Dragon Boat West

Just wondering if someone who participated at the Lotus Regatta could comment on the race.  I'm already thinking ahead to next season and was wondering if the $400/$250 for Mixed/Juniors is worth the price for admission.  Personally I think any race is a good race, but when you throw in a budget, you have to think carefully about which ones you enter. I think it would be great for the community if there were more races since most teams train for one big race and that's pretty much it.

No offence to the teams that participated but I did notice that the competition wasn't very strong after looking at the race grid. Who was actually surprised that M-Power and Grand Dragons came 1 and 2 overall?

As someone who actually has helped volunteered to organized the race and also participated in it many times since the inception at Golden Spike '98, i would have to say that the Lotus Race is what it is... a fun race to be in.  Yes there wasn't much of a competition but it was M-Power's first time there and I wanted to show M-Power how fun Lotus races have always been.  and they all tell me that it was a blast even if we didn't win.

too dah loo

"...If you ask yourself what will happen if you do, ask yourself what will happen if you don't."
Dan Osman, Free-falling Guinness Record Holder

I agree with Kohman. It was an enjoyable day and would have been just as enjoyable even if we didn't come in 1st overall. It may have been even more enjoyable if there was greater competition. It was great to see all the different levels of teams come out in a non-competative environment.

Anyone thinking of participating next year, I say go for it.

Sounds like you had an 'enjoyable' time.

That grid was pretty sparse, their fastest teams were 1 Adult, 1 Junior and 1 Senior team.  Lotus needs to do a better job of advertising that race (though it looks like they were close to capacity).

By the looks of it, the Lotus Regatta is a terrific race for new teams right now.  Being a fan of the Lotus club, I hope they can make it a bigger event.  Throw some prize money out there, that'll do it.

Was it worth the 6 bills?

Certainly M Power's weekend must been worthwhile b/c of the Granddragons.  They'll want to have had a chance at redemption after the FCRCC Regatta.  The Granddragons taught everybody how to paddle that Sunday, wow.  The way they cranked their blade made them look 20 years younger, all heart.  And they beat some other teams that had a lot more muscle than them.


There's a difference between an environment with no competition, as opposed to a non-competitive environment.  Every team for sure wanted to do their best.  Though true, for some teams crossing the finish line in any place is a small victory.  You usually see that in special interest categories.




Golden Spike '98, hey I remember now.  We did that race back in '98.  I remember it well!  
Halfway through the race, I had to get out of my boat and drag us out of the SAND, just so we could finish.  The tide was so low that after the race, a bunch of us all walked out into the middle of the race course and took pictures of us 'paddling'.

You're right.  That was a great race to be in!