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Dragon Boat Canada


IDBF


Canoe Kayak Canada

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[DBWTim]

Just got word from Victoria that the team to watch is GRPC United. Last year this team finished 3rd in the Rec B Consolation at Alcan.

Their new practice schedule should sound awfully familiar - 5x a week on outriggers. Pretty much every evening. Supposedly they just started their dboat practices last week.

In case you haven't guessed... These guys are basically a combination of Gorging and Dragonauts. At least that's what I'm hearing.

[Guido]

Do you really believe we should watch out for them?
I thought we discussed this last year....no matter how much you practice....or paddle....the practices have to be quality practices and they have to be quality paddlers.  There was one team boasting last year they were going to be the ones to beat....boasting they were on the water all winter and did they come in 1st in any major events last year?  I don't think so.....they must have been paddling a lot of garbage miles.

Unless I'm mistaken...you were implying they were going to be a threat for the Rec B Championship final were you not Mr. Chaos?

[Secret Weapon]

I would watch out for the new GRPC United.  They are in fact Gorging Dragons/Dragonauts from last year.  These two teams last year went head to head at many festivals finals.  They also have trained alike for the past few seasons.  In case anyone didn't know Gorging went on to win at the World Club Crews.  So do watch out.

[tiger]

They actually came 3rd at WCC which is not winning but they did well so do watch out for them.  

They did implode somewhat after Alcan based on what I heard.

[Secret Weapon]

3rd is not winning??  At the world's????  They may have placed 3rd in the final 430m, but they had some 2nd's in their semi's and even posted a fastest time in their 200m.  Sorry I wasn't specific enough in my previous post but I think any team that makes it to the final race in the World Club Crew is a winner.  I can't believe Tiger took time to make that last post and say "3rd is not winning".  Give me a break, at that level of racing they're all winners.

[Guido]

Oh....so Secret Weapon.....what you are saying is...."oh we made it into the finals...now we can paddle at 70% for the whole race...because we're all winners".....my gawd....wake up buddy(non gender specific)...that's like saying to Felicida(hurdles sprinter) that because she made it to the finals she was a winner...so it didn't matter that she fell after the 2nd hurdle...she was a winner.

Society doesn't look at it that way.....I have to side with Tiger.  To win is to place 1st.  

I've digressed(thanks to Secret Weapon).........my apologies.....so....to get back on topic....just because they are a mixture of a couple of teams and have had experience in racing in the worlds club crew....doesn't necessarily mean we have to watch out for them.  As you all know....you are only as strong as your weakest link....so....perhaps this team is composed of the two teams weakest links.....you guys are putting this team on a pedastal and they haven't proven anything yet.

[paddleboy]

Hmmm,seems to me that my 2 prev paddle friends could only wish they made it to that level of paddling....actually I don't remember ever seeing either one of you on the club crew podium  .Com'n ......you both only wish you had been there........3rd in the world club crews is no easy feat and if you think you could have done better.....why haven't you ? I have total respect for Gorging and what they put into it .

 Hmmmm ....seems to me they paddled alot of garbage miles too ..........I luv garbage miles  

[tiger]

Some on this thread must paddle on a novice team if they think 3rd is winning.  They probably think getting into Rec D at Alcan is winning also.

Gorging did well as I said, but having the fastest time at the wrong time can indicate those garbage miles came back to hurt them when they need them most (i.e. the final)

You have to also remember, last year's WCC was a weakened field since it was in April and the Northern Hemisphere is still digging out of winter.  Next year in T.O. will be tougher.

From what I have seen, none of the Western Canada teams will podium next year in T.O. in the premier divisions, just my prediction.  I hope I am wrong though.

Good topic for another thread "Who will win the right to go to WCC in T.O.".  Probably too soon to start that one though.

[DBWTim]

I guess I should've phrased it more like GPRC United will be one of the teams to watch from the Island. Guido, having a pool of 40 paddlers does help weed out the weakest link, doesn't it? That's what I've heard that they'll be selecting from. I'm not saying that everyone should just set aside and hand them the WCC Western spot, just providing a bit of information of what people could expect this year.

They did implode somewhat after Alcan based on what I heard.

You would know all about imploding, wouldn't you tiger? Weren't you on the TD Thunder team in Rome when they imploded?  

