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Your 2019 GDHL Wrap Up!

Congratulations on a great finish to the 2019 GDHL Race season!

The GDHL Committee had so much fun organizing the 2019 season, and we are so happy you raced with us!

Nearly two weeks ago now, we celebrated the finale of our GDHL Race season. On Saturday, March 2nd, we hosted an exciting double-header of races, followed by our annual end-of-year Banquet. During the banquet the recipients of various awards were announced, and the winners celebrated. Read on below for a full recap of the events that marked the end of our season, and a small summary of the winning teams and individuals on the season. Congratulations on a great finish to the 2019 GDHL Race season!

Now if you look right, you will find the banners for our amazing sponsors. Thank you to all of them:

  • Sutherland Insurance

  • Pratte International Ski camps

  • Squire John’s

  • Dynastar/Lange

  • Royal LePage Locations North

  • Budget Propane

A huge thank you to our coaches, the Craigleith Coyotes, the timing hut, and all of the friends and family that cheered you and us on this season!

The Double Header

On Saturday, the 2019 Craigleith Adult Club Championship races were held, in conjunction with two GDHL races. This was the first time in recent memory that both the morning GS race, and afternoon Slalom races counted towards the GDHL season, and it added to the excitement of the season.

GIANT SLALOM

The morning’s Giant Slalom was a fun and fast course, that had some challenging gates. Glenn Blaylock had an absolute smoking hot run, and came down as the early leader with a time of 36.36. His lead was soon dispatched as the lady’s group of racers took over, with Bridgettete Mingay making another podium appearance in third with a time of 36.71. In second place, Cheryl McConachie finished with a time of 36.16, and Mackenzie Irwin took top spot, finishing at 35.40 seconds.

On the men’s side, Joel Charron rode the fastest time of the day, to finish first in 32.96 seconds. Following Joel, was Alec Libert with his fourth podium finish of the season, finishing in 33.43 seconds. Ben Williams made his third appearance on the podium, with a time of 33.46.

Both the lady’s and men’s races were previews of the full season overall rankings. Bridgette, Mackenzie, Cheryl, Ben, Joel, and Alec, were all in the mix to win their overall gender titles entering the final race of the season.

SLALOM

In the afternoon, we raced Slalom on Comet which was a welcome change from the massive, long slaloms set all season long on Venture and Big John! The short course offered lots of entertainment as there were multiple jumps, and Sandy’s sense of humor definitely got the best of lots of racers.

Going into the final race on the season, both the overall men’s and women’s titles were still up for grabs.

On the men’s side, Alec won the slalom with a time of 36.48, with Joel Charron and Ben Williams finishing in second and third (36.77 and 36.86). This result wasn’t enough to assure the final overall standings, and all three racers had to wait until the banquet to learn of their victory (or defeat) for the season.

The ladies were fast on the hectic, terrain park like, slalom course. Cheryl McConachie came down with the win in a time of 38.67, and Mackenzie was right behind her at 40.07. Bridgette Mingay capped off her sensational rookie season, placing 3rd in 41.84 seconds!

As the race wound down, all athletes were reflecting the season. They knew they had a few hours to wait for all the season’s results to tally up, and for the final overall results to be announced at the banquet event.

Season’s Results, Individuals and Teams

MEN

It was a comeback season for Alec Libert. After claiming the top rank in three of his first four season’s, he was on a mission following last season’s second place finish to Joel Charron. These two gentlemen had a heck of a battle trading top spot back and forth all season long. Going into the weekend’s final races, both Joel and Alec had to overcome Ben Williams’ and Gordie Bruce. Gordie and Ben had been in the top three of the standings all season long and weren’t about to give up a podium spot without a fight.

It was with great drama that Alec took the overall title this year. One that he may remember above others as the competition was exceptional. The top three Men’s spots ended as follows:

  1. Alec Libert – 462 Points

  2. Joel Charron – 461 Points

  3. Ben Williams and Gordie Bruce – 459 Points

In the past six years, there hasn’t been such a tight race at the top. For us watching the Men’s overall standing, it was plenty of fun!

