Thunderbird Race Team Newsletter
Fourth Race Weekend: February 20-21

 The fourth race weekend of the 2010 season took place at Boyne, where we had excellent conditions, with sunny days and great snow.  It was also a success, with 26 T-Bird Racers going through the courses on Saturday and Sunday.  We continue to be the largest race team in the MACC program. The T-Bird's that made the podium (1^st, 2^nd, or 3^rd) are as follows:

Slalom (Saturday):
1^st            Tom Klaban (VE2M), Frank Dusina (E2M), Zach Jablonski (AM), Ted Jablonski (BM), Bob Rossi (CM)2^nd           Patrick Smithbauer (SVBM), Gary Sonnenberg (SVCM), Dick Synowiec (SVDM)
3^rd           Janie Guiliani (E2W), Steve Vollmer (SVCM)

Giant Slalom (Sunday):
1^st            Scott Tater (E), Zach Jablonski (AM), Scott Soucie (BM), Dick Synowiec (SVDM)
2^nd           Ted Jablonski (BM), Steve Vollmer (SVCM),
3^rd           Janie Guiliani (E2W), Mike Haffey (VAM), Patrick Smithbauer (SVBM), Chuck Trewin (BM)

Our “racer of the week” is Zach Jablonski (AM) with two 1^st place finishes.  Other T-Birds with two podium finishes include Ted Jablonski (BM) and Dick Synowiec (SVDM) with a 1^st and 2^nd, Patrick Smithbauer (SVBM) and Steve Vollmer (SVCM) with a 2^nd and 3^rd, and Janie Guiliani (E2W) with two 3^rd’s.  The T-Bird’s had an excellent 54% of our racers (14 of 26) make the podium at least once this weekend.

The Past Weekend’s Party:

We had 11 T-Birds attend the Saturday night dinner at the Vollmer condo in Boyne Falls.  We feasted on roast chicken with potato salad, with dessert of Judy Sullivan’s brownies and a chocolate iced pudding cake. Gary Sonnenberg, who has taken over the organizing of the party menu, had done a great job.

The Marks Weekend’s Barbeque:

Coming up for the final race weekend is the annual on-the-hill barbeque, featuring Kowalski kielbasa dogs and hot dogs, Angus burgers, Better Made potato chips, and beer and pop.  As always, it should be a great time, and if the weather cooperates, it should be a fantastic time.  Any racer that doesn’t participate is missing a great finale to the race season.

The End of Season MACC Awards Banquet:

Coming up on Saturday is the end of season MACC awards banquet.  It is always a fun evening with a great dinner, many racing awards, and LOTS of nice prizes.  This is the place to get your moment of fame as you receive your awards for the season.  Even if you aren’t one of the victors, you can still cheer for your team members as they receive their awards.  Maybe even the team will receive an award for all of our performance.  Tickets will be available until noon on Saturday.  Prices on Friday are $30 for adults (age 13 and older) and $14 for youth (ages 5 through 12) and free for children 4 and under.  Prices go up to $35 for adults and $15 for youth on Saturday.  No tickets will be sold at the door.

Mike’s Musings:

As you may have noticed from the race results, Scott Tater has returned to the land of the ski racers.  Scott hurt his foot playing soccer and needed a plate and screws to put his foot back together again.  The Sunday GS was his first race of the season and he smoked all of the Elite racers in the fastest class on the hill.  Hopefully, this is an indicator of what to expect for next season.  Welcome back Scott.

In addition, Judy Sullivan, after a number of health issues, returned to the ski hill (but not the race course).  She was skiing and feeling fine and we look forward to seeing her return next season to the race course.  Welcome back Judy.

The battle of the brothers this weekend was a tie.  Ted smoked me (and everyone else in B) in the slalom.  Sunday’s GS went to me by over a second.

