[Guest]

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

 

Dragon Boat Canada


IDBF


Canoe Kayak Canada

202 Guests, 0 Users

[skygal]

I don't care how long I wait for a medal, because medals are just happy fringe benefits of the real experiences of racing. Sure, I have a medal or two, but what I really take home is the fact that I raced with the most awesome people in the world and we just went through a whirlwind of pain together for the love of the sport.

i had tears in my eyes reading this. this is sooooo true. thanks for putting things into perspective. as for my original post about feeling a bit gypped about not getting anything for winning a specialty race, i was told that our team will be getting something from the organization--not sure what it will be.  i certainly don't expect a medal as i do feel they should be reserved for the races that involve qualifying via the regular routes (eg. semi finals, finals). however, i still wish we had been given a chance to stand on the podium after this win as we raced hard but apparently, they only decided to add these races on at the last moment, well after the order for the awards went in. perhaps next year a few changes can be made so that every team that places 1st in something can have their moment of glory in front of their cheering friends and family.

all in all, i have to say, RT was awesome! thank you organizers, volunteers, cheering fans...but most importantly thank you to my team (lifescan) for working your butts off the entire weekend; i love the sport as much as do b/c of you.

[leftsideburt]

well said SkyGal

your team did great!
and you show great sportsmanship

our team did great too, and are winners in mine and my coaches eyes.
we paddled thru and together _ thats what counts.
unfortunately, someone(s) tried to bring us down, but it didnt work!!

medals and awarded, glory is earned
-but sportsmanship and pride for oneself (and team) is cultivated together as a team, and no one can take that away.

kudos Lifescan

from your fellow DB team
the Rogers Rebels

[Senna]

What was the purpose of the visitors race? This year 8eight teams signed up and all but two team dropped out. Absolut Sake (my team) and What the Pho? had a good time racing but it was a lark race. There was lotsa talking and joking in  boat prior to the race so it was a good tension reliever before the Comp series.

The race organizers need to make something out of this race (trophy, prize money, medal) so it is not an after thought race.

Senna

[Kai Paddler]

Kai was signed up for the visitors cup race and participated last year but decided not to race because of a variety of factors.  It did not help that the race was the first thing in the morning...

[Olde One]

Another good thing happened at Rio Tinto this year: The Senior's Cup returned home after an absence of four years.

FC Grandragons (59+) beat out Wasabi Grand Masters in a very close race.

Here is a video of the race

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B7AxnsRzjo

[Garbage Miles]

What was the purpose of the visitors race? This year 8eight teams signed up and all but two team dropped out. Absolut Sake (my team) and What the Pho? had a good time racing but it was a lark race. There was lotsa talking and joking in  boat prior to the race so it was a good tension reliever before the Comp series.

The purpose of the Visitor's race is to give the visiting teams more races so that they will be tired for their final race.  If the visiting teams are tired, then local teams will have a higher probability of winning.  It's a bit of a conspiracy.  The San Francisco festival does the same, but Canadian teams always find a way to win.  

[Diego]

As the captain and a paddler of Dragon Hearts Beat team in Alcan, I feel very proud having raced the best race in my 3 years of paddling. We set our goal to be in Comp division (whichever will it be). However we ended up in REC A/ COMP D Semi Final – same as last year’s. Though a bit disappointed, the team didn’t falter, we gave it all in the semi final and managed to go in COMP D final against teams much stronger than us. Again, we had faith in ourselves, in our team mates, and had fun. We tried our best and we raced the best race ever. All boats within 1.5 seconds difference …. Wow. The coach who was watching from the side line couldn’t tell who won. The steerer said, he had to close his mouth all the time due to the intense atmosphere. The paddlers, they are just dead exhausted but content. I can tell from my team mates’ faces. This is the best race we have ever given in this Alcan and we gave it all from the start to finish. Though no bling no regret whatsoever. Racing the best race, against the best of the best, adrenaline pumping, this is the true joy of dragon boating.

Thanks to RGL united who reciprocate our singing “everybody� by backstreet boys.

[LARDCore]

What was the purpose of the visitors race? This year 8eight teams signed up and all but two team dropped out. Absolut Sake (my team) and What the Pho? had a good time racing but it was a lark race. There was lotsa talking and joking in  boat prior to the race so it was a good tension reliever before the Comp series.

The purpose of the Visitor's race is to give the visiting teams more races so that they will be tired for their final race.  If the visiting teams are tired, then local teams will have a higher probability of winning.  It's a bit of a conspiracy.  The San Francisco festival does the same, but Canadian teams always find a way to win.  

Make the Visitor's Race a 200m race and I guarantee you will get more participation. 

[EWL]

What was the purpose of the visitors race? This year 8eight teams signed up and all but two team dropped out. Absolut Sake (my team) and What the Pho? had a good time racing but it was a lark race. There was lotsa talking and joking in  boat prior to the race so it was a good tension reliever before the Comp series.

The purpose of the Visitor's race is to give the visiting teams more races so that they will be tired for their final race.  If the visiting teams are tired, then local teams will have a higher probability of winning.  It's a bit of a conspiracy.  The San Francisco festival does the same, but Canadian teams always find a way to win.  

Make the Visitor's Race a 200m race and I guarantee you will get more participation. 

And not first thing in the morning... had some grumbling about that when I told them about it especially when other teams started to drop out... we were the ones to race with you guys Absolut Sake from Got Pho? Hehehe... it was a fun race!

