Todd will be on Canada AM
on CTV, Sunday morning
- must be there at 5am so Toronto people can see
a brief interview between 8 and 9am.. I will do the interview at Robson Square, which is part of the the BC Canada Pavillion.
Then will do an interview and
filming at Chinese New Year parade with ZDF tv from Germany. We will meet at 8:30am, as the parade starts at 9:30am in Vancouver Chinatown.
Now....Must get
ready to attend the Women's hockey Canada vs Slovakia today at 5pm
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Welcome to GungHaggisFatChoy.com
Home to my passions for my inter-cultural adventures, Gung Haggis Fat Choy: Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner event. Historic Joy Kogawa House Society, Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dragon Boat team, Find what you are looking for by 1) scroll the categories links (below), 2) use the search function ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Search
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Saturday, February 13
Todd Wong appearance on CTV Canada AM for Sunday Feb 14th
by
Todd
on Sat 13 Feb 2010 03:04 PM PST
Monday, February 8
Gung Haggis dragon boat team paddle on Sunday Feb 7th
by
Todd
on Mon 08 Feb 2010 08:53 PM PST
Gung Haggis dragon boat team paddles False Creek and takes in pre-Olympic sight-seeing.
We have a dragon boat team of keeners.... who wanted to paddle in February. It was our first paddling practice since early November, when we had a few practices after paddling in the Ft. Langley Cranberry Festival Canoe Regatta. Fifteen people jumped into the dragon boat for 11am practice on Sunday Feb 7th, And... I think... I really needed to paddle to get myself warmed up for paddling in the dragon boat flotilla that will accompany the Olympic Torch Relay on Feb 12th, for when Gold medalist Olympian Hugh Fisher will pass off the Olympic Torch from a dragon boat to Olympian Kamini Jain in a voyageur canoe. I only paddled for half the practice. if that... I also coached some of the paddlers a bit for some 1-on-1 coaching for only half the time. I steered for the remaining half, after switching with Stephen Wong, who started off steering for the team. The team met at the parking lot for False Creek Yacht Club for 11am, then had a quick warm-up, then headed to the boat for 11:15am, headed over to Alder Bay to pick up Debbie, then back to FC Yacht Club to pick up a paddler named Tony who arrived late after his morning meeting. Next we paddled towards and past the Burrard St. Bridge to show paddlers where the lights are for the from the nightly spectacular light show. I pointed out where the boat launch for the Burrard Marina is, where dragon boat paddlers for the flotilla that will accompany the Olympic Torch Relay will organize. Next we paddled Eastward to Granville Island to identify the Ferry dock at West Side of Granville Island, where the torch will be handed to torchbearer Olympian Hugh Fisher. We looked over at the bright yellow building, formerly known as Bridges Restaurant, that is now being transformed into the Swiss Pavillion. At the North end of the Granville St. Bridge is a floating hotel lodge that has been towed down from Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) that is normally lodged at Langara Island. We took a little stretch, then switched sides. I took a turn at steering, and let veteran paddlers Stephen Wong take his turn for paddling. Just East of Granville Island is the Spruce Harbour Marina, where nearby, is the area where Hugh will pass the torch to Kamini Jain in the middle of False Creek. Hugh will be in the dragon boat, and pass the torch to Kamini in the voyageur canoe. There are great viewing areas from both the North and South sides of False Creek, so it is perfect for cameras and television crews to set up for a unique photo opportunity. We spotted the big black pontoon floats that are being used for security to block off the boat traffic in the East Bay, that are positioned along Cambie St. Bridge. We paddled along beside it and waved to the officers in the Police Boat, guarding the perimeter, that includes the Olympic Village. Next we paddled near the Yaletown ferry dock, where Kamini will hand the torch to a runner, after she climbs out of the voyageur canoe. The torch will then proceed up the streets towards Georgia Street, where it will arrive at the First Nations Aboriginal Pavillion where there will be a blessing ceremony. This will be one of the final stops of the Olympic Torch before it travels to the Opening Ceremonies about 2 blocks down the street to BC Place Stadium, later in the evening. It was a good paddle, and our paddlers were happy and pleased that I would be a part of the dragon boat flotilla accompanying the Olympic Torch Relay. But most of all, the paddlers were all happy to be paddling again, and in friendly company. Many times I heard somebody say, "I'm just here for the social aspects" as we paddled back to FC Yacht Club.... by about 12:30pm. The next plan was to have lunch. I promised that I would treat everybody to dim sum lunch, if they came paddling. We were at Floata Restaurant for dim sum, at 1pm, at least my car was. Other people got re-routed by traffic diversions. By the time they arrived, there were lots of dim sum selections on the table. Haw-gow shrimp dumplings, Siu-mai pork dumplings, Lo-bak-goh pan-fried turnip cake. We also tried a special appetizer plate that included jelly fish, crispy pork skin and bbq pork. There was also shanghai style dumpling with shrimp meat and green vegetable, steamed pork bun, sliced-almond covered shrimp balls, fish cakes, and more! I also ordered house special chow mein with crispy noodles, and Geurng-chow-ngor-hah flat rice noodles with sliced beef. This was Katie's first time having dim sum in Vancouver. She's originally from Ontario, and only been in Vancouver almost a year.... and somehow never found her way to dim sum yet. Georgia pronounced that the meal was "heaven" GREAT LUNCH!!! and we finished off with Chinese egg tarts for dessert. Wednesday, February 3
Olympic Torch to be carried by dragon boat in its final journey to Opening Ceremonies
by
Todd
on Wed 03 Feb 2010 11:36 AM PST
Dragon boat to carry the Olympic Torch!
