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Dragon Boat Canada


IDBF


Canoe Kayak Canada

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[Rossifumi]

Congrats to all teams.  Seems the Gemini's weren't so bad after all.

It's great to see Canadian teams at the top once again.
Was especially pleased to see Vo2 in the Comp C Division competing against both Roli Teams.

Roli Rebels had a fantastic weekend, showing they had adapted to the Gemini's very well.  The Roli Dragons had some struggles in the new Gemini's, but sorted it out for the Final with a high competitive time.

Was also very happy to see Ruckus finally beat out one of their long-standing rival teams for 2nd in the Rec A finals.  Those guys were jumping around so much on the awards stage, i thought it was going to collapse.

As predicted, the Holsten Hamburg-Syndicate team from Germany were on the pace and topped the podium.  Rec A i think.  I had guessed they'd do very well since they probably have IDBF spec boats back home.

Fodb had a dream weekend too, though the Final was sadly spoiled by wonky steering (possible beer tent victim).  But to me, being able to race in the top Division is a big honour and an achievement in itself.  I mean, Comp A???  That's where all the big and scary teams race.  

Links Team Success won the Comp B division with a dominating performance.  They proved they deserved a seed in Comp A.  But as it is with racing, sometimes the seedings don't work and you get a heat with too many top teams knocking each other down into lower divisions.

The face of Comp A has changed considerably, with Specialty Subaru (they race with class & heart), Fodb (hilarious hats!), PDX (a portland club?) and the Bald Eagles (with Hugh and Jericho Outrigger giving them the mojo) making the final mix.

As silly as it sounds, I understand now that a team has to pretty much be able to win all their heats to get a berth in Competitive A.  That's probably exactly what happened with these 4 teams, if you compare 03 to 04.  This year was TOUGH because of those damn Gemini's too.

(edit: had a look at the race results, only 1 of those four teams took 3 1st places to get into Comp A.  The rest had the odd 2nd or 3rd sprinkled in.  Guess the point should have been, a team has to be able to pull that win off when it counts during the Semi's.)

(edit #2: sorry, i should clarify, i was referring to the 4 teams that are new to comp A)

The 2000m race was awesome, and fairly well run (Water official never gave clear directions or clarifications).  I don't know the results (anyone have them?), but Links Team Success made a couple minor wrong turns, and still stormed back for the lead!  Awesome!

The FCRCC Mixed crew also put in a dominating performance.  They were boat #8, and passed (or came even with) boat #1 (of the Geminis) by the end of the race.  I don't know who won the Gemini - 2000m race, but it was probably FCRCC or Success.

The awards ceremonies were pretty entertaining.  Mostly for the fact that the announcers kept getting names wrong.  "Pete Beat" (Beat Pete), "Portland Padding" (Portland Paddling Club), "Watabi" (Wasabi)


I've heard some complaints that the Competitive C Division was unnecesary.  I don't know myself why it was put in, if you go over the numbers, Comp C is really last year's Rec A.  

Giving weight to that argument is if you analyze the times from that Division, only 2 teams posted times within a competitive range.  The rest were approximately 10-15 secs. back.

No matter, a Division is a Division, no matter what label you give it.  What matters more are the overall rankings, 1st through last.
The Repechage was a good addition this year I think.  Some teams definately benefitted from that second chance.

Radio announcements declared approx. 100,000 visitors to the festival.  Sounds about par, or even better than previous years.  Still miss the old race course though.

Finally, congrats have to be giving to the Gorging Dragons.  A team that just wanted it more, and have emerged as a new powerhouse team.

Overall, awesome racing, great weekend.

[grifter]

Was especially pleased to see Vo2 in the Comp C Division competing against both Roli Teams.

Thanks, Spiff!  It was gratifying to be among those teams and not get spanked too badly.  

It was an incredible weekend.  Hot, sunny, and the new layout was better than expected, and the beer garden, as always, was great Congratulations to all competitors, and hope to see most of you in Kelowna!

