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Dragon Boat Canada


IDBF


Canoe Kayak Canada

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[rb]

This is why I don't read free newspapers anymore: They just eff with my mind when the cover photo and the headline are completely irrelevant.

Check this Metro front page  http://www.poynter.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/metro-winnipeg-june-19-2012.jpeg

It's great that RTA has all BuKs. I hope they keep the 6/16s for training, sometimes teams have more than 20 paddlers at practice.

RTA has some of the better starts but they still aren't fair - some teams are ahead or behind, some are moving. Can't we figure out a way to let the teams know where the line is and line themselves up, then penalize those that are ahead of the line? Why can't we have a photo start or video start like they do on the finish? Finishes are down to the hundredth of a second and starts are... inconsistent.

[raphael]

It's great that RTA has all BuKs. I hope they keep the 6/16s for training, sometimes teams have more than 20 paddlers at practice.

RTA has some of the better starts but they still aren't fair - some teams are ahead or behind, some are moving. Can't we figure out a way to let the teams know where the line is and line themselves up, then penalize those that are ahead of the line? Why can't we have a photo start or video start like they do on the finish? Finishes are down to the hundredth of a second and starts are... inconsistent.

Our team lost the gold by hundredth of a second, and some of us believe that we have won gold.  I personally don't want to dispute the result even I am not  happy with the ruling.  It is a water sport and it is hard for people  to gauge how far or behind a boat from the starting line without technical equipments.  mistakes will be made.  Our silver medal performance will serve as a motivator for our next race.

Yes, the BUK boats were nice.  I am so glad that we don't have to deal with those Gemini boats any more.  What will happen to them??

Other than that, We fought some difficult battles and it was fun for my team.  We achieved some of our goals.   

[mandachan]

Our team lost the gold by hundredth of a second, and some of us believe that we have won gold.  I personally don't want to dispute the result even I am not  happy with the ruling.  It is a water sport and it is hard for people  to gauge how far or behind a boat from the starting line without technical equipments.  mistakes will be made.  Our silver medal performance will serve as a motivator for our next race.

Looking at the calibre of racing that Creakside Masters put out consistently over this season, I think it's safe to say that a Silver in that heat was pretty special.

Yes, the BUK boats were nice.  I am so glad that we don't have to deal with those Gemini boats any more.  What will happen to them??

Other than that, We fought some difficult battles and it was fun for my team.  We achieved some of our goals. 

The Gems would probably be sold in a far away land. Hopefully, anyway 

Really though there are clubs who don't have BUKs but have Milleniums and 6-16's (the old ones) so they would appreciate the Gems.

[raphael]

Looking at the calibre of racing that Creakside Masters put out consistently over this season, I think it's safe to say that a Silver in that heat was pretty special.

I have no issue in losing to the Creekside Master.  They are a great team.  Much to learn from them.  I hope that I can still compete in that level when I am at their age..

[fisherguy]

Despite the crappy weather on Saturday, our team had a great time on the weekend.  Loved the new buks.  Not sure if they are any faster or slower than the old ones.  The rec A final and our Rec C final were very close with 2 to 3 seconds separating first to last.  Definately well seeded races. 

With the wind and tide it would be almost impossible to have everyone perfectly lined up at the start.  The only way I guess would be to have a gate system similar to what they have for horse racing but I doubt that it would be feasible to do this for dragonboating.  Maybe if Dragonboating became an olympic sport?  Wouldn't that be great?

Otherwise no other complaints except for the same old boat traffic issues that may have lead to the unfortunate dunking of one of the more inexperienced teams. 

oh well.  On to Harrison.

[Illuminate]

In dragon boat national and international events, you'd often see held starts where there are floating docks and people hold the tail before a start.  That all requires more money and more volunteers of course

[Waterbunny]

Years ago (if I recall correctly - in the Taiwanese festival) didnt they used to have the starts at Science World end?  I believe I was in a race years ago where the steersperson had to hold a rope until the start was called.  I've seen this on the videos of races elsewhere as well- .

The downside is that the race would finish where no one would be able to watch...

Yes, when the races are so close within milliseconds at the finishes, how can you truly know who really won when you only started the race with a best visual at the start.
That said, if the race is THAT close... then you know you belonged there and so did your competition.
I know they do their best and really it's not the end of the world either.  .... so I'm not worried about it.  

Speaking of race starts:
Thank you to Madam Starter....  I got a chuckle out of it when you reprimanded those 'looky-loos' who made us sit there on the water in the pouring rain beore we could start the race- while we waited for them to get out of the way .. Great job!

Just a side note -not that it matters - I wasnt involved in the race mentioned above. I was speaking in general about the races overall.

