GDHL News

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The Arrow of Time is a Cruel Mistress

As days go by, and sunsets come earlier, there are signs all around that winter is nearing. Halloween is next weekend, and then we are in November. Before you know it, Christmas music will be playing, the snow will be on the ground and we will all be itching to get on the slopes to carve some turns.

All of this sounds great! There are few things sweeter than the first carved turns of the ski season, but the arrow of time will be there to remind you that it moves only in one direction. Embarking on a new ski season will surely remind us that we are older now than we were last ski season, and a lot older than we were two ski seasons ago. The athlete within us has recognized the benefit of espom salt baths, and rest days, yoga and stretching every morning. This is because, in fact none of us are getting any younger.

Even though your most youthful days may be behind you, it does not mean you cannot enjoy yourself now. As we approach the ski season, make sure you take time to plan some fun. A ski trip, some extra spending money to be used bar-side in the Base Lodge, or an easy option is to sign up with the GDHL! The Going Down Hill League is excited to offer programming to all individuals regardless of where you are on the continuum of the ski racing prowess. More on registration details below.

Lastly, if you are on the fence about coming back to the GDHL or signing up for your first season we understand. As stated above, the arrow of time is cruel, it slows us all down, makes us ache in the morning, and get a headache after one glass of wine, you are not alone. But please realize, that after all that we have all been through, the community and the competition might be exactly what we all need. So, in the words of the late, great, Warren Miller “If you don’t do it this year, you’ll be one year older when you do”.

Registration:

If the above advertisement did not persuade you to register for the GDHL then maybe the early bird discount will! You will find registration for the GDHL in the same location as all other alpine programs, on the Craigleith under the “Register Button”. All eager beavers can be rewarded with almost 17% savings for signing up before November 15th!

The pricing for skiing this year is as follows:

Early Bird - Before November 15th, 2021

  • $200 + $26 HST

  • Member Under 35: $79 + $10.27 HST

After November 15th, 2021

  • $240 + $31.20 HST

  • Member Under 35: $95 + $12.35 HST

Distractions

For those of you keeping a close eye on this newsletter, rest assured that during the season it will arrive weekly in your email at the regular, 5 am (ET) Thursday time.

Are you keen on catching up with your Warren Miller films? Great! We are lucky enough to be able to find anything we want to watch on the internet, and this 2005 edition of Warren Miller’s ski film legacy features the late Shane McConkey, the late Sarah Burke (Canadian from Barrie, Ontario), and Seth Morrison. Take a watch here:

If you grew up skiing in an era that promoted freestyle hair, over freestyle skis, or enjoying cigarettes on the chair lift was normal, take a look at this 1983 special, Snowonder! – Editors note, this is damn near brilliance and worth a watch regardless of your age.

Obviously watching these on your dinky laptop screen pales in comparison to the event and occasion of venturing downtown Toronto to the Hummingbird Centre for the Canadian debut of these films, but these movies are still loaded with entertainment value!

National Alpine Team

Before you go, the Canadian National Ski team was announced this week and the members below. These are the skiers that will compete in the regular world cup starts under the Alpine Canada banner, but there will be another list of athletes that qualify for the Olympic games happening at the beginning of February 2022. You may notice a name or two missing from this list, but that does not mean those athletes cannot participate for the Olympics representing the Maple Leaf

  • Ali Nullmeyer (Toronto, Ont./Georgian Peaks Ski Club) 

  • Amelia Smart (Invermere, B.C./Panorama Ski Club) 

  • Asher Jordan (North Vancouver, B.C./ Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 

  • Britt Richardson (Canmore, Alta/Calgary Alpine Racing Club)

  • Broderick Thompson (Whistler, B.C./Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 

  • Brodie Seger (North Vancouver, B.C./Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 

  • Cameron Alexander (North Vancouver, B.C./Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 

  • Cassidy Gray (Panorama, B.C./Team Panorama Ski Club)

  • Erik Read (Canmore, Alta./Banff Alpine Racers) 

  • Erin Mielzynski (Collingwood, Ont./Georgian Peaks Ski Club) 

  • Jack (James) Crawford (Toronto, Ont./Georgian Peaks Ski Club & Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 

  • Jeffrey Read (Canmore, Alta./Banff Alpine Racers) 

  • Kyle Alexander (North Vancouver, B.C./Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 

  • Laurence St-Germain (St. Ferréol-les-Neiges, Que./Club de ski Mont-Ste-Anne) 

  • Liam Wallace (Calgary, Alta./Sunshine Alpine Racers)

  • Marie-Michèle Gagnon (Lac-Etchemin, Que./Mont Orignal) 

  • Riley Seger (North Vancouver, B.C./Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 

  • Roni Remme (Collingwood, Ont./Alpine Ski Club) 

  • Sam Mulligan (Vancouver, B.C. /Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club) 

  • Trevor Philp (Calgary, Alta./Banff Alpine Racers) 

  • Valérie Grenier (Mont-Tremblant, Que./Club de ski Mont-Tremblant) 

That is all for now. There may not be another newsletter before the early bird registration discount expires, so make sure you sign up ASAP. Enjoy the content and be safe. The entire GDHL committee is excited to see you this winter!

-Doug Jarvis