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Dragon Boat Canada


IDBF


Canoe Kayak Canada

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[pum]

Hello again,

We held our fourth Team meeting yesterday: and the news keeps getting better.

We have settled on 3 practice days per week: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays starting on January 2nd. In order to accomodate Team members living all over the Lower Mainland, members will be required to attend 2/3 weekly practices.

We will hold one weekday practice at False Creek (for downtowners), one weekday practice at Cultus Lake (for the Valley folks) and a mandatory Saturday practice at Fort Langley (the compromise practice).

The flights are coming in much lower than we anticipated: around $1375 CAD return, all taxes included!! That's right, that includes a stopover in Honolulu!

We are still accepting new members (until December 31st) to join either the women's or mixed teams. There will be two paddling clinics for all Team members over the holidays, so HURRY!!

Merry Christmas everyone,


Paul.

[pum]

Hi folks,

Tickets for almost the entire team have now been purchased for the 2nd leg of our trip. One full team, spares and our coach are on their way!

Flexible departure dates opened up a window to lower travel costs below $1200 CAD return from Vancouver to Sydney!!! That's right, including taxes.

We have received a number of expressions of interest in the past few days. Please contact me in the next 2 weeks if you are seriously interested in learning more. I will hold one more information session before the New Year.

Sincerely,


Paul.

[DiggerPig]

Hello Fellow Dragon Boaters,

    Talking with Paul, I know we both want to put a competitive Dragon Boat Team on the water in Sidney.  We are in need of a few more guys (and girls) for this to happen.  It should be a lot of fun so if your interested I encourage you to come out and join. 

DiggerPig.

[pum]

The next paddling clinic will be held on Thursday, December 28th from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Walnut Grove Community Centre at 8889 Walnut Grove Drive in Langley (close to the 200th Exit off Highway #1).

After the clinic, I will be holding a short information session for those interested in joining the Team. There will also be information regarding a special course for newcomers to the sport.

Call me if you have any questions at (604) 340-3553.

Happy New Year,


Paul.

[DiggerPig]

OK competitive Dragon Boaters (aren't we all competitive?)

The Fraser Valley Dragon Boat Club team going to Australia hits the water this week - Jan 2, 2007 is the first practice - burr! 

We now have 7 guys confirmed for the mixed competitive with two more guys indicating their interest.  With the cost of the trip only $1200 CAD we are really pushing for more of our fellow male (especially) and female paddlers to come out and take advantage of this trip.  Anyone can paddle in the great events put on throughout BC and Northern USA - but a trip to Australia (at this cost) may only come around every 3-5 years.  I know the club national teams are going later in the year but for us rec competitive (A or B divisions) paddlers this gives us the opprotunity that is not available to paddler that do not paddle on a teams like FCRCC or Gorging or Roli , etc ...

I know money can be a huge factor but with the cost of $1200 to get there, the price of hotel in Honolulu 2 days, and food it's do-able.  The good thing is once we get to Australia we're being billeted by fellow paddlers for our stay there.

There is my sales pitch.  Thanks for your time

Digger Pig 
 

[Sway]

Hello

Are you still looking for Paddlers?

Sway

[pum]

January 2nd, 2007

To Sway and other paddlers out there:

YES, we are still accepting new paddlers, especially guys. Practices are starting this week and IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN US. We are fielding a mixed team and a women's team, but we need more guys! To coaches and managers on dboatwest: you will have a fully fit paddler in plenty of time for the regular season. The team will disband after Sydney (as of April 8th), and we'll all go back to our home teams.

Please, if you're sitting on the fence, don't wait any longer: call Paul at (604) 340-3553 and we'll get you going asap.

Happy New Year.

[pum]

Hi folks,

Thanks for all your calls about joining Team Australia.

Practice starts tomorrow at 10 a.m., followed by a Team Meeting at 12:30 p.m.

If any more newcomers wish to attend, please call Paul at (604) 340-3553.

Cheers!

[DiggerPig]

Someone PM me the other day and in the message asked me why go with only 7 guys confirmed ... ?

My answer - we hope to get the other 5 (or more) paddlers within the next few weeks.  Again $1200 there and back is nothing.  If a major sponsor comes aboard (currently in talks) who knows?

 but real answer to this question ...

Going on a 14 day trip that will take you to Honolulu for 2-3 days and then Australia for 8-11 days would be a cool vacation! Doing it all for $1200 airfare is awesome!

