Prediction for the westies time, take a shot .There is some tough teams in the mix here . These are just some of the upper teams from what I hear that will go head to head :



Air Canada Jetstart (eastern team)
FCRCC Mixed Sponsored by CIBC
Kai Ikaika (out of portland)
Gorge Rowing and Paddling (gorging /dragonaut combo elite new team )
Gorging Dragons (3rd in the world last yr)
Alpha Dragons Red
Swordfish
Pacific Reach
Team SUCCESS
Wasabi Premier Mixed ( out of portland)
Capital Iron Dragons
Fresh Off the Dragonboat
Specialty Subaru Outback
ROLI Canada I
Pemberton Bald Eagles (have been ranked in the top 3 in the world jrs )
Specialty Subaru Legacy
Team Ruckus
False Creek Masters Women
Dragon Hearts Team Ultimate
San Fran BAD dragons
Absolute dragons
Los Angeles Killer Guppies
Los Angeles Racing Dragons

Just a clarification regarding the "Gorge Rowing and Paddling team".....
This team is made up of various paddlers from the club...from my understanding there are no GD's on the team.

Pemberton Bald Eagles are different than the Laoyam Eagles junior team.
The Bald Eagles are usually comprised of various paddlers from Pemberton & the local Vancouver canoe clubs.

With all the times we have to listen to people call what we do rowing, a team actually went out and used the term in their name?

Gorge Rowing and Paddling (gorging /dragonaut combo elite new team )

10 years hard work, down the drain...

To clarify again..........this is the club's name.....we have rowing programs and DB programs.

Alcan's going to be full of surprises this year - but isn't it always. Wouldn't know where to start guessing who'll take home the hardware, but what the heck - here's my shot at predicting who'll be in the platinum A final...
FCRCC - if they aren't the main contender this year then they're definitely the team with the best press agent.
Pac Reach - bet they're getting tired of finishing out of the medals lately; this might be their year again.
Kai Ikaika - never seen them have a bad festival.
Gorge Rowing and Paddling - total unknown; lots of depth but brand new line-up.
Gorging Dragons - self-proclaimed 'beer league' this year but once they're at the line they're pro's to the core. the dark horse entry with some very green additions to the roster, but don't count them out.
SUCCESS, Roli, Subaru - bound to make a good showing.

Subaru in Comp A? Only if they can make it from the start to finish in a straight line

So who are you predicting, Paddler??

Grpc has been so quiet about this team and they have not even entered any races so far this yr just to keep them undercover,lol .

This should be very interesting as the Gorging crew swears GRPC are nothing to worry about , downplaying them but we all know what the former Dragonauts were capable of and trust me ......the big teams are ready for what ever they roll out of that club so it should be a great A final .

Jeez, sounds like people are expecting a lot from li'l ol' Victoria. 3 Victoria mixed teams going to Alcan and 2 of them are expected in the comp A final?? Really?? Doesn't anyone think Vancouver teams have what it takes to shut out the Island?

It will be a Vancouver based team that takes it is my predicition but who I'm not sure as the top 2 are tight right now .Anything can happen in dragonboat .I'm just hoping for a awesome finish in the A final

I'll second that! The part about an exciting final anyway ...

I think it will be anyone's race in the A final.....anything can happen to a crew in those gem's.

I think that we are going to see FCRCC, Gorging Dragons, and Kai Ikaika (not necessarily in that order) take home hardware. Kai Ikaika's weakness will be the Gemini boats, their guys are huge and have will have trouble just fitting into those boats in their current configuration. Rumor has it that Gorging Dragons have not been training hard this year, but that is likely just rumor, besides "not training hard" for the Gorging Dragons is likely still a lot harder than most teams. FCRCC has home field advantage and the benefit of training in the Geminis all year. If anyone knows how to move those boats with the best speed and efficiency, it should be them.

I'd take that bet. I will be pretty surprised to see GD's in the comp A medal round. Unless they're conducting secret midnight practices.

Could be a crap shoot depending on how many teams good teams Subaru takes out in the Semi's as they veer off the course... Pitty the teams lined-up beside them.

There are a couple of crews that will be coming that way to compete at the Kelowna regatta later in September.

I was just wondering if any of you know if there will be some good crews there. Will any of the teams going to Alcan be there? I was just hoping that it would be a competative field.

Good luck to all the teams competeing at Alcan. Have a great regatta.

In Kelowna there will be the Big west teams like Gorging Dragons,X treme reach ,GRPC,Absolute Adrenilin,Pacific Reach,Possibly FCRCC this yr(false creek ),Roli,Alpha, Team Success(last yrs winner) ,and a host of other top teams .Trust me the competiton will be fierce so bring the best you have you'll need it !!!

Poor Wahine paddler ,it looks like you have been out of touch with whats been going on in BC lately . Good luck !!

you've got to give credit to GD for knowing when to gear it down. going twice a day six days a week was what i heard they were doing to prepare for capetown and that must have taken a huge toll on their lives and bodies. rest up, relax, and enjoy the spirit of the sport - and give us easterners a chance to medal at wccc before you get back into the mix!

Is kind of the Western equivalent of GWN 911 in September here in the East/Central area.

Gorging did train hard, very hard for Capetown but 2x's a day 6x's a week? Maybe... but rumours are just rumours. Many of us in the comp A field out West felt it was all propoganda.

I was there...we trained 6 days a week twice a day....I have the muscle tears to prove it. We had our sacred Sat off...our only break.
It was a season I will never forget....all good!
Good luck to everyone racing in Alcan this weekend.