Hello all. Summer Race League is nearly upon us again so thought I’d best update the advice note to refresh your memories.
The Ski Centre has made changes this year. The following is a simple guide for parents and racers:
Events and Rules
There are 6 races, all on Saturdays: - 10th May, 7th June, 5th July, 9th August, 20th September and 11th October. Practice starts at 9 am, and racing shortly after 10, so best to turn up by about 8.45. Usually, we’re finished and in the bar by 4ish.
This year the Centre has accepted 15 teams with 10 racers per team. That means the price per entry stays at £10 (£9.60 actually, but I’m usually out of pocket for the occasional no shows. As TSP runs A and B Teams, and I also run the Kids Adventure Team, so I can select up to 30 racers each event.
TSP will enter an A and B team, the former a blend of the best young racers and a sprinkling of seasoned hacks and the latter predominantly for promising younger racers and a few less promising older ones. The Kids Adventure Team defies description, but usually comprises overspill from TSP and/or Gloucester B spiced up with some inexperienced krazy kids and the odd wizened performer, The squads will be rotated to give everyone a fair crack, and excellent performance will be rewarded by promotion between the teams.
Please let me have the entry fee as early in the day as possible as I have to pass this on to the Ski Centre during the day.
For all races TSP has to provide 2 Gate Judges. Additionally, on 7th June we have to provide a Start Marshall and for the 9th August a Finish Marshall. Thus parents and friends are welcome and necessary despite the cringing embarrassment caused to their children.
During the morning session of each event, everyone races in age groups, youngest first. Changes made this year mean that there are 7 ages categories, under 9, under 12, under 15, under 20, under 35, under 50 and over 50. The category is determined by the racer’s age on the first event of the season, 10th May. There are 2 runs in the morning, each racer’s quickest one counting. It’s important to finish at least one run otherwise the points score is zero. 1st in age group gets 20 points, 2nd 19 and so on.
For the afternoon, all racers are grouped in 4s according to their time. Each gets to race a Dual Slalom against the 3 racers with the closest time to his/hers regardless of age group. The winner of each round gets 3 points, dead heat 2 points, and 1 point for the loser (provided the loser completes the course.
The brightest of you will have worked out that a skier who wins his age group and all 3 duals will score a maximum 29 points.
Note for ‘Recently Retired Registered Racers’.
Currently Registered Racers are still eligible to take part in SRL provided that their seed points on the first race of the year are no fewer than 160 for males and 140 for females.
If you are a registered racer with lower than 160 or 140 seed points but who has decided against competing in Registered Races or on snow this year you are eligible to race in the SRL. This should be a genuine decision unlikely to change later in the year.
If anyone wants to know further details about the SRL – let’s face it, you need to get out more.
Skis and Boots
As usual, these are available from Ski Hire if racers don’t yet have them.
This is where the pain starts for parents as there’s loads to pick up about waxing and edging from experienced team members. You can judge our depth of experience by mutilation, scars and cuts to our hands. Don’t worry, it’s easy and there is lots of help available.
Since the beginning of time (about 1980) dyed in the wool plastic slope ski racers have been searching for the Philosophers Wax, a lubricant so good that it will turn the basest skier into a Gold Medal winner. TSP’s search for the ultimate lubricant continues ….
Selection of Teams
I have to submit the Teams to the ski centre by the Thursday night before each race. Later changes may not be permitted, so if you agree to be available please turn up on the day. It will help to know what races you definitely can or cannot make, July and August often being the most difficult months. My e-mails, the Team Slalom Plus Website (www.slalomplus.org) and the Team’s notice board will provide information about the 3 squads and post event reports.
If you agree to race but do not turn up, I still have to pay £10 (which I will seek from the offender) but more importantly, unexpected absence penalises the team. No shows are a real pain, so please be considerate – there is no way that I will be making 30 phone calls on the Thursday before a race, and if for any reason you can’t use any of the above ways to find out about team selection, ring me on 07795 121020 or email on chris’gardner@sanctuary-housing.co.uk.
I’ll send my schedule of racers, contact numbers and races to everyone who has given me their email address, and likewise give as much notice of selection as possible by email, posting on the website and on our notice board at the centre. In any event, this will usually be done a week before each race.
SRL Practice
On the Friday evening before race day, the ski centre sets the SRL course and allows racers to practice on it. Chantelle and a few others from TSP usually come up by about 6 pm both to practice the course and to help others in the team. It’s an opportunity not to be missed, and builds confidence for the younger racers
Contacts and Availabilities
I need racers’ names, date of birth, land and or mobile numbers, email address and anticipated availability for all the race dates. Please check the information set out on the attached spreadsheet and remind me if I’ve forgotten anyone - this might apply with some of the more recent recruits.
For obvious reasons, best to ring, email or speak to me at training rather than posting a message on the web site. It’s easiest to leave a message on my mobile 07795 121020.
‘And Finally’ … Sportsmanship
SLR is a fun event and we have ways of making you enjoy yourselves whether you like it or not. Come along even if you or your children not racing. There’s plenty to do and you’ll be made very welcome.
Team Slalom Plus is up there to be knocked down, after all we’ve won the SRL for 5 successive years. That means there can be a bit of competitive tension around, but we aim to race with a smile and to keep rivalries on a sporting basis.
Important to note that anyone throwing pine cones at the Race Team Manager or poking him with ski poles will be dumped in the pond.
That’s all for now. The next Race Bulletin with the team selections for 10th May will be posted in a few days.
