Here's a letter from Dragon Zone announcing the Sept 6th, Last Gasp Regatta at Dragon Zone.
With the Vancouver Taiwanese Dragon Boat Race cancelled for 2009, there is now a missing hole for a Labour Day weekend/September race in Vancouver BC.Dear Paddlers,
On behalf of the Board of Directors, Leadership Volunteers, Staff and especially our Race Team lead by Race Director Greg Lamb, we wish to extend to you our thanks for once again making the Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival such a great success. The event featured not just hard core competition, something that we're known for, but it was a lot of fun. Whole teams were spotted dancing on the grass, enjoying themselves in the beer garden and making new friends. As you know, the event began with the paddlers and we keep that up front in our consciousness whenever planning new features and events.
Our first announcement is that we are pleased to be hosting the Last Gasp Regatta at Dragon Zone in False Creek on September 6th 2009. Feedback and requests from many paddlers has motivated us to have a Regatta in September, in 2009 and for years to come. Registration will begin on Monday July 14th 2009. For more information and to register please go to
www.dragonzone.ca or call 604.688.2382. If you have any questions, please email
[email protected]. The cost will be $375.00 per team. Remember our Dragon Zone practice facility is open year round.
Our second announcement is that next year the Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society is investing in six new 10-person dragon boats. This will add a new element to our events and the Dragon Zone practice facility and we're really looking forward to getting them in March of 2010.
Finally, next year's RTA Dragon Boat Festival will be held in False Creek for sure. Though we have no news regarding our desire to build a new boat house for all flat water paddling sports including dragon boat paddling, we are assured that the future of the actual June events are safe for the immediate future. To that note, if you wish to sign our petition to Vancouver City Mayor and Councillors to Keep Paddling On The Creek please stay tuned to both websites:
www.dragonzone.ca and
www.dragonboatbc.ca. We are almost finished designing our new online petition and we'll keep you posted on this activity.
Thanks again to all of you. We appreciate your suggestions, feedback and energy and hope to see you all next year at the 22nd Annual Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival.
Regards,
Ann Phelps
General Manager
Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival
