Dragon Boat West

Dragon Boat Forums => Racer's Village => Topic started by: Guido on July 30, 2005, 11:16:38 PM



Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: Guido on July 30, 2005, 11:16:38 PM
Here are my predictions.......anyone care to share their own?

Premier Mixed:

1) FCRCC Mixed
2) Pacific Reach
3) Pari Huti (from Edmonton)
4) FCRCC Roli Open

Premier Women:

1) False Creek Open Women
2) Kelowna Women (not sure their name)

Premier Men:

1) FCRCC Men
2) Pacific Reach Men

Master Mixed:

1) FCRCC Roli Masters
2) Pacific Reack Master Mixed

I'd heard rumours Lil Boat that Could was going to go....but after that unofficial loss in Richmond.....1/2 the boat sunk.


Title: Re: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: turtle_turtle on July 31, 2005, 03:17:43 PM
Quote from: Guido
I'd heard rumours Lil Boat that Could was going to go....but after that unofficial loss in Richmond.....1/2 the boat sunk.


Just curious, but please elaborate what you mean by "sunk".  And if Lil Boat goes, I see them in the top division as well.

And as for other predictions.......... I predict hot sunny weather in Calgary, cleaner water (instead of sludge), and fast teams in the top divisions  :lol:


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: Diesel on July 31, 2005, 05:17:39 PM
i'd say that the navy dragon anchors will do well....if the lil boat that could is going, they'd probably end up close to the top as well.


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: Secret Weapon on July 31, 2005, 05:39:10 PM
Don't forget that the Western race-offs and the Calgary Festival are separate from each other.  I'm guessing the Navy team is only in the Festival part but what about Lil Boat, are they trying to qualify for the WCC as well...Guido could you elaborate?  As for who is going to win the race-offs... it will be a nail bitter finish!


Title: Lil Boat not going from what I hear
Post by: tiger on July 31, 2005, 05:59:41 PM
The lil boat that couldn't (in Richmond  :shock: ) is not in the race off.  Neither is the Navy so they must be in the festival part.  I think Guido is only talking about the race off for World Club Crew.

My thoughts on the race off teams:

Premier Open - FCRCC Men

I have heard that Pac Reach are running with 18 men and 2 women so I will give the nod to FCRCC Men.  Not that I am saying the women cannot beat some of the men but based on Alcan I will give it to FCRCC

Premier Mixed - FCRCC Mixed

Interesting division, 4 teams but only one can win.  I have heard FCRCC has picked up some strong women but lost some strong men (in Berlin, etc).  Pati Huti is an unknown for most of us but they have generally are not a top threat when racing against westcoast teams.  Roli appears to be coming together but I think they will come up a little short.  Pac Reach have been together for how many years?  I will give the nod to FCRCC Mixed just based on who they picked up (I hear that they picked up the paddlers all within the strict rules of club crew qualifying so nothing weird going on here).  Pac Reach will be a close second especially since they know the Dynasty boats.

Premier Women - FCRCC Women

I think Kelowna and FCRCC have raced against each other and FCRCC easily beat Kelowna so I will give the nod to FCRCC.

Master Mixed - FCRCC Roli (if in a tiebreaker)

This I think is the most unknown as both teams, FCRCC Roli and Pac Reach have not raced as masters teams.  We have seen both teams in bits and pieces but we haven't seen the teams race against each other or the other mixed teams.  I have heard Pac Reach did not have a full masters crew so they must have picked up some paddlers.  Roli has called on the masters of last year to complete their masters.  So who has geled as a team will dictate who wins.  I think this division will come down to a tiebreaker, one team will win the 250m and another wins the 500m so it goes to a tiebreaker.  If it goes to a tiebreaker I will give it to Roli since they are racing less than Pac Reach.


Title: WCC seperate from the festival
Post by: magicpaddler on August 01, 2005, 07:29:19 AM
You are correct the WCC regional are seperate from the regular festival.  The Navy team and a FCCRC team are registered in the regular festival part.

I see the festival being the Navy, FCCRC and the Calgary Canoe Club being the top 3 teams this year.

for the Regionals I see FCCRC and PR being the to 2 for sure with a slight edge in the heart dept going to PR.


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: @1 with the blade on August 02, 2005, 11:53:55 PM
Firstly, apologies for the rants and perhaps straying from the topic. Normally I’m not a writer; just an avid reader of the strings but to hear of more “pickups” from FCRCC for a Crew event gets the blood boiling. (looking at how long this has ending up being apparently it's been pent up for some time!) :oops:

Quote
give the nod to FCRCC Mixed just based on who they picked up (I hear that they picked up the paddlers all within the strict rules of club crew qualifying so nothing weird going on here).


