- Are any A level teams going?
- Will the bank teams once again become the cream of the TIDBRF crop?
- Will there be a PFD exempt sport division?

There seems to be a lot less discussion about this event this year. Has it become an insignificant event with the WCCC happening in Aug?

What are your thoughts?

There will be 6 "A" level crews there. They will be the six in the "A" final. They will however include some "B" or lower level teams from previous years as many previous teams of all levels look to better events this year.

Bank teams lol.

PFD exempt, Not going to happen

It was insignificant way before WCCC. Lane fairness, split divisions (fixed last year) and lower level of competition (Other than SRS who go for the tickets) and a couple others. This year, Ottawa, Pickering, Montreal, GWN 911 and Canadian Club Crews in September and maybe even Welland next weekend will all have much deeper fields than The Island. It is now basically a really really big, yet expensive recreational festival.

Safe to say The paddlers won!?
For the past 10 years everyone had many complaints about this 'organised crime' festival.

With all luck maybe this will be the last year for a regatta charging 2200.00+ for a festival. Oh right the tent is extra. No you're not aloud to bring your own. Not to mention unless you're a great swimmer it costs $$ to get to that god forsaken Island. Oh right the lanes suck ass. At least in that respect it's almost even. All the lanes suck. Did i mention it costs way to much $$. But i guess that's why Ottawa sold out so early. Maybe after even less teams go this year those greedy bastards down at TIDBRF will go get real jobs instead of gouging people for more each year. TIDBRF it's jerk-offs like you that ruin armature sports. Keep it reasonable and keep as many teams coming. I know if things don't change (cost) none of my teams will have the coin to do this regatta.

"armature sports"

Yikes.

The price gouging the TIDBRF exacts on corporate teams is keeping a lot of them away this year...and I have heard of worse crimes committed by this organization. Stay away at all costs.

Whether they chose to or were guided, the TIDBF upped their prices year after year from advice by a well known Dragon Boat personality. Now, they are stuck with the history of those decisions. Should they have dropped the price immeadiately for this year - of course.
But, that is as good as admitting they let the cat steal the cream.

Run bu cheap people, only out for money, claiming they're acultural festival. What a gyp.

I agree with the negative comments, but also have to say that the people that ran it into the ground with their dumb decisions (B., S.) are no longer affiliated with the festival.
There's all new management that wants the festival to be what it used to be.

TIDBF - almost like FMG running it into the ground for several years, and now
a new organizational/dragon boat provider needs to step in and get his show back to
where it used to be.

As the previous poster said, now the old managment has left, that actually never
paddled in a boat in their life, we may get some sense and reasonable costs put in place.

Only Toronto teams can win the trip. That eliminated some top teams.

Given they were still asking for people to sign up, up until a few days ago, I'm guessing they are really feeling the pain this year. If they don't shape up in terms of pricing for next year this festival will go the way of "Summer Sensation", guranteed.

This year they're going to have a few of C/D/E level teams (like the team that is sponsored by TCBA) running amuck on the podium and a scattering of rec/corporate teams doing one event only. Yikes, how the mighty have fallen.

"Only Toronto teams can win the trip. That eliminated some top teams."

Not really. Very few non-Toronto teams ever entered TIDBRF, and "top" non-Toronto teams were even more rare.

Plus, I can't really disagree with a rule that discourages the formation of all-star collectives from across the province or country. Nothing wrong with promoting LOCAL competition.

But I guess if you're on Eat Trout then this rule really pisses you off.

Not meaning to drag them into it, but that's who you're talking about, right?

So this new management has done what exactly????? Still increased the price to make it the most expensive festival in the country. They still give out those free practices at Sunnyside to try and justify the fact they are ripping everyone off. Oh ya and those free practices would be great if Sunnyside didn't close down shop at every speck of rain that hits the ground.
The only positive thing is if they keep this up, there will be no T.O. festival as no teams will pay to go to an overpriced event with little to no competition. I'm sure with the demise of this festival they'll hold a cheaper more competitive festival on the new course next year. It kills me some corporate teams have to do this festival to get sponsorship $$, but then use half of that $$ on one shitty regatta. If it's the cost of the Island that is too much. Change locations. Any other reason makes for a poor excuse when most to all other regatta's are less then half the price of this one. I'll admit this sport was a bit of a cash cow for coaches and organizations willing to get corporate sponsorship. Look around, alot less sponsorship now then 5 years ago. Perhaps it would be a good time for TIDBRF to wake up and realize that they keep charging these prices no sponsors will want to put the $$ in to send a team to this festival.

