Hi everyone, Just a quick note to encourage you all to consider the 2006 Welland Festival & Sport Regatta being held June 17. The Welland Festival committee is producing both events co-currently this year at the fabulous Welland National Watersport Centre.

Festival entrants will race the standard 500m distance. Sport race entries must Dragon Boat Canada members (roster checks will take place) who will contest a very challenging 3 race combination of 1000m, 500m and 200m for premier mixed, open, women and BCS racing classes.
All race distances will feature held starts and photo timing.

The City of Welland has embarked on a major infrastructure development program for the Welland Canal lands and the National Watersport Centre in preparation to host the 2007 IDBF World CorCom Championships. The Centre will also be hosting the DBC National Team Trials and Natonal Club Crew Championships in 2006.

A feature of the first phase of development is the construction of a permanent, 1000m buoyed regatta course for dragon boat, sprint canoe, outrigger and short course rowing. A new, state of the art timing tower will rise this spring on the shoreline adjacent to the finish area. The four story, 2200 square foot glass building will house photo-cell timing equipment, a VIP seating level, a jury room and a secondary wheelchair accessible viewing area.

So come and join us on North America's fastest and fairest race course and take in some genuine Niagara hospitality while you're at it. The Welland National Watersport Centre is just a few minutes from world class winery estates and the many fun activities offered in the vibrant city of Niagara Falls. For more information you can visit the event web site at: www.wellanddragonboatfestival.com
www.niagaratourism.com
www.tourismniagara.com

We will extend the early bird entry fee of $650 until the end of April for DBC sport crews.

The race site is an hour a 20 minutes from Toronto. The 1000m races begin at 9:00 A.M.

Hope to see you there. Have a great holiday weekend!

Mark Carl
Welland Dragon Boat Festival

Sounds interesting. You guys have a great watercourse down there. What kind of permanent infrstructure are you building for 2007? Are we talking finish line towers, scoreboards and such or mostly just change rooms and toilets? Is the plan to build this into a facility for sprint canoe/kayak, rowing and dragon boat?

What's the difference between the CorCom in 07 and the upcomming club crews here in Toronto (which, for the record, I think Welland should have won)? If club crew teams have sponsors are they also Cor Com teams? How will the qualifying work? Sorry... I know your post is about this year's event.

The first phase of the development is the permanent 1000m regatta course, more huge loading docks and the timing tower. The regatta course itself will be adjustable from a 10 x 9m canoe lanes to 7 x 13.5m rowing lanes to the dragon boat ghost lanes you raced with at the NACCC last year. The held start dock is a floating aluminum catwalk across the canal. The timing tower is state of the art and hard wired to the start lines.

Phase two in 2007 will involve a new clubhouse for all paddle sports and rowing. That will include some washrooms and changerooms but let's face it, we'll still need lots of portable toilets for any event that takes place there.

We hope to have a paddling club up and running in 2006 with dragon boats and outrigger canoes and some sprint canoes. The rowing club is interested in placing some rowing equipment on site as well.

It's only been recently that the people and politcians of Welland have been educated on why the canal is such a great flatwater venue. The water is 9m deep across the entire canal which makes it very fast for racing and very fair. It's also very clean so you can swim at your leisure.

I'm not sure what else I can tell you. We hope you come to witness the efforts we are making to build a fabulous venue for dragon boat racing that will be widely recognized as the best in North America.

Who is going to Welland ?

The 2007 World CorCom Championships is an open event. As long as you are affiliated with the company or community group that is entering then no problem. Its an international competition for those who aren't on their respective country's Sydney 2007 team.

I've been keeping myself up to date on the development of a watercourse in Toronto simply because we are developing our own here in Niagara and that would mean from a sport tourism perspective we'd be competing for flatwater events week in, week out and for years going forward. While I wish Toronto all the best in their efforts I have to admit we in Welland are surprised by the end result and a little relieved quite frankly. If Toronto had built what was in design a year ago then I'm sure our venue wouldn't be booked every weekend like it is for 2006. As it stands the two venues are night and day and not really in competition with one another. We have 5 canoe events, 3 dragon boat events and 2 rowing events this year along with a triathalon. We're pretty happy about that.

Mark. You've got a great race course in Welland theres no question we just wish it was here in the big smoke. The Welland sport race has been our season starter for the past three years and again this year. Its a great day trip and those 3 ditances are killer but gratifying when done. We are thinking about joining DBC this year. Do we have to be a member to enter the sport race? This was not the case last year.

Flatwater has been alive and racing in Welland for how many years?...S/thg like 25.

You would think by the sounds of this that Dragon Boaters discovered it.

Dragon boaters didn't discover it. But it's the money from DB that is improving the course for everyone.

Why don't you shut the hell up and be grateful that you get the run-off benefit?

The original flatwater canoeing site was by the Dain City portion of the Welland Canal not where it is now so don't go there with the 25 year thing. Remember that the original qualifying years for Dragon Boat was at a different part of the Welland Canal system than where it is now.

Too bad it is the same weekend as Perry Sound race because I know a lot of the top teams are going up there.

No kidding its not the same site as the original in Dain City...but it ain't all about dragon boating thats for sure.

Nice site.
Great docks.

Parry Sound , not Perry Sound.
Thanks.

