Dragon Boat West

So what teams are going to the Taiwanese Festival next month?

soo... where's the list... it's leading me in circles...

Vancouver International Taiwanese Dragon Boat races will again feature Barrel races - which made it's Canadian debut last year.

There were no Men's or Women's races last year - nor a Women's division.  All teams raced in Mixed Divisions.

Fun races included blindfold race, Nogard (race past flag then paddle back to get it).  For 2005, the plan is to have a slalom race grabbing 6 flags along the way.

Can't tell anything more, as I am not on the DBA board this year, nor the race committee.

Hey people, why are they no Men's and Women's races in the Taiwanese Festival?

It was fun last year and with those races it means more racing for everyone! I think that it's a great experience b/c teams have to mix with other teams (b/c there's not enough on one team) and they have to learn to adapt fast!

Any prediction on this year winner?

Success easily, unless one of the other teams is a super secret throw together team.

With the Taiwanese Festival, it's always hard to judge b/c many teams come together to compete. Thus, if teams grab the best people from 1-2 or 3-4 teams, this could be better than the entire SUCCESS team b/c every team has their weaknesses.

Personally, I don't like to guess who's going to win b/c anything can happen on race day... Please recall the final race in the Comp Div of the ADBF Regatta when Ruckus and SUCCESS collided in the first 1/3 of the race.

On a final note, there are multiple categories this year and thus, multiple "winners"!

I thought that the Taiwanese Festival has been a great venue in the last couple of years!

Last year the fun races were: Barrel, NOGARD, Blind-folded, Men's, and Women's races...

So many races and experience! It's a great bang for the buck!

And those Taiwanese DB's are so much fun being so close to the water while you're paddling, it's great!

PS: A little birdie told me that the 2005 races don't have any men's and women's division, but that they MAY include this division if there is more interest! Come on guys and gals, form teams and let's all race men's and women's!!!!

Hey guys and gals. Ummmm Roli ain't registered to race in the Taiwanese Festival. They never have in the past actually. I wonder how many of those teams that are on that list are actually registered and paid for?

Anyway Team Phat Phish Racing is in and they would be willing to combine with another team to form either a men's or women's crew. They are a recreational crew but can be awesome if pushed! If interested please PM me.

Thanks!

I don't see Swordfish and Lil' Boat on the list this year.  Too bad too 'cause they were at Taiwanese last year and would make for great competition this year!

Yup, looks like SUCCESS (what else is new?  :) ) will do well and TD and Scotia will help us with our banking needs... um... I mean will probably be the top teams too!  :lol:  

I also see the young Just Dragon Along and the (old?) TCC Carib as a force to be reckon with, based on their results at Alcan.   But again, many more Comp/Upper Rec teams this year, so who knows!  This is bound to be an unpredictable and exciting festival!  I can't wait.

Well lil boat won't be there, but there's another team being form, from the same person that put together lil boat, They should aslo be another good competitive team.

Aiya!

I think that Synergy will take all the fun races b/c they have such a large pool of paddlers to choose from (6 boats = 120 people). They have to have at least 20 decent paddlers from that pool...

I put my money on Synergy to take many of the races!

I think that SUCCESS will be surprised this year...

 :rofl:

How much?....I'm willing to take your bet.....

FYI sudden impact are from chilliwack as are the thunderstrokers and Pirates , all part of the fraservalley dragonboat club

I agree out of 120 paddlers synergy must have at least 20 decent paddler, but facing a good team, that practice together everyweek like success, I'll have to put my money on success any day

All the above teams listed are paid for.  haha.. it was my mistake.  It is ALPHA that's registered not ROLI... sorry for the confusion!

*edit* I guess I was hoping that ROLI would register into the festival too!

Hmm well Alpha is still a good team that will probably be aiming for top spot

Pointing out the extreme obvious, are we?  :wink:

If there were a waterfight race or something like that, Synergy would take it.

Could you imagine all the water your DB would take on if you had all 6 synergy teams around your boat from all angles and had a water fight!?!

Scary!!!

Well, the way I see it, anything can happen on race day and any team can beat another on race day...

So, basically a subjective opinion/guess of an overall winner is futile, in my opinion...

Alpha is also another very good, competitive team...

It's true that anything can happen on race day, but to say all team have even chance of winning is not very true, since some team have much more of an advantage, in the fact that they're just a better team. So you can try to guess who will win, but there's always the chance of an upset.