How many teams are registered? I cannot understand all the moaning and groaning about Toronto. If the festival doesn't suit your team then go elsewhere. Spend more money to go Ottawa but rationalize that its an out of town trip. The big wheels in dragonboat do not change overnight.The politics in this sport are unbelievable.

And moan and whine then these people would continue to ruin great festivals and get away with all kinds of crap. It's typical of people in Canada to simply sit and do nothing while the pricks in society get away with whatever they please.

At least that's all that's visible on the online donation site. Maybe there are others.

Can't exactly get very excited about a major festival in a big city collapsing if that's what's happening. Not exactly progress.

Out of town teams are not very welcomed either.

Not very promising, but I know at least 3 teams going that are not listed

Val's the bomb
CBCF
Beneteau Bateau
The Sovereign
Halls Oxygen
Thornlea Thunder
Seneca Dragoneers
Wongs Imperial Dragons
Motorola Flying Dragons
AHA Dragons
The Wildcards
Stroke the Dragon
St. Joseph's Health Centre - The Saints
SPIRIT OF OLSER/LADY DRAGONS
the red hot PEELers Doucette
TEGH Wellness Warriors
Dragon Crusaders
Shearwaters DBC
Fearless Feds
TELUS Spark
Fired Up Up
Virgin Mobile Rock the Boats!
Les Dragonesses

What you are saying is that there are only 23 teams going?!!!!!! I hope thats not right. If it is then the festival will be a no-go.

Anyone have an updated list?

Looks like St Joes Saints are goin' to Hong Kong. OhhhhhYeahhhhhh!!!!!

What's going on with TIDBF is that year after year of mismanagement have finally spoiled a great legacy. That it still calls itself "International" is laughable. They haven't attracted significant out-of-province or international competition for years. We've all, with the possible exception of TCBA, seen this coming.

I think (and hope) changes are on the way. Toronto has been a driving force in North American dragonboat and this community deserves a big-time, professionally managed event of international stature... like Alcan in Vancouver.

The new watercourse has its flaws, we've all heard about them, but it'll still be better than anything else in the city. Now that this course exists, and with TIDBF looking weakened, TCBA has some serious thinking to do this winter.

I think they have little choice but to move TIDBF to the new watercourse and make the philosophical changes needed to run a paddler-friendly event. If they don't, somebody else will surely start something at the watercourse and that event could quickly grow into THE big one (basically shutting TCBA out of the Toronto scene).

There was a political split between the group running the Club Crews and the TCBA. I'd be surprised if the Club Crew group weren't already planning some kind of annual event for the watercourse site. Regardless of who does what, the watercourse (flaws and all), should be a catalyst for a lot of change. Here's hoping it's for the better...

122 teams, not as bad as we expected but still much worse than previous years. There are no competitive teams going this year

Hammer heads will be there under another sponsor. Scotia/Rouge is there and some SRS team. But you're right outside of those teams there's nothing. So what will happen next year? 80 teams and no good ones. I think we've actually found a group of people that run a business worse then the government. Congrats to TIDBRF. You truly prove there are dumber individuals out there then the elected retards!

Name change: The Toronto International Toilet Bowl Dragon Boat Festival.

1. TCBA NDBC-SRS
2. Scotia Rouge
3. Miami DBC
4. Riptide A
5. Riptide B
6. Riptide C

7. Riptide D
8. Riptide E
9. Riptide F
10. Riptide G
11. Riptide H
12. Riptide I

Name Change: TID-BARF

a lot of hating going on here!

hate,hate,hate,hate,hate,hate

Is Riptide going to win without the rain? Maybe there should be another letter out to the team again. Chairman blah blah blah

I'm Rick James, bitch!

UNITY!

What did the five fingers say to the face?

Its interesting that we all bitch and complain, but looks like attendance will still be pretty good. Yes it looks like more of community festival thing as opposed to sport racing.

While TIDBRF is far from perfect and we can all talk to death about it being a ripoff poorly managed, dollar store prices etc. I think you have to give credit to them for at least making an effort. People complained about community/corporate split and they changed last year, complained about the SRS boats, were better the 2nd year, complained about the chintzy awards, looks like they are addressing that too this year. Hey this festival has been around a long time, before most of us started paddling. While we all like things to change overnight, its doesn't work here, this festival is like a big ass tanker, it ain't turning on a dime. Also as someone said before management has changed this year so I'm certainly hoping for better things.

