Unfortunately the snow may be a bit less than crisp this weekend, but it's time to bear down and make a big finish on several fronts. Here are the opportunities in sight:

Schedule

No GDHL race this weekend, but the Interclub finals are on Saturday afternoon - GS on Big John - Craigleith seeks a record-tying sixth straight victory.
Unfortunately details of training haven't yet reached me. As it's men's day at the Club Friday, best check with Laurel about training possibilities if you seek a more contemplative environment. Saturday and Sunday programs will run at the usual times. Watch for Natalie's newsletter to get details.
Club championship races are a week Saturday - one run GS in the morning on Big John and SL in the afternoon on Comet. The SL will also be our final GDHL race, and will offer a second run for GDHL racers only. GDHL racers and all other participants in race training programs are automatically registered for the Club champs. Others should sign up on the lists near the race office.
The final GDHL dinner is also a week Saturday. Details below.
The Nik Zoricic Foundation's annual Ski4Nik race and after party will be held at the Club on Saturday 11 March. This year features the traditional endurance race from dawn until noon and dual slalom after lunch. Details and registration here.
The Peaks Super G and the Provincial Masters races will be held at the Peaks on Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10 - 12 March. Details here.

Results

Another challenging day for surface preparation Sunday on Big John. As it turned out, about 95% of the surface was in great shape, but the rest featured crevasses and craters. As has become customary, Alec and Phil fought it out for first. Phil had the upper hand after run 1 for a change, but Alec took the second run convincingly in the fastest time of the day. Scott McLorie, Keith Farnand and Andrew Athey followed. Richard Usher-Jones took advantage of bib 20 to record a career-best 6th, while Stephen Kurtz was 7th and Max Rosenfeld was 9th, all with jumps from 20-something rankings. David Henderson continued to show a steep learning curve in his inaugural competitive season. David professes never to have raced before this year, which he convincingly demonstrated in his first slalom training session, by enthusiastically cross-blocking gates that had been upended for removal. Sunday he reached 14th place, just edging out Rob Burnes, who was followed Brook Dyson, Glenn Blaylock, Jerry Patten and Brad McMullen among the bigger gainers in the upper middle class. Alison Banfield, Kate Veer and Sarah Latimer were the first three women, separately by only 0.03 seconds in 31st through 33rd overall. Duncan McEachran, Brad Sproule, Josh Kester, Roger Chiu, Steve Gailits, Janeva Healey, Dave MacDonald and Heather Andrew were among the other standout improvers. Times for the forerunners were #1 - 36.00, #2 - 35.94, #3 - 35.72, #4 - 37.18 and #5 - 35.60. Not sure who was whom, but all pretty quick and I'm informed that at least one of them kept his Cool and soundly trounced his proud father.

*David Henderson, in his newly acquired race suit, is a leading candidate for rookie of the year and the Squire John's award for retail enthusiasm.*

Lou Montana has kindly provided an even bigger album of photos from the GS. Find them here. Samples below:

*Phil led the first run, but is still seeking his first GDHL victory.*

*Sarah was a few hundies away from the women's lead on Sunday, but is still in first place overall.*

*Meanwhile, it's been a busy season for Sandy and the slippers!*

If you didn't return your bib at the end of Sunday's race, please drop it off in the race office as soon as you can. The snappy name stickers for your equipment have already arrived, but will be held back from those who haven't turned in their bibs.

An Evening With the GDHL

Our final social event of the season takes place at 7:30 pm on Saturday, 4 March in the Base Lodge. Tickets are $35 each (this reflects a bit of a subsidy from your committee) or $25 each for those 35 and under. Attendance isn't limited to GDHL racers - all those looking for an elegant evening in sophisticated company are welcome. The price includes a cocktail on arrival, appetizers and dinner, with live music. If all goes according to plan, the final scoring for the season will be done live too. Alec and Phil have clinched the top two spots in the men's overall, but Keith Farnand, Scott McLorie and Duff Isberg all have a shot at third place. On the women's side, Sarah Latimer leads Alison Banfield, with Kate Veer in third. Kate, however, is presently counting a 53rd place finish and if she can come close to duplicating her 14th place finish in SL on Comet from earlier this year, Sarah will need more than her consistent 30ish finish to hold Kate off. On the team side, Cornice has only a 20 point lead, but could add to it with better attendance and there are four teams within 42 points of third place money.

Tickets are available through the member's section of the Club website, if not now then very soon, or through the front desk at the Club. Please book pronto, as we will have to close off sales before the day of, to ensure that the caterer has time to organize.

See you Saturday - go Craigleith!

James Mathers