[paddleboy]

Yep...thunder dropped the ball big time in rome .

 You think you had a tougher time in rome???..give me a break .The competiton was just as tough .

 Never predict the unknown..........Who knows whats out there.All you can do is hope you trained hard enough and give it your absolute best and hope that it's good enough .

 I agree with you on one thing ,the fact T.O. will be one of the toughest fields ever .Hopefully see you there  

[tiger]

Sorry paddleboy, I don't think I'll see you in T.O. but hey if there is a higher being you may make it if you start making offerings to them now

[Guido]

Guido, having a pool of 40 paddlers does help weed out the weakest link, doesn't it? That's what I've heard that they'll be selecting from. I'm not saying that everyone should just set aside and hand them the WCC Western spot, just providing a bit of information of what people could expect this year.

My apologies then Mr. Chaos....for my misinterpretation of your post.

I do disagree with your comment above though.  If you have 40 weaker links from other teams....then the process you are going through...is weeding out the weaker links from a group of already weak links.  Does this make sense?.....It would be a great feat for them to jump from Rec B Consolation to Competitive A Championship winners (I am using this term as "WINNING" ie 1st PLACE.....NOT making it to the finals of the Competitive A Division).

Noticed I stayed on topic and did NOT FLAME anyone?  

Imploding.....must be defined.  

I again side with Tiger and agree fully that Rome was a tougher event.  
There are several conditions that make some events tougher than others...
1) Airfare costs of getting to Rome were less expensive and were easier for the European teams and Canadian teams.  
2) The time of the year also contributes a huge factor to it as well.....there was more training time for the Northern Hemisphere countries meaning they would be better trained and reaching their peak at that time as well.

[Lethal Weapon]

They did implode somewhat after Alcan based on what I heard.

If anyone can drink or party as hard as the Gorging Dragons and always finish in the top 5 then I say let the imploding begin! I had the pleasure of paddling with one the teams they helped coach last year and let me tell you if Vancouver's DB community was as hospitable as theirs Paddling life here in Vancouver would be more pleasurable. Train Hard! Paddle Harder!
I wonder is there is a team in Vancouver that garners as much respect as the DG's do in the Victoria DB and community>

[Secret Weapon]

Mr Guido, may I call you Mr?  What kind of glue are you sniffing when you respond to posts?  Must you always argue with everyone?  When and where did I mention anything about 70% paddling and blah blah blah...  So I'm to assume that you and Tiger agree that unless you place first you aren't a winner.  You must also believe that 2nd place means first place loser.  Boy your glasses must always be half empty.  I was just trying to state that Gorging did very well last year, look how they took the final in Alcan.  They blew away the competition.  I know they are still training hard and are gunning for TO in 2006 and that they'll once again be strong competition.  I'd also look out for Alcan Success, False Creek, Pac Reach and Subaru this year.  With all these teams training for the race offs this year should be one of the more exciting years to watch.  Good luck to all!!!

[paddleho]

Let's get real and wake up to the fact that we won't know much about each other's teams - or dare I say our own - until the rubber hits the road at Alcan. Being the first, and for some, only, "BIG" festival of the year, Alcan is on one hand a first indication of where the season is going, and on the other hand a chance for a team to say, "holy feck, time to regroup!"

If as an individual you haven't been ripping muscle tissue all winter, you need to focus on rec division or take up lawn bowling. If as a team you are focussing on comp and haven't weeded out the softies, now's the time to do so.

Victoria's no different from everyone else: the opportunity is there to field a magical team. Recognizing how to do that is the stuff of champions.

For everyone else who'se offering speculation about Victoria... do you think anyone would go to the trouble of pooling a team of "weak links"? WHY? The weak links would be those who aren't prepared to suck it up and time trial into their boat. Or not. That would be those who choose a rec model for their team instead of a competitive pool. I'm not slagging the rec model either; we all understand the power of well-matched teammates and paddling with people you'd jump in front of a bus for.

So the season will be the test, like it is every other season. Sometimes (I suppose) all the logical elements come together and no one would argue the best team wins for all the obvious reasons. Sometimes the elements of success are harder to define but they are there in the final times. We'll see.

See y'all at the finish line.