reflections from chitown

Ok... so I am not back in Chitown yet... sitting here in my hotel room in KL my last night in M'sia, figured I post something before I lose my thoughts!

what a trip this has been... for me, this was 2 years in the making! While I took 1 year off from paddling, I was never too far from this club and the girls. The gym workouts on my own simply was not exciting when you're not being tested :p Once I decided to try out for Penang, it seems like life has a purpose again.

As I type now, I am flooded with memories from the winter training, FLA and other training camps... funny how the actual race week seems a little blurry. I think it's true what they say, it's not the destination, but the journey that counts. I remember just as clearly the high we had in Pickering regatta back in June as the sense of proudness that Sunday after our final 500m.

So now that the trip has come to a conclusion, I really want to thank:
Andrew - for his coaching, support and continue to push me to new heights
Sandy and Cath - that dinner at Drake really was the TSN turning point! yes, you can laugh all you want about me playing dodgeball in Chicago... I now know there's nothing like training with a purpose
family and friends that put up with this crazy paddling/travelling schedule and supported me through all of it.
this amazing group of women - I learned something new every time I am with you! I think the highlight is the story Zee shared in the van - no fear and go after what you want! (with anything in life!) (Nandini - seriously, take note!)

my pics (mostly the non-incriminating ones ;) will be posted on flickr soon. will share when I do.

thanks for the memories. it's been a privilege and a pleasure to paddle on this team. "THIS IS HOW WE ROLL!"

cris kao

The Last few days in Pictures...

Jersey Trading requires Street Market Skills

Enviable jerseys - apparently ours was one of them.

As we sat in our team tent mentally preparing for our last 500m race, our tall b.f.'s and supporters were commissioned to stand guard and divert jersey traders.

There were no unitards (one piece uniforms) this year, but the next best thing was the Philippines long sleeve, vibrantly patriotic rashguard and matching 3/4 length tights. HOT! (look for it at practice as several of us traded for the full set).

A surprise came when a couple Iranian girls (dressed head to toe, wrist to ankle, in 3 piece white uniform) came to trade a bright orange catsuit. If we had seen it earlier, it would have been the prize trade!

Tips to get the jersey(s) you want:

• To get the jersey you want you must start early. Scouting must occur during the first couple days. The second last day of regatta, or depending on when team finishes their races, walk by the desired team's tent and locate an athlete of the same size. Approach your subject. Try it on. Get their name, and make sure they get yours.
  
• Having a new jersey with the manufacturer's tag helps your trade value.
• Having a new jersey with the manufacturer's tag and in the original plastic bag is even better (smart, Wendy).
• Know what your jersey is worth: one with silver threading (anti-bacterial) is worth a jersey and a dinner shirt (way to go Nui).
• Practice your negotiation skills in the street markets first. This helps.
  
• Be the winning team (or atleast in the Top 6).
  
• Look hot in it, as an individual and as a team.

Note: The silver threading works; Candice didn't wash her jersey for 3 days and it didn't really smell.

No Metals

20 Teams in the Premier Women's Division

Day 1 (Thurs, July 31) - 1 x 2000m race. Finished 4th.
Day 2 (Fri, Aug 1) - 2 x 200m races (Heat, Semi-Finals).
Day 3 (Sat, Aug 2) - 1 x 200m race (Finals). Finished 5th.
Day 4 (Sun, Aug 3) - 3 x 500m races (Heat, Semi, Finals). Finished 4th or 5th.

As stated by my mom, "No metals in Penail."

A Seat with a View - 2000m

A Seat with a View - 2000m Race: Manna in row 8.

Here are the details of the near disaster that happened when we, as unwilling participants in a trial "bumper dragonboating" game, maneouvered ourselves out of harms way in the last leg of the 2000m race.

As we came out of the last of 3 turns we were hit on the front right by another team's tail either swinging wide or fishtailing. And within minutes (I guess it wasn't "minutes" cause the whole race was only 10mins 'n change) I heard Wendy, our cox, yelling something out of the ordinary - "Number 7, HOLD YOUR BOAT, HOLD YOUR BOAT". Hmmm, strange. Whatever, my job was to keep paddling, so that's what I did. Then I heard Christine, in row 10 yelling something. Hmmm, strange, normally she doesn't yell call ups. I kept paddling ... until I saw a humugous, coloured dragon head cross my face from the right. Holy Jesus [please save us]! In no time I grabbed onto the head of that dragon with my right hand, and with superhuman strength :P slowed down and diverted the rampage that was going to bludgeon Eva (row 7) in the back of the head and tip our boat. No way would 1500m of hard work be sunk!

A few seconds of chaos and profanities later we were free of the parasitic boat. But what lay ahead was a gagglefart of other boats which Wendy masterfully steered us through. In the mix was a couple calls for "KEEP PADDLING", Wendy's "YOU'RE STILL IN IT", and other's curses fuelling our rage and desire.

In the last 300m, in the outside lane, we caught up and passed 2 other teams, placing 4th. It was truly awesome (and exhausting)!

Comments from those who had a view from land: Watching our finish (and start) was really something else.

P.S. For those that are new to dragonboat racing, collisions like this are rare, but when they happen, are spectacular. And it's not normally dangerous. The 2000m is unique because there's one lane and turns. (Oooo, so much fun.)

First Day of Races - 2000m

Hello all!

What an exciting day!

Our crew was up against 20 other women's crews and we placed 4th in the overall standings.

Our girls were a little disappointed, but we were up against some really good teams... so we really shouldn't be complaining! Fourth in the world is not so bad... really! First place went to the Chinese National Team (they had a stroke rate twice as fast as the hammerheads - just to give you an idea), Second place went to our biggest competition - the Montreal Women's Team and third place went to Cascades.

During the race, our boat was hit twice by two other boats from behind, nearly knocking out some of our girls. The commentator couldn't stop raving about how fabulous our start was and our last 400m was a fantastic finish. All in all, we raced well... and Andrew was proud.

Tomorrow will be a new day.. and a new race. We're prepared, we're pumped... we're getting a medal dangit!

The Last Practice before the Championships tomorrow...

So this is it.

Our women will be heading out tomorrow for the 2000 meter race. It will be the finals so we are geared for a podium finish. we're in the second group and we're the 8th group to go. That's okay, with wendy's wicked steering skills, we'll be flying!

Todays practice was fantastic. We had good boat feel and saw many more of our competitors. So far... we've got the nice jerseys! Everyone looks pumped up for the races and it'll definitely be exciting!

So tomorrow, wish us luck.. and a BIG shoutout to the rest of the members of our club. We feel your spirit with us!

Special requests to say CONNIE... we love you and miss you!