Both race courses are being built on the backs of dragon boats. Toronto for the 2006 CCWC and Welland for the 2007 World CorCom Championships. Canoe racing gets the spin off. At least in Welland they do since its 1000m. You can blah, blah, blah for 25 years but neither of these developments would be going on if it were not for dragon boat. Face this fact and enjoy the benefits.

DBers have big egos and filled with a bunch of wnnabees who buy there team outfits and seats..Its not all about you.Hate to break it to you but the Olympic sports of Rowing and Canoeing have more pull than DB on an International level.

Say what you want to but the Toronto site is a joke if its going to remain at the distance the course is currently set.

Not meaning to offend the good athletes in DB, just the big mouths who think they are "all that".

Well I don't think think anyone on this particular thread has mentioned dragonboater being "all that".

The only comment I saw was that dragonboating has brought in another source of revenue. Simply by sheer numbers, dragonboating has increased participation in water events. And as a side benefit courses get improved/updated for both dragonboating and other events, nothing wrong with that IMO!

Heck if you're calling out the dragonboaters who are not good paddlers. That would be over 70% of dragonboaters!! Hate to break it to ya, but without that 70% plus poor paddlers these courses wouldn't be improved/updated. Just be happy you as an experienced flatwater paddler or whatever get to the reap some of the benefits that this dragonboating thing brings, because it appeals to the masses out there, the unathletic poor paddling types!

some people just can't stand to see DB or DB'ers get any credit for anything.

In this case all we or they did was spend their stupid money over a period of time in numbers. Nothing to do with any on water accomplishments. They didn't even claim they did anything.

Motocross and lawn darts also probably have more international pull, but what the heck does that have to do with the topic at hand?

A site or sites have found the funding or figured it was economically feasible to invest in some infrastructure. It is not in the least bit unreasonable that a lot of these factors involve the growth of, and participation in dragon boating events at these locations.

Why are you threatened by that? The simple fact is more people by a factor of probably 10, 20, 50 or more. Dragon Boat across this country than Row or do sprint events. Heck most of the sprinters, marathoners etc are also Dragon Boating so why is it such a big surprise.

Just enjoy it. Tell your friends the stupid Dragon Boaters improved your course for you like a bunch of idiots. Like it or lump it that over spandexed, group of weekend warriors has the numbers and the disposable income to draw out these kinds of investments in their leisure activities.

The people posting on both sides of the flatwater vs. DB argument here are dummies. Who cares? We've both benefited from each other and both need each other. I don't care who is responsible for the course as long as we have it. I don't care who has more money, better jobs or can do more chin ups. There's lots of different types of paddling and they are all great as long as you enjoy doing it.

Thanks, Mark, for posting the info about the new improvements to the venue. I'm looking forward to seeing it this summer.

Is there any truth to the rumour that Welland may someday have the first covered 1,000 metre racing course? I was told that there is a Niagara casino that might be willing to install a cover over the course, so that Welland could offer a year-round, wind and weather proof, training centre for canoeing, rowing (albeit a bit short), and dragon boating. I'm sure canoeing would locate a high performance training centre in Welland if such a course was available.

Welland could use the course as an economic development opportunity and tourism novelty, and a 1,000 metre course cover (like the domes over tennis courts and golfing ranges) gives a lot of space to advertise the casino.

you must be joking.

Cost about $20 million Can. to do on the cheap.
Never be heated but would stay around freezing. Not bad in Jan.

So it would be cheaper than putting in a 600 metre pile of rocks off the lake shore in Toronto??

I have to say that's the first I've heard that rumour. And that's all it is.

Having said that our investment is for your communities so we welcome any suggestions to improve the watercourse, within reason of course.

Oh boy. This ought to get good.

Mark, I was just wondering what the 5 canoe events ere

Mark, Could you tell us which crews are currently signed on for the Sport Regatta portion of the festival?

it is not a rumour, There are people working on making it an indoor course. It will be something. But the Perry Sound racce that same weekend is going to be great. Lots of reallly good teams and activities for your partners.

I am sure it will be a great event, but who are they top teams that are going? Hanalai and Eat Trout maybe?

Anyone else? Parry Sound from my experience is a good local event. Not a place to go to meet the best of the best. If I am wrong then great, just post some of the team names. If I am not wrong then maybe try not to over hype the level of competition.

I still wish your event all the best. I am sure it will be great in any case.

The roof of the Olympic stadium is for sale, please do us a favor and take it all!

A dragon Boat dome, hilarious! Is global warming THAT slow?

So who's going to this regatta?

Parry Sound : I think Hanalei , Trout , G&G , Parry Sound Canoe Club (will be competative with Trout this year , all marathoners ) and probably a good team from Sudbury ; so far.

anyone know who's participating in the Sport Regatta in Welland? Just want to know before I commit my team.

I heard Hanalei has switched to Welland.

Welland Sport Festival - June 17 - 56 teams entered so far

Notables:

Mofos
Mojos
Hammerheads
Mayfair
Toronto Masters
Toronto Grand Masters
Women In Canoe
Raging Barracudas
Aquaholics
Banana Boat
CN Aquatrain
Cyclones

Looking for more sport teams: 1000m in the A.M. - then 500 heats, semis, finals and a 200m sprint. Total of 5 races for DBC sport teams @ $600.00. DBC teams are PFD exempt.

"DBC teams are PFD exempt."

have all dbc teams passed a swim test or something?

PFD exempt regattas are reason enough to go.

I'm in. So is my crew.