Yes Roli is going down to San Fran but this is for this coming weekend. And about a hand full of them will be staying past the weekend so there would be enough paddlers to put a team together. Afterall Roli does have 2 teams! The Taiwanese Festival is next weekend, the Labour Day Long Weekend. But still Roli won't be participating. It just never came up.

awww...that's just too bad! Well, if there's enough paddlers to put together a team maybe you can ask them if they are interested! If it never came up, you can bring it up!   :D  It's not too late!

Well, every team has their weaknesses...

With a flag-catching race, anything can happen...losing control, hitting the flag, dropping the flag, losing a paddler b/c there is no gunnel, etc.

I've once seen a team in Portland fly ahead by 4.5 boats from the 2nd place team, only to be DQ'ed b/c they missed the flag...

That's why Taiwanese is so interesting and yet stressful at the same time...ha ha ha...

I wonder how much water the Taiwanese DB's can take on before they sink...maybe I should ask Synergy to test this theory...ha ha ha

Good point!  Another reason why some teams might win by an upset!  

But hey, the Taiwanese boats Teak boats are way different from the ones we're used to anyway.  I don't believe any of the teams really have many chances to practice in them, if at all.  

So with new boats that no one is used to, anything can happen... (anything can happen in ANY race anyway)... even more.   And I don't mean to reiterate everything that's been said.  In my head, it sounds different.   :lol:

Hello everyone!!  To help Richard out this is the list of teams I have who are registered for the Taiwanese Races.  I believe all are paid up except for the Thunder Strokers whose cheque got lost in the mail.   :)

1   Nothin' Dragon Seniors
2   Sudden Impact Dragon Boat Team
3   Hot Knots
4   (WOW) Women On Water
5   TD Lightning
6   Dragon Stew
7   DR'AGONIZE
8   Gung Haggis Fat Choy
9   Elephant And Castle Booze Cruise
10   The EH Team
11   Ready Jet Go
12   TCC Carib Dragoneers
13   ScotiaBank Dragons
14   Pirates
15   Team Success
16   RGL United
17   Just Dragon Along
18   Rogers Wireless Cellmart Comunications Team Vortex
19   Hex
20   Synergy Souljas
21   Synergy J-Speed
22   Synergy Dregoons
23   Synergy Ship Disturbers
24   Synergy Yellow Submarine
25   Draco Sports Club
26   Saints Preserve Us
27   Naluwan
28   JET Ai
29   Splashtest Dragons
30   Phat Phish Racing
31   Central Cruizers
32   Strathcona Youth
33   Hydro Power Dragons
34   CAC Bananaboat
35   CBC Wave Catchers
36   Alpha Dragons
37   Eazy Peezy Lemon Squeezy
38   Tacoma Dragon Boat Association, Destiny Dragons
39   Chilliwack Thunder Strokers

hey guido,

you have to re-read my clause...i'll put $ on synergy if they put their best team into the races...

no one team has a clear shot at the gold...it appears that it going to be a good venue this year!

i want more of the taiwanese boats, the teak boats just hurt and they are made for people that are tiny (i think that the ladies should be racing in them and the guys should be racing the "manly" taiwanese boats)

Unfortunately I don't form the teams that way.  120ppl doesn't mean much.  

I must agree though, if any teams want to challenge any of my Synergy teams for a water fight they would for SURE be up for it!  :twisted:

My $$$'s on Alcan Success.  A proven team always.  You don't hear much from them during the season but they always show strong at festivals. Alpha will give them a run for the money but unless they slow down that stroke rate or lengthen their stroke I doubt they'll grab the gold.

I agree with you, they're an elite team up there with roli, pacific reach, and fcrcc, so my money will aslo be on the obvious team success

I don't know much about most of these teams.  And since everyone says there are more upper rec and comp teams, I'm just curious what you guys think the top 10 strongest teams are.  

And what is the strongest Synergy team?  I think they have a class of their own  :lol:

From the taiwanese list in no order the top 5 teams in my opion is....keep in mind this is only my first year paddling so my view on some team is only based on the festivals they were at this year

Sudden Impact Dragon Boat Team
Alpha Dragon
ScotiaBank Dragons
Team Success
Eazy Peezy Lemon Squeezy

Yeah, we'll help you grow that extra arm/eye.  :P

Eazy Peezy's back?  Very interesting  :think: ...  With that latest info I'll change my previous prediction.  I just don't know who will take the gold, but I think Eazy Peezy and Success will dual it out to the last 100th of a second, followed by Alpha.

ah shoot I overlooked alpha on my top 5........

who's easy peezy? I've never heard of them...

this year?  a mixed crew made up of Vo2, Subey, Fodb, Success as far as I can guess.

i just want to hire someone to create names for DB teams... names like "Team" whatever, don't cut it anymore...

