2pm Sunday practice for Gung Haggis dragon boat team

This is because of two reasons:

     I encourage everybody to take part in a great Canadian tradition!
     We traditionally do not practice in the morning
     As a Terry's Team member, cancer survivor, I speak at Terry Fox Runs,
     and will be attending the Richmond Run at Garry Point Park 10am.
   
     Check my website for more information on runs www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com
     or check www.terryfoxrun.org

Sep 28th
No Practice because of:
1) UBC Day of the Long Boat
2) Word on the Street Festival

Gung Haggis team paddling in a barrel race (10 paddlers) on Saturday.  Wendy is drummer and Todd is steering.  Lead strokes are Colleen and Hillary, followed by Sher & Raphael, Brooke and Cindy, Dave & Tony, Jonas & Devon.  photo courtesy of Ben Lee

It was our final dragon boat event of the season (sniff, sniff).

Special thanks to Captain Ernest
for leading our team for the Vancouver International Taiwanese Dragon
Boat Races.  We had a good core of paddlers and some good developing
paddlers + some guest paddlers. 

see other races:

Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team did really well today at the Vancouver Taiwanese Dragon Boat Races, held at Plaza of Nations with the Taiwanese Cultural Festival.

Race 4, aprox. 11am.
Lane – Team
1   Hon's Dragon Bowl   
2   Gung Haggis Fat Choy   
3   ScotiaBank Dragons   
4   Synergy Rice Rockets   
5   Flying Butts  

Ernest Wu is our team captain for these races.  Todd Wong (me) is drummer for our races, Dave Samis is steers, and
Colleen was our flag grabber.  Wendy and Alissa are doing lead stroke.  Hillary and Jane in second seat.  Cindy and Brooke in 3 seat. Rounding out the team is Stephen, Jim, Tony, Jonas, Devon, Sher, Raphael, Stuart, Joe.  Joining us for the day is Judi, Lee (from Sudden Impact Black – who paddled with Dave in Australia last year) + Karl (who is joining us from the Killarney junior team.).

Hon's is a brand new team this year, coached and
drummed by our friend Patrick Couling.  Scotiabank Dragons is a veteran team with lots of experienced paddlers.  Dan Seto paddled with Gung Haggis for 3 years, but he joined Scotiabank this year to push him self more on a competitive team that went to Comp B at the Rio Tinto Alcan dragon boat festival this year.  I know lots of other paddlers on the team such as Elias whom I paddled with in 2001 on the GM team, steers William whom I coached in 2001 for the Civil Serpents team, Connie whom I sometimes work with at the Vancouver Public Library and got to know on the strike line last fall.

For the Taiwanese dragon boat races.  You have to grab the flag before you cross the finish line.  Dragon Boat racing has its origins in  ancient China, in 299 BC, long before there were stop watches.  The early race winners were determined by which team grabbed a flag first.  On our modern day race course in Vancouver's False Creek, there is a strong current and the channel is deep, so exact placement of flags is impossible.  For the Vancouver Taiwanese Dragon Boat Races, each team must grab a flag, keep paddling, then cross the finish line, which is approximately at the second set of buoy markers.  The flag can only be grabbed by the designated flag grabber.  If the flag grabber misses the flag, the boat must stop and go back for the flag.  If a paddler grabs the flag, the team can be disqualified. 

As we approached the flag, our designated flag grabber Colleen got ready.  I called a race finish, and Colleen stood up behind the large dragon head that is a feature on these Taiwanese dragon boats.  She guided our steers to the flag by pointing with her outstretched arms.  Dave aimed the dragon boat to the flag.  Colleen is right handed, but instead of bringing the boat to the left of the flag, we were heading to the right side of the flag.  Colleen reached out her left hand and easily grabbed the flag.

Colleen is a rookie dragon boater who joined our team this spring.  She discovered our team through our website www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com when she googled “Vancouver” and “dragon boat”. Her ethnic heritage includes some Scottish ancestry, so she was intrigued.  She was really enjoyed paddling with the team and brought her girlfriend Alissa along with her to our early spring practices in March.  One of Colleen and Alissa's favorite team activities is joining the “Gung Haggis foodie club” after practice and going to replenish carbohydrates at a local restaurant.

