Pacific Reach WAS the dominating team at the inaugural Vernon Dragon Boat Race. 10 seconds faster than any other team in the timed races.
I approached the top teams and the race directors early Sunday morning about the idea of stacking a team to give PR some challenge - and they all liked the idea. In actuality - merging different styles sometimes doesn't work, and teams want to keep together as a "tribe". Basically we kept to the original idea of the teams with the 4 fastest times. We did have some Magic Dragons paddling with Kamloops' Extreme Currents - so the 2nd and 3rd fastest teams combined. A men's team concept failed to manifest. But along with Kelown Dragon Boat Club's "Just Add Water" and Exteme Curves women's team - everybody had LOTS of fun for that last race.
After THE RACE, Extreme Currents was paddling alongside Pacific Reach. From the drummer's seat I threatened that instead of splashing PR, we were going to kidnap their steersperson. It was actually a replacement steersperson they had - whom some PR paddlers told me that he really doesn't steer that well. He grabbed the bailer and started tossing water at us, and promptly lost control of the boat - and PR started heading towards the swimmers. Thankfully the team is very experienced and water-wise, they stopped their boat, and harrassed their steersperson (whom I shall not name for reasons of confidentiality).
PR did indeed pull up a water skier. Anticipation built as the skier sat in the water getting ready. When PR took off, a long rope slowly uncoiled. The skier stayed crouching struggling with her balance for what seemed like a long time. Finally, a great roar of approval from the people on the beach and dock was heard, sustained clapping too!
This new race in Vernon will be wonderful. The Calgary organizers did a great job overcoming a resistant community very protective of Kalamalka Beach, and challenging wind conditions on Saturday morning. Sunday water conditions were flat. Almost ideal for stacking a team just to see how fast a Dynasty boat can go. The Lake at the beach end is shallow enough that poles can be mounted in the bottom for exact positioning. This would be ideal for a flag race with tethered starts and flags to grab for determining the winners. False Creek is too deep with too many currents to set the flags in the bottom.
The more we have Vancouver players working with Calgary players the stronger the Western region of Dragon Boat Canada will be. I had a good talk with the Calgary DBC people who would like to build a Western circuit - but travel and costs really put us at a disadvantage against Southern Ontario teams. Calgary players also LOVED the idea of the dragon boat barrel races. Look for them to introduce dragon boat "Chuck Wagon" races in Calgary soon. Allow me to be the first to coin the phrase "DRAGON BOAT RODEO!"
