The Calcutta and Race #1 are complete! Nerves have been shaken off and we are into the season.

In This Newsletter:

Race #2 and upcoming race details
Sponsors
GDHL Mugs
Calcutta Info
Race Recap
Results Page
Interclub Information
WhatsApp Group
Adult Race Training

Race #2 - GS on Comet - 12:30pm (Races #3 and #4 not far behind!)

Our second race of the season is another Giant Slalom, this time on Comet. Inspection will once again be from 11:45am to 12:15pm, with first run starting at 12:30pm. Stay tuned to the WhatsApp group for any updates.

Race #3 is the first Night Race on ‘Lil John, Friday at 6pm. This has turned into one of our favourite events of the season. Lights will be on, bar will be open, fans will be screaming, and your Slalom season will just be starting!

Race #4 is the next day - Saturday January 18th at 12:30pm. Giant Slalom on Comet.

GDHL Mugs

If you did not pick up your mug on Saturday, shoot us an email at gdhl@gdhl.org, and we will arrange times for pickup this weekend or next. In your email, please include your team name.

Mugs WILL NOT be available at the race office.

Mugs are available for all racers, whether on a team or racing individually.

Calcutta Info

Saturday night saw our annual Calcutta in full effect! Teams were bought, beer lineups started out long, sound systems were pushed to their breaking point, and good times were had by all. Special thanks to Paul, Rip, and Mary for taking us through the live auction, and to all of our volunteers for helping get everyone registered and taken care of.

Many racers have confirmed their buy back intentions. If you were not in attendance OR were undecided on the team buy back (4 or 2%), you have until mid-night Friday Jan 10th to decide (or change your mind). Please email cmknightrider@hotmail.com

For everyone involved, either as a successful bidder, consortium or racer buy back, funds will be managed through member charge in the month of January.

Lastly, if you are unclear on how the Calcutta or points process works, please check out GDHL.org OR just flag down your friendly neighbour committee member at the bar on Saturday.

Team listings will be available on the results page once it is updated for 2025.

Bibs #10 and #20

Bibs 10 and 20 were auctioned off on Saturday night. All proceeds from these bib auctions will be going to Track 3 and Craigleith Cares. A reminder that bibs can be used for yourself or any other racer that you wish.

Jan 11th: Bib 10 Brent Robbins, Bib 20 Ed Barnicke

Jan 17th : Bib 10 Brent Addison, Bib 20 Brent Addison

Jan 18th: Bib 10 Fraser Bruce, Bib 20 Nick Rockandel

Feb 2nd: Bib 10 Geoff Bertram, Bib 20 Ed Barnicke

Feb 8th: Bib 10 Fraser Bruce, Bib 20 Nick Rockandel

Feb 16th: Bib 10 Polubiec, Bib 20 Ed Barnicke

Race Recap, from the desk of Paul P.

Sunday’s Giant Slalom was the highly anticipated 1st race in the biggest adult race league in North America. With over 150 racers competing, many of them for the first time, the nervous tension in the air was so thick, racers had to factor it in when they were calculating their speed on the course. There was a big crowd on hand and race organizers are already trying to figure out how to handle the even bigger crowd expected to be in attendance during the Super G when Griffin Copp’s physique will be on display as he walks around in a tight race suit all afternoon. Perhaps they will need to add GDHL grandstands to the base Lodge expansion plan, who knows!!

Getting over 150 racers down a course is no easy task and although some racers will say the course was bumpier than the clubs relationship with Peasemarsh catering , I think overall, the course held up quite well. We were able to provide a 2nd run for those who wanted it and that should be the expectation for all races going forward.

Big B Benny Williams (who is turning into a legend of Craigleith GDHL) had a lot to prove as his controversial pre season ranking has him sitting in 4th overall to start the year. He laid down an incredible first run, good for 1st overall and just under 31 seconds which the ladies will be talking about in the bar for weeks to come.

Griffin Copp took advantage of his 2nd run, jumping ahead 1 spot into 2nd place which bumped Magic Mike Welton down to the 3rd step on the podium.

Gorgeous Gordie Bruce came in 4th place which is no surprise although members of the Gordie Bruce fan club will remember fondly how he won this first race of the season last year.

