Snow Control - November 14

The Lake Louise Winterstart Men's races received approval from the FIS to proceed with the opening speed races of the 2010 World Cup season after an inspection of conditions on the mountain Saturday. FIS Race Director Helmut Schmalzl, Men’s Chief of Race Darrell MacLachlan and others participated in the snow control tour.

“We are very pleased with today’s decision by FIS and excited about the conditions for the upcoming men’s World Cup races in Lake Louise,” said MacLachlan, following the approval which is required before any races proceed on the World Cup Circuit.

“We have had excellent cooperation from management and staff at Lake Louise Ski Area as we prepared for today and I also commend the many hours of work put in by the Sled Dogs, our hard-working volunteers, to get us to where we are at,” MacLachlan said.

Snow control for Ladies' racing will take place next week.

DOG DU JOUR - THE ORIGINAL DOG

COLIN GORDON
Aka: Exalted Sled Dog
Hometown: Calgary, AB
Ski Club: Banff Alpine Racers, Sled Dog Alpine
Race Time Hangout: Fallaway

(because that’s where we left him)
Favourite Place to Ski: Where the pitches are steep and the snow deep
Lake Louise Memory: Road trip to meet his newborn grandson in 1999




Chief of Course, Ladies' Technicals, at the '88 Olympics in Calgary, Colin was the mastermind behind many a caper and not so silent leader of various other indulgences. It was under his stewardship that the Sled Dogs were born. He served our sport at every level including Chairmain of Alberta Alpine, Vice Chairman of Alpine Canada, Techincal Delegate with the FIS and as Chief of Race at Lake Louise.

Colin passed away suddenly in the fall of 2001 and in his honour, and that of all founding Sled Dogs, the Second Generation is charged with carrying their spirit to the Games in 2010.

It is Colin's initals that grace the left ski of the Sled Dog logo: CG.

CHEF DU JOUR - GEO

GEORGE MOTTER

Chief of Slippers & Utility HalfBack - Men's

Aka: Geo
Hometown: Calgary, AB

Residence: Calgary - but cowboy hats give me a headache
Ski Club: Alberta Masters
Race Time Hangout: All over the hill

Favorite Place to Ski: Westcastle Drifter
Lake Louise Memory: Forerunning a NorAm SG a few years ago and equalling a result from MANY years earlier

CHEF DU JOUR - MONSIEUR BOYCE

DON BOYCE

Chief of Gates - Men's
Aka: Yellow Flag One
Hometown: Summerside, PEI
Residence: Edmonton, AB
Ski Club: Rabbit Hill
Race Time Hangout: Oly Crossing
Favorite Place to Ski: Charlie’s Bowl – Marmot Basin
Lake Louise Memory – Gunther said I was perfect.

CHEF DU JOUR - BOB

BOB FALLS
Crew Chief - Men's
Aka: B.O.B.
Hometown: Montreal, Que
Residence: Calgary, AB
Ski Club: Kananaskis Alpine Racers; National Alpine Training Centre
Race Time Hangout: The Curtain
Favourite Place to Ski: Cruisers & Bumps, Panorama, BC
Lake Louise Memory: 11 Successful World Cups

CHEF DU JOUR - DAVE

DAVE MAHLOW
Chief of Equipment - Men's
Aka: Mahlow
Hometown: Edmonton, AB
Residence: Grande Prairie, AB
Ski Club: Nitehawk Alpine Ski Team
Race Time Hangout: All Over the Course
Favourite Place to Ski: Powder King, BC
Lake Louise Memory: “Live to Dye” or is it “Dye to Live” I don’t know I don’t do that job any more!!

CHEF DU JOUR - J LO

JIM LONG
Crew Chief – Men's
Aka: J-LO
Hometown: here - Calgary, AB
Residence: here - like above
Ski Club: Paskapoo
Race Time Hangout: Lone Pine with Helmut
Favourite Place to Ski: anywhere with snow
Lake Louise Memory: “What the fluck, over”

CHEF DU JOUR - TARCHUK

RANDY TARCHUK
Crew Chief- Men’s
Aka: Papa, Tarchuk
Hometown: Banff, AB
Residence: Banff, AB
Ski Club: Banff Alpine Racers
Race Time Hangout: Floating around
Favourite Place to Ski: Panorama BC
Lake Louise Memory: Daybreak on Top of the World

ed: I don't remember that sign being anywhere near either race track at Whistler!

