CaPaddle Diva
Dragon Boat Virgin
 OfflineTeam: Kelowna Dragon Boat Club and Canadian Senior Dragon Boat Club
Posts: 9
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« Reply #1 on: October 27, 2009, 09:05:41 PM » |
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I live in Kelowna and am a big supporter of our sport and our city. Unfortunately, many of our local teams are concerned about encouraging teams to come to the Kelowna Festival and are considering other festivals instead. It is one of the most expensive festivals around, yet participating teams are not getting value for the dollar. This year there was no Friday night concert, they eliminated the big screens that are used at Banff and Harrison, the beer garden band only played for an hour, none of the announcers knew anything about dragon boating, and the races grids were wrong throughout the weekend. Ribbons were handed out to Platinum B division teams, yet lower level placements still came away with a medal? (And yes, we came away with a medal, but the Platinum B teams raced harder all weekend!)
Even the vendors were charged an exhorbitant amount of money to set up shop, with all of the proceeds going to a local promoter who doesn't even support the sport in his own city, but charges $1600 to $1900 for an entry fee?!?!!!!
We were also in Penticton this year (and Banff!) and found both of these two festivals extremely well run, on time and providing all of the services and support that we come to expect at a dragon boat festival. The fees are much less, but the comaraderie in the athlete's village, marshalls that actually like being there, and great locations make both of these festivals a much better value and promotes the true spirit of dragon boating.
From the three festivals in Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton, Penticton leads by far and away as the true winner!
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