U16 Cresa Partners GSx 2, SLx1 update from Lake Louise

It's been a good series for the U16's at Lake Louise...

Overview

      The run: Men’s Downhill at Lake Louise (the world cup run for men’s and women’s SG & DH for the Winterstart World Cups, run every year in late November (men) and early December (women))

-         The terrain: Flat’ish for the first 12 to 14 turns on ‘Upper Wiwaxy – Sunset Flats’  – then onto ‘Waterfall’ for 8 to 10 turns – then onto ‘Fallaway’, quite a steep pitch for 10 to 12 turns – then finishing on the ‘Timing Flats’ for the last few turns

-          The snow: grippy…great surface

-          274m vertical drop

-          58 women

-          93 men

From left; Sarah, Bugsy, Louis, Christian (front row), Brett (the hairy guy), Bella, Phil, Chris, Harrison & Jeff

A beautiful sunrise at Lake Louise

Series Summary 
- 8x IR athletes  (2x women (Bella Burns & Sarah Dennis) & 6x men (Chris Chalkiadis, Bugsy Brooke, Philip Chen, Louis Muhlen, Harrison Coull, Oliver Thompson))
- 2x wins 
- 1x 2nd place 
- 1x 3rd place 
- 4x top 10's 
- 4x most improved medals 
- 6x DNF's 
- 1x DSQ

Bella entering Waterfall

Harrison rocking the 35m's as he enters 'Fallaway' during run 1 action (4th on the run)

Sarah ready for day of GS

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Day 1 Summary- GS #1

-          Sarah – 8^th after 1^st run…came out on ‘Waterfall’ run 2 – solid skiing

-          Bella – moved from bib 58 to 23 position…rock solid, ready for more tomorrow

-          Chris – good skiing, came out 5 turns from the finish…quite solid overall

-          Phil – also good skiing (w. in striking distance of the top group based on split screen analysis this evening), came out on the entrance to ‘Fallaway’

-          Louis – ripped up top, came out on the entrance to ‘Fallaway’…took too much risk where smart skiing was needed (one must go past the limit to know where it is…Louis found it today)

-          Bugsy – rock solid 1^st run (19^th), didn’t quite have the same punch 2^nd run (24^th)…very good overall, ready to step it up tomorrow

-          Harrison – one of the only (if not the only) U16 racing on the new 35m – 195cm GS ski (currently required for Europa Cup – World Cup – World Jr Champs), solid…6^th on the 1^st run, 4^th on the 2^nd…very good

-          Oli – solid both runs, winning 1^st run by 1.8 and 2^nd run by .53  

Special thank you to Christian Geiger (AUS National Team, IR athlete since 2010) for forerunning and assistance to the crew throughout the day...nothing beats a first hand course report 

Chris run 2 action Friday

Phil run 1 action Friday

The track...looking at 'Fallaway' and 'Gubarrel' sections

Day 2 Summary - GS #2

-          Sarah – good moments, lacking consistency…can’t wait for SL tomorrow  

-          Bella – biggest mover of the day again…well done Bella for #2 most improved medal in as many days

-          Chris – solid…moved up 15 spots on run 2  

-          Phil – ripped 1^st run (25^th), came out run 2

-          Louis – solid 1^st run (4^th)…came out run 2

-          Bugsy – biggest mover again…well done Bugsy for #2 most improved medal in as many days

-          Harrison – slow 1^st run w. a few misadventures…5^th 2^nd run moving up to 11^th for the day…well done Hap

-          Oli – solid,…winning both runs, 2^nd win in as many days 

Louis en route to 4th for the run...day 2

Oli taking the win by a convincing 2.33 margin, Harrison in 5th...check out the 'I Products' forearm guards

Oli coming onto 'Waterfall' en route to his 1st of 2 wins for the weekend

Day 3 Summary - SL 

-          Sarah – rippin’ 1^st run (6^th), a few mistakes 2^nd run pushed her back to 9^th, very good overall

-          Bella – solid day of SL…27^th

-          Chris – solid, 29^th   

-          Phil – too much risk in run 1…DNF 1

-          Louis – battling some sickness (quite sick) threw in 2^nd fastest 1^st run, a sizeable mistake on run 2 pushed him back to 3^rd

-          Bugsy – solid in SL…ground speed & consistency improving…looking forward to fast skiing at Jasper  

-          Harrison – 3^rd on the opening run w. conservative skiing – let ‘er go on run 2 for 2^nd fastest run of the day (.12 off the winning run) to nail down 2^nd spot

-          Oli – solid opening run…got bucked off line on the home stretch and missed the last gate 

Sarah (Stevesie) during 1st run action (6th on the run)

Bugsy during 2nd run action

Brett reviewing game plans w. the girls after 2nd inspection

The boys...Harrison 2nd, Louis 3rd...good day

Up next...

We've got 2x days of SL training at Nakiska (focus on level shoulders and early pressure on the new ski), then travel to Jasper for 3x days of racing (2x SL, 1x GS) at Marmot Basin

Over & out for now 

Jeff Books                                               Brett Smalley 

Athletics Director                                     Head U16 Coach - Special Projects Manager