Race Team Reports

     THUNDERBIRD RACE TEAM      

Fifth Race Weekend: March 7-9:

The fifth race weekend at Boyne was another success, with 29 T-Bird Racers going through the courses on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  We continue to be, by far, 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 (Friday):

1^st        Janie Guiliani (E2W), Brian Dusina (VBM), Patrick Smithbauer (SVCM), Art Ellwanger (CM), Dick Synowiec (SVDM)
2^nd        Scott Soucie (BM), Doug Fellman (SVCM), Bob Rossi (CM)
3^rd        Mike Jablonski (SVBM), Dale Pacynski (VBM), Gail Kovaleski (CW), Judy Sullivan (DW)

Giant Slalom (Saturday):

1^st        Brian Dusina (VBM), Gail Kovaleski (CW), Art Ellwanger (CM)
2^nd        Janie Guiliani (E2W), Hunter Brisson (AM), Jim King (VBM), Tim Loula (BM), Patrick Smithbauer (SVCM), Bob Rossi (CM), Dick Synowiec (SVDM)
3^rd        Mike LeVan (VE1M), Steve Vollmer (SVCM),

Dual Slalom Cantor Cup (Sunday):

1^st        Tim Loula (BM), Patrick Smithbauer (SVCM), Art Ellwanger (CM)
2^nd        Eric Klaban (E), Mike LeVan (VE1M), Doug Fellman (SVCM), Arlene Bellas (DW), Dick Synowiec (SVDM)
3^rd        Katie LeVan (E2W), Mike Jablonski (SVBM), Gail Kovaleski (CW), Bob Rossi (CM)

Our “racer of the week” is Art Ellwanger, with three 1^st place finishes. However, not far behind with three podium finishes are: Patrick Smithbauer with two 1^st and a 2^nd, Dick Synowiec with a 1^st and two 2^nd, Gail Kovaleski with a 1^st and two 3^rd, and Bob Rossi with two 2^nd and a 3^rd.  With two podium finishes were: Brian Dusina with two 1^st (and would have had a third 1^st had he raced Sunday in his old class), Janie Guiliani and Tim Loula, each with a 1^st and a 2^nd, Doug Fellman with two 2^nd, Mike LeVan with a 2^nd and a 3^rd, and Mike Jablonski with two 3^rd.  The T-Bird’s had 69% of our racers (20 of 29) make the podium at least once, another great showing.

Final 2008 Season Results:

The 2008 season was a great success, with 33 T-Bird Racers going through the courses at least one time.  The T-Birds are the still the largest racing club in the MACC program (out of 12 clubs).  This participation is the true measure of success for the program, but the club is also quite successful in the winning part of the equation. 

After a full season of racing, the T-Bird Race Team finished 4^th (out of 12 teams) in the overall combined standings.  In the giant slalom standings, we were in 5^th, while we were 4^th in the slalom standings.

The individuals that made the season long World Cup podium (1^st, 2^nd, or 3^rd) are as follows:

1^st        Frank Dusina (AM), Gail Kovaleski (CW), Patrick Smithbauer (SVCM), Art Ellwanger (CM)

2^nd        Tim Loula (BM), Doug Fellman (SVCM), Bob Rossi (CM)

3^rd        Katie LeVan (AW), Brian Dusina (VBM), Dick Synowiec (SVDM)

Of the 33 T-Bird racers, 27 made the podium at least once during the regular season (not including the Cantor Cup), 19 made it at least twice, 13 made it at least three times, 11 made it at least four times, and 9 made it at least five times.  The top racers who made the podium six times include Brian Dusina, Frank Dusina, Tim Loula, and Scott Soucie.  Making it seven times is Art Ellwanger.  Making it eight times were Patrick Smithbauer and Bob Rossi.  The queen of the hill, Gail Kovaleski, made it to the podium in 10 of the 11 races, with only a 5^th place in race two marring the season.

Racers of the Year:

The female “T-Bird Racer of the Year” is Gail Kovaleski.  Last season, Gail finished third in CW, with six podium finishes and won the Cantor Cup handicap improvement award.  I predicted that “next season should be even better for her”.  How accurate this prediction was, as she ran away with 1^st place in CW and was the “MACC Most Improved Female Racer of the Year”, with a total improvement of 17.82 points in her handicaps.  Congratulations Gail!!!

The male “T-Bird Racer of the Year” is Patrick Smithbauer.  Patrick won his class, made the podium eight times, was upgraded to B, and was the most improved male T-Bird racer, improving his handicap by almost 5 points.  Congratulations Patrick!!!