I find it interesting that an explanation is included about how FCRCC picks up paddlers. Not to pick on your hearings Tiger, I just find it an ongoing annoyance that a Club founded nearly 20 years ago, with an advertised “home to over 1000 paddlers” can not seem to maintain a consistant roster for a full season of racing. If not mistaken the Club Crew qualifiers allow a roster of 30 paddlers, even if team members may have other commitments does not proper planning take these possible vacancies into account? Yes, they may have technically stayed within the rules, but as a "Crew", fallen very short. I’ve wondered how smaller team/crews (22-26-30) can manage to field Club Crew teams while a Club with as large a membership as FCRCC can't keep seem to mantain a roster through two or three races let alone an entire season. Once again it seems that “based on who they picked up” they may win. Disappointing FCRCC, a hollow victory if it plays out. As technically a member of FCRCC only by need of a boat to practice in it’s disappointing that they do not have a better system to bring up paddlers within their own population.  No one can deny they are a strong, dominant team but each time they win it seems to have a shadow cast over it. With rumors of last minute pick ups, out of town or out of club paddlers, jumped starts, miscounts of female paddlers, etc. If you've been around the sport for a while and asked a few questions you get to know who the players are. Ever see the picture of the FCRCC Men’s winning crew in the newspaper from Alcan 2005, how many Jericho crew members can you find? Infuriating, are they rostered for Calgary too?  Aren't they the team us up and coming Rec's are supposed to aspire to be? Not with their history, sorry. Is it poor planning, poor commitment or a consistent effort to push the boundaries of the rules? I really don't know, and may never get the honest answers... but muse this often.

Roli may have a slight edge in the Masters if the members they recovered from last year gel faster than the Pac Reach masters. I agree racing amount could be a factor but not too much of one. I’ve seen those Pac Reachers go from one race to another to another and be very strong. FCRCC took them by a couple seats at the Sea Festival event but only while PR was on their third race in a row! In another forum topic posted here I read they raced in Vernon in a final then a second race of stacked teams then proceeded to pull up a water skier! Wanting to hear more I called a friend in the OKanagan who happened to have caught the action first hand. She reported this was all done within roughly a half hour time span maybe a bit more including rigging the boat with a tow rope. To add to the impressiveness they didn’t just pull up a small kid but rather an adult female of a “not small stature”, definitely over a hundred pounds in her guess. She did mention the PR group never really had a serious contender in the final races so maybe they saved a bit.

Pacific Reach, have been around for 4 or 5 years or thereabout. A second team started and did well last season, and then seemed to have been incorporated to only one again this season. If the comments are true about PR running two women in the men’s division... full credit to them for sticking to their ranks! That's what committing to a crew membership is about. Win or loose they seem to be a strong cohesive team, I’ve admired them for that over the years. If heart plays a factor in the races, Pacific Reach has it won hands down!

Perhaps my views aren’t shared or recognized by others or perhaps I could be accused of being a fan of Pacific Reach. Maybe they are just more approachable to all us Rec’s and Novices as that is where they all came from. They and Roli, for simple matter of holding true to course, are respecting of praise as they both remain within their ranks and accept the outcomes. In a true TEAM sport and certainly within a CLUB CREW event I’d say it should be valued above all. Given a chance to paddle for PR, Roli or FCRCC (not that it will ever happen) I’d have a hard choice between PR or Roli. At least with them I’d have a chance to make a race rather than being sat out for someone that got recruited because they had a better paddling resume or time trial.

Always a fan of a good storyline, I already have friends and family set to give full reports on the events in Calgary. It should be quite the show(down). Wish I could attend!

Good luck to each of the teams heading to Calgary and further on to Toronto to represent the West!


Title: Have to disagree this time
Post by: tiger on August 03, 2005, 12:28:23 AM
@1,

I am one to be all for the club crew concept and protocol and I have to disagree with your rant on FCRCC Mixed.  They ran with 24 at Alcan so they are perfectly in their right to add the number of paddlers to the roster.  As it turns out, they have 4 paddlers not able to make it because some are in Berlin competing at Worlds (2 paddlers), weddings, etc (2 paddlers) so they are quite legit reasons and to be honest the 4 paddlers they lost are some of their strongest.  So for once I can honestly say that FCRCC Mixed have done a good job in keeping the same paddlers together, something that has not happened for a few years.  As for the paddlers they picked up, they come from FCRCC (i.e. they have been members of FCRCC for the last year).  So again nothing funny going on.  In addition, I heard that the various club crews got to see what roster changes each were doing and if they did not like then they could voice their opinion.  If this happened it almost makes it sportsman like, I think a group hug will be next  :shock: .

