UPDATE AS OF 3:30 PM FRIDAY

(This part wasn't on the site when I circulated the special message Friday morning.)

Adult Tech will meet the bottom of National chair Saturday and Sunday at 9:30 am.
Fast and Female will meet at the top of National chair Saturday and Sunday at 9:30
Adult Gate training early will be Big John GS 9:00 am Saturday and Sunday and 10:45 Saturday only.
For the Adult Gates, you're expected to be in the session for which you're enrolled. There's still room for Sunday. If the early Sunday session fills up, a 10:45 Sunday session will be offered if there's a minimum of six participants.
We have had a late surge in registrations, especially among the younger and faster - even some yet to be confirmed Ryley sightings!

THINGS YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE READ

Condolences to those of you who haven't been at the Club recently. Conditions continue to be stellar. A few days of corduroy, but mostly just more and more fresh snow! The next couple of days will be on the chilly side, though "mainly sunny," but Sunday will be comparatively balmy as we break out race suits for our inaugural competition of the season. (I've never had so much interest in my Boot Gloves as in the last few days - indeed they're very effective.)

In the meantime, there's lots to think about:

While many of us believe competing in GDHL is an effective part of an anti-aging regimen, the Club's computer seems to have felt the need to contribute to the feeling by lowering almost everyone's age by one year. This has been corrected as best we can. The usual round of changes from team to individual and vice versa has also been processed.
ONLINE REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE AT NOON FRIDAY. We've had a dozen or more people sign up in the last day or so. Delighted to have you, of course. Please make sure that others experiencing similar uncertainty do it now. On Friday afternoon, you may be able to register by contacting Kylie Deacon directly. I could make it easy for you by putting in a link to her email but I'm going to make it easy for me by suggesting you find it or her phone number on the Club website. Anyone managing to enroll after that will be wearing a bib in the 120's, which will identify him or her as egregiously tardy, albeit charming and persuasive.

Calcutta

It's at 6:00 pm on Saturday in the South Lodge. This will give you time to enjoy the 60th anniversary apres, and Marlene and Julie have considerately arranged a nice storage area (my words, I'm sure it will be comfortable, entertaining and safe) for your children during the event, so bring them along if you wish. You're welcome to bring other family and friends who aren't GDHL racers, especially new members.

As soon as you arrive:

Pick up your bib
Buy a ticket for the raffle - $20 gets you chances to win one of half a dozen or so great ski racing prizes from Squires and Ron Warren Sports or bib 10 or 20 in one of our GDHL races (bibs are transferable but no racer may use more than one each season) - I haven't picked out the prizes yet - if there's something you really want to win, send me an email suggestion :)
Claim your $25 Squires gift card
Claim your personalized ski equipment stickers from last season if you haven't picked them up yet

After that:

Enjoy complimentary tastings of the wares of the Thornbury Village Cider House and Brewery
Buy drinks at the bar if you want bigger servings
Chat with Sonya Lee Reimer of Living in Balance and get a card for a free 30 minute massage - more details below
Watch the slide show provided by Lou Montana, featuring all of his great shots from last year's races - again, more details below
Listen attentively to welcoming remarks from our Chair, Marlene Jackson

And then, when you thought you couldn't possibly have more fun, Rip and Mary Riopelle will officiate at our famous live auctions, featuring:

the GDHL teams - remember that team members are entitled to buy an interest (likely either 1/16 or 1/20, depending on team sizes) in their team for that fraction of the selling price - please indicate whether you're in or out on the handy sheet as you leave the stage
one pair of Dynastar GS Masters skis and one pair of Dynastar FIS SL skis in each case with Look bindings
a Sweet Protection - "top-of-the-line and no-compromise alpine ski race helmet ... the most advanced race helmet on the market"
the signature Zermatt camp in September 2018 from our sponsor Pratte International - 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 - I've heard you may have to outbid Jeff Sutherland because he had such an awesome time this year
two more Pratte camps, which allow you the choice of either the Sun Peaks camp in November 2018 (six days lifts and training only) or the Tremblant camp in December 2018 (five nights double occupancy accommodation and five days lifts and training)

Details, Details, Details

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 31 March 2018. You will probably want to go right away, and keep returning like our esteemed immediate past Chair, but the offer will still be valid after Club Championships if you can wait that long! 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.
Lou Montana has been engaged as our official photographer this year. He will be taking pictures of three races during the season. Images will be posted online, with details to come in the newsletter. Every GDHL racer will be entitled to one free digital copy of a picture from Lou this year - if you see one you like at the Calcutta then go for it, but Lou will bring a slide show of this season's pictures to the final dinner and you can pick one then, or order online during the season.

And Ski This Weekend Too!

Nine week programs begin on Saturday and continue on Sunday
First GDHL race is GS on Big John, Sunday, with inspection at 1215 and start at 1300

See you there and everywhere there's snow!

James Mathers