It is nights like last Friday that make the Craigleith GDHL season so fun! As the GDHL committee we are so lucky have an amazing community of skiers and racers that participate with enthusiasm and energy. Thank you for being a part of the Friday Night Lights fun!
For weeks we have been pining for snow to fall and it seems our snow dances have been answered once again. This dump is surely nothing compared to the big snowfalls of lore, but it should get us all excited for another great weekend of skiing. It will also give those super powerful snow guns a rest, which will be greatly appreciated. Read on below for more about what we have planned this weekend, the schedule going forward, a recap of last Friday Night and, of course, your coaching tips of the week.
LAST CALL:
GTHS Ski for Pets 2023:
↑ Click above to register! ↑
This year our friends at Sutherland Insurance are presenting a new fundraiser at Craigleith which will benefit the Georgian Triangle Humane Society. Get your tickets now before they sell out!
Happening on Thursday, February 2nd, at our Club. Tickets are $150 for visitors and $75 for Craigleith members and promise to deliver fantastic enjoyment all for a great cause!
This is Proudly sponsored Royal Canin, Aspen & Ivey Interiors, L. Patten & Sons, Thornbury Laser Clinic, Chris Fregren, and Byron Darlison
THIS WEEKEND:
Saturday afternoon at 1 pm we will be racing down Comet for our second GS race of the season. Expect inspection to open at 12 15 and to close at 12 45. The Après Ski, though not mandatory this time around, will be a great spot to congregate afterwards to rehash individual victories and plights from the day.
Bib Draw:
Trivia Time! The first two people to reply to this email, gdhl@gdhl.org, with the correct answer to the question below, will win the 10 and 20 bibs for Saturday’s race:
Q: How did Comet – the ski hill – get it’s name?
SCHEDULE CHANGE:
The next weekend’s race (February 4) is our famed speedy GS, (aka Super G). Over the years it has been skied down many hills, and most recently down The Edge (no relation to U2), over the top of Landslide, finishing at the bottom of the hill near the Track 3 Center. Before this, it was run from the top of the Funnel Chair, down The Cruiser, across the top of the Comet Chair flats to The Bowie, finishing at the bottom of Comet. Before that, it was run down Partridge, and before that was the dark ages, and we have no accurate records.
Next weekend, we are reliving that history! Like Steve Podborski returning to the Hahnenkamm, it will be a show for the ages, watching famed skiers of yesteryear returning to the hallowed grounds of National, our ski hill dedicated to the exceptional athletes of the National Ski and Para-Ski teams.
Also, as always, pop over to https://gdhl.org/schedule for the most up to date details.
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday March 4th, is our GDHL End of Year Banquet. It is an event you cannot miss! More details to come.
NIGHT MOVES:
Last week enough of you clicked on the soundtrack link provided to inspire another audio accompaniment, this time… Night Moves!
Dax Cavers thriving under the lights! Photo Credit Robert Vitols @robertvitols
Under those bright lights, we all enjoyed a fun, fast, and challenging course. There were some stellar performances, as skiers launched out of the start gate, shooting for the moon. And when the night was finished, we had 80 finishers! Eighty finishers is amazing! The full results are here: https://gdhl.results.mectiming.org/
We are working on getting them embedded to our main site, but in the meantime save that link in your favorites.
All of the fun could not have been had if it were not for the hard work of volunteers on the hill. A huge thank you goes out to:
Steve Millgram
Dave Campbell
John Atkinson
Laura, Jamie Schwalm, and Martin in the booth
Chris Shipton
Chief Slipping Officer - Mike DeAngelis
Dave Campbell and John Atkinson at the top of the race
Of course, the GDHL committee can do everything to put on race, but it takes you to make it fantastic! Each of you did that! Many heeded the advice provided here, to find clear lenses for their goggles to race under the lights. Those that did not were heard murmuring during après about their lack of vision. And talking about Après, what a time was had after the race! Having the bar full (but not over full) of people you know and congratulating fellow racers on their runs really tied the bow on the evening.
Winners
Kyle Farrow skiing to his 2nd place finish. Photo Credit Robert Vitols @robertvitols
The course was set for speed which made for a very competitive group at the top of the podium for both genders. On the Men’s side Mike Welton won his third race in a row with a time of 20.25, he was followed by Kyle Farrow who nearly broke into the 20 seconds, with a best time of 21.01; and Gordie Bruce made his second appearance on the podium scoring a 21.07. All three of these gentlemen will be in the running for the overall medals come the end of the season.
