Dragon Boat West

Who knows the scoop on Gorging?  Are they training to go to Calgary?  Will they be able to give FCRCC a run for the gold at Alcan? 

Who's ready to place their bets on the Alcan top 5?

1.  FCRCC
2.  Gorging
3.  Master's
4.  FCRCC B
5.  Portland, Pemberton or W3Media

Good luck this year....

There is going to be a few upsets this coming weekend......Eventhough, the local community is getting stronger, so has the out of town teams.....Don't count out Portland, & Calgary.

Some of our local coaches have out helping/coaching and mentoring these teams...and they look strong.....

They same top local teams may be pushed off their "pearch" this year........

I do hope the local teams take it all.....but we will see.........

hey puppy...  work on your spelling and grammar  :lol:

 Yes Gorging has been training for Calgary ...... same as the Masters,W3Media and who knows if Pac Reach will also decide to also jump in at the last minute . Calgary Race Club will be at Alcan with their newly formed comp team to test the waters prior to the big event in Calgary .

 Alcan will kinda be a preview of what the showdown is expected to be like in Calgary and I fully expect to see some tight races this weekend .Just praying the weather holds out and gives us a warm weekend because if it rains it will really suck w/o the army tents

 

I did not see Kai a Kaika on the team list and unless Wasabi has brought up their level I don't think there is an out of team that will challenge FCRCC or the other top 3.  Calgary is going to make a run for it but I don't think they will out perform the top 3 either, not this year anyhow. 

I did notice Wasabi has 7 teams entered.  That beats out Synergy!

Kai'I'Kaika members will probably be paddling out of the Portland Paddling Club. 

i hope they install at least one of those HUGE LCD screens at Alcan.  similar to the ones we saw at Harrison.  that will make the event so much better with race replays, announcements etc. etc.

No tents, No parking,No dragondollars? No admission, Wishful thinking.

Hmmmm....is Alcan dieing a slow death ?  Seems every year it gets a little worse than the year before .Too bad the days of the paddler parties, like at the Plaza , are gone ....those were the best !

 Is there even a paddlers party this year ? Usually you see clubs promoting but not this year....strange .Guess since Kai did the royal rumble at the Roxy maybe the clubs shied away

Are we to assume that Mountain Home Canoe Club is the same people as the Portland Paddling Club?  Then that would change my predictions to:

1.  FCRCC
2.  Gorging

and then a dog fight for 3rd with:

Master's, Portland, FCRCC B and Pemberton

     Is the race schedule out yet? I didn't see it on the Alcan site.

Portland Paddling is Mtn Home plus Kai plus other ex-Wasabi.

Wasabi is sending a lot of teams - but I wouldn't consider them a credible threat for the Mixed title.

Is this pretty much the same group that won the Comp A division at Alcan back in 2003 and became the first US Crew to take the title? They would definitely be a medal contender....

My predictions:
1) FCRCC
2) Gorging
3) Portland
4) Masters
5) Calgary

Other  possibilities for rounding out the Comp A division: W3Media, Pemberton, Pac Reach 1.

Having raced in Calgary the last 2 years, their top 3 or 4 crews are looking pretty good. I think they'll surprise some people.

I have hopes for my fellow Calgarians.  This team is made up of strong paddlers from a few other top-tier rec teams.  While I'd be surprised to see them compare to the likes of FCRCC, I think they should do well for a first year team.

I'll be the one guy on the shore cheering them on, in between paddle whoring for my sister's recreational team and visits to the nearest beer establishment.   :o

wow some very interesting competition this year.  looks like the hype is really building for the weekend.


Alcan event coordinators, please set up a jumbo LCD screen for the audience and paddlers!

i think the weather has been a contributing factor that lead to less visitors and participants to this event.  rain rain rain.  hopefully the weather will be nice to us this year and give us a full two days of sunshine! 

no admission fee is a GREAT thing.  i don't know of any other west coast dboat venue that charges money for people to watch the races.  that was a big forum debate last year... the $15 admission could have gone to the beer garden.   8))

no parking... yeah... there are lots of pay parking around science world, if people don't mind walking (from the casino to science world!).  luckily we have the skytrain... convenience at it's best.

dragondollars?!   :wtf: is that?  if i don't have a clue, i am pretty sure a lot of people don't care much for it either. 

but hopefully the event will be a greater success this year.

