GSOC Racer Blog

By David Lippucci—Race Director

dlippucci@nc.rr.com

The GSOC has earned a fourth place in the Eastern Division after our fifth and final race at Sugar Mountain February 20-21, 2016.  We hope to take some frustrations out in two weeks trying to maintain the possession of the Crescent Cup at Silver Creek March 4-6 that we earned last season. 

Warm and wet Saturday with temps in the low 40’s let both divisions don a rain jacket or wind breaker to try and tame the “snow cone” ice conditions.  Luckily, the division 1 course was salted and decent terrain held up for most every racer on slalom day.  Many tops of single pole slalom gates actually stuck in the snow rather than bouncing back...a phenomenon that I have never seen before.  Greensboro took the day and beat all eastern division teams by two points!

Sunday’s GS mimicked Saturday but warmer and more wet, around 51 degrees offered slush.  Luckily, Sugar put down a nice blanket of salt to try and harden each course.  It worked for the first run, but not so much on the second run.  The severe fall away course set on Division 1 was kind of mean spirited with gate distance around 18-20 meters.

Even division 2 had shorter distances between gates and a wide set which caused ruts and many, many DQ’s.  Light fog came in and out for both divisions.

BTW, we had 38 racers in the cue this weekend, THE MOST GSOC RACERS EVER!

Congratulations to the following newly qualified GSOC racers!:

Gina Farfour, Lee Blakely, Keegan Spradling (8)

Congratulation to each and every team member and their parents and friends for supporting the team this year.  You only get points in life IF you participate.  That’s the key folks: join up no matter what your age, learn a new skill, perform, smile and earn a pair of socks for the effort!  Hope to see everyone next season and some new faces…

Congratulations to the following GSOC racers who finished first, second or third at the Sugar 2 race February 20-21, 2016:

Jake Laroe—First, flight 1 Slalom, Third GS!

Dano Shurkus—First, 2 Slalom, third GS

Doug Laroe—Second, flight 5 Slalom

Tom Spradling—First, flight 6 Slalom

Dan Walsh—Second, flight 6 Slalom

Garry Whitaker—Third, flight 6 Slalom, First GS!

Hailey Thomas—First, flight 9 14 Slalom and GS!

Caity Burnham—Second, flight 10 GS

Mark Blakely—Second, flight 12 Slalom

Phillip Clary—Third, flight 13 GS

Steve Shea—Second, flight 14 Slalom

Brooks Freeman—Second, flight 15 Slalom

Kip Blakely—First, flight 16 Slalom, Second GS!

Abby Miller—Second, flight 18 Slalom, First GS!

Hunter Howerton—Second, flight 18 GS

Kilee Blakely—Second, flight 19 Slalom and GS!

Race Results

Saturday Results, February 20, 2016 (PDF)

Sunday Results, February 21, 2016 (PDF)

Team Results, February 21, 2016 (PDF)