Our 2nd place time was about 2:43  –  We had a good start, and quickly
pulled away from Hon's Dragon Bowl beside us.   Their guest steersperson
was Bernie Proetti, who later tshared with me that he had told Hon's that if they beat Gung Haggis,
he would grab my kilt.  Alas… Bernie was actually surprised we pulled
away from them so fast. We came second in our first race at 10am, Scotiabank came first.

12:55 Barrel Race #5.

Soon after 12:55 we did our dragon boat barrel race.  The history of the dragon boat barrel race is recent going back only to 2004.  It was started by the Tacoma Dragon Boat Association on Lake Union in Seattle Washington.  These first races were attended by 6 Gung Haggis paddlers, my girlfriend Deb Martin, coach/steers Bob Brinson, myself, and paddlers Naoko, Nick and Tom

This wekend was the first time
barrel races have been done in Taiwanese boats.  Previous years the smaller teakwood dragon boats were used.  I did some race
commentary telling the spectators about the history of Taiwanese dragon
boats in Vancouver, as I was on the DBA board and race committee when
we launched the inaugural Vancouver International Taiwanese Dragon Boat
Races in 2003.

We saw some teams attempt the clover-leaf turns, based on “barrel race”
format from Western cowboy rodeos.  The idea is to go around three
buoys, in a left turn, right turn, left turn format, then return to the
dock.

These Taiwanese dragon boats are flat bottomed, so they can actually
spin on the surface of the water.  The trick is to turn the boat
around, while keeping a forward momentuum.  Some boats came in tight,
close to the buoy, which made them exit the turn wide.  My choice is to
come in wider, like a skier in slalom gates and cut the exit tighter. 
While the boat is turning, we ask the front inside paddlers to do a 45
degree stroke, along with the back outside paddlers to help facilitate
the turn.  While I felt that the turns weren't tight enough, and our
forward momentuum had pushed us into a bit of boat drift while we
turned.  But several people remarked that we had some nice tight
turns.  I was steersperson for our barrel race, while Dave Samis
steered, and Wendy was our drummer, and Hillary and Colleen did lead
stroke.

Race 9, aprox. 1:55pm
Lane – Team
1   Elephant & Castle Booze Cruise
2   Flying Butts    
3   Superslim Phat Phish Racing Team
4   Gung Haggis Fat Choy
5   Elephant & Castle Booze Cruise

For our second race, at 12:55. we were second seed.  We were lined up on the dock beside Phat Phish
so we were chatting with their paddler Grace, who is a Gung Haggis alumni paddler.  I was also chatting with one of their paddlers Tori, who used to organize her own team.  As I waved to Grace, I told Tori that we have a secret hand wave with Gung Haggis alumni paddlers, and we have been secretly infiltrating Phat Phish.  Tori's curiosity was piqued.  Then Joanne, Phat Phish paddler and wife of their coach Bernie piped in and said “I paddled with Gung Haggis in the first Taiwanese races!”

“Shhhh…. ” I said, “That's secret information.”

Having friends on different dragon boat friends really adds to the social cameraderie of the dragon boat races.  Bernie, Joanne, Tori and myself have known each other since around 2000 or 2001.  I regard Patrick Couling as one of my early dragon boat mentors who I have known since 1997.  James Yu was steers on my first dragon boat team in 1997, and he first taught me to steer in '98.  James is helping out with the water crew for the race organizing and officiating.

On the water, the kibbitzing stopped as the wind made it challenging to line up the boats for the starting position.  The boats are backed into the Pier north of Science World.  The steersperson grabs a rope tether beneath a lane number.  This is supposed to give each team an aproximate but equal position at the start line.  But the wind was pushing all the teams southward.  If the steers is holding the tether, than it anchors them to the dock and the bow of the boat moves South.  The front right side paddlers have to draw to keep the boat lined up straight.  We were trying to do this, while stay ready for the race start.

“Bang!” the airhorn went off.  We took off at the start.  Phat Phish quickly took off from our right (North side), but we were about half a boat length behind
E&C on our South side.  And we gained steadily on them.  It was a tight race.  Would
we make 2nd place again? 

Stuart Mackinnon was our flag grabber, and he did an excellent job. Stuart joined the Gung Haggis team last year.  He loved dragon boating so much he was inspired to start up the Killarney Cougar Dragons, at Killarney Secondary School where he teaches.  As we approached the finish line, Stuart stood up and reached his arm out for the flag.  Dave steered our boat to the left of the flag, right into Stuart's right hand.  The team kept paddling to the finish line.

E&C prevailed to stay in second place.  They have really improved
this year, as they have been doing lots of outrigger paddling. 

 The team is performing so well, they almost don't need coaching.  Everybody is paddling hard and deep, and getting a good reach.

TOMORROW
Our first race is 11am on Sunday….

then we do a fun race at 12 noon Race #19 NOGARD (backward) race lane 5

then we are in the finals….

2:35 Race # 24 Consolation (we won't to be here)
2:55 Race # 25 Group D Medal Final   –  We might be here…
3:15 Race # 26 Group C Medal Final   –   Most likely be here…
3:35 Race # 27 Group B Medal Final   –  We could even be here…
3:55 Race # 28 Group A Medal Final   –   Wow… in our dreams… we aspire to greatness.

You can find our tent by entering the parking lot on the West side of Plaza of Nations…

Walk down to the sea walk.  You will see different small tents by the water…. and big tents set up at Plaza of Nations

We were set up today in the trees straight ahead – south of the porta-potties.

Look for the 4' X 2' sign Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team. Red letters on white sign.

Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat drives the paddles deep in the 2007 Vancouver International Taiwanese Dragon Boat race – photo VFK

Taiwanese Dragon Boats are beautiful.  Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team's first race is 11am.

There is FREE VIEWING of the Race Finish – along the sea walk. East of Plaza of
Nations. Come to Cooper's Park – West of the Cambie St. Bridge.

The Sea Walk is NOT closed. But Plaza of Nations will be gated off.
Taiwanese Cultural Festival http://ww.taiwanfest.ca is about $10-$12 for admission. It has been voted best cultural festival many times.

Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team is racing:

SATURDAY
11am Race #4 – lane 2

12:55 pm Barrel Race # 5  This is where we take the dragon boat for 3 turns with only 10 paddlers.

1:55 Race #9 if we finish 4th or 2nd
2:35 Race #11 if we finish 1st, 3rd or 5th

SUNDAY – dependant upon our Saturday results. We will telll people at end of Saturday and post on www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com

could be any where from 10am to 11:20 Races 13-17

12 noon Race #19 NOGARD (backward) race lane 5

2:35 Race # 24 Consolation (we don't want to be here)
2:55 Race # 25 Group D Medal Final
3:15 Race # 26 Group C Medal Final
3:35 Race # 27 Group B Medal Final
3:55 Race # 28 Group A Medal Final

Gung Haggis paddles hard for 2nd place in Mixed C Championships Vernon Dragon Boat Race

Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team: front row kneeling – Steven, Jane, Debbie, Todd, Marion, Julie, Tzhe, Stuart, Brooke; standing – Kristine, Pat (host), Jim, Ernest, Dave, Deb (host), Hillary, Wendy, Jonas (back), Ashleigh, Tony, Alissa, Richard (back), Gayle, Mary, Stephen (back), Raphael, Dan.

Winning vs Fun….  Vacation vs Serious Competition.

We put FUN first… and “WINNING at all costs” last, with Haggis somewhere in between…..

Jim and Jonas warm up with the team.  Lots of kilts worn by team members Marion, Stuart, Todd, Tzhe and Jim! – photo Brooke Samis

Drummer Julie, 3 year veteran Ashleigh, rookie initiate Brooke – all happy to be on the team and in Vernon – photo Dave Samis

Gung
Haggis team paddling out past the dock, Todd steers dressed in kilt
with Julie as drummer dressed in Hawaiian style grass skirt. Our hosts,
Pat and Bill Martin's waterfront home where many of us stayed and where
we held team bbq Saturday night, is in the background  – photo Brooke
Samis.

We were in C Championship semi-final… on Sunday morning.  We were boat #3.

It was exciting with all the wind swept waves in the tourquoise green waters of Kalamalka  Lake, like paddling in Hawaii.

“Hawaii 5-0 paddling,” I yelled out to the team.  “Lean out, paddle hard – just like outrigger paddling!”  We did a start piece and a power series.  We turned the boat around with our back to the wind to await being called to the start line.

Wind kicked up…. all boats called to start line…  Boat #2 turned sideways and was hit by
a broadside wave, and gently tipped over.  All paddlers in the water….  Chase
boats on scene.  All boats recalled to start line.  Races delayed for
an hour afterwards….

