FINALLY A NEW POST!

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CANMORE SKI SWAP

The Banff Alpine Racers and Bow Valley Quikies are hosting their annual Ski Swap this Saturday in Canmore.

The Swap is a great place to pick up a new pair of boards for the race track, gear for family members who seem not to stop growing and to find some great deals on clothing. Retailers from across Southern Alberta will be there with new product at blowout prices as well as race and rec’ gear from all walks of the ski community – no straight skis or rear entry boots though!

For those with gear to sell, consignment takes place Friday evening and Saturday morning. Skis, boots, helmets, poles, clothes and other winter sport equipment are welcome. $1 is charged for each item consigned. The Clubs retain 20% of the sale price, which you set, and you keep the rest.

710 Main Street (the old SAAN store)

Sale: October 16th, 2 pm to 9 pm

*** Early Bird Sale: 1 pm to 2 pm ***

Consignment: Friday 5 to 9; Saturday 9 to 12

*** Early Bird tickets are available for sale Saturday morning during Consignment. Tickets are limited to 100 at cost of $10 per person and allow you in the door 1 hour before the sale opens to the public.

Can’t make it this weekend, don’t worry! The Clubs does it all over again in two weeks time at Banff Mount Norquay – more details to follow.

SLED DOG SCHWAG – COMING SOON

2010 Sled Dog clothing is in the final stages of design. Keep an eye on The Sled Dog Blog for this year’s t-shirts and hoodies.

VOLLEY KICKOFF

Our friends at Willow Park Wines and Spirits are graciously hosting an evening in our honour at their flagship store again this year.

Tuesday, October 26th, 5:30 pm - 10801 Bonaventure Drive SE

Thanks to Peggy Perry and Wayne Huneset for their continuing support of the Sled Dogs!

THE DOG HOUSE

It’s back! After a tremendously successful first year the “Dog’s Best Friend” program returns in an effort to take care of ourselves.

The goal: to enhance and improve the experience at The Dog House at Camp Canada using funds raised by “Dog’s Best Friend” for non-sponsored items, specifically après snacks and wine.

Lisa, Carleigh, Paul, Kelly, Wayne, Mai and Super Dave: they need your help – a lot!

Who: Anyone – maybe you!
What: Be a “Dog’s Best Friend”
Where: Lake Louise Inn - Camp Canada
When: Evenings available over the entire event
Why: Support of your fellow Sled Dogs
How: $100 per evening

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

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Website Patch

There is an incompatibility between the registration web page and Internet Explorer - Version 8. Simply apply the patch as prescribed below and the functionality of the “Create New Account” button will restored. The process is found "Tools" in the menu bar.

Dog Day Afternoon

Stampede is just nine days away, the Dog Day Afternoon a mere sixteen!

Response has been strong with 30+ people having signed up to experience “How the West is Fun.” Do you have your ticket yet?

If not, rest easy as our friends at Stampede have extended the date to order this great package. If you are planning on attending you must forward your RSVP to yours truly by next Wednesday, July 7th.

To those who have already committed please forward payment via INTERAC via your on-line banking service as soon as possible. All orders must be paid for in advance of the event; pick up rendezvous TBA.

Thanks from Manny

Got Pictures?

Do you have photos from this year's World Cup? Are you looking for a place to share them? Try our new page on Facebook: The Sled Dogs. All you need is your own account to become a fan and share your pics, your stories, your news with your fellow Sled Dogs.

Thanks to Michel Landry for this great picture of the Ladies Podium on December 5th.

Maria Reisch (GER), Lindsay Vonn (USA), Emily Brydon (CAN)

ACA Applauds Volunteer Effort

CALGARY, AB (December 8, 2009) - Alpine Canada Alpin (ACA) is applauding the efforts of hundreds of volunteers following the completion of two weeks of World Cup ski racing in Lake Louise.

ACA President Gary Allan praised the Race Organizing Committee and all event volunteers, adding that the 2009 Bombardier Lake Louise Winterstart was one of the most successful ever both on and off the race hill.

"Thanks to the tireless work of the Sled Dogs, as Lake Louise volunteers are known, the World Cup speed season is off to a successful start. Their effort is the driving force of ski racing in Canada and has provided a boost to our teams as this important season gets underway," Allan said.

"I would also like to thank Bombardier for once again presenting the opening World Cup races of the season at Lake Louise as well as the support of all our partners and the cooperation of the Chateau Lake Louise and Lake Louise Ski Area," he added.

For the second time in the history of Word Cup ski racing in Lake Louise, Canadians achieved three podium results. Manuel Osborne-Paradis (Vancouver, BC) won the men's super-G while Emily Brydon (Fernie, BC) finished second and then third in consecutive ladies downhill races.

Off the hill, Minister of State (Sport) Gary Lunn announced on Sunday that that the Government of Canada will provide funding of $250,000 to Alpine Canada Alpin for the 2009 Bombardier Lake Louise Winterstart World Cup through Sport Canada's Hosting Program.

The volunteer effort continues in Lake Louise this week, with the opening Northwest Funds Coupe Nor-Am Cup races.

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.