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Dragon Boat Canada


IDBF


Canoe Kayak Canada

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[DBWTim]

Well Kelowna pretty much wraps up the 2004 season for most of the teams in BC. Just wondering what everyone thought of this year.

What are your highlights? Disappointments? Plans for next year? Did your team succeed in their goals? Did you develop any rivalries? Get into a bar room brawl at the Sticky Wicket in Victoria?  

[soaker]

I want to rate the festival beer garden parties!

Great party this season at Nanaimo
Kelowna was good but bar closed too early
Victoria had potential but they ran out of beer, then cider, then dignity
Best party though is always and ever, Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Championships.

[willpower]

Taiwanese Festival beer garden was disappointing... they said they were gonna distribute samples of Taiwan Beer but then said they didn't have licensing for it until Monday   At least the Kokanee was fresh and ice-cold... enjoyed about 10 too many  

As for the festivals, Kelowna's never strong on vendors, and this year they seemed even more sparse. The food they did have was pretty good though. Weather was crap, but the skies opened up just around the Platinum Finals, so it was a nice way to cap off the weekend. My usual motivation to race Kelowna is hitting up the wineries, so i was really disappointed when our consolation final didn't take place until 4:30pm. Same thing happened the day before, racing at 11:50 and 4:20... there's no time to do the tours in between, and by the time the races are done for the day they're closing up too. ****tles...

Paddle for Kids: when the team opted to participate we actually thought there would be races going on... turned out to be a stupid sports day for adults... what a  ****ing waste of ****ing time and money... $400 of our hard-earned fundraised money going to a good cause... I left early cuz I actually wanted to get some yard work done... it was THAT bad. Oh well, now that we know better we'll probably go for Richmond Rip up the River?

Taiwanese Festival was great... a little chilly but at least it was sunny. Those Taiwanese barges seemed to glide pretty well for us this year, and there was a better than average ratio of hotties to oogle at... someone say Naluwan? I liked how we could set up tent anywhere, and the intimacy of having a smaller number of teams. My favorite festival this year, despite the ****ty-ass food... i think some jerk complained about the taste of Taiwanese food last year (cuz it was pretty authentic last year.. strong flavours) so the vendors were forced to mild out the dishes.. sucks. Good thing T&T was within walking distance... I was laughing at all those ppl lining up 40mins for **** food

Long Beach was cool... beautiful weather, lots of talent roaming the festtival, and the organisers were generous with hardware... at least to us anyway. Great selection of vendors and interesting race format... each lane was drawn out with a chain of buoys, and it was similar to a tethered start, though that kinda messed things up a little. Oh yeah, the Buk boats still kinda sucked, but it was okay since we were used to the Geminis by then.

Alcan felt much cozier in the new location, but i'm not sure if i liked it better than last year. They seemed to have more paddling-related booths instead of those pamphlet-distributing corporate kiosks you'd normally find, which was cool. Don't remember much about the racing there though... it might have been so traumatic that I subconsciously blocked it out? All I remember was that we didn't do too well, relative to our historic performance. We blamed it on those Gemini's, and the lack of practice time we got on them. Funny thing is we started to love them 3 weeks later... go figure  

edited for content - BigTallTree

[paddleboy]

Hmmm ,what do you mean end of the season    it;s just the beginning of the new  

[Paddle me, please!]

Willpower wrote:Paddle for Kids: when the team opted to participate we actually thought there would be races going on... turned out to be a stupid sports day for adults

Well...FYI Willpower, this is not a racing festival but a fundraiser made up of corporate teams (mostly non-paddlers) to raise money for Childrens Hospital.  Other true dragon boat teams entered only to volunteer their time in steering, drumming and coaching, not paddling or racing to win.  This festival is a great way to introduce people to the sport of dragon boating and to raise money for a great cause, kids.  

Speaking of kids, please do refrain from using vulgar language in this forum as young kids do read it.  Also I don't think other viewers care to read such ranting either.

