$10 for 1 beer + 1 burger proceeds to Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team June 5th Thursday 7-9pm   more »

Eating is important.  It gives us energy on a dragon boat. 
Dragon Boat Nutrition: What to eat before a dragon boat race or practice?

 

Dragon Boat racing is very short 2minutes to 4 minutes or even a longer 12 minute races, depending if you are a competitive, recreation or novice paddler, or if you are racing 250m sprint, standard 500m, 1000m, or 2000m Guts & Glory races..  So it's neither a pure sprint or a marathon event.

During the first 6-8 seconds you use the ATP-CP energy (immediate/stored energy) systems in your muscles. 
So I will usually eat more protein the night before such as a steak or fish dinner. 

Next you use the short-term glycolytic energy system which usually lasts for 90 seconds to 2 minutes.
Eat lots of good carbohydrates, this will give you the energy for the glycolytic and aeorobic energy systems.  This means lot of good fruits, vegetables, pastas, rice, etc.

But this energy system also gives you the lactic acid burn - so train for increased lactic acid tolerance.  This means lots of short drills for 30 seconds, such as interval training.  20 seconds paddle, 30-60 second rest, repeat.

Finally you start using the long term aeorobic system - 60-90 seconds into your activity -  which is why marathon bike racers do carb-loading by eating huge pasta dinners before the Tour de France, because they want more carbohydrate energy to burn in their bodies.  So again, eat lots of carbohydrates such as fruits, vegetables, pastas, rice.  Ideal for any paddler going into Guts & Glory.

RACE DAY: avoid eating greasy fatty foods.  This will sit in your system for  4-6 hours.  Avoid being the paddler who orders a hamburger, then has to scarf it down because the order came late, and their team has just been called to marshall.   

Pasta, rice and vegetable dishes are ideal lunches for afternoon practices, they are easily digested and you will have lots of energy to burn.

Avoid eating large amounts of refined sugars such as candy bars or soft drinks just before going out on the boat.  It will affect your blood sugar levels and actually weaken your strength, and take longer to break down.  However, once you are actively working out, sports drinks or juices are ideal for replenishing your system.  Drink lots of water during the day to avoid dehydration especially on hot days.  Remember that coffee, teas and alcohol can actually dehydrate the body. 

Bring a snack to eat and drink right after practice.  This will help prevent carbohydrate depletion and offset fatigue.  Juices, fruits and energy bars are ideal.  Bananas are always favorites of athletes. 

My favorite foods between races are Bananas, fruit smoothies or carrot & fruit juices - easy to digest, and fast energy. You can also try protein shakes.

After the last race of the day... carbohydrate replenishment choice is a nice dark beer! 

It's a big issue for the dragon boat community. Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat festival general manager Ann Phelps stated in April at the Manager & Captains dragon boat meeting, that it is an election year, and she needs help lobbying the city for help. This morning Miro Cernetic wrote an article in the Vancouver Sun Check out Saturday May 24th Vancouver Sun.... page D5.   more »

The Lotus Sports Club is one of North America's oldest dragon boat paddling clubs.... Read about last year's Gung Haggis team at the 2007 Lotus Dragon Boat Bill Alley Dragon Boat Regatta We won the Adult Mixed Final B race.   more »

I love the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragonboat team. I have managed and coached it since 2002, when the team morphed from the former Celebration team, which I had created in 1997. This past Sunday, we did some full 500m race pieces. You could feel the power in the boat. Some of the rookies still need to develop their timing and many paddlers still need to develop their cardio. But the potential is there and we are very happy with our development this year.   more »

Raymond Louie could be Vancouver's first Chinese-Canadian mayor. He is a multi-generational Vancouverite from the East Side. He is a second term Vancouver city councilor. My statement of endorsement is now featured on Raymond Louie's website: "Raymond Louie actually lives the culturally diverse Gung Haggis Fat Choy lifestyle that is my creative world. His own family straddles many cultures and many generations, and he actively demonstrates that he understands the many facets that can make our city shine like a diamond. I have seen how Raymond makes things happen as a city councilor, bringing together different groups and perspectives such as arts, economics, heritage and cultures. As a mayor that empowers others to be their best, Raymond will be dynamic and our jewel of a city should shine even brighter."   more »