In the end, all of the teams going have been living up to the club crew protocol and that says something

MOOC (My Opinion Of Course)


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: Secret Weapon on August 03, 2005, 04:28:53 PM
Tiger can you confirm if there are some male paddlers now on FCRCC from GRPC's Gorging Dragons?  I believe they joined the crew a few weeks back.  They were seen doing time trials at Alder Bay.  I think this may be why some people "rant" on FCRCC.  I would consider that going outside their club.


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: paddleboy on August 03, 2005, 07:20:42 PM
Yes there some Gorging guys on the FCRCC mens team and 1 of them is on the Dragon Boat Canada comittee


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: beedub on August 03, 2005, 07:28:36 PM
Quote from: paddleboy
Yes there some Gorging guys on the FCRCC mens team and 1 of them is on the Dragon Boat Canada comittee ......................talk about stepping over the line and possibly even going against the DBC rules .

 He wanted to be a part of this so bad and Gorging was not going to make a run for it again so he stepped over to FCRCC and yes he lives in Victoria .....hmmmm


hrmmm....interesting point. :P


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: @1 with the blade on August 04, 2005, 01:41:48 AM
Quote
I heard that the various club crews got to see what roster changes each were doing and if they did not like then they could voice their opinion.


After they voiced their opinion... they were going to do what? Change their ways immediately... given the history, unlikely. As you too mentioned it's been a few years since they kept the same paddlers together. You seem to have a good line on FCRCC information Tiger, again I don't mean to put you on the spot but what about the claim GRPC's paddler is rostered on their team now too. That's one heck of a commute to make all those practices for a year! Did the the various club crews voice their opinion to the GRPC member being included on FCRCC's roser when they all shared? Is he still on the roster and going? I missed the time trial others mention but pretty sure I would have recognized a Gorging Dragon in our midst for the last year. I've met a number of their team through the years and followed their run to the Club Crew Races in South Africa, April 2004. A handy guy to bring into a crew trying to go for a Club Crew qualifying as Gorging did the qualifying series last time maybe two years ago... hmmm in Calgary too... and against PR… Wow this gets better all the time!  That's one FCRCC membership form I'd like to see first hand. I am happy to hear there other selections were from seasoned members of FCRCC that have been members for the last year. Sorry I missed my chance to come out and play as I've only been a DB member for five!! Guess I missed that memo... :cry:

Those rosters offered to the other teams show the whole race season and include the Alcan Men's roster? That's one list of names I'd certainly like to get a chance to look over, all those FCRCC/Jericho dual club members. Was the Gorging guy on that one too?!  I understand that these men's races are more for fun than anything and a couple teams mearged to make teams. However, I go back to the fact that with over 1000 paddlers (at least 1/2 male) to choose from why does FCRCC go outside thier own Club for paddlers?

My opinion only and this may be because I don't have all the facts (but I sure would like to look at some membership records) I personally, still don't think FCRCC is honoring the CLUB CREW event and maintaining a true Crew roster. Tiger, your account of the numbers from Alcan mixed roster: 24 and after the 4 left for ligit reasons leaves 20 paddlers for the mixed event. Granted no spares but that is enough to fill a boat (maybe not if they only had eight females to start with -see planning-), that's the number they were left with after the others had more important things to go to. These smaller teams take that risk as they only have a limited amount to work with, period, and they manage.

Quote
I have heard that Pac Reach are running with 18 men and 2 women


THEY are working with what they have available! Others have even seen them race with only 18 paddlers and win (not in a final mind you). FCRCC may be within the rules, maybe the rules need to be stricter to ensure this stays a Club Crew event and not another National type -select-from-across-the-country-or-province-to-fill-your-boat- race off. Again I go back to the question of planning. FCRCC didn't know that these four paddlers were not going to be available for Calgary well before the race season started? Berlin's date just got announced, the weddings (theirs or someone elses?) were scheduled without knowledge of when the race off was... This was a surprise to them? Shoot, even the new one-year members they recruited had better planning skills than that! Here's a link they may want to check frequently http://www.dragonboatwest.net it may help.

ooop wait.......... Bubble.. bubble... bubble.... their goes the boiling point again...  have to stay away from this thing. I know why I stayed away from writing on these things. Just going to have to remember that fair play and ethics are only seen in movies, fairytales and storybooks not the real world. Just wishing that this has one of those storybook endings where the good guys win and not those that seem to manipulate the grey areas every step of the way. Going back to just reading...

Quote
I think this may be why some people "rant" on FCRCC.

Thanks Secret Weapon... no kidding!


Title: Do any of you know what a club is?
Post by: tiger on August 04, 2005, 06:52:13 AM
Some rants gong on here but just in case you are wondering?

A club crew is up to 30 paddlers that want to paddle together for the year.  If there are not 30 paddlers you can add up to 4 people maximum as long as you do not go over 30 people.  This is how DBC and IDBF look at clubs.  There is no where in there that you have to be from the same canoe club or even the same city.  A paddler can paddle individual and then paddle with their DB team once a week, once every 2 weeks once a month or only at festivals.  Again, they are only going to paddle on one team.  