The last day of the Olympic Torch Relay Feb 12th will feature Dragon Boats and Canoes as Olympic gold medalist Hugh Fisher, from a dragonboat, will hand off the torch to Kamini Jain, in a voyageur canoe, in the middle of False Creek. This event will take place on February 12th in Vancouver BC. Details and exact times will be released soon.  Fisher won Olympic Gold and Bronze with Kayak partner Alwyn Morris at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Kamini Jain competed in K-1 single kayak events in 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Games. Fisher is one of the founders of the False Creek Racing Canoe Club which has helped to shape dragon boat racing in Canada and also influence it's development in North America.  Kamini is the current head coach of the FCRCC, and took the Mixed team to gold and silver in Sydney Australia for the 2007 IDBF World Championships. FCRCC-cored Premier Mixed: 2nd at 500m (by 0.51 secs!), 4th at 200, 1st at 2K It's going to be exciting as 6 dragon boats (20 paddlers) and 6 outrigger canoes (6 paddlers) make up the escort flotilla, that will accompany the torch bearing boats. It will bring back memories of the torch first arriving in Canada after landing at the airfield, and then arriving to BC's Provincial Legislature Building in Victoria, carried by First Nations cedar canoes. And I will be one of the paddlers in the flotilla! Yippee!  Here's the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team at the 2009 Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival. One of these BuK boats will probably be used to transport the Olympic Torch in the final legs of the relay to the Opening Ceremonies at BC Place Stadium. The six dragon boats and outrigger canoes will be paddled by False Creek Racing Canoe Club, and some other clubs. I think I will be on a boat where paddlers from different teams have been invited to participate. I am very excited at being invited. Back in the summer, I did a video audition to be a torch bearer for the City of Vancouver, as two library workers would be included amongst the selected workers from police, firemen, city workers and parks workers. Sadly, I wasn't chosen - but I know our library workers are deserving and wonderful people, especially my friend Judy Caldwell, who is a librarian, and dragon boater. Judy is one of the founders of the Abreast in a Boat dragon boat team of breast cancer survivors, and we were both awarded the 2008 BC Community Achievement Award. I've been involved with dragon boats in Vancouver for many years. I attended the first dragon boat races on False Creek in 1986 during Expo 86. I joined my first team in 1993. Soon I was coaching other teams, and competed in Victoria races in 1997 and San Francisco in 1999. I was invited to join the Alcan Dragon Boat Festival Race Committee in 2000. In 2003 I helped to found the Vancouver International Taiwanese Dragon Boat Race, as board member of the CCC Dragon Boat Association. The Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team has been active since 2002, and dedicated to promoting multiculturalism through dragon boat paddling. We have put Taiwanese dragon boats into the St. Patrick's Day parade in 2004 and 2005. The team has been filmed for tv documentaries for French, German and Canadian television, and also for an upcoming documentary movie.  This is one of my favorite pictures of the Gung Haggis team, at the 2007 Vancouver International Taiwanese Dragon Boat race! Imagine holdin the Olympic Torch from the head of the dragon - but these Taiwanese boats won't be used for the Olympic Torch Relay. Here is information about viewing the Olympic Torch on False Creek from the False Creek Racing Canoe Club Website: After covering 45,000 Km across Canada, the Olympic flame will be crossing the waters of False Creek on its final journey to BC Place for the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics ... ... the next-to-last leg of the Torch Relay, on February 12th, will be from Granville Island to Yaletown! That a final-day leg is on the water - really, it's a bit odd when you think in terms of Winter in Canada - is a recognition of the importance which paddle sports have in many parts of Canada, especially in & around Vancouver and the Lower Mainland ... even in Winter! That the leg is on False Creek is recognition of how many people see the Creek as the central hub of their training & racing & simple recreational-paddling activites - not just FCRRC, but all the other clubs & groups & individuals using it too. And too, of how much the Creek has changed since it was primarily a very unfriendly-to-recreation beehive of industrial activities, before Expo 86 - when the first Dragon Boat events took place there. Key details (there might be more to come a bit later in the week - stay tuned):
So let's all get out to watch the Torch's voyage, and cheer Kamini & Hugh.
