Page 39 - ESCARPMENT MAGAZINE | Winter 2013
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39
Winter 2013
Escarpment Magazine
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To win the finals, you need to know where your team is both strong and
weak and you must understand how this applies to the other 4 teams.
You need to build up participation in an age category where you believe
you have the fastest racer, and limit participation in age groups where
you feel your competition does. Winning requires a combination of earn-
ing the most points in key age groups as well as limiting the points your
competitors can earn. You must have the discipline to replace fast racers
in some categories for racers that can produce better results in different
age categories. To be able to execute this, you need to have the entire
team buy into the system or it will be tough to draw strong participation
in the following years.
Craigleith has always taken a team approach through the regular sea-
son, which allows each racer the opportunity to participate in two races.
This was designed to increase participation in hopes of finding new ath-
letes and also to lessen the pressure on individuals to participate in all 5
races. Two race starts are required in order to qualify for the finals but
by no means do they earn you a spot on the start list for finals. This system
has extended competition among team members in the house league
as individuals must earn a spot to represent the team at finals.
In 2011, Craigleith outlined a two year cut-throat strategy and had full
support from all participants before the start of the season. For 2012,
the goal was to use our advantage in numbers to win the regular season
which would earn home-field advantage for the finals in 2013.
Every racer knew that if they were not winning their age category
(regardless of who they were or how fast they skied) they might not
be selected for the team in the finals.
It was made clear to some of the club’s fastest skiers who had not been
taking part, that they just had to do two races during the 2012 season
and a minimum of three in 2013. New faces joined the team, participa-
tion grew to its highest in years and despite getting off to a slow start,
Craigleith took control and won the regular season. To add to the ex-
citement, Georgian Peaks announced that they would host the finals on
notorious Rogers Run—top to bottom. This was a major draw for our team
as it’s the best GS race course in the province. With more than 30 racers
qualified for 24 spots, some of the key players who got us to the finals
had to sit on the sidelines. While this was extremely tough, the team un-
derstood the decisions and why they were made. With a little bit of luck
on race day and a lot of great racing, Craigleith managed to win for the
first time in 23 years!
Club racing has added a new level of excitement to our slopes and it’s-
brought lots of fun competition. The GDHL has turned into our develop-
ment grounds for the interclub team where racers are ‘found’ and
launched onto the Druxy’s circuit. The social aspect has extended be-
yond the club to include summer events. While we haven’t been the
fastest team on the mountain over the years, we have been having a lot
of fun doing it on and off the hill. The racing community is stronger than
it has ever been at our club and we look forward to this season.
Congrats to team Craigleith for their first win in over 20 years and best
of luck to all teams and competitors competing this Winter.
|E|
Editors Note: At the conclusion of each Masters racing season, the Georgian Peaks hosts the
“Fastest Race on the Escarpment”, a Super G down Minute Mile Run. The event is open to all
competitors. Don’t miss this year’s Super GP Classic taking place on Friday March 8
th
.
Visit
or more details.
To view Patrick Wright’s winning run in the 2012 AOS Druxy’s Masters Championships,
and a helmet cam view of the course top to bottom from our own Clay Dolan, check out
Escarpment Magazine’s Facebook page and don’t forget to hit the “like” button.