[scots rule]

Alcan. as usual the final day was exciting, as a stand alone club from Cultus Lake in Chilliwack with a total of 60 members including the youth.  SI Black 5th Comp A finals and SI Liquid Silver 7th in junior A finals with no guest paddlers. Sudden Impact Paddling Club is proud of its members and shows that if you want it you can acheive it 

[coach]

I'm with those that would like to see some innovation on the start line. Starts are not always fair, they could be improved.

- It could be low-tech; some outrigger races have a starter hold up a black flag whenever a boat is over the line, boats adjust themselves accordingly.

- It could be high-tech; GPS, LED, laser, RF.

Not sure if anyone would be interested in trying some new options.

[NFW]

My 2 cents on the starts..

The way the start works currently is pretty much at its best considering the situation. aka wind, tide & boat traffic. (Kim, the Madame starter has always done a good job on that front)

The only way it can get better is by using a anchored floating dock as Illuminate mentioned and I don't see that happening in the foreseeable future in Alcan. (As it's a festival type racing, not sport racing like nationals/worlds)

Teams or at the very least their steersperson should already know where the start line is before entering the heat. If they dont in their first heat, I'm sure they will have picked it up by their second heat.
There are only 2 sets of buoys to care about for the starts...the boats will either be behind the staging buoy (as directed by the water ref) or behind the start buoys (as directed by the starter)

The reason why the starts seems inconsistent is well because of the outside factors mentioned previously: wind, tide, boat traffic.
Some teams will always be either behind or ahead..boats still moving are a fact of life when there are no floating docks to hold them from moving.
Kim always does a great job of making sure the starts are fairer by bringing all 8 boats up together, she will then start them the moment all 8 teams looks to be lined up. Even if this means that all 8 boats are past the start line. (starters typically has some distance leeway past the start line, an imaginary box if you will, where they can still call the start if all 8 boats are in that area)

Photos and videos of the starts are not as important as long every boat starts together, the onus is on the steersperson to keep up with the other boats, and to listen to the commands of the starter trying to get the boats aligned. Callers usually also has the responsibility to work with the steersperson in making sure their front of the boat are aligned with the other boats.
It's up to the steers or caller to put a hand up to hold the start should they feel that their boat is not aligned (wake/tide pushing the boats too close to buoys/other lanes impeding starts). The paddlers on the team should also be cognizant of the fact that they need to put the paddle on the water to hold for drift and draw left/right if need be.

The problem with having black flags to signify boats going over the line will be that each heat will take an incredible amount of time to start if every boat has to adjust accordingly if they pass the start line. (I can imagine the delays this will cause). This method works in an outrigger race as positioning yourself on an outrigger is a fairly easy thing to do..light boat, fairly responsive to go backward, forward and holds, glide can be controlled more easily as well. It`s not quite the same for a dragon boat.

[mappingguy]

I agree with NFW...given the environmental conditions in false creek with wind and tide it's the best we are going to get.

Anchored buoys floating in current should never be used to align the boats at the start and never be used determined the placement of boats at the finish.   If you look at most photo finishes, the buoys are almost always bowed or curved due to current. 

Buoys only provide a general marker of the start and the finish.   The actual finish line could be well past the final buoy marks so all teams should not let up until they are completely past the final set of markers. 

[paddleBOT]

Based on finish line photo, Masters clearly came in 1st.  Regarding the start line, I agree that it is very difficult to line up perfectly in an open environment with tide and wind variables. 

Kim, the starter, has many years of experience and she is very good to call teams up, or back them down if teams are not on the line.

Our team lost the gold by hundredth of a second, and some of us believe that we have won gold.  I personally don't want to dispute the result even I am not  happy with the ruling.  It is a water sport and it is hard for people  to gauge how far or behind a boat from the starting line without technical equipments.  mistakes will be made.  Our silver medal performance will serve as a motivator for our next race.

Yes, the BUK boats were nice.  I am so glad that we don't have to deal with those Gemini boats any more.  What will happen to them??

Other than that, We fought some difficult battles and it was fun for my team.  We achieved some of our goals.   

[Kigan]

 
Ahhh haa haaa haa....

I have no issue in losing to the Creekside Master.  They are a great team.  Much to learn from them.  I hope that I can still compete in that level when I am at their age..

[madcap]

Jeez..if you think Creakside Masters are old, how about the Grandragons, The Eh Team, Dogwood Nothing Dragons? There are 80 year-olds beating the snot out of their grandchildren at Alcan and many other festivals. Now thats old and fiesty. 

[NFW]

Our team lost the gold by hundredth of a second, and some of us believe that we have won gold.

It's possible that your teammates thought that they should have won gold was because of seeing your boat cross the buoys first before Masters.
As mappingguy mentioned, the finish line buoy moves so it's not the most accurate indicator of where paddlers should stop paddling.
The finish line crew uses laser to determine the finish which could range from 5+ feet before the buoys or after the buoys.
It's always a good idea to paddle hard completely past the finish line buoys.

Props to every Master/Granddragons teams for kicking so much ass and taking names