Two cautions:
... taking out your own boat (or one of the Club's OCs or Marathons or K/C-1s) to view the Torch Relay will likely result in being turned away and missing the view you can get from on-land viewpoints
For more information on the Torch Relay and other Olympic events visit vancouver2010.com http://www.fcrcc.com/events/olympic-torch-relay http://www.canadianoutrigger.com/messsubj.cfm?pid=2721 http://www.vancouver2010.com/more-2010-information/olympic-torch-relay/olympic-torch-relay-interactive-map/ http://www.vancouver2010.com/more-2010-information/olympic-torch-relay/stories-from-the-road/day-106---alternative-modes-of-transportation-in-vancouver_236610kB.html Monday, December 21
Winter Solstice in Vancouver - Devon is fire-tossing at the Roundhouse
by
Todd
on Mon 21 Dec 2009 03:21 PM PST
I usually help organize a team social for attending the Winter Solstice events at Dr. Sun Yat Sen Gardens - but this year I must attend AGM and Christmas Party at Joy Kogawa House.
Check out my past stories about attending Winter Solstice events here:
http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog?cmd=search&keywords=winter+solstice
Check out the official Winter Solstice events here:
http://www.secretlantern.org/
My friend Devon Cooke is performing "Fire tossing" at the Round House Community Centre. Devon loves being involved in many cultural activities and also paddles on the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team. more »
Tuesday, November 17
Todd Wong writes "Chinatown" section in new "Vancouver, Victoria & Whistler Colourguide"
by
Todd
on Tue 17 Nov 2009 01:41 AM PST
I wrote the section on Vancouver Chinatown. The book is edited by Gail Buente, my coworker friend at the Vancouver Library. Back in May I sent her my final draft which she edited. The book has just been released now in November in time for the anticipated visitors for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. Maybe some of them will find their way into Vancouver Chinatown. more »
Wednesday, November 11
Friday, November 6
Gung Haggis Fat Curling: a new Olympic sport?
by
Todd
on Fri 06 Nov 2009 03:11 PM PST
At Simon Fraser University, we invented "Human Curling" for the SFU Gung Haggis Fat Choy Festival, organized by the SFU Recreation Department.
On October 25th, the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team went curling at Marpole Curling Centre. more »
Saturday, October 10
Gung Haggis paddlers compete at Ft. Langley Cranberry Festival Canoe Regatta: 1st in B Final 5th in A Final
by
Todd
on Sat 10 Oct 2009 09:12 PM PDT
Our paddlers on the Gung Haggis Bacon Explosion and Gung Haggis Hot Chili teams proved their competitiveness, team spirit and sportsmanship. Gung Haggis has 2 teams: Gung Haggis Fat Chili in the B Division, and Gung Haggis Bacon Explosion in A Division. One team wins their division... more »
Wednesday, September 23
New York Times Frugal Traveler comes to Vancouver in search of Asian fusion cuisine and talks with Todd Wong of Gung Haggis Fat Choy
by
Todd
on Wed 23 Sep 2009 07:07 PM PDT
Matt Gross writes his column/blog The Frugal Traveler for The New York Times. He came through Vancouver back in August 2009.
His newest blog/article is about Asian fusion cuisine, titled:
Asian Cuisine As Diverse as Vancouver. more »
Sunday, September 13
Terry Fox Run in Richmond BC - Great weather and community fun!
by
Todd
on Sun 13 Sep 2009 11:52 PM PDT
Terry Fox Run in Richmond BC always has a great community support Miss
BC and McNair High School cheerleaders encourage Terry Fox Run
participants and give high-5's as they cross the finish line at the
Richmond run site at Garry Point Park on September 13th, Sunday.
Volunteer Lindsay Pagnucco holds up one of the many Terry Fox Run t-shirts on sale near the registration tent.  Bagpipe Noel Chalmers, Dr. Andrew Wang and Terry's Team member Todd Wong
Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie walks with the crowd to the start line.  Platform party for the 2009 Terry Fox Run in Richmond
BC: Terry's Team member Todd Wong, warm-up leader, Mayor Malcolm
Brodie, John Yap MLA, Dr. Andrew Wang (Terry Fox Lab), Councilor
McNulty, Miss BC Sandra Gin, Noel Chalmers (bagpiper).
Dr.