Katie Farrow en route to her first win of the season! Photo Credit Robert Vitols @robertvitols
Katie Farrow won her first race of the year on the Women’s side, with a time of 22.35. Devon Clarke made her GDHL debut, and secured second place with a time of 23.25. And Meghan Barber made her first appearance on the podium this year, finishing in third with a time of 23.75. There is very little separating the ladies this year and the overall podium race is getting tighter by the week!
Meghan Barber skiing to her 3rd place finish. Photo Credit Robert Vitols @robertvitols
Those Making Night Moves
Brent Addison turned back a clock and laid down two heater laps, finishing with a best time of 22.93, good for 8th overall! While Kate Veer must have used the right wax, because she came 20th overall, 5th among women, skiing to a lightning quick 24.40 first run. Sean Webster seems to have found his skiing legs, as his fast lap in his Levi’s jeans locked him into his season’s best 6th overall, with a time of 22.51.
Brent Addison making his night moves! Photo Credit Robert Vitols @robertvitols
Fantastic Finishes
The heroics were seen from racers on all ends of the spectrum on Friday night, and many onlookers were left stunned when new ski racers cranked up the intensity under the lights. Andrea McLorie chased her husband (Scott) with a fantastic first run time of 31.66, good for 64th. Jason Turnpenny was ready for the challenge too, as he skied himself to the 35th overall spot with a best time of 26.23. While Jake Sheehan made up for a first run mishap, by laying down a 26.90 second run time, good for 38th overall.
Scott and Andrea McLorie setting a high standard for husband/wife racers!
Returning to Form
Ski racing is not all glory! Many of us have had a long road back after a fun offseason, or a few offseasons because of kids, jobs… life. Jonathan Price is making his comeback known! He scored a 25.13 first run making him the 26th fastest on the day. And Roger Chiu, after being on vacation for the first two races returned with a vengeance, with a 29.84 second run time, and he even shook off a first run DNF.
The Rivalries
This year’s rivalries are plentiful, however one sticks out among the rest, as they have a name for their competition, the Tequila Aficionados. This include Shelly Spivak, Meghan Robinson, Lauren Liberty, and Carlin Billington. Well last week Shelly took the crown, beating the rest. One would imagine that she was buying the rounds at après!
How to Stay Humble
At the end of the first run, the GDHL committee invited anyone with a Craigleith badge to give the course a run through. This effort is to invite more people to this great community and to support those who are curious about the racing programs. This went exceptionally well, with about 15 racers taking the opportunity to race, including ex-National Team Member, Phil Brown. Phil’s time was a 20.05, humbling many of us, as he casually crossed the finish line in nearly under 20 seconds. It is always fun to watch the pros do it!
Coaches Corner:
Drop In Friday Training, January 27, 9:30 am and 12:30 pm: Giant Slalom. Register On-Line by Thursday. Hill: TBD. Check the message board at the bottom of the National Chair. Thank you for slipping the hill after your last run through the course.
Coaches Tip from Glenn Blaylock, Craigleith Head Coach, Adult Race Programs
Coaches Tip: The Line
Where we ski through a racecourse; called “The Line”, is as important as how we ski through a course. Here are three lines to consider.
The “Wide Line” is the direction we strive 90% of the time where most of the work is done above the gate allowing the racer to complete the turn as they pass the gate. This line applies to all disciplines including Slalom, GC and Downhill. Refer to the following video for an explanation of why the Wide Line is faster and safer. (Note the “Wide Line” is often referred to as the “High Line”).
Watch Mikaela Shiffrin ski the Wide Line in the following GS race where she won the overall 2021/22 Crystal Globe. Focus on how she tips her skis on edge well above the gate. This allows her to apply pressure on her new outside ski early in the turn causing the ski to accelerate down the fall line completing the arc as she passes the gate. Her outside leg is stacked with no pinching inward of her knee and her shins are parallel. You are watching the technique of the skier who will soon be the greatest racer of all time.
Another line is the “Aggressive Line” which is more direct to the next gate. This line is faster where there is less off-set between gates on hills not as steep. While the body will be close to the gate, the skis are still away from the gate so the outside ski can have Edge Angle. Caution – your ability will determine how direct your line can be. Without practise the Aggressive Line will cause you to be late for the next gates.
A third line is the “Recovery Line” which is often referred to as the “Late Line”. The “Recovery Line” is a better description as it allows the racer to develop a strategy when training and free skiing for recovering when they find themselves in a non optimal location in a course. Instead of saying “Oh no, I’m late!” and then think of how they will react, the racer will immediately perform their preferred “recovery action” which could include an Ankle Flexion, Pivot Turn or Pole Plant in the direction of the next gate. A race is often won by the racer who recovers the quickest rather than those striving for a perfect clean run.
Have a safe commute today, and tomorrow! This snow is great for racing, not always the best for driving. See you on the hill on Saturday afternoon!
-Doug