Todd Wong skiing at Silver Star
Monthly Archives: April 2007
Todd Wong and Raphael Fang – Chinese guys in kilts – photo Deb Martin
Gung Haggis paddlers in kilts Tartan Day April 5 07 – photo Deb Martin
Gung Haggis paddlers celebrate Tartan Day at Doolin's Irish Pub, April 5 – photo Todd
Head Tax spouses ceremony with Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) on Friday 13
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Head Tax spouses ceremony with Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) on Friday 13
Okay…
it's Friday the Thirteenth. And apparently the BC Head Tax
Families Society was not notified about this event. Maybe it was
done on purpose… maybe it was done by accident. Maybe head tax
descendants are not supposed to participate… only pre-invited head
tax spouses?
I don't think my grandmother was invited, even
though she received notice that her application was received… at
least my mother didn't tell me.
Doesn't the government know that Friday 13th, is a bad luck in Chinese custom?
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Date: The There will be Please note The details Date: Time: 1:00 Place: Information:Alykhan |
Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team prepares last practice for 200m sprints
Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team prepares last practice for 200m sprints
It was our last practice before the 200m sprint regatta set for
Saturday April 14th at Dragon Zone. Normally our team never hits
the water before April, but this year we have a core of 3rd year
paddlers who really want to take our team to another level. While
I was in Vernon on Easter Weekend, our senior paddlers Stephen
Mirowski, Dan Seto and Ernest Wu took over the instruction reigns and
pushed the team to build strength and endurance. I heard from one
of the new paddlers that it was a tough workout.
We have now been on the water for 10 practices since March 4th.
Only on March 11th, a cold rainy wet day, we didn't have enough people
to take out a dragon boat…. so we took 6 people out in 2 person
Marathon canoes and had a great time, having little races.
For tonight's practice we had 19 paddlers on the boat… including 4
paddlers from the UA Power Dragons which I coach on Saturday. Two
of the paddlers I knew. Two of the paddlers I had never seen
before. It was the first time on a dragon boat for Dan, and the
2nd time for Kiel. I really don't like putting people into a race
with only 1 or 2 practices. There are injury concerns and
technique concerns…. But I told the guys to just watch the
techniques, focus on timing. I didn't want any power from
them. They are strong atheletes who play other sports. Try
to hold them back, eh?
We
focused on race prep, and our race day routine. We did a race piece
with myself
and Wendy as lead strokes. Then I coached with Wendy and
Marlene as lead strokes.
We worked on our 6-18 start. Six slow strokes + 3 sets of six ups
(up,
up, up, 4, 5, 6) followed by two counts of “Reach with Power.”
For a 200 m. race, we have enough time for starts + 2 power series
or start, power series, and finish. It's very short.
A normal dragon boat race is 500m, and usually takes us 2:30 to 2:50.
We had a full race piece with GVRD 44 Cheeks, then a race starts Saints
Preserve Us. GVRD is coached by my friend James
Yu. Saints are coached by another friend Susan. We
have friendly pre-race chatter between the boats, introducing the
teams, making jokes about each other… trying to psych each other
out. Then we move the boats apart and tell the paddlers to
put their paddles in the water for a race start.
Darn those Gemini boats… we are sitting heavier, and
plowing the water. They are lighter than the fibreglass 6-16
locally made dragon boats – but they are narrower, shorter and less
buoyant. The races were still pretty close, and we had a
number of beginners in the boats, and a few people who were only on
their 1st or 2nd time paddling this season.
Looking forward to Saturday, and having everybody out. We will
rotate new rookie paddlers into the lineup, and we will run the
final boat with veterans. This serves to help rookies learn
the
ropes, and have the multi-year veterans give the 2nd and 3rd year
paddlers a better quality experience.
We are fortunate to have veteran paddlers Kristine and Craig join us
for the race. They both raced on the 2001 Civil Serpents team
that won Comp B silver – which I coached and steered. They are
two of
my favorite paddlers friends. Craig first paddled on the
Celebration
team in 1997, which changed its name in 2002 to Gung Haggis Fat Choy.
We are glad to have Ian and Cory from the Pirates – whom we
consider dear friends. Ian paddled on the GHFC '05 team for Alcan, and
Cory joined us for regatta that year. Last year, GHFC joined Pirates
for Victoria '06.