Andrew Wang of the Terry Fox Lab in Vancouver gave a brief but
excellent talk about how the monies raised are used at the Terry Fox
Lab for cancer research - describing some of the important research
that they do. Friday, September 4
Final dragon boat races for the Gung Haggis Fat Choy team Saturday Sept 5th @ Science World/False Creek
by
Todd
on Fri 04 Sep 2009 07:41 PM PDT
It's the final dragon boat regatta of the 2009 season in Vancouver
Last Gasp dragon boat regatta Sep 5 Saturday @ Science World/False Creek This will be the first public dragon boat race in Canada that features 10 person dragon boats. These boats were first used in Vancouver for the World Police and Fire Games in August. The Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team started their racing season with practices in the last week of February, the first race on May 2 in Burnaby's Barnet Marine Park, the Dragon Zone regatta on June 7th, and the Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival on June 20 and 21st. We entered the Richmond Festival for our first time, and came 4th in the A division. We traveled to Vernon for July 25/26, as it is our favorite race of the year on beautiful Kalamalka Lake. We will next enter the UBC Day of the Long Boats and the Ft. Langley Cranberry Festival Regatta, to race in voyageur canoes. But first.... we have to race Saturday Sep 5th at the Last Gasp regata. Dragon Zone beside Science World, at Creekside Park, Vancouver BC. Please come cheer us on! Here's the message from our magnificient manager Tzhe Lam: 'ello Gung Haggis, I have finally received the race grid from Dragon Zone and it looks like the first races of the day start at 9am. Our first race of the Day will be at 9:55am so we will need to marshall at 9:35 if they are on time which means I would like everyone to be at Dragon Zone at 9am at the very latest. This is so that we have enough time to setup tents and get organized as well as make sure we get the final roster into the Officials so that we can race. If you have not signed the roster yet make sure you arrive early so that you can do so. Also bring me your $20 race fee if you have not yet paid me!!! Our second race will be between 12pm and 12:45pm depending on our placing in our first race Race 3 will be most like between 2:15 and 3pm depending on our times Race 4 1000m will be between 3:20pm - 4:20pm again determined by overall time. These are rough estimates of time and can and will change on race day depending how quick/slow they get the races out. As always bring food and drink of your choice to the event. Preferably something that won't make you sick while paddling. Fans and supporters are welcome. Tzhe Thursday, August 6
Winetasting in the Southern Okanagan: Summerland and Naramata Bench
by
Todd
on Thu 06 Aug 2009 12:19 PM PDT
Wine tasting and exploring in Summerland and Naramata regions of Southern Okanagan - Part One
It probably started with our official first date when I brought over a bottle of Summerhill Cipes Brut sparkling wine to help celebrate her new job. 3 months later we explored the Kelowna area wineries of Mission Hill, Quail's Gate, Mt. Boucherie, and Summerhill Pyramid winery. We also drove up to to Silver Star ski resort to try out the 2nd annual Okanagan Summer Wine Festival. Last year, we took our friends Craig and Zsuzsanna to Summerhill Pyramid winery, and Sumac Ridge Estates. This time we felt it we wanted to explore farther south to Summerland and Naramata Bench - where Deb hadn't been in 20 years, despite being raised in the North Okanagan. We visited Thornhaven, Dirty Laundry and Sleeping Giant fruit winery in Summerhill, part of the "Bottleneck Drive" group of local wineries to promote the growing wine business on the west side of Okanagan Lake. Then we visited the Naramatat Bench, home to BC's largest concentration of wineries, but only had enough time to visit Elephant Island Orchard Winery and Soaring Eagle Estates - before they closed at 6pm. Grapes at Soaring Eagle Estates. Thornhaven Estates was the first winery we checked in at. After the 2 hour long drive from Vernon, we ate our sandwiches in the car. But we could have relaxed and eaten on the lovely and inviting adobe styled outdoor patio at Thornhaven. It looks exotic in the "Great White North" of Canada - but the Sonoran desert plateau of the American Southwest actually extends all the way into Canada near Oosooyoos. More pictures on Toddish McWong's flickr link:  2009 July |
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Todd & Deb taste the delicious fruit wines of Elephant Island Orchard Winery.| Monday, Aug 03 | 6:30pm | Brigade Days Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada, BC Brigade Days is held every year over the BC Day long weekend in August. Historically, Brigade was when the fur trappers came down from their trap lines to the fort, to trade, some took their annual baths and looked for a new spouse, and in general caught up with friends they hadn't seen since the year before. Blackthorn will be bathed and on stage Monday evening. |
AND NOW WE HAVE OUR OWN CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE...
Todd in Vernon, at Kalamalka Lake
by
Todd
on Sun 02 Aug 2009 02:15 PM PDT
Kalamalka Lake is one of the beautiful and accessible vacation spots in BC's Okanagan.
Todd Wong paddles an outrigger canoe on Kalamalka Lake. Todd's friend Craig brought the outrigger canoe up for the weekend. It is 20 feet long and weighs only 22 pounds.
Kalamalka Lake Provincical Park.
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/kalamalka_lk/
After being here for last weekend's Greater Vernon Dragon Boat race, with the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team, I returned to spend time with my girlfriend Deb and her parents at their lakeside home. I came up on Thursday night after work. Construction on Hwy 97 just after the Coquihalla Connection and on the new William Bennet Bridge connecting West Bank to Kelowna, stretched the usual 5 hour trip to 6 hours.
