Good Morning Fellow GDHL’ers. Race season is nigh, and it is time for you to register! The registration cut off for this year is December 1st, so if you have not registered yet, get to it. With registration comes the excitement of the new ski season, which we have all been patiently awaiting. As you can imagine there are many moving targets for the GDHL committee to work through, but there is news worth sharing. The adult gate training details are out and available below, as well as some preliminary race scheduling. The social calendar is a work in progress, however the committee has committed to making sure that the fun this year happens in the gates and at the apres! And Canada only hosts one stop on the World Cup tour, Lake Louise, which is happening this weekend and next.
Registration:
We have a record number of registrants for this early in the season! With the deadline looming, (next Wednesday, December 1), make sure you get to it. We are specifically calling out those under the age of 35. In the past our group of youthful racers has been plentiful, and we expect nothing different this year. If you have any questions about registration, please email gdhl@gdhl.org.
Training:
This year we have a new Head Coach of Adult Race Training, Glenn Blaylock. Many of us have had the fortune of befriending Glenn as he has skied with us and against us in the gates, often beating us. Now he starts a new challenge of attempting to make you go faster. Just remember, if you ski better this year, it is credit to your offseason-conditioning but, if you ski worse, it is Glenn’s fault. All joking aside, we are very excited to have Glenn coaching us this season! The entire season adult Gate Training Schedule is available both on the Craigleith website and on the GDHL page under the training header.
Race Schedule:
The race schedule will soon be broadcasted to all club programs, and the GDHL cannot circumvent (though the committee tried) the process of calendarizing the events. When we have the schedule locked in place, we will communicate it to all of you. We are *hoping* to host a race on Sunday, January 2nd, before the Calcutta event. This race would be a warm up to help everyone shake off the rust of taking an entire race season off, so if you are in Collingwood for New Years Eve weekend, make sure to mark your calendar for a fun way to start the race season!
Social Calendar:
Of all things that the GDHL committee is looking after, this has the most moving parts. We are working within the rules and regulations of Grey County, and recognize people have different comfort levels with social situations. With all of this in mind, we are aiming to host the Calcutta on January 8th. What the Calcutta looks like is to be determined.
Fantasy racing:
Two years ago we launched our inaugural year of the Fantasy GDHL Racing, where participants could buy into a pool to submit a fantasy team of racers for the chance at the grand prize. It was Paul Peterson, Trevor Jackson, and Anthony Ruffalo who finished in the 1,2,3 spots two years ago. We are excited to bring it back to you, for an awesome opportunity to follow along with the races, and win some money. Who knows, maybe your fantasy GDHL will take home top spot this year?
Lake Louise Races:
This coming weekend the events at Lake Louise begin. Starting Friday, the men will race the first of two downhill races, the second on Saturday, and then on Sunday is the Super G. The women’s schedule mirrors this, but begins next Friday, December 3rd. This is a great opportunity to watch ski racers at a normal time (not 5 am in the morning), and at a familiar mountain to many. Both races will be available through CBC.
That is all for now. It is information overload until the season starts, which we are all eagerly awaiting.
Keep your tips up,
-Doug