The GD paddlers that FCRCC picked up (only for the men's division, mixed is totally from FCRCC) did not paddle with GD this year so why are people lumping them with GD.  Have not all of you paddled on another team prior to going to your comp team.  

Paddleboy, you got in a nice rant with your former team but then you went to Pac Reach.  If your logic holds I don't think you should have been able to paddle with Pac Reach that first year since you were on another team last year.

Now is Pac Reach taking their Jericho paddlers with them?  If so then I don't think they are part of Pac Reach?  But in Alcan, Pac Reach had Jericho paddlers paddling with them.  So Paddleboy how could you possibly be on a team that brings on paddlers that have not come up through the ranks?  Doesn't that make you as bad as a compnay bringing in scap labour to get a job done.  I am going to call the paddler's union and we will start to picket the Pac Reach tent at the festivals  :lol:

So in the end, none of these teams are pure.  Based on everybody's rantings they are all cheaters.  We had better cancel the whole thing cause they all have paddlers that use to paddle on another team (oh no).  Or maybe some of the paddlers did not race Alcan so they can't belong on a team now.

You can all rant you want but in the end, the rules have been followed by all the teams that count.

Now let's get back to the predictions.

Out of here for now!


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: DBWTim on August 04, 2005, 08:36:18 AM
I guess I'll throw in my $0.02 while I take a break from the piles of work I should be doing (and I mean stuff I get paid for.. not stuff like updating the rankings/standings)

I think the main problem with the Club Crews is essentially the definition of what qualifies as a "club crew".  Correct me if I'm wrong but by definition the bare minimum of a club crew is a team that races in two DBC-sanctioned races (I believe that DBC dropped that down to one for this year) plus the Qualifier after those races. In all three of those races, the 30 roster, which is to be finalized by a certain date, must stay the same with an allowance of 4 changes to that roster. So in essence a total of 34 paddlers could have paddled for the team that season, but only 30 maximum on the roster (if I'm making sense).

I don't think it says anywhere that the paddlers must paddle in the same boat  or even in the same location (again, please correct me if I'm wrong as I've only skimmed through the handbook). Do I think this is what the Club Crews are supposed to be about? Definately not... but unfortunately, the rules in place have not reflected those concerns that have come up.  The Club Crews as they stand right now is basically open game for any crew that is not the National Team... as long as they uphold the minimum.

Also in regards to FCRCC... as strange as it sounds... but I think anyone that pretty much has that red plastic membership card is a member of the False Creek Racing Canoe Club, thereby qualifying them to be able to paddle on the FCRCC Club Crew teams. Sure, you will need to go through the selection process but everyone is eligible as long as they have membership to the club.


Title: One point to add
Post by: tiger on August 04, 2005, 08:48:39 AM
The only other to point to add is that one of the 4 additions must not have been on another club crew team in the same year.  That means if someone from Pac Reach raced in a sport crew race - mixed division (with Pac Reach) they cannot go join FCRCC Mixed in the same year.  They can only belong to one sport crew per year per division.

Just so everyone knows, I believe DBC is using Alcan this year as the west's qualifying race.  In the future I think some enterprising people will start putting on a sport crew racing series in the West.

We can hope  8)


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: Rossifumi on August 04, 2005, 10:12:08 AM
internet warriors.. ai.. I might of missed it skimming through these essays but if memory serves (spoke with someone who knows), the 06 Championship mix must be the same (or a high % retained) crew as the Race-Off mix.

Regardless, does someone actually have a problem with a crew trying to get the best paddlers they can get before the Race-off?  Funny, that's their business.  Anyhoo, keeping on topic the Race-off is FCRCC's to lose.


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: Secret Weapon on August 05, 2005, 09:34:43 PM
Just to set the record straight regarding Pac Reach and the Jericho paddlers... from what I know the Pac Reach mens teams was short two paddlers and did not sit any of their crew out to make room for these two.  Big difference between that and FCRCC practices of sitting out committed members for temporary stronger ones.  Don't you think Tiger?  Also there is a HUGE difference between brining in paddlers for a regular festival such as Alcan and an IDBF event as Club Crew race offs.  I still don't believe in sitting out members that have been with you since the beginning of the season and bringing in outside talent.  Not to pick on you Tiger but I don't get the comparison between Paddlboy on a comp team and GD boys on FCRCC.  I think you were scraping the bottom of the barrel with that one.  No offence


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: DBWTim on August 07, 2005, 12:41:35 AM
Unofficial Results from Day 1

Quote
Western Regional Raceoff
Women's 250m - Final
1st - FCRCC women
2nd - some other team I don't know the name

Men's 250m - Final
1st - FCRCC men's

Mixed 250m - Final
1st - FCRCC mixed
2nd - FCRCC Roli Open
3rd - Pacific Reach (Did not finish) - they lost control with 50m to go in the race

Masters 250m - Final
1st - Pacific Reach
2nd - FCRCC Roli Canada Masters (beat roli by 0.37 seconds)


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: hoover on August 07, 2005, 05:46:18 PM
Ouch .. looks like somebody let the dog/seal out on PR in the 250 :D


Title: Results
Post by: Hammerhead on August 08, 2005, 10:39:25 AM
Anyone have the results for this past weekend?

