| FAQS for SCSC RACERS -- Part I | By Bob Wrey - Race Director |
I'm a first time racer. What will the course look like? Club races are usually held on a short GS-style (Giant Slalom) course on a green or easy blue slope. Two identical courses will actually be set up in dual (side by side) format, and each course will consist of about 12 - 16 gates (poles with colored banners). You must turn around each of the gates as you ski back and forth, across and down the slope. One course will have red or yellow gates and the other will have blue or green, but you'll only ski one or the other depending on whether your race number is odd or even.
I'm afraid that I'll go too fast, lose control and crash! Don't worry -- these courses are set up so that it's actually hard to go fast. If you can get down a slope where there are people standing around, and you can avoid crashing into any of them, then you're ready to race. You can snowplow or sideslip the whole way if you want to. If you're still concerned, go with a friend and take a practice run or two if there is a race course open to the public. If you want more practice time, along with expert advice, you can take a race clinic that might be given prior to the club races.
What if the person on the other course is a lot faster than I am? That's not fair! You'll only be racing against the clock -- not the other person. In fact, don't pay any attention to the other person. If they lose control and interfere with you in any way, you'll get to race again.
How will I know when it's my turn to go? Your club will race as a group and will be assigned a time slot or race "window". Your race director will let you know in advance what your start time is. Ski down to the start house at the top of the course prior to the assigned time, and look for other members of your club. You'll be given a sticker with your race number on it called a "bib". Wrap the sticker around one of your poles, below the grip (look at what everyone else is doing). Don't trade bibs with anyone else, even if they have your favorite number. (Your entire club will be disqualified if anyone races with a number other than the one assigned to them.) The next step is to form up in two lines, in bib number order, with odd numbers in one line and even numbers in the other. Race officials and club representatives will be directing all of this, so it won't be as chaotic as it sounds -- in fact, there will usually be plenty of fun and lively conversation going on all around and you'll really feel like part of a team.
What happens at the start? While you're waiting in line, watch the racers ahead of you and observe how they line up in the starting area. When it's your turn, line up behind the timing wand (it starts the timing clock for your course when you push it open), and point your skis in the general direction of the first gate. (You'll know which way to turn by watching the other racers.) Plant your poles a short distance downhill on the other side of the wand. Get comfortable and wait for the starter to say "Racers ready…Go", then just push off downhill with your poles whenever you're ready. Don't ski directly at the first gate, but aim for a point several ski lengths higher up the hill before you start your turn. Repeat for the rest of the gates and before you know it you'll be crossing the finish line.
What am I supposed to do when I get to the bottom? At most races, your time and handicap (score) will be announced over a loudspeaker shortly after you finish. Your time and handicap will also be posted on a board at the bottom of the course later on. Try to remember your handicap, but don't worry too much about your time. As soon as possible, move away from the finish area and wait with other club members for the rest of our racers to finish. This is also where a group photo might be taken, so stick around for a while if this is the case.
Next Month: How do I find out if I earned a medal? What is this handicap stuff all about? |
| HEAD OF THE LIFTLINE | By Cindy Moore, President |
 Trip sign up is now in full swing. I trust you have renewed your membership and have sent in your registration form or signed up online for the ski trip of your dreams! The hard part is deciding where to go with all of the top-notch destinations and fun activities to choose from this year! In only a few months, we will be swishing down the slopes and socializing with our SCSC ski club buddies! And don’t forget the ever-growing list of non-skiing activities and happy hours that Jose, Jessica and Deb have been busy organizing with their terrific crew of activity coordinators. We can always use more volunteers, so get with Jose or Jessica if you want to lead an activity or just help out.
Be sure not to miss our first SCSC meeting of the year, September 12th, at the fabulous new meeting venue Chateau Crystal at Westheimer and Gessner. It is classy and functional and we will have food available as well as a cash bar. The meeting will feature our full line up of trips for the 2005-06 season. You will be able to get more information about the trips and activities planned. If you haven’t decided where to ski this year, be sure to come, visit with the TC’s and ATC’s and sign up!! Don’t forget to bring your checkbook, because we can only take credit cards for ski trips online through PayPal, not at the meeting. Mark your calendars now for Friday, December 2, for a Holiday Gala to be remembered.
Sue Salvage is still looking for energetic SCSC members who would like to be ambassadors at our meetings and happy hours. Please contact her to get involved with this important function. You will ‘host’ prospective club members, take them around to the trip and activity tables, explain the sign up process and introduce them to existing members. It’s a great way to meet new people and volunteer for your club!
