This weekend marks the mid-point of the nine week training programs and the fourth of seven GDHL races. As an aside, once the fourth race is posted, the database will automatically start making year end adjustments, awarding average points less 10 point penalty for missing races. Don't worry though, just get your four finishes and you'll avoid the penalties.

This week's schedule is:

SL training for Adult Gates, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the usual times.
Fast & Female and Adult Tech meet at the usual spots Saturday and Sunday at 0930
The GDHL long SL is Sunday at 1300, with inspection at 1215. Start is from the Millennium hut, running down to Venture and all the way to the Millennium finish line. Have your oxygen tanks ready!

Interclub Results

Last Saturday was the fourth and final regular season race for Interclub. Craigleith dominated the top of the standings, finishing 1, 2, 4 and 5 overall with Taylor Simms-Brown, Alec Libert, Greg Cavers and Jeff Sutherland, respectively. However, the charms of Caledon and the Forks of the Credit weren't sufficient to overcome the logistical challenges of getting a full team out, and the rest of the standings featured far fewer of our heroes than usual. In the end, the team finished about one average score short of defending the overall regular season title. The Devil's Glen / TSC / Milton Heights combine took those honours. All is not lost however, as the Finals will be held at Craigleith on 24 February and the team will be out in full force for the occasion, seeking a seventh straight title.

*Chris Fregren, Jeff Sutherland and Ian Latimer at Caledon*

Miscellanea

No one reported that the link to our new race management principles in last week's newsletter was password protected, so I assume no one looked and I'll provide them in full here:

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 (Sandy Nattress in 2018), 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.

Remember the Track 3 Race Day at Craigleith. Get the Family Day weekend off to an early start with training, racing and much more, all for a great cause. Register here.

Finally, Lindsey Vonn is rounding into form just in time for the Olympics. Watch her 81st World Cup win below.

See you at the Club!

James Mathers