What mens teams raced in the event for the WRCC?


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: DBWTim on August 08, 2005, 12:38:12 PM
Quote
Day 2

Women 500m - Final
1st - FCRCC Womens
2nd - KDBC Just Add Water
FCRCC Women will represent western Canada for WCCC for women's division

Mixed 500m - Final
1st - FCRCC Mixed
2nd - Pac Reach
3rd - Roli Open
FCRCC Mixed will represent Western Canada for WCCC for Mixed division

Masters 500m - Final
1st - Pac Reach
2nd - Roli Masters
Pacific Reach will represent Western Canada for WCCC for Masters division


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: seaboy on August 08, 2005, 03:42:18 PM
The race off was exciting to watch. Too bad PR wiped out on the 250m, they were leading and a win would have forced a tie breaker with FCRCC. They even beat FCRCC in the first 500m race.

In the master's final ROLI ate up nearly a boat length deficit and almost caught PR. PR looked tired, probably because most of them are on both their open and masters teams and that was their fourth race of the day.

I wonder why PR ran their masters crew with an empty seat? Hmm, maybe all the ringers were already snatched up by other teams!  :wink:


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: paddleboy on August 08, 2005, 03:47:00 PM
Well I just want to say congrats again to FCRCC .

 It was a tough go and unfortunate for us that we did lose control. In the 250 meter final PR was ahead by 3 seats w/ about 60-70 meters to go when we took a large wave to the side that sent us sliding and we were unable to regain control .The dynasty's are unforgiving and even w/ one of the best steersmen out there and he did everything he could ,  it was not recoverable .

 In the the 1st 500 meter PR beat FCRCC w/ a 1.55 to FCRCC's 1.56 .Every race PR and FCRCC were pretty much head to head but in the final FCRCC laid down a 1.52 to PR's 1.55 taking home the right to the premier mixed .

 In the masters PR won every race .Roli put up a good race and the PR crew was tired as most were racing both the premier mixed as well as the masters . PR raced w/ 19 paddlers instead of 20 which definately played a little havic on us w weight in the dynasty's .The dynasty's are super sensitive to weight distribution as most found out this past weekend .

 All in all awesome racing w/ some super fast times . It was a great festival overall and the course is awesome .The only problem was wind on the saturday afternoon which made for big waves .It's the only time ,other than outrigger ,where myself and teammates took waves in the face and I found myself having to hold my breath as they came over the gunnel ..............it was like a repeat of white rock only a little worse.

 I did happen to see my fellow forum poster " Guido " on the Roli masters boat. Hmmm , I wonder if that had any influence on his predictions :?

 I would also like to thank all those out of town teams that supported PR and cheered us on the whole weekend...........that was so awesome guys !!! Having teams backing you up the whole weekend was great ...thanks again for supporting us ..... it meant alot and we felt it .


Title: Re: Do any of you know what a club is?
Post by: paddleboy on August 08, 2005, 04:02:17 PM
Quote from: tiger

Paddleboy, you got in a nice rant with your former team but then you went to Pac Reach.  If your logic holds I don't think you should have been able to paddle with Pac Reach that first year since you were on another team last year.

Now is Pac Reach taking their Jericho paddlers with them?  If so then I don't think they are part of Pac Reach?  But in Alcan, Pac Reach had Jericho paddlers paddling with them.  So Paddleboy how could you possibly be on a team that brings on paddlers that have not come up through the ranks?  Doesn't that make you as bad as a compnay bringing in scap labour to get a job done.  I am going to call the paddler's union and we will start to picket the Pac Reach tent at the festivals  :lol:




 Well to let you in on a secret......................I have been w/ Pac Reach for over 2 yrs now so not sure where you are going w/ that  :wink:


Title: From a spectator's view
Post by: adbf on August 09, 2005, 12:52:43 AM
Quote from: paddleboy
Well I just want to say congrats again to FCRCC .

 It was a tough go and unfortunate for us that we did lose control. In the 250 meter final PR was ahead by 3 seats w/ about 60-70 meters to go when we took a large wave to the side that sent us sliding and we were unable to regain control .The dynasty's are unforgiving and even w/ one of the best steersmen out there and he did everything he could ,  it was not recoverable .