Your Thunderbird Race Team Director:
            Mike Jablonski                                               

THUNDERBIRD RACE TEAM
NewsLetter:  January 11, 2010

First Race Weekend: January 9 & 10:

The first race weekend, with the great snow, sunshine, and blue skies made for a fine start to the season.  It was also a success, with 24 TBird Racers going through the courses on Saturday and Sunday.  We are still the largest race team in the MACC program. The TBirds that made the podium (1^st, 2^nd, or 3^rd) are as follows:

Giant Slalom (Saturday):
1^st        Frank Dusina (E2M)
2^nd        Eric Klaban (E1M), Mike Jablonski (SVBM), Scott Soucie (BM), Gail Kovaleski (CW), Dick Synowiec (SVDM)
3^rd        Zach Jablonski (AM), Ron Glowzinski (SVCM), Bob Rossi (CM),

Slalom (Sunday):
1^st        Ron Glowzinski (SVCM), Dick Synowiec (SVDM)
2^nd        Frank Dusina (E2M), Zach Jablonski (AM), Gail Kovaleski (CW)
3^rd        Patrick Smithbauer (SVBM), Scott Soucie (CM), Gary Sonnenberg (SVCM) 

Our “racers of the week” are Frank Dusina (E2M) and Dick Synowiec (SVDM), each with a 1^st and 2^nd place finish.  Other TBirds with two podium finishes include Ron Glowzinski with a 1^st and 3^rd, Gail Kovaleski with two 2^nd, and rookie Zach Jablonski and Scott Soucie, each with a 2^nd and 3^rd.    The TBirds had 46% of our racers (11 of 24) make the podium at least once, a great start for the 2010 season.  Hopefully, we will continue this success for the second race weekend and the rest of the season.

Welcome New TBird Racer:

The TBird Race Team welcomes our new racer, Zach Jablonski (AM).  As you can see by the results, Zach jumped right to the podium twice this weekend, with a 2^nd and 3^rd in the tough AM class.  He is off to a great start and will probably get better during the season.  Of course, he has been following his dad, sister, and uncle racing for years and had also been a course forerunner for years.

This Weekend’s Party:

We had 12 TBirds in attendance at the pizza and salad party at the Vollmer Condo in Boyne Falls.  One of the highlights of the evening was a great, home made cherry coffee cake made by Mary Ann Jablonski.  As always, the spirit of the Race Team made it a fun event.

Sick Bay:

The season started off on an unfortunate note, as Steve Vollmer, while doing a practice run before his race on Saturday, fell hard and ended up taking an EMS ride to Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey.  I didn’t see the fall but heard that it was quite spectacular.  When I inspected his skis when they were brought back to the Othmar Chalet, it was quite apparent what happened.  The new Fischer race skis had very sharp edges from tip to tail, something that Steve (the king of dull edges) was not used to.  He apparently caught an edge, which flung him off the skis.  Fortunately, it appears that he didn’t break anything, but he really jolted his head and shoulder and is really sore.  Of course, a couple of Vicodin help.  We wish Steve a speedy recovery and return to the ski hills and race course.

Mike’s Musings:

The first race weekend came off very well, with a LOT of TBirds skiing fast and making the podium.   Combined with the great snow and sunshine, it was a pleasant start to the season. 

The battle of the brothers ended in a tie this weekend, with me smoking Ted by almost 5 seconds in the GS and him smoking me by 2.6 seconds in the slalom.  My first GS run was a strike (an A level handicap) and I was hoping that the massive 0.01 second lead that I had over my nemesis Bruce Johnson would allow me to coast to victory, but he beat me by 0.3 seconds on the second run to get the top spot on the podium.  However, both of us beat ALL of the Supervet A racers, which is fun (and fast).  As I’ve said many times before, I’ve got to continue working at getting faster, especially in slalom.  

See you on January 23^rd.

Your Thunderbird Race Team Director:

            Mike Jablonski
734-283-5510                       (Home)
231-582-7339                       (Cottage)
mtjablonski@wowway.com