Life is relaxing here, as we spend time swimming, canoeing and kayaking in the lake. Sometimes we take the border collies out for walks in the park.
But the Terrace Mountain fire is raging again. Yesterday the fire jumped its fireguards and 1500 people were put on alert. Ash and smoke filled the sky. The sun turned an eerie orange through the hazy smoke, as it glistened on the water. Today, the evacuation order has expanded to affect 2500 people in the Fintry area. We are keeping our fingers crossed a fire doesn' happen in the Kalamalka Lake Park, where many people are vacationing and enjoying the recreational activities of swimming, picnics, boating and cliff jumping.
The sun shines orange through the smoke from the Terrace Mountain fire, and reflects on Kalamalka Lake. - photo Todd WongOn Friday, I paddled the solo outrigger canoe that my friend Craig Brown brought up for the weekend. It is 20 feet long, and weighs only 22 pounds. It is a beautiful boat, and moves easily through the water. Craig complimented me on my balance and my paddling. I never hulied (tipped over) by accident. I practiced tipping over on purpose, as Craig coached me on flipping the boat back over, and climbing back on. When speeding motor boats went by, I paddled over to crash through their wake.
"You're surfing now!" Craig called at me, as I rode the waves back to the shore.
Todd paddles solo outrigger! - photo Craig Brown.
Friday night we drove into town to find the airconditioned movie theatre. We watched "The Ugly Truth" starring Katherine Heigl It was pretty funny - more raunchy than the classic "When Harry Met Sally" - but surprisingly no nudity!
Saturday morning, Deb and I kayaked towards Kal Beach, along the many lake front homes. We saw some teenagers rise sleepily from the dock where they had spent the night. We talked with some swimmers who were friends of Deb's parents. Then we paddled back and over to Jade and Juniper Bay.
Saturday night, Craig and I missed the big excitement. After dinner we headed over to Alexander's Beach Pub. While we we gone, a rattle snake was discovered in the garden. The weather is so hot and dry, it would appear that the rattlesnakes are looking for water. A rattle snake hadn't been seen at the Martin residence in 20 years.
Sunday morning, Deb and I canoed around Rattle Snake Point, over to Cosens Bay. Around the corner, we saw some teens jumping off cliffs. We saw a bald eagle sitting in a tree, and a Kingfisher flying from one tree to the next.
We saw 5 swimmers in wet suits, who were training for triathalons. We had a short conversation about the benefitis of swimming and paddling in Kalamalka Lake. They admitted they wouldn't decline a beer, even though it wouldn't be beneficial to their training.
We plan to leave tomorrow on Monday. Possible activities will be another early morning paddle, followed by wine tastings in Penticton/Naramata area.
Friday, July 31
Powell St. Festival celebrates Japanese Canadian heritage - even if you are half-Japanese or non-Japanese
by
Todd
on Fri 31 Jul 2009 02:51 PM PDT
I like attending the Powell St. Festival. Somewhere in my clothes drawer I have a t-shirt from the 10th Anniversary festival back in 1986.
This year's Powell Street Festival will take place at Woodland Park - moving Eastward between Clark Drive and Commercial Drive, North of Venables St. - but South of Hastings St. - photo of 2007 festival by Todd Wong
Many of my friends have Japanese ancestry such as Jeff Chiba Stearns, John Endo Greenaway, Julie Tamiko Manning, or Joy Kogawa.... I grew up folding origami cranes, and relating to Japanese culture in a Pan-Asian-Canadian kind of way...
I have even performed my accordion at the Powell St. Festival main stage. One year I played with my friend Sean Gunn as part of the "Number One Son" band... or maybe it was under the name of "Yellow Lackey Dogs."
My friend Walter Quan is always there to sell his unique "sushi candles" and once when he was wearing a Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team cotton shirt, he was asked if he was "Todd Wong."
Walter Quan and his sushi candles booth at the 2007 Powell Street Festival - photo Todd Wong
Check out the Powell Street Festival on Saturday and Sunday.
www.powellstreetfestival.com
Here's a great article in the Vancouver Sun by Kevin Griffin:
Powell Street Festival: Metro Vancouver's Japanese Canadians celebrate a resilient culture
Powell Street Festival: Metro Vancouver's Japanese Canadians ...
Julia Aoki, volunteer coordinator for the Powell Street Festival. Photograph by: Glenn Baglo, Vancouver Sun. VANCOUVER — Unlike other festivals that strive ...
Monday, June 22
Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team has a great weekend at Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival
by
Todd
on Mon 22 Jun 2009 03:31 PM PDT
Congratulations everybody, you are ALL truly Gung Haggis paddlers!
You conveyed a sense of teamship, caring for each other, and for community.
You paddled your best, adapted to changing situations, changing rosters, and changing race conditions.