WOMEN

The women’s overall title was equally as exciting as Mackenzie Irwin and Cheryl McConachie had traded victories throughout the season. Entering the final weekend, neither were the bonafide leader and it all came down to the events of the last weekend. In the end, Cheryl’s slalom dominance was her ace, and it provided her the extra points to catapult and hold her at the top of the rankings. Brianna Machej finished off her best campaign of her GDHL campaign to round out the podium. The final overall Women’s standings finished:

  1. Cheryl McConachie – 444 Points

  2. Mackenzie Irwin – 432 Points

  3. Brianna Machej – 393 Points

TEAM

The team rankings were as near as decided entering the last weekend. It is extraordinary for a team to make up a gap of 20 points or more in the dwindling moments of the season, and it was the case that none of the top three changed any rank after the two races.

  1. Team Comet

  2. Team Cornice

  3. Team Vortex

For all results, both team and individual, click here

We had a great time celebrating all the champions of the season. Carrie Lenauskas provided a short write up on the events of the evening:

Well.... that’s a wrap folks. 

To cap off our amazing season with new events (dual slalom and mid-season party), we had a wonderful season wrap up with a hoppin’ awards dinner. If you missed it or skipped it this year, you better come next year.  It was, as the kids say, Off. The. Hook.  We had BAM, Craigleith’s resident ray of sunshine and positivity playing with fellow Juno nominated Blaze, with cameos from Craigleith’s own Nolan Dubeau, Brian Bellamy and a surprise jam session by Murray Sarafinchin (talented ski racer and man, can he ever play the guitar!).  Lost Craft Brewery joined us to share some beer with everyone and a tasty Italian, family style dinner was enjoyed by all.

We had rather messy game to start the night off with (read: feathers everywhere) and got to see some ‘dancing skills’ from some GDHL racers, coaches and consortium members.  The winner of the ‘Shake your Tailfeather game’ - Brayden Irwin. He had a big Saturday - a few golds from club champs and winning this important and slightly embarrassing game. His mom, Carol, has never been prouder.

Consortium winners also got to collect their winnings - monopoly cash. (Fear not, they also got their actual winnings). David Bellamy and Tony Chicocoppo were fanning it everywhere.

We then moved tables and started dancing.

So let’s do our awards recap....

  • Mr. Congeniality:

    • Roger Chui  (after being called up 8 times he finally came to accept his award)

  • Miss Congeniality:

    • Anne Mathers

  • Spirit Award:

    • Cynthia Waite

  • Fastest Family Award:

    • Brook and Peter Dyson

  • Skied Your Rank Award:

    • Robert Vitols (honourable mention - Jeff Sutherland)

  • Fastest Old Guy Award (aka older than 40):

    • Scott Mclorie

  • Most DNF's Award:

    • Gordie Bruce with 3 (honourable mentions: Joey Hill, Gino Gentile, Phill Ruffolo and Mackenzie Irwin all with 2)

  • The "I was pressured at the bar to sign up and had never raced a day in my life' Award:

    • Brent McKnight

Now for the actual awards:

Greg Lee Men’s Award

  1. Joey Hill

  2. Glenn Blaylock

  3. Jeff Craig

Greg Lee Women’s Award

  1. Brianna Maciej

  2. Natalie Hayworth

  3. Ali Banfield

Men Over 50

  1. Jeff Sutherland 430

  2. Dave Raymond 414

  3. Allan LaChance 410

Women Over 50

  1. Mary Riopelle 253

  2. Cynthia Waite 190

  3. Janeva Healy 174

Consortium winners were Brian Bellamy/Tony Chicocoppo and company.

If you didn’t get your award (because you weren’t there) please let us know and we will get it to you.

Don’t slack over the summer - GDHL training for the 2019/2020 season starts today.  We will be back next year with our dual slalom and mid season party and all the other great races.

Have a wonderful remainder of the ski season, spring, summer and fall and we will see you at the Calcutta soon enough!

That is all for the GDHL and the 2019 season! Onto the off season and dry land training!

Thank you!

-Doug Jarvis, on behalf of your GDHL Committee: Marlene Jackson, Trent Winstone, Julie Hughes Workman, Randy Dalton, Carrie Lenauskas, David Henderson, Greg Cavers, Jamie Coulter, and James Mathers.