[Swordfish]

It was a fantastic weekend...it was great to compete and take part in a spectacular festival.  Considering the crazy season we've had, with problems of all kinds, I'm pretty happy with how we performed...next year we'll definately have to start earlier and get with a club that has the Gemini boats.  

It's unfortunate to hear about the steering malfunction...there was a bunch of us who were cheering for FODB...I'm wondering when the results for the Guts & Glory will be out.

The only real beef I have with the festival is how they didn't have a racer's entrance at the north side, next to the parking lot.  Good thing there was a gap in the fence although they would make half hearted attempts throughout the day to close it.

Anyways, it was lots of fun, sun, hot hot Schick girls, free schwag and beer.  Great weekend, great festival!

[Photog]

I was hugely disappointed by the constant and unpredictable announcers.
finishing earlier in the day sunday (rec d), than i did in most years, I expected to plunk down with my gf and my buddy carson and take some shots of various races, particularly the comp finals where i knew paddlers from many of the teams . . . but missed Comp C finals and Junior A finals due to poor announcements. Unbearable!
maybe next year they could have more volunteers to carry the line of commications to the announcers from the dock so they know what is going on.

[Steamrollers Moaner]

It's unfortunate to hear about the steering malfunction...there was a bunch of us who were cheering for FODB...I'm wondering when the results for the Guts & Glory will be out.

Thanks for your support Swordfish!!  You guys did fairly well yourself!!

Even with the change of location this year...  everything went pretty smoothly through out the weekend.  Big thank you goes out to the volunteers and race marshalls.  

Vo2!!  Comp C!!  Good stuff!!

Congrats to all the teams out there who went home with some hardwares.  Glad to see a lot of the local teams were able to make it up to the podium.  

It sure was a great learning experience for fellow fodb'ers to be racing in the final and to be able to eat the wake of a WCC 3rd place team after about 150m into the race.  I think our steersman drank too much therefore wanting to steer the boat towards the porta-potties during the race    Nevertheless, it was still a good learning experience for everyone on the team.

hot hot Schick girls

Where was I??????   Damn!!!  I think I spent too much time in the racers village

[Special K]

Congrats to all teams.  Hope everyone had fun.  Kudos to all the volunteers for running the festival without too many glitches.  The new docks weren't as bad as we thought and Sunday ran much better than Saturday.  I do like new venue with its shaded grassy areas.  Thanks to Science World for opening it's bathrooms up to all.  Running water!!!

In response to Spaceman I do believe 3 of the Comp A teams did win all of their previous races to make it to the final, including Gorging Dragons, FCRCC and Pacific Reach.  If you do lose one race you can still fight to get through the back door.  It is getting alot tougher out there to make it to the 'A' finals with all of the great and amazing competition.  

Huge congrats to Vicoria's Gorging Dragons, an amazing team on and off the water.

FCRCC did win the Guts and Glory race.  I have been lucky enough to paddle in this race twice now and I absolutely love it!  Going through those turns is amazing.  It must be quite something to watch as a spectator.

Can't wait for next year and hopefully I'll see most of you in Kelowna and Victoria.  My team is off to Montreal in July to show the East how the West can paddle there asses off  :wink: !!

Cheers all!!

Special K

[Ronnie]

Good results from Eye of the Dragon (Sighted team) to place in Competitive C.

Ummm ... Moto, I think you meant to say that EOTD has blind paddlers.  Congrats to EOTD for placing 6th in Comp C (even edged out V02 ).  They are truly inspiring.

I think our steersman drank too much therefore wanting to steer the boat towards the porta-potties during the race

You'd think he'd stop drinking after nearly running us over on Saturday.  

Thanks to the False Creek Paddlers for stepping up and organizing Sunday night's Paddlers Party at Science World.  It was a blast.

The only complaint - Holsten Hamburg-Syndicate men without their tight hot pants.

[ClearWater]

Great weekend of competition all