 In the the 1st 500 meter PR beat FCRCC w/ a 1.55 to FCRCC's 1.56 .Every race PR and FCRCC were pretty much head to head but in the final FCRCC laid down a 1.52 to PR's 1.55 taking home the right to the premier mixed .

 In the masters PR won every race .Roli put up a good race and the PR crew was tired as most were racing both the premier mixed as well as the masters . PR won using 19 paddlers instead of 20 which definately played a little havic on PR w weight in the dynasty's .The dynasty's are super sensitive to weight distribution as most found out this past weekend .

 All in all awesome racing w/ some super fast times . It was a great festival overall and the course is awesome .The only problem was wind on the saturday afternoon which made for big waves .It's the only time ,other than outrigger ,where myself and teammates took waves in the face and I found myself having to hold my breath as they came over the gunnel ..............it was like a repeat of white rock only a little worse.

 I did happen to see my fellow forum poster " Guido " on the Roli masters boat. Hmmm , I wonder if that had any influence on his predictions :?

 I would also like to thank all those out of town teams that supported PR and cheered us on the whole weekend...........that was so awesome guys !!! Having teams backing you up the whole weekend was great ...thanks agin for supporting PR ..... it meant alot to us and we felt it .


Well I watched all of the race off races from the sideline and some were very exciting:

a.  PR lost the 250m and it was hard to watch.  They had the most amazing start and for it to go by the wayside so late was sad.  They were not 2-3 seats ahead when they lost control, more like 1 seat but hey for some people length matters  :shock: .  Not sure why they ran back to the sidelines with there tail between their legs (get the dog comparison) but it cost them any chance of winning premier.  This was a great race until the correction.
b.  no men's races which was surprising to everybody.  I heard that everyone found out that day (Saturday) that there would not be a men's race.  I also heard, from a PR man  :wink: , that the PR men found out Friday night that they had withdrawn.  Not sure that is true but that is what they said.  Kind of crappy that FCRCC had to go all the way to Calgary for nothing.
c.  women's races were good and it was excellent to see a team step forward to challenge FCRCC women.  Hope Kelowna builds on this and competes in 2 years.
d.  premier mixed was good to watch, especially the 250m.  The 500m was not that impressive (the final).  PR gave up in the 500m final (quite obvious) which was sad to see since they did win the qualifier but it was the thing to do since they screwed themselves in the 250m by not finishing.   Was great seeing 3 teams competing, clearly FCRCC and PR were the favorites but it was nice to see other teams step up and take a shot.  
e. senior mixed in the end was the most closely raced series.  Nothing really separated the 2 teams.  Roli had the 250m in the bag until they rated up on their finish (bad move Roli), lost it in the last 20 feet.  In the 500m PR was out ahead but Roli fought back to only lose by a little.  The most amazing part was that I have been to a number of the regattas and festivals and everytime PR raced Roli, PR blew Roli away on the start.  Not this time, PR and Roli were matched in starts.  Roli clearly changed their start and other aspects, I am sure PR did not think Roli would be a threat.  Paddleboy can you confirm  :wink: .

Paddleboy weren't you on the PR masters team?  If so how would you know they were a boat length behind.  Aren't you suppose to be looking in your own boat  :oops: .  It was interesting your comments about the 19 paddlers.  I hear Roli had 6 paddlers who raced even more than PR paddlers (all on the FCRCC premier teams and the festival teams) and then the rest paddle twice a week so putting a team who practicies for 4 years 5 times a week against a team that practices twice a week is not really fair but they were excellent races to watch.  

It was interesting to watch which teams were routing for which team to win (if that was the case PR would have lost, sorry PR but teams had something against you this weekend).

Overall, the best teams won and I congratulate FCRCC and PR for jobs well done as there were some amazing races this weekend.


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: paddleboy on August 09, 2005, 01:55:11 AM
Quote from: seaboy

In the master's final ROLI ate up nearly a boat length deficit and almost caught PR. PR looked tired, probably because most of them are on both their open and masters teams and that was their fourth race of the day.

I wonder why PR ran their masters crew with an empty seat? Hmm, maybe all the ringers were already snatched up by other teams!  :wink:


 Hmmm , I didn't make that quote......maybe you should read more carefully before you post next time

 Actually PR had alot of support in Calgary....... magic paddler will tell you that .PR was even talked about in the Calgary Herald on the Friday edition which was really nice to see

 ADBF I have to love your versions of what you saw....they are alot different than the majority that were there but then again to each their own

 All teams put in good efforts and at no time do I think anyone gave up in a race ...... nice try though


Title: Which majority to believe?
Post by: adbf on August 09, 2005, 08:45:03 AM
Quote from: paddleboy
Quote from: seaboy

In the master's final ROLI ate up nearly a boat length deficit and almost caught PR. PR looked tired, probably because most of them are on both their open and masters teams and that was their fourth race of the day.