We are called "The Uncoachables".  

To join this team, you must answer yes to at least one of these questions:

a.  Are you are tired of listening to someone tell you your stroke sucks?
b.  Do you think you know more than the coach?
c.  Do you know more than everyone else on your team?
d.  When the coach talks you only hear how good you look?
e.  Do you practice once a month and believe you should never be spared?
f.   Do you take your shirt off to paddle?

We haven't filled the roster so we can't be in this festival but maybe Kelowna or next year.

If you know anyone who fits the above criteria, let them know that we are trying to start up a new team (practice is optional of course).

All in fun, my prediction is:

Success

then everyone else


Tig    :lol:

With all the people that Synergy has, it would be interesting if they had, for example, 2 teams in each of the Comp, Recreational, and Novice so that they aren't fighting each other for top spot (unless that's their goal to have a full race of synergy teams)...

Just think of the possibilities...

I'd happily decline a water fight with 120 ppl around me... I'd surely die!

That's very interesting b/c I'm pretty sure that last year's teak boats raced with 20 paddlers... I'm banking on 20 ppl though...

Maybe they decided to change that just like a bunch of other things they've changed this year.

If that's true, that's incredibly short-sighted.

All these races we have are built around 20 paddlers, and Teaks are heavy enough as it is.

Maybe the organizers want to see grown adults cry... "What, teak boats with 18 paddlers...why not put 10 and really make it hard" (refer to Barrel race).

But it's all for fun, right?

FYI the flag boats have a crew of 18 paddlers
> +drummer+steerer+flag catcher
> Teak boats have 18 paddlers +drummer+steerer

edit

In light of what you said Rossifumi, I beg to differ.  I think it matters more to a 'hard core' competitive paddler.  Imagine training 3-5 x's a week on the water plus all your gym time and then being sat out.  It bites.  When you train that much you train to race, not sit out.

edit - i was just going to post up and say if it was 18 seats I wouldn't be surprised just because the last seat is tiny

All teams that are registered  for the Taiwanese festival. The Taiwan flag pulling boats have 18 paddlers,steersperson, drummer, and a flag catcher.

In a teak boat 18 paddlers, steersperson, and drummer.

Richard
Race Director
604-562-5932

Anyone got today's Taiwanese race results??

The only real results that matter are:

Did we have fun yet?

Todays results are mixed.
The races started way late....
Lots of delays because of the tugboat putting a barge in, during the middle of the races.  Big delay doing the NOGARD (backward) races and the very first Taiwanese slalom race.
I heard they pushed some specialty races back to Sunday because of the delays.

Did we have fun yet?

Our first race in Taiwanese boats, was like being a cork on an ocean.  We had a very tough first heat, with tough competition that left us in their wake.... so the Taiwanese boat made of Alaskan cedar really bobbed a lot - very tough to steer.

Our second Taiwanese boat race, our steersperson went for the far right flag, as we were lane 6.  Unfortunately another flag further to the right appeared just before the finish and we had to take a sharp turn to go for it.  The kicker is that we were in the lead, winning the race, when our drummer told him to go for the BLUE flag, which we overshot.  Our new paddlers in the back grabbed the flag to pass up to our flag grabber.  Bad News... only the flag grabber can grab the flag.  

Who made the decision to put a blue flag on blue water against a blue sky?

Did we have fun yet?

Seeing lots of paddle friends from Tacoma, Calgary, Chilliwack and throughout Vancouver made it fun.  We had beers and food in the Azure Restaurant (formerly Mavericks).  

We sold lots of tickets to our Paddlers Party at the Roxy for Sunday Night.
We did the first ever Taiwanese slalom race.

We are having fun!

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS

   Race 33   Men's Race - Teak
1.   2:07.15   Team SUCCESS
2.   2:12.48   TD Lightning
3.   2:13.68   Hex Powered by Scotia
4.   2:14.78   Phat Carib
5.   2:20.08   Braveheart Warriors Gung Haggis
6.   2:21.68   Fraser Valley DBC Men's

   Race 34   Women's Race - Flag Catcher
1.   2:44.39   Team SUCCESS
2.   2:51.99   Fraser Valley DBC Women
3.   2:53.36   Scotia Powered by Hex
4.   2:54.16   TD Lightning
5.   2:54.19   Mulan Warriors Gung Haggis
6.   2:57.22   Hot Knots

