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.

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

3 days until Vancouver Taiwanese Dragon Boat races... Gung Haggis practices in the rain... again...

The Vancouver Taiwanese Dragon Boat Races are one of our team's favorite races.  We have race every year, since the inaugural race in 2003.  It runs in conjunction with the Taiwanese Cultural Festival, which is an amazing festival featuring Taiwanese food, culture, music and arts.  It takes place at Plaza of Nations, August 30, 31 and September 1, over the Labour Day weekend.

We met at Dragon Zone as usual for our Tuesday 6pm practice.  A few paddlers were standing outside when I arrived, but because it was raining - we went inside the trailer / clubhouse.  Inside we found more team mates. 

We did a briefing there... as we waited for latecomers. Many of the new paddlers hadn't been on a Taiwanese boat before, and they had missed our Sunday practice (because of the rain), so this practice was important to help get our paddlers used to the Taiwanese boats.

Then we went down to the dock at 6:20, and loaded the boat, as another paddler came running down the walkway at 6:25.  We left Dragon Zone, and paddled over to the Taiwanese boats at the DBA dock.  then switched boats...

We paddled over to Science World - north side to simulate a "tethered race start", then did a full race piece to Plaza of Nations. 
We paddled to the Cambie St. Bridge, and avoided the rain for a bit.  We practiced switching seats.  then we paddled West, and around the bridge, over to Plaza of Nations.  We came into the little harbour beside the Logger's dock, and explained the Barrel race scenario.  Then we practiced the "clover-leaf turns" for the "barrel race".

Despite the rain, we had fun.  The turns take a lot out of you, and our paddlers were tired.  We returned the Taiwanese boat, climbed back into the Gemini, then returned to Dragon Zone.   But, we did another race start and a short race piece back towards Dragon Zone.

We are hoping the weather will be drier on the weekend.  We managed all spring and summer to have very few rainy practices, and now we are getting drenched every time we go out in a boat.

5 Days until Vancouver Taiwanese Dragon Boat Races


Grab the flag - then cross the finish line.  If you miss the flag - go back...

TUESDAY 6pm  - next practice
We would like all Taiwanese rostered paddlers at practice TUESDAY night (except Tzhe in Hong Kong and Dave). 

All paddlers are welcome... hopefully we will have enough for two boats...or at least 18 paddlers for Taiwanese boat.

SUNDAY REVIEW

We rented a Taiwanese boat for Sunday's practice... but we almost couldn't go out because we didn't have enough paddlers show up.

What if it rains on race day?  Will people show up?  Ernest and I are deeply worried about the mental resolve of rain-scaredy paddlers!

Brave souls who showed up were Alissa, Wendy, Brooke, Ernest, Jonas, Stuart, Steven W, Dave, Devon, Todd and Mary-Lee from G.Force Winds.  Thank goodness we had the magic number 10 paddlers + steers.

We paddled a 6-16 over to DBA to pick up a Taiwanese dragon boat.  Big beautiful decorated boats made of Alaskan cedar.  They sit higher on the water so we all had longer 48" paddles (blue). 

It is a very different kind of boat to paddle.  You have to really reach forward and down to get your blade in the water, then drive your top arm to keep the paddle vertical.

We found that the boat "plows" the water, so we adjusted our starts to 6-18.  Or maybe with only 10 paddlers we didn't have the strength to make it fly.

We practiced switcheroos, turns and starts.  The Taiwanese boat is much easier to turn because there is no keel.  But there is also no gunwale either, so paddlers feel a bit exposed to the elements.  The bottom of the boat is slanted, so footing is awkward.  Very slippery in a wet boat.

TAIWANESE ROSTER

9 women paddlers on Saturday  / 10 women on Sunday
11 men paddlers available on both days - (if Karl joins us + 2 more paddlers from Sudden Impact might join us)

Our roster mixes experience and rookies.  But these rookies have also been very impressive.  Looks like lots of fun for this coming weekend.

Todd 15 /Tzhe 2 /Dave 6- drum/steers/flag

Alissa 1 - Wendy 3
Jane 3 - Hillary 2
Susan Mott 1 - Colleen 1
Brooke 1 - Cindy 2
Marion 1 - Debbie 4 / Judi 1 (sat only)
Jim 4 - Stephen M. 5
Jonas 3 - Tony 5
Ernest 5 - Devon 1
Raphael 2  - Stuart 1

+ Karl 1 + 2 more paddlers?