I wonder why PR ran their masters crew with an empty seat? Hmm, maybe all the ringers were already snatched up by other teams!  :wink:


 Hmmm , didn't look like I made the quote......maybe you should read more carefully before you post next time

 Actually PR had alot of support in Calgary....... magic paddler will tell you that .PR was even talked about in the Calgary Herald on the saturday edition which was really nice to see

 ADBF I have to love your versions of what you saw....they are alot different than the majority that were there but then again to each their own

 All teams put in good efforts and at no time do I think anyone gave up in a race ...... nice try though


When you are talking about the majority, are you talking about PR paddlers :lol: ?

As for the my version they would be shared by many but to each its own.  Again PB how did you know you were a boat ahead of Roli if you were paddling?  Is it that sixth sense or a third eye  :shock: ?

If you ask the majority of paddlers, your team gave up at the 250m in the 500m.  Very obivious from shore.  If not then FCRCC was the best team by a boat length.   Hmmmm, maybe you are right, FCRCC is a much better team than PR or we give PR too much credit for trying to stay close with FCRCC :wink: .  Which one is it?

In the end, getting back on topic.  The predictions made by most were pretty accurate and I would hope all the teams were satisfied with their results.


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: Rossifumi on August 09, 2005, 10:53:51 AM
on the topic of having the 'blinders' on...  I'm not sure why you would hold something like this against PBoy.  (Is PB just the Fat Kid or you into Power plays or something?)

Sure a lot of crews get told this but it isn't a law.  Doesn't mean you want to be sightseeing.  Any good disciplined racer (in most any sport) knows how to 'keep tabs' on the competition without losing focus.  

Maybe in this particular instance, well you know there's a crew beside you lane-wise.  But if you can't hear them they're at least a boat-length behind you.  Maybe he just turned around after the finish line to check out where the other boats are?  Who doesn't?  Anyhow, you also don't know if he just didn't watch the race on video after  :roll:


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: magicpaddler on August 09, 2005, 10:58:05 AM
From a predictions point of view the original predictions were correct.  It was very unfortunate that PR had the mishap in the 250 but then @#% happens from time to time, and I think that PR did a great job to recover from that on the Sat to pull off the masters win since most of their premier team is also the masters team.  Wether or not they pulled up in the 500 or not is really irrelevent since they had no chance after the 250 problem.  What really matters  is the end result and the rest is just part of racing wether its dragon boat or cars.  After the fact it doesn't really matter.

On to other things.  PR had almost all of the Calgary teams pulling for them all weekend.  Most of this is because they were interacting with the Calgary teams off the water where FCRCC and ROLI pretty much stuck to themselves.  This also got them some of the newspaper press as well.  PR got a whole bunch of fans in Calgary after this event.  And I must say they look dam good in orange.


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: Rossifumi on August 09, 2005, 11:00:00 AM
Quote from: magicpaddler
From a predictions point of view the original predictions were correct.  It was very unfortunate that PR had the mishap in the 250 but then @#% happens from time to time, and I think that PR did a great job to recover from that on the Sat to pull off the masters win since most of their premier team is also the masters team.  Wether or not they pulled up in the 500 or not is really irrelevent since they had no chance after the 250 problem.  What really matters  is the end result and the rest is just part of racing wether its dragon boat or cars.  After the fact it doesn't really matter.

On to other things.  PR had almost all of the Calgary teams pulling for them all weekend.  Most of this is because they were interacting with the Calgary teams off the water where FCRCC and ROLI pretty much stuck to themselves.  This also got them some of the newspaper press as well.  PR got a whole bunch of fans in Calgary after this event.  And I must say they look dam good in orange.


Ah well good on PR then.  :Cheers:


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: BernMan on August 09, 2005, 11:50:02 AM
Quote from: magicpaddler
And I must say they look dam good in orange.


Are we talking about the same Pacific Reach? Did you say orange? I could have sworn they had black shirts on? Unless I am now color blind too? :wink: I know things start to go on a man after he reaches a certain age but I always denied that! LOL

PR did a fantastic job. Having been a member of theirs for 3 years makes me proud of their accomplishments. I never went public with my predictions but I was hoping for an upset which was not meant to be. But I did have them as favs for masters and definitely 50-50 for the premier because when they really want something they go for it! I know!

Cheers and CONGRATS  to Pacific Reach! :Cheers:

As for Roli and FCRCC sticking to themselves I think it may have something to do with the fact that nobody from Alberta offered to meet us or befriend us. I mean I never saw anyone come by our tent to say hello or welcome. It helps though that PR met some of the Calgary teams only 2 or 3 weeks earlier in Vernon which is always a bonus. Its easy to meet other teams in a "fun" event but in an event such as the Regionals most of us are there to do it right and focus on winning.