   Race 35   Lower Consolation - Teak
1.   2:35.83   Draco Sports Club
2.   2:40.03   JET-Ai
3.   2:41.43   Chilliwack Thunder Strokers
4.   2:42.86   Naluwan
5.   2:53.16   Dragon Stew
      
   Race 36   Group D Final - Flag Catcher
1.   2:45.17   Synergy Souljas
2.   2:45.47   Splash Test Dragons
3.   2:48.50   Gung Haggis Fat Choy
4.   2:49.34   CAC Banana Boat
5.   DQ   The EH Team
6.   DQ   (WOW) Women on Water

   Race 37   Mid Consolation - Teak
1.   2:30.17   Hydro Power Dragons
2.   2:40.77   Strathcona Youth Dragons
3.   2:41.54   Rogers Wireless Team Vortex
4.   2:42.24   Central Cruizers
5.   2:57.14   Saints Preserve Us

   Race 38   Group C Final - Flag Catcher
1.   2:44.23   Synergy Yellow Submarine
2.   2:44.50   Synergy Ship Disturbers
3.   2:45.10   Ready Jet Go
4.   2:49.33   CBC Wave Catchers
5.   2:51.43   Pirates
6.   2:55.66   Nothin' Dragon Seniors

   Race 39   Upper Consolation - Teak
1.   2:25.13   Just Dragon Along
2.   2:31.30   RGL United
3.   2:31.70   Team Hex
4.   2:36.20   Hot Knots

   Race 40   Group B Final - Flag Catcher
1.   2:36.54   Phat Phish Racing
2.   2:40.01   Scotiabank Dragons
3.   2:40.02   Elephant & Castle Booze Cruise
4.   2:41.04   Synergy J-Speed
5.   2:43.74   TD Lightning
6.   2:47.07   Dr'agonize

   Race 41   Group A Final - Flag Catcher
1.   2:25.78   Team SUCCESS
2.   2:32.31   Easy Peezy Lemon Squeezy
3.   2:34.51   Sudden Impact
4.   2:41.25   Tacoma DBA
5.   2:42.55   Synergy Dregoons
6.   2:43.18   TCC Carib Dragoneers

wow, looks like synergy has improved lots...wonder how much better they've gotten at water fights :roll:

anyone got the results for the synergy paddle royale?

I thought Upper Consolation higher than Final B, but Final B's race was after Upper consolation.  Just wondering.

Anyone got pics of the races?

Great racing everybody!!

THe slowest finishers in Group C & D semis ended up in the same "lower consolation" pool. Slowest boats in B semis ended up in "mid consolation" and A semis in "upper consolations". I don't recall seeing this before...

Because of this combined consolation pool, it means that there are only three  consolation rounds and four finals. Hence, the unexpected ordering of races at the end of the festival.

So upper consolation were from the A semi's, therefore rank higher than Final B.  Thanks for clearing that up, Angus.

That is quite an awkward way of the lower, mid, and upper consolation time slots.

Overall, the festival was great, I must say again.

No results.. I couldn't figure out which of my teams had to bail out the most water..  :lol:

Synergy should win a special cup for having the most team entries in the festival.  Congratulations Kat - well done!

People really enjoyed the FUN races too!
Being able to turn around buoys, stop and go backwards, aim and grab for flags really adds a lot to important boat skills.

I heard lots of good compliments on the festival portion, more people can now appreciate the Taiwanese entertainment and food for what it is culturally, rather than complain about how "weird" it is.  Understanding cultural diversity is an important part of Vancouver's path to becoming a  true "global city."  The Alcan Dragon Boat Festival has left behind a lot of its "Chinese roots" in favor of a broad based approach to multiculturalism...  eg. Chilliwack and Trooper 1970's rock bands?!?

These classic dragon boats, whether teak Hong Kong style or cedar wood Taiwanese boats provide a good cultural component to dragonboating.  It's important for paddlers to experience racing in them, especially since they are so beautifully ornate.  For many new paddlers, some have only ever raced in fibreglass 6-16's Millenium or Gemini boats.

It is fabulous that the Taiwanese Cultural Festival was open to adding a dragon boat component which paved the way to have the boats donated by Taiwan.  I introduced TCF executive director to race organizers from Calgary and Tacoma on the weekend, and earlier we had the San Francisco race organizers come out for a Taiwanese boat practice.  

The Taiwanese style boats are raced up and down the Mississippi River and are also in Denver Colorado.  With San Francisco being sister-city to Taipei, there may be an emerging Taiwanese dragon boat circuit.

Kat you didn't tell us which teams were in which lanes.  I did record the finish though if you want to know which boats crossed in what order.   8)