Races started up again at 12 noon, after winds died down.
I steered…  water is still bouncy….  can't hold the boat on
course.  Boat veering right.  Let it run… hold the boat.  Boat beside us narrowly passes us.  Gain control.  Start again… 
We are way behind 3 of the teams, but we still pass a team on far right.  We feel good about our finish, we recovered well.  I feel I made the right corrections for controlling these keel-less Dynasty boats from Calgary.  Despite the steering mishap, our time was a decent 2:45.25.  We are set for the next race.

Gung Haggis team recovers from steering mishap.  Todd is steering as the boat bounces across the tops of wave swells.  Drummer Julie gives the team directions to keep them going. – photo courtesy of  Ben Lee.

C Finals – we are boat #2 in Lane 1. (all teams are moved one lane over.)
Water not as bouncy.  We know we can do well.
good start.  Neck and neck with lane boat #3 in lane 2.  They are the
Red Hot Chili Peppers from Kelowna.  I know the drummer and steers from
the inaugural  Vernon races in 2005.

Still neck and neck…  Julie called a power series, and we moved up a
seat, just passing the team on our right.  Were we first? or second
now?  There was another team in the middle lane. I called a finish, and
the team dug deeper.  We called out our favorite cue word, “More, More
More” – inspiring us to reach more, dig deep more, give more power.  It
was close.   We crossed the finish line.  We we 1st?  Were we 2nd? 
Were we 3rd?

We headed to the beach.  We talked to our team mates who didn't paddle – but watched the race, and our friends. 
“2nd… unofficially,” they told us.  Team Rift Raft was 1st… but we were gaining on them… another 50 m, and we would have had them.

A good hard race.  The boat stayed straight.  We powered hard.  Our paddles were deep.  We got 2nd place in the C Championship with a time of 2:28.29, just 2.1 seconds behind the first place of 2:26.19 by Rift Raft.  Yay!

We were signed up for the 3rd annual demonstration water-ski pull.  The team that pulls a water skier up for the longest time… wins registration for next year's Greater Vernon Dragon Boat Race.  2 years ago, none of the successfully teams managed to pull their water skier – but our skier (Ashleigh) popped up the fastest before she lost control.  Last year we tried again, but no pop up for Ashleigh.

This year, the winds picked up again soon after the finish of the Mixed Adult A Championship.  We were standing in line, waiting for the water-ski pull meeting, when white cap waves accompanied gusty southerly winds.  The water ski pull was soon canceled.

We headed to the beer gardens for the medal ceremony.  The women's races were announced first.  Unfortunately, the C Finals didn't have medals, as race organizer Shawn Samol explained this would be rectified for next year.  B Finals and A Finals were next announced.  The Extreme Currents women's team from Kamloops were the top women's team for the 4th year in a row.  Mana Wahine, a 2 year old women's team from Chilliwack came 2nd.

Next the C Championships were being announced.  Several of our team members moved closer to the stage, as we were ready to accept our medals.  We made sure everybody wearing a kilt was there.  Shawn Samol again explained that they didn't have medals for the C Finals and that it would be rectified for next year.  They did announce the winners.  3rd was Red Hot Chili Paddlers from Kelowna who were DQ.  2nd was Gung Haggis Fat Choy.  1st was Team Rift Raft.

Mixed B Finals were won by Calgary Racing Club, Fluid Motion was 2nd, with SDR – Shaggin' Dragons Reloaded coming 3rd.

The A Finals were very exciting and very close.  Sudden Impact Black came first by a micro-second of  2:09.47 vs. 2:09.61 for Pacific Reach 2 (winners for previous 3 years in Vernon).  Extreme Currents from Kamloops beat out Topmade Fusion with a time of 2:14.50 vs 2:14.88

Gung Haggis paddlers all had lots of fun.  That's what counts.  We paddled 3 races + the 1000m demonstration race where we came first after passing 3 teams.  Today we were on the water 3 times, where our 1st race was cancelled because of high winds, after a team tipped into the water after being hit broadside by a wave.  Our 2nd race where I lost control of the boat in windy conditions that made it hard steering with the waves, but regained control for a good finish… and our 3rd race where we went neck and neck to the finish line with Red Hot Chili Paddlers on our right, passing them but coming a very close 2nd place to the boat in lane 4.