I’ll see you at the meeting on September 12th! |
| PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES | By Jose Araujo, VP of Programs & Jessica Halter, Dire |
 LET’S GET STARTED!! Our first General meeting for the 2005-06 season is here and it’s all about the trips, baby! The trip coordinators will be ready and armed with tons of information for you about each fun-filled trip. Trip sign up began August 13th and some trips may be full, but don’t let that discourage you. Put your name on the wait lists! Every year dozens of people make it onto a full trip from the waiting lists. For more details, read Kayleen’s article in this edition of the Sitzmarke.
Remember, the new official SCSC meeting place is Chateau Crystale, located on the 2517 S. Gessner, just a half block north of Westheimer. You are going to be impressed with this place!
You don’t want to miss this month’s Happy Hour at the Six Degrees Lounge. We just hope the temperature will be more than 6 degrees below our regular summer heat…and soon!
Jessica has some more news to announce: |
 As mentioned in last month’s article, we are planning to “give back” something each month to our community, both local and/or worldwide. Our September theme will be “Back to Skiing…Back to School!” benefiting First Book-Houston. While we are planning to get back to the slopes, most Houston area children will be hitting the books. The sad part is that some Houston children only have books at school. Reading is vital to the success of all students and our goal this month is to put NEW BOOKS into as many local underprivileged children’s hands as possible. Please bring a NEW CHILREN’S BOOK to the meeting and/or make a cash donation to the charity so that books may be purchased. I know the hearts of many of you and know that you will be willing to join us in this opportunity to help children read! (You will get extra door prize tickets, too!) There will be a table set up at our meeting to tell more about the charity.
As always, we are looking for volunteers. I have a tour operator that wants to work with us on NON-skiing trips. Anyone want to take a fun group of SCSC people (and non-members too) to New Orleans? New York? On a dive adventure? Just let Jose or me know and we’ll get to work on it with you! Local events, too, need to be planned and led. Anyone interested in taking a group to the Renaissance Festival A Hill Country River Rafting Adventure is still possible in September and October. Oh, and let’s go to Wurstfest… a big bus…full ice chests …GREAT food and POLKA dancing until you explode! Come on, you party animals, give us a call!!! |
| FROM THE SKI DESK | By Kayleen Kill, VP of Trips |
 Hopefully you have already signed up for one or more of the ski trips. If not, you still have several options. Online registration is available for members who have paid their dues:
- Go to www.spacecityskiclub.org
- Click on My SCSC
- If you have not already established an account, you will need your membership number (on the label of the Sitzmarke) and SCSC must have your correct email
- Click on SCSC members may request an account here
- Complete the information
- You password will be sent to the email on record
- If you have an account, login
- Click on Ski Trips
- Click on View for the trip you wish to signup for
- Click on Signup for this trip
- The next few screens should be self explanatory
- You have the option to pay just the deposit or the full payment using PayPal
A second option is to use the registration form in the August Sitzmarke and mail or give this along with your deposit to the appropriate TC. (If you are signing up for Breckenridge, the zip code needs to be 77081, not 77082).
Third option is to contact the TC and have them give you a registration form or trip release form that you can mail or give them with the payment.
Last option is to come to the September 12 General Meeting and sign up in person. NOTE we will be meeting at a new location – Chateau Crystale at 2517 S. Gessner.
Whether you have already signed up for a trip(s) or looking to sign up on one or more, you want to come to the meeting and get up-close and personal with all the Trip Coordinators (TCs) and Assistant Trip Coordinators (ATCs). Get all the scoop on the trip and meet fellow trip participants. Maybe even scout out a roommate if you don’t already have one.
REMEMBER, you must be a member to sign up for a trip. Memberships are approved at the Executive Committee meeting each month, so send in your membership early to make sure you can sign up for a trip.
I want to say “See you at Chateau Crystale”, but I will be on the club trip to Hawaii. So I will just say ALOHA for now and HOPE EVERYONE GETS ON THE TRIP(S) THEY WANT. |
Over 90 hard working SCSC volunteers got a chance to relax and have fun poolside thanks to the generosity of Ron Hayes and Judy Schiro. They enjoyed a super day of swimming, water-volleyball, eating fajitas, and socializing at the annual party. Thanks again for all the contributions in 2004/2005.
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