Dragondollars was the onsite currency used as a control method for visitors to purchase food, etc, from the vendors.  I don't recall if those were around last year.  Its fairly normal for these types of festivals...

Bottom line is, the festival is cutting expenses (and so they should be), and in turn cutting out the expense to the visitor, which again, its about time.  Its already too difficult for the average person to come participate in the festival because of access, parking, etc, and then they have to pay to get in?  Good luck, the vast majority of the people who were coming were family members of the racers, with a few curious people thrown into the mix.  This year, with a little luck from mother nature, there may actually be a good crowd on hand to watch, and in turn could create a whole lot more interested paddlers for years to come.  I think it was an excellent move by the organizers, and hopefully this puts more emphasis back onto the festival itself (racing and cultural components).

is the grid out yet??? can some1 post a link?

Full Alcan Race Grid
Version - June 12, 2007 - 10:18PM

*Grid removed as it is not final yet.  Please do not use this version if you have downloaded it*

When can we set up our Team tent? and where is it this year?

Delete

 me thinks some new men's teams jumped in last minute ..........just a hunch

well if any of those men's teams need bodies still, i'm looking for a crew (men's only, have my mixed crew already)

pm me or email [email protected]

A novel concept for you isn't paddle"boy"?????

  :upsidehead:

Wahoo!!!  Guido's back, let the fury fly! :dance:

Advancements are based on points.

How does the Points system work?

 Don't encourage him !

grid is up:
http://www.adbf.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=downloads.listbycat&catid=5

Anyone know what happened to DCH??  I don't see them on the grid.

If they aren't on the grid.......maybe they aren't coming!

Hmmm....sounds logical to me.

The other possibility is they got sponsorship and changed their name...

(nods his head.....can't believe these people aren't using their heads anymore!!!!)

WoooooHooooo...................Paddlers Party !! :Cheers:

I  msn(L) U Guido.   found them in heat 10. 

I really should be doing work instead of looking at race grid... 

so for the after party, does "free beer upon entry" mean that you get 1 free beer when you get in, or does it mean that once you're in there is free beer until you a) pass out, b) leave, or c) get carried out by your team mates cause you can't walk on your own anymore?

See Luke...Calgary.......

Good luck everyone...Lethal and Photog will be on the waters doing the paparazzi thing! SMILE!
(Focus in the Boat!)

Me thinks free beer until Moaner starts wandering around in endless circles. Welcome back Guido!

Regarding lanes at Alcan ...  What's the skinny on being in lane 1 versus lane 8?  Are there water depth, current, tidal, etc. issues to deal with on either side that teams should be aware of?

Alcan admission = free

1st beer = free

Guido's return to the beer garden and his demonstration of lower body coin maniuplation = PRICELESS

best wishes to all the teams....  time to bring it on!

I hope he waxes himself this year....

Regarding lanes and water depth.....there are theories but really you should be focusing on your own race.

They got a big screen! Very cool!! 8))

Lookin' forward to the party...and the racing!!   :dance:

that's SLANDER, everyone's allowed a few rough starts,

and don't you have 3 teams to coach instead of taking pictures of people in their weakest moments :naughty:?
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good luck to all the teams, where ever they maybe aiming

that said, let it be known that Puppy shall be one soaked marshal,
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Seeing as Laoyam managed to squeeze in Div A as well as having come back from sweeping Worlds last year, they just might smack all the old geezers in the faces,

 Ask Guido on sat morning after I throw him in the creek ...........  :shifty:

wouldn't he have to be thrown in on both sides to tell the difference?

now there's an idea,

Nah.......I'll just throw him in around lane 4 and then chase him around w/ the coach boat  :twisted:

Gee I am surprised nobody asked me if they can catch a ride on my ride while I chase all you boys & girls down the race site. Hmmmmmm? I will take bribes. So long as I am not caught in the handoff of the cashola or beerola by any of the WE bosses! LOL That is a hint Photog and Lethal Weapon! ;) I might be able to accomodate such a request since I know both of yous! :) Its just a matter of how many races I can drag your sorry butts around with all that gear!

wow, juniors welcome!  Luke, you're not excluded anymore! hahaha

you couldn't stop me if you wanted to,
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thing is, I thought serious 'core athletes like you are above such none sense,

nonsense?  what kind of nonsense?   the beer garden?   you obviously weren't paying attention to where the false creek paddlers were during the taiwanese festival.  :lol:  the best part of paddling is the beer garden afterwards. 8))

Big screen TV!  Now if they would provide a couch and some beer ...

Time to predict .... and the predicto Garbage Can says .... FCRCC Mixed A.  What a surprise!  Not far behind will be FCRCC Mixed B.  Others in the mix:

Gorging
Portland
W3Media
Pacific Reach
Pemberton
Edgewater DWW
Laoyam
FCRCC Masters / Master of Dzone  / He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

and some potential surpriser teams: DCH New York and Jetstart
DCH took COMP B in Alcan 2001.  Maybe they're here to take some Canadian bacon (medals) back to New York.  Jetstart could also be strong depending on who they bring over.

Good luck to all teams!

 Taiwanese ? afterwards ? try during !! ........lol

oh yeah... big screen tv!  no more squinting and running around for race results.

i also noticed racer's village is on the north side this year.  paddlers will have to dodge through some serious crowd to get to the marshalling area.

btw, i'm definitely looking forward to the beer garden.  luke we carried you out last year at calgary... this year it's time for you to return the favour...  :Cheers:  (unless you get drunk first... in which case i think lethal weapon can lend a "hand".)

not that it ever stopped him from being hammered and making girls cry.  :lol:

 Remember to bring your rain gear ...........60 % chance of rain both days ....."SOMEBODY IS A GUNNA GET WET ! " (said in Russel Peters fathers tone)

 Ever think maybe there is a reason .......... Stuck in a boat w/ an italian who can't stop talking  .......  j/k hehehe :rofl:

Just for that Johnny I can assess a penalty for disrespecting an official, even if it is off water! LOL Of course I am joking on that!

No I think it is a good thing to do, taking some of these fantastic photographers who volunteer their time and post their photos for others to view for either no cost or very low price. Afterall most of them are paddlers too or involved in DB racing in some capacity. Of course this will have to be approved by my superiors but the Festival does have their own "official" photographer so if I do take someone with me it would have to be a freebie. What I am trying to say is that if I do take someone with me they most likely are not allowed to sell any photos they take from being on an official's boat unless they are the official Festival photographer. This of course also depends on if I have room in my boat, which I believe I will during some races anyway.

  See what I mean...........and we're not even in the boat yet  :lol:

its always been that way, last year was the exception, but the sacrifice for less distance to the marshalling was a more cramped paddlers village.

hmmm i think i would rather cram with other paddlers (spread the paddling lurve!) than race across the site through heavy crowds and stuffing my ninja elbow in little children's faces that are in my way!

 :shock:  those kids better watch out then... or they'll have a taste of CF paddle or sex wax in their mouth too.

If anyone cares:

Navigational Chart:  Please note the race is east by north east course towards the north side of science world (the round bump on the east edge of false creek).  In theory there should not be any disadvantages to lane assignment.
(http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m92/gingersnaps1969/Alcan%20Dragon%20Boat%20Fest%202007/chart.jpg)

Tide Chart: Saturday AM races will be against the tide, Saturday PM races will be with the tide.  Sunday mostly against the tide, but the late afternoon races will be with the tide.
(http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m92/gingersnaps1969/Alcan%20Dragon%20Boat%20Fest%202007/tide.png)

Weather Forecast:  I sure hope people are going to be bringing their tents & canopies.
http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/city/pages/bc-74_metric_e.html (http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/city/pages/bc-74_metric_e.html)

whoa :shock:, where you going with this, way to traumatize a kid's childhood,
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anyone know if we'll get roughly the same amount of space in The Village or more?  What with the bring your own tents thing, is it going to turn into a circus?