You improved with every race, both individually and together. Very little separates you from the teams that we know who finished in Rec C (O2P, Hmmm Sea Monster), Rec B (Pirates, CBC, Strokin' It Hard, Flight Centre, CC Riders) or Rec A (Metro Vancouver, Banana Fusion, Shaggin' Dragons) - except maybe a little bit of testosterone, a little bit of cardio and muscle work, a little more attention to detail such as rotation, reach, entry, paddle angle, etc.
4 seconds faster and you could have medaled in Rec C Final.
10 seconds faster and you could have medaled in Rec B Final.
But it is more important to be part of a great group of people, that had fun, did their best, and can be friends together, and share meals together. I am personally very proud of everybody on the team, and I know that everybody each has something special that adds to this team.
It was great to have Manfred in the boat with us this weekend. He has been a coaching friend and rival competitor and occasional teammate for many years. He says this is a good team. He likes your attitude, your paddling ability, your friendliness... and sense of fun. Manfred will not take off his pants for "just any team" you know...
Special thanks to Commodore Stephen Mirowski, team manager Tzhe Lam for helping to organize the team, roster and leadership.
Thanks to Keng and Gerard Graal to step in to drum and be land manager, after spending the past 3 weeks in Holland.
I am sorry I couldn't spend more time with everybody over this 2 day weekend of racing... but you had to share with:
* my coaching Killarney Cougar Dragons Junior Team
* our being filmed for the "Chinatown Canada" tv documentary series
* my being interviewed for the "Chinatown Canada" tv documentary series
* my steering for out of town teams (I used to be on the Race Committee, so they know I am a good qualifited steers)
* my social involvement and networking with ex-paddlers, friends on other teams, race organizers, Festival past-presidents, friends on out of town teams, friends who cheered us on,
But these are also qualities that makes Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team and myself, amongst the first choice to be involved in film documentaries and books on dragon boating!
How about that "Paddles Up!" book???
The very first picture is the Gung Haggis team, racing Taiwanese Boats to grab a flag..... and a testimonial by me, in a Toronto-centric book.
Now about the next race....
June 18th Richmond. We can do it... one day only, put up your hand if you want to beat UniPHARM.
July 25/26 Vernon - our FAVORITE! Already confirmed.
Aug 8, Cultus Lake Women's regatta - With 16 women on our team... we just need 4 more.
As lang's me arm...
Todd more »
Tuesday, June 16
Gung Haggis Fat Choy team prepares for last practice before the Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festiival June 20/21
by
Todd
on Tue 16 Jun 2009 03:07 PM PDT
It's the last practice before the race: Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team
Gung Haggis team line up at the Dragon Zone regatta on June 6th - photo Todd Wong
The Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival is the largest in North America. Dragon boat racing began in Vancouver BC, when the Hong Kong pavillion at Expo 86 donated 4 teak boats to the City of Vancouver. I started attending the festivals for the great entertainment and shows. It wasn't until 1993 that I first joined a team and started paddling.
The Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team has been racing at Alcan Dragon Boat Festival since 2002. Prior to that I coached and paddled on many different teams at the novice, recreation and competitive levels. The Gung Haggis team emphasizes fun, fitness and multiculturalism. That's why we wear our kilts while paddling a Chinese dragon boat tradition.
We have been asked to participate in two film documentaries. One is a feature film titled "In the Same Boat", directed by Alfonso Chin and produced by Jacqueline Liu for Rosetta Entertainment. Alfonso used to paddle for the CC Riders team, and our paddler/drummer Keng Graal used to be one of his teachers.
The second film is a multi-part series called "Chinatown Canada" produced by Kerri Beattie of Image Pacific. They will be interviewing me about Vancouver Chinatown, and filming our Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team in action, as one of the cultural off shoots of Chinatown.
We are having our final pre-race practice tonight 5:45 to 7:30pm at Dragon Zone (50 paces south of Science World - at the Green Trailer Building).
We will be working out our final race strategies, and finalizing seating arrangements. Some of the paddlers have been away, but have returned just in time. We have four brand new paddlers who raced their first races ever in May and June. We have two more brand new paddlers who have yet to experience a full race with 7 or more boats.
Our core veterans have been with the team for 4 years or more. We have added some paddlers who have experience with other teams. This could be the best Gung Haggis team ever. But our roles at drummer and steers are not settled yet, and we might be rotating people.
Tonight after a debriefing... we are having a team social at "The Clubhouse Restaurant" on West 2nd - across from City TV, and on the same block as Bazzaar Novelty.
There is a dvd machine in the upstairs party room.
I will be showing documentary footage of the team from
France 3 "Thalassa" 2005
CBC Generations: The Chan Legacy 2006
ZDF "From Toronto to Vancouver by Train" 2007
but not from the 2008 Global News "Best of BC"
The Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival is the largest in North America. Dragon boat racing began in Vancouver BC, when the Hong Kong pavillion at Expo 86 donated 4 teak boats to the City of Vancouver. I started attending the festivals for the great entertainment and shows. It wasn't until 1993 that I first joined a team and started paddling.
The Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team has been racing at Alcan Dragon Boat Festival since 2002. Prior to that I coached and paddled on many different teams at the novice, recreation and competitive levels. The Gung Haggis team emphasizes fun, fitness and multiculturalism. That's why we wear our kilts while paddling a Chinese dragon boat tradition.
We have been asked to participate in two film documentaries. One is a feature film titled "In the Same Boat", directed by Alfonso Chin and produced by Jacqueline Liu for Rosetta Entertainment. Alfonso used to paddle for the CC Riders team, and our paddler/drummer Keng Graal used to be one of his teachers.
The second film is a multi-part series called "Chinatown Canada" produced by Kerri Beattie of Image Pacific. They will be interviewing me about Vancouver Chinatown, and filming our Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team in action, as one of the cultural off shoots of Chinatown.
We are having our final pre-race practice tonight 5:45 to 7:30pm at Dragon Zone (50 paces south of Science World - at the Green Trailer Building).
We will be working out our final race strategies, and finalizing seating arrangements. Some of the paddlers have been away, but have returned just in time. We have four brand new paddlers who raced their first races ever in May and June. We have two more brand new paddlers who have yet to experience a full race with 7 or more boats.
Our core veterans have been with the team for 4 years or more. We have added some paddlers who have experience with other teams. This could be the best Gung Haggis team ever. But our roles at drummer and steers are not settled yet, and we might be rotating people.
Tonight after a debriefing... we are having a team social at "The Clubhouse Restaurant" on West 2nd - across from City TV, and on the same block as Bazzaar Novelty.
There is a dvd machine in the upstairs party room.
I will be showing documentary footage of the team from
France 3 "Thalassa" 2005
CBC Generations: The Chan Legacy 2006
ZDF "From Toronto to Vancouver by Train" 2007
but not from the 2008 Global News "Best of BC"
2010 GUNG HAGGIS FAT CHOY Dinner
January 31, 2010
Contact Firehall Arts Centre: phone 604.689.0926
2010 prices
SINGLE TICKET
$60 + $5 service charge = $65
Student price is $50 + $4.50 = $54.50 (must show student high school or university ID)
Children's price is $40 + $4.00 = $44 (ages 13 and under).
Reservations for tables of 10
$600 + lower service charge
WHAT: GUNG HAGGIS FAT CHOY: Toddish McWong's Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner - 12th Annversary Dinner, celebrating 251st Anniversary of Robert Burns' birth + incoming Chinese New Year of the Tiger.
WHEN: 6PM January 31 2010, SUNDAY
doors open 5pm, Dinner 6pm
WHERE: Floata Chinese Restaurant,
#400-180 Keefer St.
Media Inquiries
Call Gung Haggis Productions / Todd Wong
direct: 778-846-7090
email: gunghaggis at yahoo dot ca
CULTURE: Our Performers create something special for us every year with traditional and contemporary performances featuring everything in-between and beyond!
FOOD: A quirky fusion/mix/buffet of Scottish Canadian and Chinese Canadian culture 10 course Chinese banguet dinner
2004 - The debut of Gung Haggis Won-Ton
2005 - Haggis lettuce wrap!
2007 - Haggis dim sum appetizer buffet
2008 - Scotch tastings! + debut of Gung Haggis parade dragon!
2009 - debut of Gung Haggis Fat Choy Pipes & Drums band + auction of 37 year old special edition Famous Grouse whisky + scotch tastings of Famous Grouse, The Macallan and Highland Park.
Watch for more surprises in 2010!
Description of 2009 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner
co-hosted with CBC News anchor Gloria Macarenko and Media colunist Catherine Barr
featuring performers: bagpiper Joe McDonald and Mad Celts, Silk Road Music's Qiu Xia He and Andre Thibault, Opera Soprano Heather Pawsey and DJ Timothy Wisdom, BC Book Prize winner Vancouver poet Rita Wong + poet traslator Tommy Tao, Playwright Adrienne Wong and a scene from "Mixie and The Half-Breeds"
Description of 2008 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner
co-hosted with Media colunist Catherine Barr
featuring performers: , celtic band Blackthorn, bagpiper Joe McDonald and Brave Waves, Ji-Rong Huang on erhu, Film maker Ann-Marie Fleming, Vancouver poet laureate George McWhirter, Playwright Grace Chin and a scene from "The Quickie"
Description of 2007 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner
co-hosted with CBC Radio's Priya Ramu,
featuring performers:
Silk Road Music, Heather Pawsey, Brave Waves, Leora Cashe, No Luck Club, Dr. Ian Mason (Burns Club of Vancouver) Lensey Namioka - Author "Half and Half" Margaret Gallagher, "Twisting Fortunes" (sneak preview of play)
Description of 2006 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner
with co-host with CityTV's Prem Gill
featuring performers:
Rick Scott & Harry Wong, The Shirleys, Joe McDonald & Brave Waves, Sean Gunn, author Joy Kogawa,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dragon Boat team
for lots of summer fun, fitness and friendship. We are a social team full of cultural vigor, that likes to eat.