[Guido]

Paddle for Kids: when the team opted to participate we actually thought there would be races going on... turned out to be a stupid sports day for adults... what a ****ing waste of ****ing time and money... $400 of our hard-earned fundraised money going to a good cause... I left early cuz I actually wanted to get some yard work done... it was THAT bad. Oh well, now that we know better we'll probably go for Richmond Rip up the River?

willpower......I wouldn't walk around the creek alone at night or let yourself be known to the paddling community your true identity.  You're a disgrace and an imbecile.  At this point I really don't care if I get banned from this forum....because the greatest feeling I have right now is slamming you.  As you can see I am doing it with eloquence and some form of intellectuality.

There are several of us who have paddled substantially more competitively than yourself locally and internationally.  We have been involved with this event since its inception and devoted numerous hours to this GREAT CAUSE. We've been involved not only because we LOVE to teach the sport to beginners but because we know the funds raised are going to the greatest cause they could ever go for.....that being VERY SICK CHILDREN.  To read something like I just did makes the whole paddling community feel disgraceful to even know there is an idiot, a disrespectful,  unintelligent human involved in the sport at all.

YOU ARE AN IDIOT.  And I use the term lightly because I have to stoop to your level of intelligence.  

I think I speak on behalf of everyone who not only participates on this forum but even those that visit this site that they would be more than elated if you absolve from using a paddle for the rest of your life.

[zephyrantes]

willpower: you disgust me.   You really do... and if you want, you can come up to me next season and I'll give you a piece of my mind.   If I were a member of Team United, I'd actively seek to vote you off the boat.

to stay on topic: I voted for Alcan.   Big event, lots of people, lots of venues, lots of scenery and close to home.

[meowzers]

Alcan: great place to meet paddlers, had a helluva time working with the race staff. i'm pretty petite- still h8 the geminies. race format was spiffy. my team could have been a tweak better if we stuck to the orginal roster...or not...

Taiwanese: i climbed over an apartment balcony TRYING to catch glimps of the festival - heard the drum beats, heard the yelling from drummers but i just couldn't see! the dumb bridge was in the WAY. it looked very colorfull and had a "perky perky" atmosphere...i had a helluva time getting lectured about climbing ...

Kelowna: had an awesome time with water's edge staff. - got p*** annoyed with the accouncers - voice still fuzzy from w00ting. love the water! it's so C-L-E-A-N. - oh and how could i 4get saw the drummers/coaches[jaw drops]


willpower:

Paddle for Kids: when the team opted to participate we actually thought there would be races going on... turned out to be a stupid sports day for adults... what a ----ing waste of ----ing time and money... $400 of our hard-earned fundraised money going to a good cause... I left early cuz I actually wanted to get some yard work done... it was THAT bad. Oh well, now that we know better we'll probably go for Richmond Rip up the River?

you are one inconsiderate selfish...old fart who only cares about his dumb booze- how could it be effing waste of effing time and money when THE MONEY goes to SICK childern who are UNABLE to live a NORMAL life due to their sickness? i doubt you had to live one day of your life praying that 2morrow you won't wake up dead. FOUR HUNDRED EFFING BUCKS is really nothing considering that it wasn't all from you - how much did you cough up?  

bad karma buddy it's going to come smack'n back at ya.

i voted for alcan but i want to change it to kelowna ... i miss roli already

GOOD LUCK ROLI in SAN FRAN

[samson]

alcan: new location.... it was a good festival except for the placements of the tents (we got shafted with the location of ours)
 
victoria: wouldn't know cause our team didn't go....

kelowna: was the best festival by far for me this yr. the first day sucked due to the weather but the second day made up for it. the races were pretty close that we were in and i give props those teams that we raced against......  

good season overall !!!!

[paddleboy]

Hmmmm, I was a drummer/coach for 1  team in Paddle for Kids and I had a blast . It is so funny to see new paddlers so intense on winning . We had 1 guy on the boat who paddled last yr and he so wanted to be on stroke but we sat him in 6 and during the race he kept yelling " Timing ,Timing" LOL  I was laughin so hard I couldn't do the calls at 1 point .I think the most fun was teaming up w/ the newbie volunteer paddlers and pushing the boat to some good numbers and seeing the reaction on their faces when they compared their times to the fastest ...............they went from mild to very competitive fast ,lol

 Will  power you should have stuck around then you would have gotten to race  

[nakano]

Ok, I really don't know what to say in regards to mr. willpower's comments.  Obviously the damage has been done.

