Coyotes Party!

Here are few glimpses of a fun filled wrap-up party this past Saturday...

Congratulations go out to our award winners: Rookie of the Year - Coyote Kevin, Ron McMann Memorial Peak Performer - Coyote Hersh, Coyotes Hall of Fame Inductee - Coyote Dan

Many thanks to Coyote Yard Sale for many of the pictures you have enjoyed throughout the season and for the year in review video which I will get posted as soon as the final cut is available.

In true Coyotes fashion a big howl to all those in attendance for raising over $1500 for ODART through the sale of tickets for the draw prizes, well done all!

Last Run...

As the sun sets on another Southern Ontario ski season it is time to look back and celebrate all that we accomplished together this season!

This is it! Our last bit of time together! Our Year End Party is still scheduled for this Saturday, March 24th. Plans for lunch to start around noon and awards at about 1:30 or 2:00 pm. As in other years, the club has graciously offered to supply meat, beer and wine for our meal. We will have pot-luck for the rest of our meal.

Please let me know (craigleithcoyotes-at-yahoo.ca) what you would like to bring, and how many will be attending. Partners are always welcome, and we caution that our den can get a little rowdy for our Coyote Cubs, so please keep that in mind when bringing young ones!

Let me know what you can bring....a salad, dessert, side dish.

This year in hopes of raising funds for ODART, we will be selling raffle tickets (at a reasonable price) for some prizes that we have managed to get! If you or your company have any gifts that you can supply to this initiative, we would be grateful. Every bit helps.

Looking forward to seeing everyone.

Take Care,
Jen

And now for the video of the week submitted by Coyote Yard Sale, Didier Cuche's final World Cup run last week in Schladming, check out his gear!

That's a Wrap - Puddle Jump!

What a way to end March Break, with a splash! Here are few highlights of our own Coyotes showing how it is done... Congrats to Henry, Jackie, Connor and Nick for stepping up and representing the Coyotes

 

 

 

 

 

 

REMINDER ALERT!!! The Coyotes Crew - Season Finale Awards & Fun Extravaganza is this coming weekend March 24 at Wylies (Times and details to follow). Also, if you haven't sent your nominations for the Peak Performer Award to Jen yet what are you waiting for, please do so ASAP...

Visitation & Funeral Arrangements for Nik

The visitation and funeral arrangements have now been finalized.

Visitations:
Saturday March 17th - 4:00PM – 9:00PM
Sunday March 18th - 4:00PM – 9:00PM

Location:
Turner and Porter
4933 Dundas Street West
Etobicoke, Ontario
M9A 1B6
Map to Funeral Home  


Funeral Service:
Monday March 19th  - 2:00PM

Location:
Islington United Church
25 Burnhamthorpe Road
Etobicoke, Ontario
M9A 1G9
Map to Church

ODART at the IPC WC Finals

A Shout-out from Melanie Schwartz at Panorama for the IPC World Cup Finals

My favorite quotes:
"I always mix up my beavers" - Jen (referring to Beaver Valley and Beaver Creek)
"Two legs ago, I had an mp3 player in my leg" - Will
"We have four five-runners" - starter
"What's the difference between a piano and a fish? You can tune a piano, but you can't tune a fish" - this has nothing to do with Coyotes, but I heard it at Craigleigth from one of the Track 3 kids

Thanks to all the coyotes for another great weekend!
At least there was one day of good skiing and forerunning.
It was nice to spend some time in Wylies and see what you look like without helmets and jackets.
I thought you were all crazy for starting off powder days with side slipping and shoveling instead of fresh tracks.
Now that I've seen you without your ski gear, I realize that you are even crazier than I'd initially thought.

In other news, I am gearing up to go to Panorama for World Cup races starting tomorrow. I've attached a picture of my new helmet sticker. I've already gotten a few comments about it!

I will be the only standing Canadian woman in the speed events (there is only one other woman and she is in the sitting category).
I am very excited to represent my homeland since it might be my last chance before I don the stars and stripes.
It is great that the Coyotes are able to help us out with the expenses!
Unfortunately the race is during March Break, so flights are stupid expensive (not to mention accommodations, baggage fees since my gear weighs more than me, race entry fees, etc.) so any help you can offer is greatly appreciated.
A special thanks to Tracy, Hersh, Linda and John for their generous donations, Michael for selling his GDHL jacket and Chris for buying it!

Thanks again for all your hard work all season. You've gone way above and beyond and I can't thank you enough.

Cheers, enjoy some spring skiing,
See you next year!
Melanie

Canadian Cowboys at WC Finals

Another great big Coyote Howl goes out to the Canadian Cowboys wrapping up the season with strong finishes at World Cup Finals in Schladming, Austria.

Lindsey Vonn and Klaus Kroell may have won the the Women's and Men's DH Crystal Globes but the Cowboys had a season to be truly proud of! Congratulations to Erik Guay for finishing the DH season in 7th place overall, Jan Hudec in 9th and Ben Thomsen in 15th, today in the final SG race Jan finished the season in 6th place overall and Erik in 12th.

