Dragon Boat West

Hi there,

Does anyone know where I can get some information about next year's Western Canadian Club Crew races?  Is it by invitation only or can teams register to race?  

Thanks![/quote]

hi niRim,

welcome to DBW.  All number of us are patiently waiting for more information on the Western Canada qualifiers still.  I don't think anything has been confirmed yet.  The word on the water right now is that the qualifier will be in Regina in September to accomodate the teams east of the Rockies since they don't thaw out till May. The event is open invitation to any teams. Basically whoever wins at the qualifier goes to the Club Crews in Toronto... if they can afford it.

I'm pretty sure tiger would be able to correct me if I'm wrong... since he is the resident Father Time on this board, seeing his share of Club Crews...

Since the Club Crews are in Toronto, I'm pretty sure there's going to be some stiff competition in the 2005 season since pretty much everyone can afford to fly to Toronto, unlike South Africa last season. I'm not sure if Gorging will be trying for it, but it's a pretty safe bet that Koi will set the Club Crews as a goal.  I've seen Pac Reach on the water training in their OC6. I sense there's going to be a lot of movement in paddlers as they jump to teams that they think will have a chance to end up in Toronto. Wish everyone the best of luck in the new season.

Father Time here :upsidehead:

Currently this is what it looks like:

1.  Crews can only race off in their region or at the National Club Crew Championships.  What does this mean, each region gets 1 entry per division and then there are 2 entries available to be won at the Nation Club Crew Chamionships.  This lets every region get representation and it helps establish a national championship that has something in it (so people make an effort to go).

2. National Club Crew Championships are August 26th/27th in Welland (or rumour has it).

3. Western Region is still not decided but now there is a process to have organizations request the "privilege" to run the event.  There are standards to be met such as course length, properly surveyed, minimum depth, etc.  Sounds good, but typically when put into practice whoever has the most political clout will win the right to hold the regionals.

4.  Right now there are 2 vying for the Western region raceoff (rumour has it).

5.  To allow teams to make a decision to go to Nationals or not I would hope the regional will be held before August 26th (well before so tickets can be booked etc for nationals).

Enough for now, Father Time has to go help Santa now as time is running out for the old guy to get all those gifts ready for me  :shock:

Kind of chaotic right chaos  :wink:

Thanks tiger and chaos.

I thought NCCC was separate from the Western Canadian Club Crews.  ie. Victoria Gorging Dragons won in 2003 to go to the IDBF Club Crew World Championship in South Africa....and FCRCC teams racing in NCCC this year.

When do you expect to hear more on this?  Is there a website (besides dragonboatcanada.org) that I can check out?

Thanks again...

NCCC and Western Regionals are different.  Each country gets 5 spots per division at World Club Crew.  Canada has 3 regions with each getting a guaranteed spot for World Club Crew.  The other 2 spots are open to any team anywhere in the country but you have to go to the "National" Club Crew Championships to earn one of those spots.  It is the hope that all top teams will eventually go to National Club Crew but I think with distance to travel etc it won't happen in my life time (and being Father Time I have quite a few more years left in me  :wink: ).

What FCRCC went to was the National Team Trials which is to decide where the training center (and ultimately the team selection) would occur for Worlds.  Worlds are not the same as World Club Crew.  Each country gets 1 spot per division for Worlds.

Wouldn't the Western Regionals in Whistler be fun...

I've heard a rumor that they will be making an annoucement soon that the Western Qualifiers will be held in Calgary, August 6-7th...

Don't start booking flights and accomodations yet though.. it's only a rumor.