Dragon Boat West

AZ Gila team registered, and headed to Portland next month, is short one female paddler, and also a flag catcher.  We'd like to add a few strong, experienced, fun, low maintenance ladies to our roster for this two day event. 

Gila team has been around since early in the 21st century, but has become more focused in recent years, traveling to venues such as San Fran, Vegas, and Houston.

If you'd be serious about attending and wish to paddle with an up-and-coming squad, please contact Barry at [email protected].

Positions filled.  Thank you to those who responed via PM.  Portland - here we come. 

The facts - the Portland boats are gigantic, heavy, wooden-style, and only accomodate 16 paddlers, plus caller, steers, and flag catcher.  Course of 500m will run low 3 minutes (with only elite teams dipping below 3mins), as opposed to mid-to-low 2 minutes, for races with more "standard" fibreglass boats.  Any feedback from paddlers who have attended this festival in the recent past would be appreciated.  Several of us wil be headed to Alcan the following weekend, and will look actually look forward to the Gems and BuKs.   :lol:

Whichever side the flag is caught on watch for the buoy bouncing back, front paddlers will have to be very aware and be prepared to duck out of the way.

There is a very short run off after catching the flag, so be prepared to hold hard just after you finish.

This is a great venue and a very fun festival, Portland paddlers are wonderful hosts.

Good luck and enjoy!!

FYI
The local police do not look kindly on drunken paddlers climbing on the metal statues distributed through out the city... and if its hot out the paddlers can acquire some pretty nasty burns!!!

The course is actually 530 meters.  So not only are you lugging 400+ more pounds with the Taiwanese boat you have four less paddlers to do it with.  I've heard that when the sister city of Portland was packing up the boats, they didn't fit in the shipping containers and to solve the problem they shortened the boats to 8 benches instead of ten.  Not sure if that's true or not.

It's so much fun!  It is quite the spectator sport with the drama of catching the flag to end the race.  Sometimes flagcatchers fall off the head of the dragon at the end of the race and dangle upside down by the leg straps.

Leg straps?   :shock:

I can't recall seeing the flag catchers strapping themselves in at the Vancouver (B.C.) Taiwanese festival.  Interesting addition though - I know I'd sure hate to get run over by a dragon boat.   :P

The boats used in Portland are quite a lot bigger than the ones used in the Vancouver Taiwanese festival. True they are called Taiwanese style boats but the 2 are quite different in size. The Vancouver boats did not require leg straps but the Portland ones definitely did! I will see if I can find photos of both boat styles and post them a bit later.

It is great fun!  The PDX venue is right downtown and is beautiful.  In addition to the races; the Rose Festival Parade, the fleet week ships and the carnival will be going on nearby. 
Beware - you might kiss a Gemini the following weekend! The boats are not all built the same or weighted the same, but it's still a really fun festival.   Don't forget, "that which does not kill us makes us stronger. "   :D