The men's speed team is now headed home to compete in the Canadian Championships next week at Le Massif. Go COWBOYS Go!!!

Spring Series Update & Coyote Howl...

Due to the weather forecast we have made a change to the Spring Series Schedule.

All K1’s and K2’s will be at Craigleith Ski Club on Tuesday March 13th - SLALOM

All K1’s and K2’s will be at Georgian Peaks on Wednesday March 14th - GS

Please see the schedule (Tuesday Schedule) for the races on Tuesday.
Anyone who can make it please report to Steve Milgram and the time stated.
Informed that lunches will be served in Wylies.

Thanks again to thoise making an effort.

Regards,
Mick

A great big Coyote Howl goes out to Marie-Michele (Mitch) Gagnon on her first career World Cup podium with a third place finish in the slalom at Are, Sweden. Well done Mitch!

Tragic Loss...

GRINDELWALD, SUI (March 10, 2012) – Ski cross racer Nik Zoricic passed away Saturday after he was involved in a crash at a World Cup race in Grindelwald, Switzerland.

Zoricic, of Toronto, Ont., crashed in the finish area during the fourth heat of the ski cross finals. Zoricic, 29, sustained head injuries and was airlifted to hospital in Interlaken, Switzerland, where he was pronounced dead at 12:35 p.m. local time (Central European Time). The cause of death was “severe neurotrauma.”

“Ski cross national team member Nik Zoricic passed away this morning after he was involved in a crash at a ski cross World Cup race in Grindelwald, Switzerland,” said Max Gartner, president of Alpine Canada.

“Our thoughts are first and foremost with Nik’s parents and his family.

“Nik was a very talented young ski racer and a great athlete who was much loved by his teammates and fellow competitors. He will be greatly missed by all of us and the ski community as a whole.”

No further heats took place following the crash and Saturday’s World Cup race was cancelled. The International Ski Federation (FIS) has also cancelled Sunday’s World Cup race.

As ski racing volunteers, fans and family, today is the type of day we hope will never happen. On behalf of the entire Coyotes family our thoughts and prayers are with the Zoricic family and everyone with Alpine Canada.

Many of us had the pleasure of knowing Nik over the years, and celebrated his victories. Nik was true gentleman who took the time to thank his supporters and the volunteers involved with the races.

RIP Nik you will never be forgotten

ODART Shout Out!

A few of our good friends from the Ontario Disabled Alpine Racing Team (ODART) joined the Coyotes at the GDHL Banquet Saturday night...

Gwen Binsfeld (Coach), Melanie Schwartz and James Binsfeld enjoying the party

James was recognized by the GDHL for 'fore-running' this season

ODART needs our help, with the Canadian Championships coming up at Le Relais & Mt. St. Anne, Quebec and the IPC Para-Alpine World Cup Finals at Panorama, British Columbia the team is looking for sponsors to help with costs. No matter the amount, every dollar goes a long way in supporting the team get to the podium. To make a donation or for more information contact Coyote Linda at linda(at)housser.ca or Gwen Binsfeld at gwenbins(at)bell.net

Club Championships Fun...

Well after the weather delay on Saturday, the fun known as Club Championships got underway on Sunday with racing being held on two hills to ensure all that wanted a go got a chance. Once again a truly epic effort by the Coyotes to get the job done, and so we celebrate in the typical fashion...

Coyote Howl!

A great big Coyote Howl goes out to Ontario's own Erin Mielzynski for winning the World Cup Slalom in Ofterschwang, Germany!

Congrats also to Erin's teammates Marie-Michele Gagnon and Anna Goodman how finished in 5th and 17th respectively. Way to go ladies!

GDHL Banquet

While the weather wasn't great for racing yesterday, a the festivities continued into the evening as some of our hard working Coyotes attended the annual GDHL Banquet. Many thanks to Coyote Linda for a few shots of the fun...

101 Page Views in One Day!

Well we have finally made it over 100 page views in a single day, either a lot of Coyotes were checking in on Friday or there are a lot of want to be Coyotes out there checking us out...

Unfortunately, the weather didn't seem to want to play nice yesterday for club championships, and racing for Saturday was postponed... Many thanks to Coyote "Yard Sale" for a few photos to sum up the day...

And Jen getting the official word on the postponement...

They day wasn't a total loss as the Coyotes rallied in usual fashion and still had some fun and some "serious" discussions... And few quotes overheard in Wylies sent in anonymously...

Coyote 1 asking Coyote 2 why he was writing out the results sheet for the seniors' (literally senior) club championships...

Coyote 2: "Normally it is the parent volunteers, but the parents of these people are dead"

Here's hoping today has brought better weather for racing!



Club Championship Assignments...

Someone once said "Teamwork allows common people to attain uncommon results". While there is nothing common about the top notch Coyotes, teamwork is definitely the norm!

Please take a look at the crew schedules and assignments for this coming weekend (posted at the top of the column to the right), hard to believe it is Club Championships already...

The video pick of the week comes from the Jan "Panda" Hudec, his insight on what it is like to be a 30 year old Kitzbuhel rookie...