Did anyone catch the times for the Finals at Philly? Hydroblades won, right? There wasn't much competitive competition. Mainly a rec/corporate race, with all the premier PDBC paddlers/TEAM USA spread out among corporate teams. Philly police had a 2:02 ?? in the 1st heat. What was best time of the day? Conditions were just about perfect.

Yes, the morning was calm and perfect.
And yes, H-Blades won overall.
Don't underestimate this regatta. Their is plenty of good competition.
Corporate and rec. teams show strong performances.

I can't wait til next year!

I want to thank the Philly teams for the hospitality shown to us this past weekend. Especially to the Main Line Health and Fitness crew for going that extra mile to host us. It was a great venue!

"Mainly a rec/corporate race, with all the premier PDBC paddlers/TEAM USA spread out among corporate teams."

Actually most of the Philly paddlers were working the event and not paddling at all. They were doing everything from steering to loading boats to on the water officiating. The coolest part of the day was the youth races where 4 teams of inner city kids from the Police Athletic League (PAL) competed. The PAL kids had been coached by some of the Philly paddlers over the prior weeks, nice to see that kind of give back to the community.

So the team that won this regatta came in 4th or 5th in Tampa and did not medal in Tavares. Ealier poster correct, Not many competitive teams at IDR.

While the entertainment was a great addition to this event, the stage placement could not have been worse. Right at the start line. Many teams could hear the start line judge. Unfortunately, that tainted some of the results. Recommend entertainment stage be placed midway up the racecourse & closer to tent village. Then the can do their job without interference.

Electronic results boards needed too.

But races d

So the team that won this regatta came in 4th or 5th in Tampa and did not medal in Tavares. Ealier poster correct, Not many competitive teams at IDR.

While the entertainment was a great addition to this event, the stage placement could not have been worse. Right at the start line. Many teams could hear the start line judge. Unfortunately, that tainted some of the results. Recommend entertainment stage be placed midway up the racecourse & closer to tent village. Then the can do their job without interference.

Electronic results boards needed too.

But races did start on time.

Many teams had premier paddlers on them. Yes many staffing event. But many were paddling too.

Some of the comments in this forum are intended to shun the event or the participants and rarely come from people who attended the event or know the facts.

The event ran on time despite starting later than originally expected. If there where problems with the master starter there were not obvious to us.

Not all the premier members worked; they paddle with their respective local teams. The course was 500 meters and the competition did not have fancy names from other cities but the scoreboard times speaks for their skills.

And yes, the best time of the day was 2:02:60 by the HydroBLADES here is the link to the time sheet
http://www.phillydragonboat.com/independence/images//idbr_final%20results%202009.pdf

"The event ran on time despite starting later than originally expected."


OK, please explain how that is possible. Surely at least the early races did not start on time if the event started late.

You got me
The first race was late

This event is held on a river with current (which can vary in intensity day-to-day). Keep that in mind when comparing times.

Are you sure it wasn't tilted like the Boston's Charles River? lol!

LOL, unlevel, I have heard some excuses but damn that was funny.

Most races have current so yes the conditions are all different. I am sure your local festivals have conditions that people have excuses for too.

Is Pickering on a river too?

No pickering is in a sheltered bay. No current. Maybe some lake tide or something.

The course is surrounded on 4 sides by land. I'm actually not even sure where the sailboats get out to the lake from.

Nice try though sparky.

Until an indoor course with "controlled" conditions are present. Race times are just a reference.
Word record time means nothing to me.
Head wind, cross wind, tail wind.
Current....what direction?
Water depth, Steers skill, Same boat model.
just too many uncontrollable variables.

Agreed, but Power Demons ranking normalize the results pretty well. If a team on their has an average time of "X" for 500 meters, you can be pretty sure that their times (or the delta between their average time and others) will be similar comparably to other teams in the rankings baring any large roster swings.

It's of course pure speculation as to how teams not in the rankings would fair against teams in the ranking, but you can surely make some educated speculations.

Ontario. Pickering. Frenchman's Bay. Google Earth it.

The opening to Lake Ontario is on the south-east part of the bay, a channel about 40m (45 yards) wide.

Offshore breeze in the morning, onshore in the afternoon (anybody with sailing/fishing/etc experience can tell you this) means times should be faster as the day goes on.
QED

Here is the video from our race in Philly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TC418n99Oo&feature=channel_page