CHEF DU JOUR - MR. HITTEL

JIMMY HITTEL
Hill Coordinator – Men’s
Aka: Hitman
Hometown: Edmonton, AB
Residence: Calgary, AB
Ski Club: Fortress Mountain, AB
Race Time Hangout: Gazebo
Favourite Place to Ski: Fernie
Lake Louise Memory: Being high speed “dragged” down Fallaway thru Gunbarrel by a giant inflated air-fence in the dark on a race day (along with five or six other unlucky fools) and not getting hurt

MULCHING IN THE RAIN (AND SNOW)

Saturday Ocotber 24th was a very wet and cold day that found a group of 13 volunteers in the Calgary neighbourhood of Inglewood for our annual "Tree Party".

In true Sled Dog fashion the team cut, machete'd and mulched through the wind, the rain and the snow and gathered 18 BIG bags of mulch and 450+ boughs. Conditions were so bad that the chipper got to the point where it would not function properly because of all the moisture.

Other than the joy of each other's company, and the abililty to laugh off the weather, the highlight of the day came once everyone took cover to enjoy a well deserved lunch thanks to Spolumbo's.

KUDOS TO THE CREW

Ralf Walicki • Greg Randall • Kendra Fergusson • Rebecca McIntyre • Sharon Boitson • Alastair Ewen

Marty Sherriff • Judy Mair • Bob Falls • Bryan Tomlinson • Jimmy Hittel • Dan McIntyre • Mario Pehar

For more photos: http://photoshare.shaw.ca/messages/viewthumb/7979174476-1256520764-20216/79791/page/1/15/

SLED DOG T-SHIRTS

As announced last week The Sled Dogs have finally unveilled their first annual t-shirt. The piece is 100% pre-shrunk cotton, short sleeve, NAVY in colour and available in sizes Small to 2XL.

The cost is still to be determined as the final order is yet to be confirmed, however the shop estimate based on current requests is in the range of $20 per shirt. Get yours by emailing your particulars to thesleddogs@telus.net no later than THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6th.

The front of the shirt will feature the Sled Dog logo, centred at approximately 3" in size, with the caption: LET THE GAMES BEGIN and 2009 framing the Winterstart logo on the back.

Payment details to be announced once the order dealine has passed.

SPONSOR THE DOG HOUSE

Following the lead of our friends from Whistler, The Sled Dogs have initiated the “Dog’s Best Friend” program in an effort to better support ourselves.

The goal is to improve the experience at The Dog House at Camp Canada by having non-sponsored items such as snacks and wine made available on a regular basis by raising funds from within our corps. The process is well underway locally and we are seeking your help.

Who: You
What: Sponsorship of The Dog House
Where: Lake Louise Inn - Camp Canada
When: 11 evenings available over the entire event
Why: Support of your fellow Sled Dogs
How: $100 per evening

In return for your support you will receive:

Visual recognition in The Dog House · A special thank you gift · Acknowledgement on The Sled Dog Blog

1

Contributions can be arranged by contacting Craig or Mike via thesleddogs@telus.net

CHEF DU JOUR - TOM

TOM HAVARD

Crew Chief - Ladies

Hometown: Smithers, BC

Residence: Smithers, BC

Ski Club: Smithers Ski Club

Race Time Hangout: anywhere but Air Fence (sorry Don)

Favourtie Place to Ski: Castle Mountain on a good day

Lake Louise Memory: 2008's Super G not being cancelled after all the work I thought was for naught.

CHEF DU JOUR - GORD

GORD MCDOUGALL
Crew Chief - Ladies
Aka: Gordo
Hometown: Winnipeg, MB
Residence: Edmonton, AB
Ski CLub: Snow Vallley Racers
Race Time Hangout: Whereever I am told
Favourite Place to Ski: Red Mountain and H20
Lake Louise Memory: Just being part of it