Of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the large number of other male T-Bird racers that had remarkable seasons.  Starting with Art Ellwanger, who was 1^st in his class and had seven podiums. Bob Rossi was second to Art in CM and had eight podiums, as well as improving his handicap by almost 4.5 points.  Frank Dusina was first in his class, had six podiums, and was upgraded to E2M.  Old timer Brian Dusina had six podiums, finished third in his class, and might have won that class if he hadn’t been upgraded to VAM.  Tim Loula finished 2^nd in his class and made six podium appearances.  Somewhat lost in the shadow of Patrick is Doug Fellman, who finished 2^nd in SVCM and had five podium finishes.  Congratulations to Art, Bob, Frank, Brian, Tim, and Doug!!!

Then, there is new T-Bird racer, Scott Soucie, who is the “Rookie of the Year” with seven podium finishes in the eight races that he participated.  He had four podium finishes in CM before being upgraded to BM, where he had three more podiums.  With only four races in each class, Scott still finished 4^th in each class.  Had he had another weekend in either class, he would probably placed on the World Cup podium.  Congratulations Scott!!! 

Also worth mentioning is another new T-Bird racer, Katie LeVan, who started in BW, realized that she was misplaced and went to AW, where she won three straight races, and then was upgraded to E2W, but not before placing 3^rd for the season in AW.  Congratulations Katie!!!

Sick Bay:

Some of last seasons injured racers, namely Matt Dubois, Arlene Bellas, and Steve Vollmer have recovered from the falls that they took and were back on the slopes this season.  Wesley Schmida still is recovering from the surgery to repair her torn ACL and meniscus and hopes to be on the slopes and race course in 2009.  Mr. Gimp, Ted Jablonski, had his hip replaced and was back on the race course this season.  Of course, his shoulder has been hurting, and it looks like rotator cuff repairs may be in order.  Dick Synowiec (torn ACL) did not come back on the slopes until midway through the season and only made the last four races.  Of course it appears that Dick has returned to form, placing 1^st in the last two slalom races and 2^nd in the last two GS races, which was enough to place 3^rd for the season in SVDM.  In addition, long-termer Dennis Parrott (bad knee joint) is getting better and has been on the slopes this season, but not on the race course.  Hopefullly, he will be racing next season.

The Social Side:

The T-Bird Race Team is also the best and most multi-dimensional race team, having a strong social side with a party for the racers and friends every race weekend.  There was the pizza party, the submarine sandwich party, and the lasagna party during the first three Boyne race weekends and the great dining at Searchmont. The Marks weekend brought the great turnout for Saturday’s MACC banquet, and the usual great annual T-Bird on-the-hill three-day barbeque at the Othmar Chalet at Superbowl.  No other club has this kind of race season festivities.  Thanks also go out to Gail Kovaleski, Arlene Bellas, Judy Sullivan, Mary Ann Jablonski, Jim Michon and many others for making these activities the success that they were.  It was a season-long good time for all!!!

Mike’s Musings:

The T-Bird Race Team continues to be the best all-around team in the MACC race program.  A few other teams may have finished higher in the team standings, but the T-Birds were not far behind.  We have the most racers, the most winners, the largest group of improving racers, the best social activities, the best Mark’s weekend barbeque, and best of all, the friendliest group of people on the hill.  This is hard to beat (but we will try to do so next season).  

The battle of the brothers went to me this year, as Ted only raced four races this season and I won three of the four races. Ted’s hip has improved to almost full normal function, but his shoulder is now the problem.  The kid is falling apart.  Hopefully, he will be 100% next season, as I don’t want to beat a cripple. 

I stopped my two-season string of 4^th place (invisible award) World Cup finishes by finishing 6^th this season.  This wasn’t the change that I had in mind.  However, it does build character.  But, at this point of my life, I think that I’ve built enough character and need to get faster and start winning.

Again this season, future racer, nephew Zach Jablonski, ran as a forerunner for most of the Course #4 races.  Interestingly, he regularly posted times better than his dad (Ted) or mine.  This is an indication that another racer on Team Jablonski will be a force to be faced in a couple of years.

A few of our T-Bird racers did the Boyne Highlands Downhill race on March 16^th.  Two of us were successful, as I placed 2^nd and Art Ellwanger placed 3^rd in the 60 & Over class on the Mac Gully course.  I was clocked by radar at 53 mph near the bottom of the course, as I beat Art by 0.26 seconds.  This is a fun time that anyone who likes going fast should try.  It is a good way to conclude the race season.

In addition, two of our new T-Bird racers, Katie LeVan and her dad, Mike LeVan, traveled to the NASTAR National Championships in Steamboat after the completion of the MACC season.  Not only did they have a good time, but they returned as national champions of their respective classes.  Katie won the 15-16 Women’s Gold Division by 0.02 seconds and Mike won the Men’s 40-44 Gold Division by about 2/3 of a second.  This shows that our racers do well, wherever they race.  Congratulations Katie and Mike!!!

See you next season on the race course and between now and then at other T-Bird activities.

Your Thunderbird Race Team Director:

Your Thunderbird Race Team Director:

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

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