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: caper on August 09, 2005, 12:04:34 PM
Hey BernMan, I don't know (or want to know!) about your other age-related disabilities, but eyesight isn't one of them.  

Magicpaddler is talking about the shirt exchange with PR (and a few FCRCC) paddlers and the Magic Dragons.  We wear orange, but it seems like half our team now has PR shirts.


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: magicpaddler on August 09, 2005, 12:11:03 PM
I think about 1/2 of them now have nice orange race jerseys.  We on the other hand have nice black jerseys.  I think it will scare the Edmonton teams in 1.5 weeks when we show up wearing PR jerseys cus we don't have any more of our own.

I know people on both ROLI and FCRCC.  They were good and interacted well, but the teams as a whole were less social, but then as you say they were there for a purpose, and in that situation I may have done the same.  Also with the rep that FCRCC has I think that many of the Cgy teams were a bit intimidated.


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: BernMan on August 09, 2005, 12:12:13 PM
Quote from: caper
Hey BernMan, I don't know (or want to know!) about your other age-related disabilities, but eyesight isn't one of them.  

Magicpaddler is talking about the shirt exchange with PR (and a few FCRCC) paddlers and the Magic Dragons.  We wear orange, but it seems like half our team now has PR shirts.


Well d'uhh is me then!  :roll:

I never even thought of shirt swapping. Back in the '90's I did a lot of that but that was because we all had cheap cotton t's as shirts. Now we use expensive non-cotton type shirts and swapping is almost a thing of the past!

Now I understand! I do appologize then because I agree they would look good in any shirt color. Mind you the black nice tight ones are definite eye candy too!


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: paddleboy on August 09, 2005, 12:12:28 PM
Yeah...magic ....you guys are way too funny. I noticed one of you ended up wearing one of our guys girlfriends shirt (not a PR shirt) in the end. How did you pull that one off..........I think we got a picture of it

 I guess there will always be trash talkers in any race but who cares ,it was a good racing weekend and I have respect for all the teams involved as we all worked hard


Title: Kidnapped Cup
Post by: magicpaddler on August 09, 2005, 12:19:03 PM
Hey paddleboy you wouldn't know who "Kidnapped" the beer cup would you.   Apparently it went missing on Sunday and is on a "vacation".

FYI

The beer cup is the trophy given out to the winner of the 250m sprint (200m this year). it goes along with a keg of beer for the winnng team.  We won it again (52sec) and somebody "kidnapped" the cup on Sunday, and is now sending us pix of it in various places.


Title: Re: Kidnapped Cup
Post by: DukeRaven on August 09, 2005, 12:49:13 PM
Quote from: magicpaddler


somebody "kidnapped" the cup on Sunday, and is now sending us pix of it in various places.


The Garden Gnome did it :twisted:


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: paddleboy on August 09, 2005, 01:41:24 PM
Sorry never saw it .............but then again I was pretty cut by that point and didn't see alot .

  I do think its funny though ................ :lol:

 I'm sure it will return just like the vernon cup


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: beedub on August 09, 2005, 03:54:10 PM
Quote from: paddleboy
Sorry never saw it .............but then again I was pretty cut by that point and didn't see alot .

  I do think its funny though ................ :lol:

 I'm sure it will return just like the vernon cup


 :lol:  :P haha...funny... :P


Title: Re: From a spectator's view
Post by: seaboy on August 09, 2005, 11:22:37 PM
Quote from: adbf

...
PR gave up in the 500m final (quite obvious) which was sad to see since they did win the qualifier but it was the thing to do since they screwed themselves in the 250m by not finishing.   Was great seeing 3 teams competing, clearly FCRCC and PR were the favorites but it was nice to see other teams step up and take a shot.  
...


PR posted a 1:55 in that race, I think the second fastest time of the weekend, not too bad for a team that quit half way through. I think it was PR's best effort, but in the end FCRCC finally gelled and had their best race of the weekend.


Title: Predictions for Calgary.....anyone?????
Post by: QNFFT6 on August 10, 2005, 02:32:51 AM
Quote from: magicpaddler
I think about 1/2 of them now have nice orange race jerseys.  We on the other hand have nice black jerseys.  I think it will scare the Edmonton teams in 1.5 weeks when we show up wearing PR jerseys cus we don't have any more of our own.


I wonder what those A retentive types would do if we all traded jerseys between heats, rather than at the end of the event?  Might give the roster police some additional challenges in Edmonton.  And of course fuel for the flames for our Calgary fans (pun intended).

http://image.mypicgallery.com/2005CalgaryDB/shirt-swap--one-of-these-is-not-like-the-others_large.jpg