Comet Slalom this weekend - with a side of Apres.

In this newsletter:

Sponsors
Comet Slalom
Mid-Season Apres at North Lodge
Race #3 Recap
Results and Standings
Adult Gate Training

Race #4 - Slalom

With the first slalom out of the way, is everyone now ready for a slightly longer (and tougher?) slalom course? Tune those skis, because we are back on Comet

Slalom race this weekend is on Comet at 12:30pm.

Inspection runs from 11:10-11:40.

Stay tuned to WhatsApp for any updates.

Full schedule can be found here.

Bundle up! It will be cold!

Apres to follow in North Lodge…

Mid-Season Apres - North Lodge

After the slalom on January 24th, join us as we make our way down Comet and into the iconic North Lodge for the mid-season après (also frequently referred to as the GDHL can’t miss event of January).

We’ve all been a victim to breakfast ending too early (in our opinion) and missing out on our morning craiger. Fear not GDHL’ers… Say goodbye to insanely early breakfast times and hello to afternoon craigers with a side of home fries, live music, great company, and maybe even a little dosey doe.

Beer and wine will be available thanks to our generous sponsors: Lost Craft and Nicholas Pearce Wines. Drink tickets will be available for GDHL racers, this is a high-performance beer league, after all.

Ryan (aka Chef Nomad) will be slinging creggys on the grill (and other light snacks will be provided).

Bring the whole crew! We will have kid-friendly activities and pizza available downstairs.

Date: Saturday January 24, 2026

Location: North Lodge

Time: 3:00pm – till we boot you out

Save the date, bring the whole dang family (or not), and come ready to throw down. Let’s celebrate our athletic accomplishments and the middle of the season in true GDHL fashion!

Kyle McAdams Music

Race #3 Recap - brought to you by Paul P.

Race #3 is in the books! For those brave racers who battled Friday afternoon traffic and a light to moderate snowstorm on the 400 so they could make it to the race on time, we salute you. Friday was a great day to be a local, snow conditions were glorious all day, gate training was available and the Bar was open so some racers like Drew Clark were able to knock back 5 or 6 “courage beers” before the race began.

In last weeks recap there was mention how this league was being dominated by the veterans but the young guns took that personally and came ready to perform on Friday night.

On the Mens side, First place overall was once again Magic Mike Welton. Members of the associated press are all in an agreement that it would be a minor miracle to see someone knock him off the top step of the podium in an any race this year.

In second place was the young Captain Jack Veer who rebounded nicely from the double DNF just a week ago. In third place was Dynamite Dylan Gust, who came down at the very end of the race to sneak into 3rd place, stealing the glory from Meg Ryley who was already prepping her hair for the podium awards ceremony.

On the highly contested Ladies side it was Meg Ryley who was first (4th overall as I mentioned above) and its pretty obvious now that her “no sex during race season” policy is back in effect this year and paying off nicely for her. In 2nd place was GDHL committee member Ciara “Red Rocket” Gaffney who laid down a fantastic time. In 3rd place was Meghan Barber-Welton who returned to the podium after missing out last week.

Honourable mentions:

Matt Brenzel, clearly the class of the famous Brenzel racing family finished 5th overall. Unfortunately his Mom Heather was in the bar and his missed his great race.

Legendary veterans Pistol Pete Valin, Brent “the animal" Addison and Scotty “smooth skin” Mclorie all cracked the top 10.

The guys who were already veterans when the above veterans were just teenagers, Greg “caveman” Cavers and Jeff “the body” Sutherland both placed easily in the Top 25.

Aidan “Ten inch” Turnbull had a great race finishing in 15th place right behind Cameron “Balls Deep” Bertouche… For the record, I have not made up a single one of these nicknames , these were all listed as official nicknames in the Craigleith roster on-line….

Redemption story:

Steve Cryer bounced back nicely after being shamed in the last newsletter. He finished almost 30 places higher than last week and over 60 places ahead of his younger, slightly less handsome brother Scott.

Family Ties:

There are some GDHL families who are blessed with a natural ability to ski and race well. We have the Bruces as a prime example but we also have the Sultmanis, Gust, Staples, Turnbull, Williams and many other families who were given a natural skiing gift from the Good Lord above. Of course as the Lord giveth, he also taketh away. The Mcbriens for example, were simply not blessed with the same God given talent as they finished in 2nd last as well as 5th last but it's still great to have Jack and Tyler racing and making their Dad “Hot rod” Rodney proud.. ish.

MIA:

Has anyone seen disease free Duff Isberg?! Every week fans are lined up on the side of the race course anticipating his return to action but no one has seen him yet this year..

Injury Update:

Stompin Tom Murdison went down with a lower body injury during last Sunday mornings yoga session in the upper loft but after missing one race, he is hoping to be back for this weekends slalom on Comet.

CTV Stayner has picked up the story on the inappropriate injury suffered by Gordie Bruce 2 weeks ago. They are saying he is “likely to be back” for this weekend which is good news for him… and of course Tenyka as well.

Update on Dreamy Mike:

After last weeks newsletter went to press, there has been a lot of talk and fascination over new racer Mike Babcock. Amy Pandori has officially started calling him “Dreamy Mike” so our safest skier will go by that handle from now on. Dreamy Mike did go out and buy new GS and Slalom skis so we’ll see how that helps going forward. I have a feeling it may take more than new skis to get Dreamy away from having his own section at the bottom of this newsletter but we shall see. I know there is no one cheering harder than his wife Justine who is praying Dreamy improves enough to get out of the basement where she will then return to watch without being too embarrassed.

See you all this Saturday on Comet!

Results and Standings

Updated results and standings can be found here.

Adult Gate Training - from Rick Greaves

Hi everyone!

Here's the update for training this weekend January 23-25. All sessions will be SL so be sure to have your SL skis, pole guards, shin guards & face guard.

Please meet the coaches at the top of the training course at 9:30 each day for a sideslip & inspection. (12:30 for Fridays PM session)

Friday Jan 23rd SL

Hill - Zipper (middle)

AM 9:30-11-30 PM 12:30-2:30

Saturday Jan 24th

Hill-Birches (skiers left below the crossover)

AM 9:30-11:30

Sunday Jan25th

Hill -Birches (skiers left below the crossover)

AM 9:30-11:30

Please remember that you must register for the Friday program by midnight Wednesday to participate and that the Saturday and Sunday adult training are 9 week programs and available to only those who are signed up.

Good luck at the GDHL SL race Saturday afternoon on Comet...Rick