BUT

Going to Honolulu for 2-3 days and doing a mid-night practice (please no sharks!),

Going to Australia and billeting/meeting people that are as passionate about dragon boating as we are (Australian Nationals),

Paddling as an invited team from Western Canada and going out to just enjoy the experience (OK I want win as much as anyone),

= PRICELESS!

Hope that answers some questions. 

Digger 

[pum]

Dunno what happened these past few days, but the call for guys has hit paydirt: 7 have called or emailed me to indicate their interest in coming out to practice either Thursday or Saturday!

We have 8 already on the mixed team, so things are looking better for the mixed team. The women's master's Team is already full.

Practices will take place tomorrow in Vancouver and Saturday in Fort Langley.

Cheers,


Paul: (604) 340-3553, or [email protected]

[pum]

Calling a steersman & drummer for the Auzzie Nationals!!!

Our current steersman has had some personal issues that will prevent him coming along to Sydney for our trip. If there is anyone out there: call me asap: the first one to confirm will be welcomed on board.

We are also in need of a drummer.

We have 10 guys now, so there's still 2 spots left for that too....give a break to the women who would otherwise paddle on both teams, will you?

The Team's fundraising has bettered our expectations...

Paul (604) 340-3553

[pum]

G'day folks,

Thanks to everyone for the great response to the call for steerspeople!

I have the official invitation & registration forms in front of me. We still have 2-3 spots for men and then one or two for women & senior women to fill...we're almost there!!

The next two-team practice will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. Come on out! Be part of the first Canadian teams ever to participate at the Aussie Nationals!!!

Join us for group diving courses for the reef, a midnight practice at our stopover in Honolulu, and the chance to jump on the party plane of more than 30 dragonboaters from Honolulu to Sydney!! We can tailor-make your itinerary! At a total cost of $1500 CAD return (including Coaching, regatta fees, travel), you will NEVER find better!

And if you know any drummers...."steer" them my way, will ya?

Cheers,


Paul (604) 340-3553

[pum]

We're gearing up for the final sprint to Honolulu & Sydney: big thanks to everyone in the Lower Mainland dragonboat community for their encouragement, advice & assistance over the course of the past 4 months. We really appreciate the kind words!

The women's masters team is now full, with 21 paddlers!

The mixed team is still short of 2 or 3 guys and one woman under 40! Last call to voyage Down Under!

Cheers,


Paul.

[pum]

Apologies to those interested in Sydney earlier in the year but who didn't come along due: cost for the trip. Now that things are finalized, we seem to have overestimated our net expenses. Here's some notes for those of you who are planning similar ventures:

The total cost was not in the $ 2050 CAD range estimated back in October, nor even the $1500 CAD quoted earlier this year. Net costs turned out to be closer to $1395 CAD p.p. including coaching, return flights to Honolulu & Sydney, sublimated team jerseys, hotels (ok, cheap ones except for 2 nights of luxury), regatta fees & party tickets and boat and equipment rental here & in Hawaii. The dragonboat communities here in the Valley, great teamwork & team spirit combined with superb Fundraising efforts were instrumental for the Team achieving such a cost-effective journey.

All costs are approximate, p.p., assuming a March 30th departure & return April 8th:
Flights averaged at just $1185 (return, all in) + coaching: $100 + jerseys: $70 + boat transportation & rental: $25 + miscellaneous: $20 + hotels: $345 = $1745

Monies raised through Fun-raising (!) & Sponsorship: $ 350 p.p.

Net cost: $ 1395 (this does not include added expenses for most of the Team who are staying longer in Sydney, hopping over to New Zealand or Fiji, diving up on the Great Barrier Reef or spending a few extra days on Waikiki).

It takes a lot of faith on behalf of the Team to wade through the doubts and worries at the start, but when you get there, it's very satisfying and reminds us of the reasons we joined this sport. Our two teams will fly to Honolulu on various days throughout the week of March 26th. Everything is in place now: hotel & plane reservations, practices, race plan and PARTIES ON THE BEACH!

Wish us luck!!! And best of luck to anyone who's been pondering that once-in-a-lifetime dragonboat trip!

Cheers,


Paul

[gunghaggis]

Hey Paul & Karmen...

I wish you and the team lots of fun... and lots of luck!

It's been great chatting with you about your plan development and following your progress.  Glad that you have a few people on your team that I know... and whom I have watched develop.

Watch out for those Chinese-Scottish-Australians.  I hear they are even more crazy than the Chinese-Scottish Canadians.

Cheers, Toddish