Stuart has joined GHFC and Tacoma DBA for Day of the Long
Boats for 2005 and 2006. He and Linda are from the Scaly Justice Team,
which Dan joined for some practices in the fall.
Our core team members include Peggy, Marlene, Keng, Ernest, Joe, Dan,
Steven W., Gerard, and Stephen M. + drummer Deb. Jonas and Wendy
joined us as rookies last year, as did Richard, Queenie and Tzhe.
Georgia paddled on Burnaby Tsunami last year, and has joined us for
2007. Joining us this spring as rookies are Stuart, Cindy,
Jim and Alex. Pash is really a Pirate paddler and joins us for
Tuesday practices. Julie joined us last year too, but has
Polynesian dance classes on Sunday, and will drop in on Tuesdays too!
So…. friends all around – that's the way we like it!
Cheers, Todd
Gung Haggis paddler, Dave Samis, races in Australian National dragon boat races
Gung Haggis paddler, Dave Samis, races in Australian National dragon boat races
Dave
Samis, is one of the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team summer
paddlers. For the Alcan Festival he races with his work
team, GVRD 44 Cheeks, then he joins Gung Haggis Fat Choy for the
summer. He is a staunch supporter of our Gung Haggis Fat Choy
Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner, and many of our extracurricular
activities such as dragon boat head carving or our St. Patrick's Day
dragon boat floats.
Dave
has just finished racing with a pick-up Canadian dragon boat team,
organized by Paul Boileau of the Ft. Langley Canoe Club. Paddlers
from across the Vancouver Lower Mainland joined for the chance to have
an enjoyable vacation, and race against some of Australia's finest
dragon boat teams.
Dave writes:
Hi Gung Haggis paddlers
Internet has been down at many places I've tried over last
few days.
Report from Down Under
Another Clearly Canadian paddler was injured prior to the
races. Lila was almost hit crossing in a crosswalk in Sydney by a speeding car that didn't stop. She dove for the sidewalk and just missed
being hit. It was so close passer-by’s
thought she had been hit. She bruised
her right side hitting the sidewalk. Hmmm,
that's three paddlers hurt now. Me in the
scooter accident in Hawaii, Lorriane in a separate scooter accident in Hawaii,
and then Lila in Sydney. And we only
have one spare.
The Australian Nationals April 6, 7 and 8th.
Although we had already been registered for quite a while,
we reconcieved word that this competition is only for Australian teams not international
teams, before we left. Letters flew
back and forth and the officials changed their minds and let us come….however
we would be a demonstration team only…no medal round races.
April 6th 1000 m races
We moved into our tent right (closest one to the stands, podium
etc.) and we felt that the Australian teams were not expecting to see us and
that they were worried about us.
The teams competing were the state champions (of each Australian
state) and they were competing to be the team(s) that would be Australian champions
that would represent Australia internationally.
In our first races, our Women's Masters team paddled well
but came in last against very tough competition. Then something completely changed ….the Australians came over
to greet us and to meet us. It turned
out that they thought we were a hot shot competitive Canadian team coming to
trounce them at their own Nationals.
Once they found out that that wasn't the case they all wanted to be our
friends and to trade team jerseys with us.
They couldn't do enough for us.
April 7th 500 m races
The day stated with the announcer introducing us and talking
about us and then asking all the people to stand while O Canada was played over
the loud speakers. All the Aussies
stood up and cheered (two of our team members that were standing beside me
started crying) Quite touching.
Woman's Master's team came is last in the first race.
Our mixed team with only 9 male paddlers, including me with
my hurt ribs, didn't expect to do well against Australia's best. When the race started our drummer (Sheena
Davidson) screamed at us and the steers (Paul Boileau) did also. We put everything into the race and came in fourth
amongst the best teams there – way better that we had expected we'd do. Our time was 2:11 with only nine males and eleven women (the women were tired as
they had recently races their own race).
So we did well.
One strong woman, paddler Elizabeth, hurt back paddling hard
in the finish and had to be helped from the boat at the end of the race. If you are keeping score that is four injured
now. I'm paddling right as my left
chest is hurt, Lila is paddling left as her right side is hurt (diving out of
the way of the speeder in Sydney) Lorriane's has her arm wrapped in a tensor
bandage (from the scooter accident) and now Elizabeth is hurt.
