There comes a time, every ski season, when we must all join forces, combine our energy, and do our snow dance. Now is that time!
We are quickly approaching Ski Season and yet the ski hills are not laden with snow, awaiting our carved turns. It is looking a bit grim out there, but maybe, just maybe a nice newsletter from the GDHL will result in positive thoughts about snowfall and wintry weather!
We are now four short weeks from the Calcutta (Saturday, January 7, 2023), and the start of the GDHL races, and only two weeks until Christmas. The next couple weeks will be busy, so it is high time to get your ducks in a row and lock in your GDHL race schedule for the 2023 season. Highlighted below is the detailed 2023 Schedule, as well as a message from our dedicated coach, Glenn Blaylock, and a refresher on race day attire.
Before you go any further though, make sure you register! Registration is still open, and we are excited to have you join us for another exceptional season of ski racing! If you have any questions about the season, please reach out to gdhl@gdhl.org.
Schedule:
The 2023 GDHL Race Schedule has been finalized and looks like this:
Sunday Jan 8th GS Big John – 1 PM
Saturday Jan 14th SL Comet – 1 PM
Saturday Jan 28th GS Comet – 1 PM
Saturday Feb 4th GS Landslide – 1 PM
Sunday Feb 12th GS Big John – 1 PM
Sunday Feb 19th DUAL Little John (Family Day Weekend)
TBD Night Slalom Little John – 5 PM
The schedule will be posted on the GDHL.org website under the heading SCHEDULE. Also, all times are subject to change, however all changes will be communicated through this email newsletter.
Just like last season, there are some incredibly fun events on our calendar! There is a dual slalom - always a big hit with athletes and spectators alike - and a night Slalom that coincides with a GDHL branded Après Ski at the Base Lodge. The GDHL committee is proud to help you intertwine your social, and sporting calendar, by hosting these events!
The view from the start gate of last year’s dual slalom
Race Attire for 2023
It has been a few seasons since the GDHL made the switch to being a NO Downhill Suit league. The initial decision was met with some tension, as change always is, but we have made great strides since. By enabling racers to jump into the racecourse, without the need to stretch a skin suit over three layers of fleece and wool, we have seen greater racer participation, and higher registration numbers. Most importantly, the competitive edge has not been lost. We will continue to run no downhill suits in the 2023 season, albeit there are always exceptions to this rule, and for this season, here are the opportunities in which you may wear a downhill suit:
Any Slalom race, you may wear a downhill suit exposed on your lower half. This is intended to enable you to wear your slalom shorts and shin guards, while you hit the gates, instead of wearing your nice Sjus ski pants. We have no intention of you ruining your nice ski pants with gate rash.
The Extended GS down Landslide. As this race does encourage some higher (but safe) speeds, the skin suits can be brought out.
Downhill suits are allowed for the Club Championship Races.
During the inaugural No Downhill Suits season, jeans were often used as stylish and speedy race attire
Coaches Corner
Bless Glenn Blaylock, because he has decided his mission is not complete with us. We begged him to return to coaching the adults in 2023, and to our surprise he agreed. Glenn’s expertise and attitude bring a great dimension to the ski hill. You will be happy you listened to him, and your results will show it too! Every so often he gives us some content to mull over and share with you, here is this week’s Coaches Corner:
We were very pleased with the strong survey results from the training programs last season. We have designed the weekend adult race training programs this year to reflect what worked well and add some new features to enhance the learning environment including video. The coaches will work with you to tailor your learning program based on your skill levels. If you are new to racing, you can expect to spend the majority of your time working on technique out of the racecourse. Those developing their skills may divide their time evenly between working on technique and skiing courses. Advanced racers will spend most of their time in courses fine tuning their abilities.
Training will also be available on Fridays both morning and afternoon. You can sign up anytime before noon the day before to give us time to arrange for the appropriate number of coaches.
Coaching Tip: Review your skiing journal and have a plan for your first turn of the first run of the new season. Start with a drill to help your mind focus on the biomechanics of good skiing. Lifting the tail of the inside ski is a good drill to start as it reinforces the importance of moving from outside ski to outside ski and moving the body forward.
The “US Ski Team: Fundamental Skills Pyramid” is a very good overview of the fundamentals of skiing. When opening the following link, scroll down to the imbedded video for an explanation and demonstration of the pyramid. (Note: The term “down hill leg” is what we refer to as the “Inside leg.}
https://www.mplsalpineski.org/technique--tactics.html
Your coaching staff are keen to help you have your best skiing and racing season ever. See you on the snow soon
-Glenn Blaylock, Head Coach, Adult Race Programs, Craigleith Ski Club
That is all for today. Make sure as you venture out for your Christmas shopping that you add in a skip, hop, and a jump to summon those snow gods… they are just waiting for our snow dance!
See you on the slopes soon!
-Doug