We're all talking about Comp teams, and that's great.
So let me just change things around a tad bit! Who's got what it takes to top if off in the Rec divisions? There are a lot of teams that are drastically improving this year. What about Juniors? Are these Hamber teens gonna take it away again this year?
All you predicters out there, please do some predicting!
OK.. I'll bite.
The line between a low Comp/High Rec team this year has become a little hazy as of late. Swordfish and Ruckus have been doing exceptionally well this year. Both of them have beat teams that were in the Competitive Division last year.
However with Swordfish, although they have placed 4th overall in both the FCRCC & ABDF regattas, I am skeptical that it wasn't more their luck than their paddling ablities that got them that far. I'll say that I would rank them high this year.. but not that high.
Ruckus, I would put in the same category as FODB. They are a recreational team that can pull off competitive numbers. If there was a Coach of the Year award, I would consider their coach to be in the running.
Which brings us to FODB. They lost a couple of their big guys but only missed out of the A Final last weekend by less than a second (edged out by Ruckus). They won't be as strong as last year, but I doubt they'll let other teams pass them too easily.
Grandragons... probably the most respected team on the Creek. Definately shows us, whipper-snappers, that the world doesn't end after 40.
I'd think those teams would be placing high in the low Comp/high Rec spots. Other Rec teams I would consider to watch are...
Team Masala looked strong on the water during their practices, going head-to-head with FODB... so their performance at last weeks regatta surprised me. I thought they would've done better.
Eye of the Dragon have always had my respect. They have always been consistently been there with other the high Rec teams and giving them a good race.
The Drunk's. I haven't seen much of them this year. They got some good muscle in their engine room and should be able to hold a position in High Rec.
TCC Carrib Dragoneers only practice once a week yet they can compete with other teams that practice twice-a-week. Must be their whip-cracking coach. It's amazing though, since I hear he doesn't know how to operate a coachboat...
Team LifeScan did well in their Regatta session. Don't think they will come close to their Comp A performance in Kelowna last year though... but the potential to come low Comp is there.
Just Dragon Along seems to be coming along ok and could prove to be an up-and-coming team. Although their relative lack of experience and size may limit how high they place. Since none of them have even hit their 20's yet they have a lot of time to develop.
The names Team Storm, BC Hydro, TD Lightning, United, Dragon Hearts Team Ultimate (what used to be one of the Nokia teams) and VO2Max have been around for a while now and have been always been somewhere in the top half of the Rec Division. Although they don't look as aggressive as before, they should do ok.
Of course, we can't forget about the so-called B teams (Alpha Blue, Outback, Roli II) either. Althought they may not be quite there with their big brother team, they can still pull good water and will definately place in Low Comp/High Rec.
Junior-wise, Hamber has always been a strong presence in the Junior Division. And with the Eagles not looking as dominant in the ADBF Regatta as previous year, this may be Hamber's year to shine.
Of course you can never count the Eagles out. Just because they are not as strong as the previous Laoyam Eagles teams they can still stick it to the Junior Division. And although thier performance in the regatta was... interesting to watch, I think that once they gain more confidence in their steering they should provide us with an exciting Junior championship final.
On an aside... The Synergy teams... with 6 teams, they seem to be this decade's version of the Nokia teams of the 90's. I think at least one of them should win something...