Really Luke?  Shocked?  Didn't he leave you with an experience of this sort last year?

can anyone confirm that we have tents for this weekend?   just drove by pacific street and saw rows of tents in what i think is racer's village.   

in the emails from the race director, there will be a shortage of tents for all the teams that are going to be there.  out of town teams get first priority.   something like 20-30 teams will "be without". 

Who cares about tents, we will all be wet anyways, Synergy has all those teams and they like to get everyone wet after a race anyways  :lol:.

Not many predictions this year, people are afraid to make a list?

After looking at the race grid my prediction is:

1. FCRCC A (are they as or stronger than last year?)
2. Masters of D'Zone (do they have what it takes to take the crown away from FCRCC?)
3. Gorging (heard they have been gearing up for a run at the race offs)

Anyone in the top 3 can win it, who gets the better finish wins it.

4.  Calgary
5.  Portland
6.  Bald Eagles (they get better with age or the balder they get  :lol:?)
7.  Pacific Reach (first DB race this year, can outriggering improve last year's finish, they have also lost some people from what I hear)
8.  Laoyam Eagles (wildcard)

Interesting 1st races that I think may see upsets:

Race 10 - Eye of the Dragon takes it
Race 12 - W3 and JDA, should be W3Media but who knows
Race 22 - Wasabi, Synergy, depends on who is on Wasabi
Race 24 - Pac Reach 2, Killer Guppies, Killer Guppies takes it

Do the teams get racers pass this year??

yar, we got ours this week.

Where do we get them?

Its in the team race package which the team managers should have obtained by now. If not check with your team manager as he/she would have been in the loads of emails that the race registrar sent out. I know my freaking inbox is full of them as my wife is team manager for a team! LOL

     Hmmm I'm sure its just a typo in the revised schedule, but it would appear that FCRCC and Extreme Reach have already been given the wins in their respective heats!!! They are both already in Race 35 while the rest of us actually have to qualify. LOL  In fact after further review there seem to be a few teams that have been given the win without even paddling yet!!  :D

woo hoo!  does that mean we can sleep in if our teams are "pushed through"?   8))

I think we are still waiting for Guido and his predictions...

Whatever happened to Forum Moderators?  This thread went all OVER the place !!!!!

You want MY predictions?  You can't handle my predictions.....

Well...since you personally sent me an e-mail to post my predictions...here goes....
Used to be so easy....now....it's tough....I will apologize to those that I may have not given enough credit to...thus you will prove yourself to us this weekend.

1) FCRCC "A" (They need to do it mentally)
2) Masters of D'Zone (race is at 4:48pm...must take their meds by 4:15pm)
3) Gorging Dragons (Haven't seen them...inside sources say they are younger and stronger)
4) FCRCC "B" (Will be there but are still fumbling around)
5) Pacific Reach (only seen them in OC6's..bastards took forever to catch me and cut me off!!!!)
6) Pemberton Bald Eagles (Experience will still prevail)
7) W3 Media.com (was reluctant to put them here..spot may go to a US Team)
8) Laoyam Eagles (A little older and wiser)
9) Edgewater DWW (again...need to have a good semi)

Possible nominees...
1) Portland paddling club
2) XTREME Reach

Happy now?

Yo paddle"boy" .....got anything to say? 
They haven't put the muzzle on you have they?
Your barking isn't any worse than your bite.

 You so miss me don't you .............lol  :lol:  just not the same w/o me in the boat is it !!