We have been featured on television, local, national and international. We have a unique and internationally famous fundraiser dinner event.
We practice starting March Sunday 1:30 pm -3:30 pm Tuesday 6pm-7:45pm
We meet at Dragon Zone clubhouse - just south of Science World in Creekside Park above the Aquabus and dragon boat docks.
Our coach Todd Wong has 15+ years of experience including novice, recreational and competitive levels, and both community and corporate teams.
Our 2008 season took us to races in Burnaby, Vancouver, Vernon, Vancouver Taiwanese race, UBC, Ft. Langley. It was our strongest team ever and we are proud of our race performances.
For more information:
Click on Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dragon Boat team information
phone: 778-846-7090
e-mail: gunghaggis at yahoo dot ca
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January 31, 2010
Contact Firehall Arts Centre: phone 604.689.0926
2010 prices
SINGLE TICKET
$60 + $5 service charge = $65
Student price is $50 + $4.50 = $54.50 (must show student high school or university ID)
Children's price is $40 + $4.00 = $44 (ages 13 and under).
Reservations for tables of 10
$600 + lower service charge
WHAT: GUNG HAGGIS FAT CHOY: Toddish McWong's Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner - 12th Annversary Dinner, celebrating 251st Anniversary of Robert Burns' birth + incoming Chinese New Year of the Tiger.
WHEN: 6PM January 31 2010, SUNDAY
doors open 5pm, Dinner 6pm
WHERE: Floata Chinese Restaurant,
#400-180 Keefer St.
Media Inquiries
Call Gung Haggis Productions / Todd Wong
direct: 778-846-7090
email: gunghaggis at yahoo dot ca
CULTURE: Our Performers create something special for us every year with traditional and contemporary performances featuring everything in-between and beyond!
FOOD: A quirky fusion/mix/buffet of Scottish Canadian and Chinese Canadian culture 10 course Chinese banguet dinner
2004 - The debut of Gung Haggis Won-Ton
2005 - Haggis lettuce wrap!
2007 - Haggis dim sum appetizer buffet
2008 - Scotch tastings! + debut of Gung Haggis parade dragon!
2009 - debut of Gung Haggis Fat Choy Pipes & Drums band + auction of 37 year old special edition Famous Grouse whisky + scotch tastings of Famous Grouse, The Macallan and Highland Park.
Watch for more surprises in 2010!
Description of 2009 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner
co-hosted with CBC News anchor Gloria Macarenko and Media colunist Catherine Barr
featuring performers: bagpiper Joe McDonald and Mad Celts, Silk Road Music's Qiu Xia He and Andre Thibault, Opera Soprano Heather Pawsey and DJ Timothy Wisdom, BC Book Prize winner Vancouver poet Rita Wong + poet traslator Tommy Tao, Playwright Adrienne Wong and a scene from "Mixie and The Half-Breeds"
Description of 2008 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner
co-hosted with Media colunist Catherine Barr
featuring performers: , celtic band Blackthorn, bagpiper Joe McDonald and Brave Waves, Ji-Rong Huang on erhu, Film maker Ann-Marie Fleming, Vancouver poet laureate George McWhirter, Playwright Grace Chin and a scene from "The Quickie"
Description of 2007 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner
co-hosted with CBC Radio's Priya Ramu,
featuring performers:
Silk Road Music, Heather Pawsey, Brave Waves, Leora Cashe, No Luck Club, Dr. Ian Mason (Burns Club of Vancouver) Lensey Namioka - Author "Half and Half" Margaret Gallagher, "Twisting Fortunes" (sneak preview of play)
Description of 2006 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner
with co-host with CityTV's Prem Gill
featuring performers:
Rick Scott & Harry Wong, The Shirleys, Joe McDonald & Brave Waves, Sean Gunn, author Joy Kogawa,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dragon Boat team
for lots of summer fun, fitness and friendship. We are a social team full of cultural vigor, that likes to eat.
We have been featured on television, local, national and international. We have a unique and internationally famous fundraiser dinner event.
We practice starting March Sunday 1:30 pm -3:30 pm Tuesday 6pm-7:45pm
We meet at Dragon Zone clubhouse - just south of Science World in Creekside Park above the Aquabus and dragon boat docks.
Our coach Todd Wong has 15+ years of experience including novice, recreational and competitive levels, and both community and corporate teams.
Our 2008 season took us to races in Burnaby, Vancouver, Vernon, Vancouver Taiwanese race, UBC, Ft. Langley. It was our strongest team ever and we are proud of our race performances.
For more information:
Click on Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dragon Boat team information
phone: 778-846-7090
e-mail: gunghaggis at yahoo dot ca
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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