GDHL News

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Welcome to the 2024 Season!

In this newsletter:

  • Welcome rookies and veterans!

  • Registration

  • Race Schedule

  • Warm Up Race

  • Calcutta - Saturday January 6th at 4:30pm

  • GDHL League Scoring

Welcome to the 2024 GDHL Season!

Welcome back to the biggest adult racing league on the escarpment! We are excited to welcome you back to the 2024 season, with our first race on Sunday January 7th.

To our new racers - congratulations on joining one of Craigleith’s oldest member-run traditions.

To some of you, this may be the first GDHL Thursday Newsletter that you have received. For others, this is the only reason you open your email on Thursday mornings in the winter. The weekly newsletter brings you race recaps, scheduling updates, and notes on what’s happening around the GHDL.

For past newsletters, info about the GDHL, results, and more; take a look at www.gdhl.org.


REGISTRATION IS CLOSED

We have had record registration this year! Unfortunately this means we have had to cap the number of racers. There is a waitlist available at the Alpine Programs Registration page on the Craigleith website, and we will be adding racers from there if possible. If you would still like to race, please add your name to that waitlist.

2024 Race Schedule

Thursday Dec 28th – Warm Up Race – GS Big John - 10:00am

Sat Jan 6th – Calcutta in Depot – 4:30pm

Sun Jan 7th – GS Big John - 1pm

Sat Jan 13th – GS Comet - 1pm

Fri Jan 19th – SL Little John - 6pm (night race)

Sat Jan 20th – GS Comet - 1pm

Sun Feb 4th – Super G National – 1pm

Sat Feb 10th – SL Little John – 1pm

Sun Feb 18th – Dual SL Little John – 1pm (long weekend)

Sat Mar 2th – End Of Season Event - evening

Feel free to put these seven races in your calendars. Your GDHL committee has worked hard with the club to schedule seven races throughout the season. Note: All of these could be subject to change due to conditions or weather concerns.

All seven of these races will count for points. More on that below.


NEW THIS YEAR - Warm Up Race (aka Time Trials)

We are running an extra race this year to assist with our initial racer rankings, and to give you some additional warm up!

If you are new to the GDHL, please schedule time to drop by the GS course that will be set on Big John from 10:00am to 11:30am. There will be no start list, so please line up at the start hut. There will be no bibs, just give the starter or GDHL Committee member your name and badge number.

If you are returning to the GDHL, feel free to also come and drop by the GS course for a warm up run or two.

No need to take off your jacket (but you can). We want to get a sense of where everyone fits.


Calcutta

Saturday January 6th at 4:30pm in The Depot

Join us for our traditional opening event of the GDHL season. All racers and friends are welcome! There will be a cash bar, some snacks, beverage tastings, and more. This is not a ticketed event, and all are welcome to join us in the new Depot!

Racers will be able to pick up bibs at the event. (Your start number for the season). Unlike a downhill suit, you’ll need it for Sunday’s race!


Never been to the Calcutta? You’re in for a treat!

The Calcutta is a live auction (Thanks Rip!) where each GDHL team is auctioned off to the highest bidder in the crowd. Anyone (or a consortium) can bid for any team. All of the proceeds are collected via member charge, with the total amount being split at the end of the season among the owners of the top three finishing teams, with a small portion used to offset league costs.

Each team is allowed to buy-back half of the value of their team, if they so choose. If you don’t feel like buying back, you are not obligated to. Those that choose to buy-back are charged accordingly.

All of this goes REALLY fast. It’s exciting and sometimes confusing, but you’re going to love it!

If you are looking to bid, either alone or as part of a group, let us know at gdhl@gdhl.org. It’s not mandatory, but it helps us prepare.

League Scoring:

  • The winner of each race receives the most points. Second place receives second most. And so on.

  • A racer can score points in each of the seven races.

  • A racer’s season total is the sum of their best four races.

  • Team totals are the sum of each teammate’s best four races.

  • New this year - no calculation will be applied to those that do not complete four races. (If you only complete three, you score is the sum of those three races). Attendance matters.

If you have any concerns, please find a GDHL Committee Member.


Looking forward to a great season!

Your GDHL Committee for 2024:

  • Brook Dyson

  • Chris Knight

  • Michael DeAngelis

  • Meg Ryley

  • Richard Usher-Jones

  • Peter Dyson

  • Carrie Lenauskas

  • Paul Peterson