So here's the deal. My team has decided to go to a new first year event this year which is being hosted by FMG. We have never attended any of their events in the past but because of the feedback on this Forum, I suggested that we make sure that we read and understand the rules.

One of the rules states that we need to attend at least 2 of the 3 practises yet we are 100 miles from the event and are a skilled team that has participated in over 50 festivals over the years. We called their office and they have asked us to try and come down the night before to prove that we are capable paddlers.In addition, we need to sign a waiver claiming that we are experienced.

Others on my team don't have a problem with all of this but I do. I am concerned that they will spring something on us that could lead to a disqualification for us.

I would like to ask teams that have attended FMG events for advise on what we might expect and whether I am just being a little too reactionary to past posts about FGM.

Sign a waiver to say that you're experienced? That should send out warning signals right there.

FMG only cares about the novice teams. They will do anything they can to help the local novice teams win (including changing the rules right before they give out awards).

Good Luck.

They will make you sign as a team with experience in order to exclude you from the A final.

Also,
Make sure your PFD is zipped to the top (team penalty)
Make sure the FMG paddle is not touching the floor (again team penalty)

Make sure your team does the classic High Five (if not guess what?)
Good luck, be wise.

J

Agree with all of the above. Plus ... always stay seated. We were nearly disqualified when one of our paddlers tried to adjust her bum pad.

Who are FGM, and more importantly, what's with all their anal rules? Why would a team get penalty for letting their blade touch the ground or not being seated. What other rules are there?

Even on the docks when loading and unloading you better make sure they are done all the way up.

Apparently the FMG folks are safe on the docks without life jackets or any sign of intelligence, but the common Dragon Boater faces imminent danger if there life jacket is even slightly undone.

And yeah, try not to move around too much in the boat so they don't think you might have stood up or anything. In fact it may be best for all if for the entire time you are in the boat you all remain perfectly still. This may effect your time and how much fun you have, but come on, shouldn't safety come first?

Yours truly,

Spanky the Wonder Monkey

Oh c'mon... they can't be as bad as what I've read about in this forum over the past year or so. No one can be that bad.

Actually, yes, they are that bad. You won't have any problems though......as long as you sit quietly and act like a good little Lemming.

forgot to say...
Your coach/steerer is not allowed on the boat.

Wow...why would anyone want to register for this race?

Are you saying that we can not even use our own steerer with FMG running the races?

Unless FMG changed their rulebook. (I am pretty sure they didn't)

Well, if they have the steerer rule then that is new to me. That would be beyond rediculous to not even allow teams to have their coach Cox and call the race. Come on.

All the other stuff I have experienced myself so know it to be true. Can anyone else confirm the cox thing?

I just want to thank everyone who took the time to articulate responses to the rumours that I had heard about FMG. I have shared this info with my team mates and it looks as if one less team will be participating at their race in Port Perry this year. I feel sorry for these first year organizers who may not know what they are getting into.

The worst thing I hear is that he always forces these unsuspecting towns to sign 3 year contracts and after the first year they want out but they can't. Windsor cancelled their 3rd year event rather than deal with FMG again and then started fresh with GWN.

Ugh. Don't get me started. I do an FMG event with my work team, but won't darken their beach with my competitive team.

Some fun stuff:
They insisted on inspecting my (personal) life jacket. My husband wasn't allowed to wear his kayaking PFD (Cdn Coast Guard approved) because it was manufactured in Mexico and they said this would cancel their insurance. So he had to wear one of their stinky/moldy/put-away-wet orange jobbies. Plus, his was brand new and specified to his weight, whereas the Beach Nazi wears one that looks about 20 years old and doesn't look like it would keep a 2 year old afloat.

The drummer has to bail the boat after each race.

Poster above was right about not taking your bum off the seat, and not touching your (their) paddle to the sand. I love bringing my own paddle, grinding it into the sand and leaning on it, and waiting for a reaction.

The 3 practices they give you are 1 hr each, but the first one is only about 20 minutes after you get the safety lecture.

After all this - it is really only about 2 supercilious people who irk me - the rest of the staff are nice, but bound by the ridiculous rules.

CD

"I love bringing my own paddle, grinding it into the sand and leaning on it, and waiting for a reaction. "
FMG or not, that's not a way to treat your paddle.
Show some respect to your paddle. FMG rules regarding paddles are 100% spot on.

water rat, most dragon boat paddles have a reinforced resin tip to them that is hardly damaged by sand or dirt. Sure, you shouldn't use them for digging up potatoes from your garden but they can take a fair amount of punishment. (sure, carbon fibre or fibreglass paddles are a different matter but FMG doesn't supply these types)

Paddles typically rot from the edges in rather than from the bottom. I've seen many more paddles retired due to furry edges and the resultant water damage than from broken tips.

FMG is not spot on, they're just control freaks.

Leaning on the paddle dulls the edge. That resin on the tip isn't there so you can lean your fat ass on the paddle, it holds the paddle together.

Doesn't really matter if the paddle has special tip, if it's made out of carbon fiber or NASA's latest kevlar alloy, contact with anything other than water damages the paddle. Sand especially.

okay water rat, you've now just confirmed yourself as a the kind of hard-case preacher who can be safely ignored.

i have owned a dozen or so different paddles, none of which have been damaged by letting the tips touch sand, dirt, grass, concrete etc, etc. the most maintenance they have needed is to re-varnish the shoulders or edges after a year of hard use.

NASA? are you for real?

Why don't you take one of your paddles and put it in one of those paddle barrels at a festival for a day, as an experiment to see how good it looks at the end of the day.

I may have exaggerated the whole "grinding" part and I don't have a fat ass.
My paddle is in excellent shape and it's 5 years old. It does have a bit of rot but it's up near the neck.
Soooo, uh, yeah. Didn't mean to start a flame war.
Most of the paddles provided by FMG have broken corners, or big splits up the blade, NO resin, or splintery handles. I can see that they would want to preserve them as best they can since they are obviously antiques. I realize the use they get, but if you're going to run these things for a living, then upgrading your paddles periodically is an expense you should account for.

My $0.02

CD

that was me above, forgot to put my name...

CD