[spark10]

I don't care how long I wait for a medal, because medals are just happy fringe benefits of the real experiences of racing. Sure, I have a medal or two, but what I really take home is the fact that I raced with the most awesome people in the world and we just went through a whirlwind of pain together for the love of the sport.

i had tears in my eyes reading this. this is sooooo true. thanks for putting things into perspective. as for my original post about feeling a bit gypped about not getting anything for winning a specialty race, i was told that our team will be getting something from the organization--not sure what it will be.  i certainly don't expect a medal as i do feel they should be reserved for the races that involve qualifying via the regular routes (eg. semi finals, finals). however, i still wish we had been given a chance to stand on the podium after this win as we raced hard but apparently, they only decided to add these races on at the last moment, well after the order for the awards went in. perhaps next year a few changes can be made so that every team that places 1st in something can have their moment of glory in front of their cheering friends and family.

all in all, i have to say, RT was awesome! thank you organizers, volunteers, cheering fans...but most importantly thank you to my team (lifescan) for working your butts off the entire weekend; i love the sport as much as do b/c of you.

I feel compelled to get in on the dragon boat love fest band wagon.  Even though I have no clue who most of you are, we are all bonded by the love of this sport.  I thank you for all your stories of motivation.  As an 11-year paddler, it’s incredible to hear how others motivate themselves and what keeps them coming back year after year.  To one, it’s the elusive search for medals.  To another, it’s gunning for a higher division than the previous year and yet to another, it’s just about having the best race possible and leaving it all out on the water, no matter what the result.  Regardless of the reasons, we all know that the sport of dragon boat is something truly amazing and special and those that participate breed a culture of inspiration and sportsmanship.  This thread proves it undeniably. 

On an individual level, dragon boat allows an average joe/jane (or in my case, a portly, un-athletic klutz) to experience the exhilaration of competition and triumph in sport (whatever your definition of triumph is).  I’m not sure any other sport would allow someone like me this incredible honour.  2 days a week and a few weekends a year, I get to call myself a competitive athlete.  I put on my uniform and instantly feel the windmills under my arms turning to unstoppable muscle.  I carry my paddle proudly like a badge of honour.  I put on my black gloves at the marshalling area and suddenly I’m ready for business.  I love these little things about dragonboating.  Unfortunately, then I put on one of the wet Dzone lifejackets and a waft of musty air and B.O. brings me back to reality but only for a few brief seconds and then I pull it together again.  I have a 2 minute-something job to do.

On a team level, there’s an undeniable crazy glue-like bond that forms when 22 people come together in mind and stroke for one common goal, a bond strengthened by the knowledge that each and every paddler, drummer and steersperson contributes to the success or failure of a race and that YOU do not want to be in any way, shape or form potentially responsible for the devastation your team would feel if they landed on the wrong side of a .001 second photo finish and ended up in a Consulation race instead of a Final race.  That is the epitome of TEAM WORK.

What I am most proud of is the culture of sportsmanship.  What happens on the water stays on the water.  The beer garden heals all wounds. We embrace all paddlers, evidenced by the fact that we are one of the few team sports to attract as many inspirational teams as we have.  Just look at teams like the Grand Dragons, Eye of the Dragon, Gift of Life, the Abreast in a Boat teams.  It’s an impressive and growing list.   My deepest respect and hats off to all members of the aforementioned teams.

To me the Rio Tinto Festival is the pinnacle of my dragon boat season.  A phenomenal job was done this year, especially in keeping all the races on track.  Pat yourselves on the back for a job super duper well done.  Ditto to all paddlers and teams and especially to our past and present nemeses: Grand Dragons, TD Lightning, Ready Jet Go, Eye of the Dragon, RGL, Starbucks, Riptide, Anniemaniacs, VO2Max and more.  You might not know us but we’ve been watching you all so next we meet, you better bring it cuz we will!  Year 1, Team Lifescan – 150ish place, Rec F.  Year 12, Team LifeScan – 16th place, Comp B.  Year 24 – beat FCRCC???  Who knows.  Stick around to find out.  You know we will!     

[Senna]

What was the purpose of the visitors race? This year 8eight teams signed up and all but two team dropped out. Absolut Sake (my team) and What the Pho? had a good time racing but it was a lark race. There was lotsa talking and joking in  boat prior to the race so it was a good tension reliever before the Comp series.

The purpose of the Visitor's race is to give the visiting teams more races so that they will be tired for their final race.  If the visiting teams are tired, then local teams will have a higher probability of winning.  It's a bit of a conspiracy.  The San Francisco festival does the same, but Canadian teams always find a way to win.  

Make the Visitor's Race a 200m race and I guarantee you will get more participation. 

And not first thing in the morning... had some grumbling about that when I told them about it especially when other teams started to drop out... we were the ones to race with you guys Absolut Sake from Got Pho? Hehehe... it was a fun race!

It was a fun race. You guys did a great job for just starting to practice in May. Go back and kick ass in Edmonton.


Senna

[NFW]

wow..didnt have time to read the last 10-15 posts at work haha

here's a link I was sent:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn8t-_XRqnk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJjlYqoDcxw

gave me goosebumps when i watched it lol

now if only LARD's famous guts and glory vid would be posted already!

[Mike]

the video would just consist of us getting passed by every boat

#8 in geminis puts us in a tough spot with all the buks chasing us!

[skygal]

the video would just consist of us getting passed by every boat

#8 in geminis puts us in a tough spot with all the buks chasing us!

so then maybe next year you guys should aim to finish 8th in comp B. haha... 

we were boat 2 (gemini) so most of us had no clue that there was all this action going on behind us until we watched the videos.