|
Dragonboat festival gaining good reputation |
|
|
|
Written by Pamela Roth
|
|
Saturday, July 04 2009, 8:42 PM |
They came dressed as though they had just emerged from the Highlands of Scotland, but left their bagpipes behind in exchange for some paddles. Sporting plaid kilts, blue facepaint, and plenty of energy, the members of the Lethbridge Family Services Bravehearts were all smiles on Saturday as they were gearing up to hit the water at Henderson Lake and race in their dragonboat for the second time.
This year marks the first year the team has entered the ATB Financial Lethbridge Rotary Dragonboat Festival. After talking about it last year, a few co-workers decided to put the wheels in motion this year and form a team to enter the races — all in the name of fun.
Leading up to the event, the newly-formed team held seven practices to gel and put their paddles in motion. On the big day, they were ready to put their newfound team skills to the test as they formed a circle behind their tent and recited their cheer.
“The competition is good, but having fun and getting to know the different teams is just great. A lot of people didn’t know each other so it’s really good for our organization,” said team member Sonny Zgurski, whose squad was hoping to beat its best practice time of three minutes. “I was very hesitant to participate because I didn’t think it would be that much fun, but I am so thankful that I did. We really like this event. There is a real sense of community.”
The dragonboat festival has grown to become a premier event in Western Canada, with 65 teams (2,000 athletes) competing this year from across Western Canada. At the lake, the boats are lined up similar to a sanctioned Olympic boat-racing event. Teams of 20 paddlers are placed in five boats in five lanes to race a 500-metre course at the sound of a horn.
The festival started eight years ago with 17 teams and has grown to the point where it is now a recognized Dragon Boat Canada qualifying event for the world championships to be held in Macau in 2010.
Race director Jason Rusu has been all over Canada, competing in paddling events, particularly kayaking. According to Rusu, Lethbridge is beginning to develop a strong paddling presence, and with a facility to train like Henderson Lake, that presence will only get stronger.
“I think the venue here is a gem in the rough as far as building community paddling opportunities for youth, both in dragonboat and racing,” said Rusu, who has an Olympic racing background.
“I see Lethbridge with a tight community and really well developed volunteer spirit having a very strong paddling presence in the west and nationally.”
Team ID (Impavidus Draconis) wasn’t going for a world championship qualifying time, but was hoping to collect some hardware from the festival this year.
The Lethbridge team, whose members range in age from 24 to 67, has paddled here for the past seven years and has made steady improvements along the way. Not only do they compete locally, but regionally as well, medalling in events in Kelowna, Regina, Medicine Hat and Calgary.
Dawn Vickers joined the team when she moved to Lethbridge five years as ago as a way to get to know people in the community. She said the dedicated group has almost become like family.
“It’s one of those things that brings a variety of people from a lot of backgrounds, educations and interests together,” said Vickers, who was hoping to see a medal from the event, but noted it’s a year of training and rebuilding with nine new paddlers on the team. “There are no divas on a dragon boat. Everybody is working together and the timing has to be precise. We really have to rely on each other and support each other and I think that’s one of the most important things about being on a dragon boat team.”
Next stop for Team ID will be Vernon at the end of the month followed by the Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival in August.
The ATB Financial Lethbridge Rotary Dragon Boat Festival continues today with races taking place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
|