After our woman's team raced our Clearly Canadian mixed team
raced again with our spare replacing Elizabeth. Our second 500 m was like the first. We again were just a fraction of a second behind third in four
place. Our time in this second 500 was 2:12.
Still doing well with only 9 men paddling.
We weren't allowed to race our mixed team in any finals
(this meet was for the Australian State Champions only) but back at the tent we
were quickly taking on celebrity status.
Paddlers from the Australian teams gathering around to talk to us and to
exchange, hats, shirts, pins or what have you.
April 8th 200m races
I’ll send you the report on the April 7th , 200 m sprints,
the ceremonies there and the party after in the next e-mail. Also info on the country here.
Really gotta go now.
Dave
Easter Skiing at Silver Star
Easter Skiing at Silver Star 
Lots of sunshine… unlimited visibility… and pretty good spring skiing on top of Silver Star- photo Brett Baker
Spring
skiing in the sunshine, what could be better exercise than paddling a
dragon boat in April? This is the 2nd Easter that I have found
myself skiing at Silver Star. This is where I really learned to
ski. We used to have family ski vacations at Silver Star when I
was a kid. Mom and Dad used to pull my brother and me out of
school for a week in February and enrol us in ski lessons.
Silver
Star has a wonderful hosting program called Ski Partners. If you
are new to the mountain, or a single skier, you can find a ski host to
give you a tour of the mountain, or show you the best runs of the
day…. absolutely free!
Relaxing in the sunshine on top of Silver Star…
Last
year I met a very friendly man named David Todd, a transplanted Scot,
who had actually watched the CBC Gung Haggis Fat Choy television
performance special a few years ago. We had a some great chats on
the lifts and enjoyed a round of beers later.
This
year I was again greeted by David Todd. But he suggested I go
with one of the younger ski partners, a large friendly man named Brett
Butler. I had also met Brett last year at Long John's Pub, as
part of the Ski Partner's “debriefing session.” I soon discovered
that Brett had grown up in Vernon and we were both the same age.
Brett
showed me the runs off the Powder Gulch Express. Holy Smokes and
The Face, along with Whiskey Jack and Big Dipper were some of the runs
that we enjoyed. After that we retired to “The Den” to meet up
with David Todd, another ski partner named Don, some more skiiers…
and to watch the Vancouver Canucks beat the San Jose Sharks on the
large screen tv's!
With David Todd, Brett Baker, Don, myself, + more skiiers… having beers in “The Den” at Silver Star during “apre-ski” time.
Here are my articles from last year.
Skiing at Silver Star… my first time skiing in Vernon since 1977
Silver Star mountain. And my guide was speaking with a
Scots accent. I asked him if he was from Glasgow, and his mouth dropped
in amazement. He asked how I knew that. I showed
Scots accent. I asked him if he was from Glasgow, and his mouth dropped
in amazement. He asked how I knew that. I showed
Silver Star had been in 1977, when I was still 16 years
old. The resort has changed, and grown HUGE. My body has changed and I
can't do the same ski ballet or freestyle
old. The resort has changed, and grown HUGE. My body has changed and I
can't do the same ski ballet or freestyle
A Growing Accordionists Movement is happening in Vancouver
A Growing Accordionists Movement is happening in Vancouver
Todd performed accordion at the Vancouver Story Telling Society's January programs in 2006 & 2007. Here he poses with Pauline Wenn – photo Deb Martin
Every year I meet new accordionists. Some have played for years. Some have just picked up the instrument. I have played accordion since I was 10 years old. The following year I entered the Kiwanis Music Festival. Soon I was winning certificates in for 3rd, 2nd or 1st place. I learned to play “concert arrangements” for music competition. This included Brahm's Hungarian Dance No. 5, Bach's Prelude and Fugue in C Major, and even Gerswin's Rhapsody in Blue.
At the 2006 Word On the Street Festival, I met Rowan Lipkovits – performer and accordionist. Rowan says he wants to become synonymous with the accordion in Vancouver. To succeed in this endeavor he hosts a CFRO Co-Op Radio program titled Accordion Noir, and he has started up a Tuesday Night Accordion Circle.
It meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at Little Mountain Studios. 195 East 26th Ave., Vancouver
Next meeting will be Tuesday, May 8th.
Below is Rowan's report from the first Vancouver Accordion Circle.
A dozen squeezers of bellows gathered last month to play a bit of how and tell with a half-dozen instruments, comparing notes and experiences ranging from learning accordion in the 1930s to trying to figure out how to use them today!
This helped to establish a crucial point: apparently there is some mass interest in this much-maligned instrument! So we are doing another one, and will continue on the second Tuesday of every month until Lawrence Welk arises from the dead and overthrows human civilization with his zombie polkas.
The circle remains a bit unfocused, but I'm hoping that with some group input that can be tightened up — examples of things we can achieve as a community include:
• helping would-be students find teachers (I'm already in negotiation with the Slackademics workshops to provide an introductory “rudiments of music” session for our musical novices);
• helping would-be teachers find students (these items kind of do go together);
• helping would-be public performers find bands and ensembles that are looking to incorporate a little squeezebox (when last inquired, the Ukrainian Hall at 805 E. Pender was looking for an accordionist for their folk orchestra — my recollection also has it that the accordion marching band, last seen in
• the St.Patrick's Day parade, is looking for some fresh blood);
• sharing information regarding local events where accordions can be heard (such as our weekly all-accordion radio show Accordion Noir* at CFRO CO-OP Radio, 102.9 fm! … sadly still at 2 am Friday mornings, but moving soon!);
• and of course getting to the bottom of where to go to get accordion repairs and modifications done.
• helping would-be teachers find students (these items kind of do go together);
• helping would-be public performers find bands and ensembles that are looking to incorporate a little squeezebox (when last inquired, the Ukrainian Hall at 805 E. Pender was looking for an accordionist for their folk orchestra — my recollection also has it that the accordion marching band, last seen in
• the St.Patrick's Day parade, is looking for some fresh blood);
• sharing information regarding local events where accordions can be heard (such as our weekly all-accordion radio show Accordion Noir* at CFRO CO-OP Radio, 102.9 fm! … sadly still at 2 am Friday mornings, but moving soon!);
• and of course getting to the bottom of where to go to get accordion repairs and modifications done.
We also get to share songs, stories, album recommendations, and some /terrible/ jokes, as well as getting to ogle everyone else's beautiful instruments. Maybe we make some friends! If all we make is some beautiful music, we still end up ahead.
We're still using the facilities at the Little Mountain Studios,
located at 195 E. 26th at Main — a little chilly last time, so bring a jacket just in case — but as the seasonal weather improves perhaps we can go on field trip excursions to parks and terrify everyday citizens.
* One parting aside: we've been granted a one-off prime-time spot for the CO-OP Membership drive April 29th, from 7-9 pm: we plan to run two hours of accordion musics from Latin America, from cumbia and conjunto to forró and, we hope, some exclusive live recordings of a local bandoneon player sharing tango music!
Gung Haggis dragon boat team practicing on Easter Weekend
Gung Haggis dragon boat team practicing on Easter Weekend
The Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team is continuing its program of fun, fitness, food and friends. This year, we hit the water a month earlier than previous years. A dedicated core of paddlers wants to improve and take the team to the next level.
There are 17 returning paddlers that have paddled this year, with 1 more to join up after Richard returns from Alaska. We have added Georgia, who paddled last year on a different team. Three rookies have joined up with us, and a few more will paddle once exams are finished, or they are able. And a few team veterans say they will join us after Alcan Festival in June.
So… it is looking like the strongest ever Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat crew in team history. We are training the team for it's earliest ever race for April 14th – 200m sprints on False Creek. A German television crew will film us that day – as they have asked “Toddish McWong” to show them a hip and happening side of “Asian-Canadian Vancouver.” I will also be taking them to Doolin's Irish Pub, the very hip Hapa Izakaya restaurant, roller blading in Stanley Park + other goodies.
Come join the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team. Our next practice is Easter Sunday 1pm. It will be led by Dan Seto, Stephen Mirowski and Ernest Wu. I will be skiing at Silver Star in Vernon – trying not to get sun burnt by this incredible Easter weather. But I do plan to get my paddling in Kalamalka Lake in either canoe or kayak.
Next following practice will be Tuesday 6pm.