ON ME!

The race is still the best in Toronto. The course is still, by far, one of the most scenic in Eastern Canada and it's way more fair than GWN or even Pickering. It's always a blast, usually the best time anywhere and way better than the bleak Ottawa festival.

It may well be over priced, that's true, but what does it work out to per person? And how much do pay to go to Ottawa and stay for a couple of nights? It may take some time to get to the Island but how long does it take to get to Ottawa? Or even Pickering, with the nonexistant shuttle?

Most of all, how many of us got their start there? Without it how many fewer new people will enter the sport?

But as long as it makes you happy.

All valid points, but the fact of the matter is that sport division teams are choosing not to attend this event because it is a cash grab. Dont'f forget the cost to take the ferry (plus the opportunity cost of time to line up, queue up like cattle and get squished in the crowds). It is a scenic course, no doubt, but the fact of the matter is that it is not worth the money, when we could have 3 festivals for the same price or less and have better racing!

Ok you are all over the place. Are you comparing TIDBRF to the Toronto Festivals or Ottawa or to all festivals in Eastern Ontario.


"The race is still the best in Toronto."

In terms of what? Level of compitition? Not anymore! Pickering has had a solid group of great teams out there. GWN always attracts some of the top crews too.

By value for the dollar? When compared to Toronto festivals no way!. They have the worst equipment of the Toronto Festivals. Regarding the atmosphere, well that is subjective, I know alot of people who love the atmosphere at GWN. The knock on GWN is the fairness of the course. Agreed. Still they took some steps to try to mitigate this issue.

"The course is still, by far, one of the most scenic in Eastern Canada"
Is the island anymore scenic then Stratford? Or Ottawa? Don't think so.

"and it's way more fair than GWN or even Pickering."
sure thats is a knock on those two events.

"It's always a blast,"
glad you always enjoy it.
"usually the best time anywhere"
you need to get out more.

"and way better than the bleak Ottawa festival."
sorry which festival has 190 crews signed up PLUS a waiting list. Are you telling me that Ottawa has a bigger DB community to draw upon then Toronto?

"It may well be over priced, that's true,"
yes it is true.

"but what does it work out to per person? And how much do pay to go to Ottawa and stay for a couple of nights?"
Its all about value for money. A lot of teams like to have an "away" event. Good for team bonding, and if the event you are goinng to is well run, and fun its worth it.


"It may take some time to get to the Island but how long does it take to get to Ottawa?"
Do you feel silly raising such an obvious point? i think most people know it takes longer to get to ottawa.

"Or even Pickering, with the nonexistant shuttle?"
I don't think the Island has anything on pickering in terms of logisitics in getting there.

"Most of all, how many of us got their start there? Without it how many fewer new people will enter the sport?"
Not me. But yes there are a lot of teams there who will have a lot of people who have never touched a paddle before.


"But as long as it makes you happy."

The point is that TIDBRF has not been making a lot of people happy out here, hence the need for you to defend it.

I don't think you get it. "The Haters" don't want to kill TIDBF, we want it to improve and succeed. We need a quality local event that's run well enough to attract a deep, competitive field. Maybe even a few international teams?!? That's what TIDBF should have evolved into ages ago. Are you telling me it's "the haters" fault it didn't?

Second, your price comparison argument that includes the cost of travel to Ottawa is bogus. If a team plans to do at least one road trip per season then choosing to go to Ottawa is not about choosing Ottawa over TIDBF, its about choosing other local events over TIDBF.

Third, Ottawa's festival is bleak? Who told you that? Complete BS IMO.

How many competitive teams are going to be in Ottawa?

Not saying these are all competitive, but running thru the list I see the following familiar names for Ottawa. I'm sure there are some good teams on the list that I don't know about ...no Events Alive, for example, so the Rideau CC kids must have a new sponsor:


Adrenaline Surge
Asian Dragons
Big Fish
Cdn Snr BDC Mix
Cdn Snr BDC Mix 2
Cdn Snr BDC Women
Cascades
Cascades Women
Collingwood Sidelaunchers
CN Aquatrain
Montreal Thunder
Nepean Masters
Nortel Bytown
OHDBC 1
OHDBC 2
Phoenix ETS
RBC Comets
SCC Dragons
SCC Chiro
Team Chaos
TELUS Phoenixes
Alliance Evolution
Verdun
Wongs

so Ottawa is kind of like Pickering competiveness wise?