 I'm not making predictions.....bad luck .....as long as I'm in front of you thats all that matters ! lol

 I think the toughest races will be the mens division .Some very tough competiton in there and now that the outrigger guys jumped in last minute there should be some very very close racing

paddleboy,

don't confuse being accustomed to you to being mournful of you.  will you be ahead . . . we'll see where it counts, on the water, baby.  :P

i am surprised with the lack of info about some of the teams.  gorging dragons looked good on the water during the supersprints.  i am sure that xtreme reach will also land somewhere in the comp level.  both teams still have a lot of experience from previous years, but gorging seemed to have picked up some of the younger paddlers from other teams.

has anyone checked out the teams from the south? any info on them?

 ummm...my mom told me I would be ahead  :wink: she's always right !! If she isn't than I'm not going !!

 PS-  Mom reads these posts so be nice or pay the price ! lol

And so does your sister.....you know how many times she's put her head in her hands and just cried....and cried....everytime you've posted something? 

Where are your predictions paddle"boy" .....don't be shy....what are you afraid of?  Is something stopping you now?  Are you afraid of wash riders?

Why are there such few people predicting?
No one is going to laugh at anyone.... Sir Steamroller...let us hear yours.

And so does your sister.....you know how many times she's put her head in her hands and just cried....and cried....everytime you've posted something? 

and she'll be crying again after the A final along with you !!..hehe   j/k ,ok maybe not ,lol

Where are your predictions paddle"boy" .....don't be shy....what are you afraid of?  Is something stopping you now?     You already know my prediction.....1 of my teams is going to win and one is not ,lol .......Hmmmmm....aren't you on 1 of my teams ??

Are you afraid of wash riders?    We are so onto you ,lol......our specialty is getting rid of you:blasted:


Sir Steamroller...let us hear yours.    Bet his is the same as mine  :wink:

I predict the following:

1 - Rain on Saturday, high of 20, low of 12 
2 - Shower on Sunday morning with a high of 18
3 - Sunny on Sunday evening to allow all the drunks to play in the beer garden!   :lol:

Happy paddling everyone!

Okay, I just got off the phone with our mom and she said she was only being nice in saying you'd be ahead Paddleboy.  She didn't want to stress you out before the race.  So sorry but she said after watching the last regatta the Master's are going to win.  She also said you need to rotate more and look up!!!

See ya on the finish line, I'll save you a spot!  :shock:

 I luv you sis .......... :upsidehead:

RB....if this thread was kept strictly to boring Alcan rules,grids,etc it would be some pretty dry reading so to lighten it up a little we all just add some fun .Its the same thing every year ..just jump in the boat and paddle your little heart out ! Thats all that really matters and leave the rules ,grids and everything else out of your control to your coaches  :wink:

Actually it's these posts that I find dry. I see a reply to a thread and I open it up and I find people that I don't know chatting back and forth and that's really boring. It's frustrating.

 then you need to maybe get out a little more .......the majority of us all know one another from over the years of racing and you may too 1 day .This is all in good fun and like I said the majority of people on here know most of us .........come over to the False Creek tent this weekend and introduce yourself and I'll introduce you to all the others if you want and then you too can take shots in good fun

about being ahead of somebody else, you mean you'd be bending over right :rofl:?
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I'd be interested in seeing how the out of town teams would fair in a traditional Wet Coast Welcome Shower, as well as squeezing into the gems,

good luck everyone,

OMG....thats a nasty visual but I understand Guido is holding a butt cheek tightening class after the mixed races tomorrow


 Hmmmm....isn't it past your bedtime ?  :shock:

I sleep with open eyes bud,

so where do I sign up for this class of Guido's, at the team tent?  At the beer garden?  will it make me a better paddler for Alcan?

I agree with RB.

so what are your predictions?  what do you expect to see out of the festival this year now that they've brought in the Buks, now that the point and time system is being used?  how do you think the weather will effect the performance this weekend?  what will the lack of tents effect the out of town teams?

 How good to you think the vendor food will be ? Will there be enough portable washrooms? How long will it take to walk from the tented area to the dock ? Will there be tv camera's to get my good side ?


 feel better ? we're back on track !
 

bleargh.. no tent for us =( and I have a fever..