHL racer at her home clinic, Living in Balance, located at 29A Fourth Street West in Collingwood. This offer is valid until 15 March 2017. You will probably want to go right away, but if you think you can store up a season's worth of tension and aches, then the offer will still be valid after Club Championships! Read more about Sonya's services on her website or talk with her at the Calcutta, where she will be distributing cards for the massages. You can reach her via sonya@livinginbalance.ca to book an appointment.

LIVE AUCTION

Rip and Mary Riopelle will again officiate over the key Calcutta event, the live auction of teams and goodies. If you need a refresher on the team auction and buyback process, see the "Calcutta" paragraph here. The race is wide open this year. There are over 30 racers who weren't in GDHL last year, and over half those are brand new. Trent Winstone and his team will be tracking auction results. Have your member number ready if you're bidding. If you're on a team, please let Trent know whether you want to participate in the buyback as soon as the auction for your team is complete, and give him your member number if you do.

We will also have six great opportunities to buy the best stuff at auction. We have a pair of Dynastar masters GS race skis and a pair of Dynastar FIS slalom skis, each complete with Look bindings, courtesy of our sponsors Squire John's and Ron Warren (rep for Dynastar, Lange and much more). Suggested retail price of these combinations is $1150 to $1200, plus tax. You may get a slightly better price than that at Squires, but the auction is the place to get it now! Squires will do their best to accommodate size exchanges if needed.

http://www.dynastar.com/en-ca/product/speed-wc-master-r21-wc

And we have a top of the line Sweet Protection FIS approved helmet - the hottest model from the hottest new brand, and in short supply to boot! Used by the Attacking Vikings, Norway's national team.

https://sweetprotection.com/sp_no/snow/helmets/helmets/rooster-discesa-rs-helmet

Price on the manufacturer's website is 5,499 Norwegian krone or about $880. A more generous racer price may be available at Squires, if they have them, but for sure we will have one!

And we have three training camps from our sponsor Pratte International. The first is the signature Zermatt camp in September 2017. It includes 10 nights double occupancy accommodation (you can upgrade to single if you don't take your sweetie), nine days lifts and training, plus breakfast and excellent dinners. Regular price is $3500. And we have two more camps, which allow you the choice of either the Sun Peaks camp in November 2017 (six days lifts and training only) or the Tremblant camp in December (six nights double occupancy accommodation and five days lifts and training). Regular price is $1275 to $1375. More details here. And check out the video from Zermatt below.

More than enough to digest for now. See you on snow!

James Mathers