For the record, those comments that willpower made were his, and only his alone.  It is not a proper representation of the team and what we stand for.

I don't know if what I am about to say will change anyone's opinions, or conclusions they have already made in regards to the team.  Myself, and most of Team United knew what we were getting into entering Paddle For Kid's, it was for a good cause, and it was going to be a fun day.  Heck we won a prize for Best Cheer at Paddle For Kids! Most of us (maybe except willpower) enjoyed our time there.

We are always for getting involved in helping out the community for good causes.  If we were not, we would not have participated in the Stair Climb For Clean Air (BC Lung Association, Wall Centre), Vancouver Sun Run, CIBC Run For the Cure, and volunteer at Kid Sake at the Richmond Auto Mall in the last couple of years.  

I feel we have built a very good reputation in and around the community, and it is a shame to have someone post their own comments and tarnish what the team has work hard, and built up in the last few years.

I hope people don't conclude that all Team United members are guilty by association.

[meowzers]

nakano/Team United - it's all good -

we all[forum] must understand that not all human beings are born "perfect" - mr willpower is just one of those unlucky vctims - we shall pity him

it's always great to hear about teams volunteering/doing fantastic deeds for the community.

[Rae]

Paddle for Kids: when the team opted to participate we actually thought there would be races going on... turned out to be a stupid sports day for adults... what a  ****ing waste of ****ing time and money... $400 of our hard-earned fundraised money going to a good cause... I left early cuz I actually wanted to get some yard work done... it was THAT bad.

Tsk, tsk, tsk...Many frown upon your comment Willpower, leaving a bad taste in everyone's mouths. There's a reason why it was called a fundraiser and not a race...primarily to give generously to charity for Children's hospital. Don't tell us you didn't know it was for charity when you signed up cuz the name "Paddle for Kids" does imply that. Is there no compassion in you? Does possibly winning a medal feel like a better use of your money than donating it to children who need it more? You should be ashamed of yourself for being so selfish and conducting yourself unprofessionally. The cursing can be left in the pub.

[paddling geek]

Alcan, this year was sweet.. Though I'd would have hated seeing racers village if it down poured like it did in kelowna.  This is the 2nd time that Alcan teamed up with Science world.. The 1st time was back in 97.. But we were still using one of the docks near plaza of nations to load and unload.. But I do recall sitting on the somewhat grass area near the globe for the awards cermony (it was raining earlier that day) and my medal. though the rest of both festivals were a blur..

Kelowna, has always been a great festival. A nice way to end the season and a last chance to get a sun tan before the winter season hits. I had no problem about how the festivals ran or went. We need the rain but to bad it wasn't gonna down pour this weekend instead of last.
 
This year I brought up 3 of my mountian climber hula hoops
(a 5ft long pdp pipeing(sp?) made into a hoop) A bunch of my team mates and I were using them to work on our abs and its was something to do while waiting to race again and to keep warm.


I didn't really do a lot of festivals this year cause of lack of $$, time and or I was working. But I did attend Alcan, NYC, Kelowna. Though I'd love do a lot more festivals but we'll see in the future.

- Went to Victoria in 2002 and 2003 with Diesel Fish(from san fran) but they didn't attend this year.. And I was too lazy to find another crew to paddle with for that festival.

- Didn't hear about the paddles for kids until the day of!  

- I got to see some of the Taiwanese festival races.. when i was at practice then had to go to work .. I'm soo glad we don't have to race in teaks anymore at alcan  

- Though I live in Ditchmond, I've never raced in richmond's festival Its always on the weekend I'm out of the country or stuck on bowen at my dads.

Now for the rest of 2004, i can put my paddle and life jacket in my closet and not pull them out until mid Jan.. when roli starts paddling again..

[pbs]

Paddle for Kids: when the team opted to participate we actually thought there would be races going on... turned out to be a stupid sports day for adults... what a  ****ing waste of ****ing time and money... $400 of our hard-earned fundraised money going to a good cause... I left early cuz I actually wanted to get some yard work done... it was THAT bad. Oh well, now that we know better we'll probably go for Richmond Rip up the River

Wow!  Not much you can say about that but, Wow!

When your buddies kick you off the team, you can start your own... Team Un-pc.


btw, Vancouver was wicked.