Who is going this year that will challenge for 1st? I hear there are a few good team that are not coming this year. Who will most likely be in the top 6?

Within the next year or so, the only good teams at the Island are going to be the Bank teams. Just like it was 10 years ago. No other good team will bother because there are so many other good events for a fraction of the cost. The Bank teams sponsors are the only ones who have something to gain from exposure at the Island.

Well, quite a few good teams will not be going. As a member of Hanalei I can say we won't be wasting our dollars there. Pickering will have enough competition and enjoyment value for the dollar as will Sudbury and Welland without the logistical hassles of the Island. There is no value at the Island anymore for paddlers. It is a marketing event for Business and TCBA. For unsponsored teams it is of no value whatsoever anymore given the quality of other events. The GTDBR is going downhill very very fast!

Who is GTDBR? Do you mean GTDBC?
Keep in mind that TCBA and GTDBC are two seperate organizations.

I call bullshit. You're not paddling at TIDBRF because half your team is doing an outrigger race in NY that weekend, not because of the cost.

Ahh nice try, but half our crew is not in NY at Liberty. That is the group from TSCC that was originally there thanks. We decided a long way back the Island was poor value and since we are not a sponsored crew it is just not worth it.

Everyone knows that the Island is an even WORSE value if your ARE sponsored. So there!

The fastest mixed team in the country will be racing at Toronto, leaving Scotia and Imps fighting for second and third, who said this wasn't a fast field. No, Pickering, Welland, even the Trials won't have a faster team!

How can someone like Hanalei care about a fast field, you kiddin me - maybe Sudbury or Verdun could comment but really, some of you have no friggin idea!

And who is the fastest mixed team in the country ?

" Pickering will have enough competition and enjoyment value for the dollar as will Sudbury and Welland without the logistical hassles of the Island."

You're telling me that taking a Ferry to the Island is somehow more logistically complicated than arranging for transport and accomodation in Sudbury? Yeah, whatever.

The fastest mixed team in the country?
Last year it was sponsored by Flexogen.
They have a new sponsor this year.

Having the fastest crew(s) at the Island does not matter. That will also be the case for Sudbury and Welland and I am sure Pickering as well under some new name. Going back to the point the Island has little value for the cost to "us as a team". We don't pick events based on our odds of doing well. Every event is a new challenge and racing against the best is what it's all about whether our odds are good or poor.

I do not think the "new" flexogen will be flying paddlers in from all over the country the way they did last year.

You will not be there. We get it. Why do feel you have to explain why? We don't care!

I love the island race, it is the best festival out there.

gwn is better, waterloo is pretty good as well

Toronto Island is the best festival maybe if you have only raced in Toronto. I would place Vancouver, GWN, Montreal, San Francisco and possibly even Ottawa ahead of the Island. At least these festivals attract out of town/province teams.

on what is meant by "best"

- boats and equipment
- water depth, wind protection
- weather (rain, humidity, heat)
- quality of officiating
(wash riding ignored by officials ?)
- set up for fair starts
- venue (shade vs superheated concrete)
- racer village ammenities
- quality medals (i.e. medals that
actually mean something, not window
dressing)
- parties
- festival entertainment
- cost and value
- consistency of quality
- meaningful and authentic chinese
and dragon boat culture and historical
underpinnings together with modern
contemporary special event values
- is it a regatta, a challenge, a festival or WHAT ??? !!!!

IMO there is no ONE or TWO great events
rather if you could take the best features
from a bunch of them and combine them,
then it would be ideal.

In dragon boating some events are about chinese festivals and some are about great racing with all the best technical stuff in place.

Toronto and Vancouver fit the festival bill but for great racing I'm betting NACCC will be a memorable event this year. GWN a close second. Oh, and then there's that little race in Berlin!

The Island sucks As_! Really what a joke it is becoming. Nothing more than a fund run & marketing venture for Mrs. what's her name from TCBA.

the island is the best festival around.

yes the Island is the best festival around... Best at sucking!

The island is my personal favorite festival out there and I've been to a fair number. It just has the feel of a huge event. I can understand why some people don't like it (with so many teams there are long waits) but it's really just a matter of opinion.

i hear the awards are much better this year.
so for all those teams who complained last year....they are doing something about it.

Anon 10:05

Hi Mike

"i hear the awards are much better this year.
so for all those teams who complained last year....they are doing something about it."

Yeah.. I hear they are going to laminate the photocopy and get $2 frames this year. For a $1900 registration, that's a hot deal!