It’s hard to tell who has felt more pressure the last few days, Justin Trudeau or Scott Barrett. For those who aren’t aware, Scott was a former National Team member and Vidal Sassoon Hair model who was at one time one of the top 50 GS racers in the world. With his account several years in arrears at Osler we were happy to take him in and welcomed him with open arms into the Craigleith GDHL. There was a lot of debate as to where to rank Scott, his long johns for example are older than most of the top racers in the field, but in the end his 2nd overall ranking was a good choice and Scott finished an impressive 5th in his first race on the biggest stage in Adult beer league racing.

Meg Ryley finished 7th overall and first for the ladies as it appears her “no sex during race season” policy is still in effect and paying off again this year. She finished ahead of Cheryl McConachie who was 2nd place, and Madison Staples took home 3rd place in the ladies category.

Honourable mentions:

Slippery Pete Valin finished an impressive 8th overall which surprised a lot of people especially the pre season rankers who had him ranked quite a bit lower.

In the Sr division aka the “viagra division” Jeff Sutherland snuck by Greg Cavers as both studs showed they have still got it and easily finished inside the top 20.

Al Lachance completely dominated the Super Sr division finishing in the top 30 and once again ahead of GDHL President Brook Dyson.

Debbie Gust coming down in bib #1 made the Gust name proud as she finished with an electric time of 41.25, just ahead of the 9 time defending Japanese racer of the year, Ray “the missile” Murakami.

Eddie “the eagle” Barnicke proved a 3 hour sauna the night before a race is not a bad thing as he laid down a great time and took down his sister in law Carrie Lenauskas in race #1. This will once again be a hot rivalry to keep an eye on this season.

Dave “the rocket” Robinson skied so well, he is now almost too fast to be made fun of and has distanced himself from the last place racers where he spent most his time in seasons past. Nicely done Dave.

Less than honourable mentions:

Shelley Spivak had a tough week, losing to Paul Peterson by .87 seconds and it’s almost certain she will adopt Meg Ryleys “no sex” policy to ensure she is fully ready to go on all future race days.

For the 3rd consecutive year, in the first race, at around roughly the same gate, Brent Addison lost a ski and was forced to “abandonee” the race. He left the course and went immediately to Squire Johns so he’s expected to be back in fine form, with $4000 worth of equipment for next week.

Gareth Imrie will have to ask his ski technician for a refund as he clearly had a bad tune, finishing well behind his sister in law Lauren Howe who was racing in her first ever race (and basically just learned to ski).

It was impressive skiing by Lauren and all the newcomers as that was not an easy course to come down for your first ever race.

Congrats to all racers on a great first race!

Results Page

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Stay tuned for an update to the results page at www.gdhl.org/results

Interclub Racing 2025

Interested in taking your skills on the road?! The Interclub Racing Circuit features 8 local clubs battling it out over 5 different 'team' events held at various locations on the escarpment. The first race will be at Craigleith this Saturday morning prior to the GDHL event on Comet. Check out www.interclubski.org for additional details or contact Sue (raceadmin@craigleith.com) or Taylor (tsimmsbrown@jascor-intl.com) to be added to the email bulletin.

Remember to sign up for our WhatsApp group, for up-to-date information about race schedules and locations.

https://chat.whatsapp.com/BXdFxZHpmei9s1mADs02Hc

Message from Glenn Blaylock, Head Coach, Adult Race Programs

We will be training a Giant Slalom this Friday, January 10

Time: 9:30 to 11:30 am / 1:00 to 3:00 pm

Hill: Comet (Check the White Board at National Chair to Confirm).

Equipment: GS Skis, Hard Shell Helmet and Forearm guards.

Coaches: Glenn Blaylock, Al LaChance, Eugene Jacta

Coach’s Tips:

When skiing wider arced turns typical of Giant Slalom, it's important to stack the body over the outside ski. Additionally, there will be a moment when your body faces the next turn. View the following two modules from the Alpine Race Method to learn more:

Stack, Separate and Press: https://alpineracemethod.com/stack-separate-and-press

Giant Slalom: https://alpineracemethod.com/giant-slalom-1

Thank you for slipping the course and helping the coaches remove the race gates at the end of the training session.

Ski with Purpose Glenn