http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060808.DRAGON08/TPStory/TPNational/Ontario/


http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1155073815155&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154&t=TS_Home

Fantastic find - I heard about dragonboat racing on CityPulse this afternoon as well.

There is a 4 page pullout in todays Toronto Sun too, featuring a few teams.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060808.DRAGON08/TPStory/TPNational/Ontario/

Nice article on the Toronto Masters..

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/traveloutdoors/2003153650_nwwboatcolumn27.html

from seattle...

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2006/18/c7597.html

anyone heard of the Dragon Boat Caravan project???

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060712/NEWS01/607120307/1002


"Though primarily found in Asian countries, dragon boating's popularity has spread to the western world during the last 20 to 30 years. It is especially popular in Canada, where companies are dedicated to making equipment for the sport. Toronto boasts more than 100 dragon boating clubs."

WE ARE THE CENTRE OF THE PADDLING UNIVERSE!!!!!

Thanks to "another" Dboat surfer. Almost too much news to keep track of!

G&G already getting props

http://torontosun.com/Sports/OtherSports/2006/08/10/1731793-sun.html

"A number of competitors were quick to point to teams from Canada as the favourites. A lot of attention will be focused on G&G Dragons, which features a stellar elite-level lineup that includes Athens Olympics paddlers Mike Scarola and Carrie Lightbound-Buday and 1984 Olympic gold-medallist Larry Cain."


The Sun seems to be Dragon Boat central today...

http://www.torontosun.com/News/TorontoAndGTA/2006/08/10/1731728-sun.html

"The central location of the Western Beaches watercourse may help draw more people to the sport.

"It's part of the city and that's attractive," (Mike) Haslam said. "A lot of regatta courses are set outside the city because they need the space --but they don't attract people."

Caravan has been attending Childrens Camps in the summer and is moving into communities in the fall, I understand they'll be in Thunder Bay and Sudbury in September and that the project runs for 18 Months.

anyone know how to contact the caravan??

Nice little feature on SRS and their connection to the CCWC's.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1155246610616&call_pageid=968350130169&col=969483202845

From the article:
"Simon River Sports' boats float more evenly, while their competitors' crafts often sit on top of the surface, with the bow and stern in the air, Roy said."

Are they admitting that their boats are heavier and/or sit lower in the water than BUKs?

There are fairly rigid specs for a boat to meet idbf approval.

Twenty years away, according to Mike Haslam.

Start your family now!

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/OtherSports/2006/08/13/1752432-sun.html

"Dragon boaters will have to settle for a celebratory regatta in China during the (Olympic) Games. Haslam thinks it will take at least 20 years to get into the Olympics. The sport needs recognition as an Olympic federation first. Before that, it needs 75 national federations around the world under its umbrella. Dragon boating currently has around 60, Haslam said."

Well done, Toronto Sun.

http://torontosun.com/Sports/OtherSports/2006/08/14/1753554-sun.html

"It was, in fact, hard to find any negatives about the event, outside of the occasional team protest over a result. There was disappointment from a purely competitive perspective that some of the rising European teams, especially those in Eastern Europe and Russia, couldn't piece together the money to compete in Toronto. As Irvine said, most dragon boaters compete because they love it. They foot the travel costs themselves, outside of a bit of club-based fundraising. So while Canada is regarded as a top nation in this sport, its success here was muted."

Not too bad either. Course length seems to be on everyone's mind.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1155505811539&call_pageid=968332188492

"The four-day event was held at the new Western Beaches Watercourse at Marilyn Bell Park, and while competitors praised the new facility many expected the 600-metre raceway to be longer.

"We were kind of surprised. We thought the course would be bigger," said Brian Danforth, a paddler on the San Francisco Dragon Warriors."

Hometown pride for Maks Zupan.

http://www.shorelinebeacon.com/story.php?id=248107

"Two members of the Saugeen Paddlers club from Paisley reached for the top in their sport at the Toronto Dragon Boat World Championships, August 10-13.
Both paddlers, Joe Lehman of Owen Sound, and Maks Zupan of Paisley, were members of the Eat Trout team from Central Ontario which won all events, 200m and 500m mixed and men, in Grand Dragon class. Lehman also won silver medals in Senior Mixed Class 200m and 2,000m events."

One of the best self-promoters in the game today.

More on the length of the course:

http://torontosun.com/News/TorontoAndGTA/2006/08/14/1753494-sun.html

Agree with her or not, she has made her opinions heard and put her own name to it.

"http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1155765011427&call_pageid=970599119419"



Give paddlers respect
They are superb athletes who undergo year-round training with the intensity of Olympic hopefuls
Aug. 17, 2006. 01:00 AM



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Lengthen course, racers say


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Aug. 14.

I was disappointed in your recent article on the International Dragon Boat Federation Club Crew Championships.

Dragon boat racing is the fastest growing water sport in the world and Canada is ranked No. 1, yet your article focused mainly on two main points — the weather was good and the course too long.

There was little or no mention of the 3,000 athletes from five continents, many of whom are world champions at this sport. Nor was there any mention of Canada's success in medals. Canada's Senior Dragon Boat Club, for example, gold medallists at last year's World Championship in Germany, won gold in every event they raced last weekend including men, women's and mixed, and will again be competing at the next world championship.

Dragon boat racing may seem like a fun summer pastime. And, there is no denying the spectacle aspect of dragon boat racing. After all, how often does a sports fan get to see world-class races interspersed with inspiring athletic performances from breast cancer survivor clubs and special needs children? But in fact, many of the racers are more than weekend warriors. They are superb athletes who undergo year-round land and water training with the intensity of Olympic hopefuls. And like any other international sport, they are subject to random drug testing at this level. It is time for dragon boat racing and its athletes to be given recognition and respect in keeping with its physical demands and growing popularity.


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Nancy Stevens, Toronto

Blowing their own horns, but they earned it. Congrat's Layoam!

http://www.whistlerquestion.com/madison%5CWQuestion.nsf/0/0F652451145A0766882571CC0083B9CC?OpenDocument

"The results were staggering. After three hot days of competition on the Lake Ontario waterfront, the Laoyam Eagles won an unprecedented seven of nine junior finals."

From one of the articles in the Toronto Sun...

"The competition's youngest dragon boat drummer, 11-year-old Victoria Ansell-Gauvin, found the course choppy from the waves. But she and her team, Eat Trout, won six medals with Victoria at the helm."

Was there not an age minimum for drummers at the CCWC?

Interesting that Mr. Fisher doesn't refer to ducking the races in Welland, or to the fact that he inserted flatwater racers from Mississauga to gain the victory. If there results were so good at the Alcan, why the re-inforcements???????

Buddy give it up...you lost get over it and move on like a good competitor

That team is very successful and hey there even some former Layoam paddlers on your TO national team from what I saw

Your right .....I thought there was a min. 40 yr old rule in senior but apparantly not ...kind of weird when every one else has to.The used the kid so the saved weight off the front ...they used the rules to their advantage ...good for them I guess

I wonder if she was any good. I'm always inspired by my drummer to keep my focus and give the crew important information. Imagine running your race at that level of competition with an 11yr old girl, there wasn't much to her. Sorry but I'd prefer to have experience over weight. Just my opinion.