http://results.mkksz.hu/en/timetable/

The ICF needs to come to its senses as it is doubtful that any legitimate paddler will ever risk the effort, time and money to race in one of their so called World Championships again. The paddlers have spoken with the lack of support for this event despite an attractive venue and other enticements.

If you look at the results and heat sheets you will see: 1) some events only have 2 entries (in Junior Men Hungary is racing Hungary, how sad), 2) most have only 3-4, 3) only the 10 seaters have much in the way of competition, 4) some of the teams they list aren't even showing up.

Finally, the diluted competition is a joke, the times for the top teams are respectable for a good club team here. The times for the Canadian and US reps are C level (which is exactly what we thought was going).

Here are the initial 500 meter results on what has been hyped as one of the best race courses in the World.

Senior Men (our Premier) ONLY 4 teams (no Canada or USA) race 1 of 3

1 Russia RUS 00:01:58.992
2 Hungary HUN 00:01:59.862
3 Germany GER 00:02:00.540
4 Islamic Rep. Of Iran IRI 00:02:01.008

Masters Men (our Senior) 4 entries one DID NOT SHOW (No Canada) race 1 of 3

1 Hungary HUN 00:02:03.909
2 Germany GER 00:02:08.061
3 United States of America USA 00:02:12.129
4 Ukraine DNS

Finally, the event we all revere, the Senior (Premier) Mixed has 8 entries and the Canadians (and USA) are embarassing themselves, in fact the whole field is weak.

Senior Mixed

Heat 1 3 teams

1 Hungary HUN 00:02:05.490
2 Switzerland SUI 00:02:13.134
3 Canada CAN 00:02:18.264

Heat 2 6 teams Italy DNS

1 Russia RUS 00:02:03.735
2 Germany GER 00:02:05.793
3 United States of America USA 00:02:10.953
4 Japan JPN 00:02:12.297
5 France FRA 00:02:16.035
6 Italy ITA DNS

Go Iran! The paddling superpower!!!

their time is actually pretty competitive!

Keep in mind that Senior Men is equivalent to Premier Open. Those times might be decent for a mixed team, but not for a men's boat.

The top mixed boat has clocked a 02:03.735 so far. That would barely get you into A division at Island.

Perhaps conditions are slow ... who knows.

Everybody knows you can't compare times from different parts of the world

I can sure as heck compare 2:18s and 2:10s when I have other points of reference in the 2:03 range. Or are you saying that the 2:03 team would have posted a 1:45 at the island. Not

What an embarrasment for ICF and CKC.

Canada's so called Premier Mixed National Team clocked a 2:18 in the Heat and 2:19 in the Repechage. I don't care what the conditions are. This is embarrasing!

honestly, I wouldn't even put on a Canada shirt if I was that ****

The so-called Senior Mixed National Team were 2:22.5 in their 2nd Heat. Give up, already!

I will be surprised if Canada is on the podium at all.

Canada has been DFL in every event they entered.

We just got beat by Iran in the 10 man boat.......by 6 seconds....in the 200m....

Looks as though they even had tryouts for Canada back in February run by NDC:http://nationaldragonboat.tumblr.com/post/380295528/icf-world-championships-toronto-try-outs

WTF?

what a **** show i am so proud of my country

"We just got beat by Iran in the 10 man boat.......by 6 seconds....in the 200m...."


STOP THE INSANITY!!!!!!!

There goes one of Canada's best shots, Master's Mixed 500 times. Cumulative time over 3 events a stunning average of 2:17 could not keep up with the awesome World Bronze Medalists of the USA who did a C level average 2:13

Total Time
1 HUN 06:25.327
2 GER 06:30.541
3 USA 06:38.017
4 CAN 06.50.647

Here is the Premier Mixed Grand Final, the World Champions would struggle to make A finals at the Island

Race 68 28.08.2010 18:30 Senior Mixed 500 m Final A
Chief Official :
Ryffel FRANCOIS
1 HUN 01:59.148
2 RUS 01:59.460
3 GER 02:00.678
4 SUI 02:05.646
5 USA 02:05.862
6 JPN 02:09.144

does anyone know what conditions are actually like. Take a look at some of the CKC nationals results...we could say they are slow, but likely conditions. Instead of bashing the canadian crews that went, step up and make it better...or let them be.

http://www.sport.gov.mo/web/cn/event/championships2010/result/result_200or500_161.pdf

looks about the same to me. so did our entries at idbf ccw suck too?

"Instead of bashing the canadian crews that went, step up and make it better...or let them be."

No, don't step up and "make it better." Don't support the ICF events, let them die. I would feel bad about ridiculing the Canadian crews who attended (so I haven't) but I also don't support them. They are contributing to the problem. I may not want to harm them, but I'm certainly not going to help them.

^ ^ ^

Here, here. This is a second rate event with alot of second rate paddlers.

I feel bad for those that signed on to represent Canada and are now having their butts handed to them.

These are some really shocking results.

Give it a rest, will yeh. It's obvious you've never been invited to be part of an international event. If you had you'd know it's just another regatta. The athletes go to do their best but the sidebar is that it combines a trip to an interesting place with a group of friends to do what they do in their spare time. No more, no less.
The IDBF event has been a joke for the past few years - I've never seen so many people over the age of 40, 50 & 60 strutting around in spandex claiming they're "on the national team". Is that how you define a world class event? They are all just paddling events and they can call themselves whatever they want.

You haven't a clue. Were you in Prague? That was a proper World Championship with some of the best paddlers in the world present and some proper representation for Canada and the rest of the world.

ICF pretending that this is a World Championship is nothing more than a joke. This is like the "Spengler Cup" of dragon boat.

Fewer national crews than even a continental event (9th EDBF European Nations Champs held 2 weeks ago in A'dam), padded out with lots of fire brigade, business and local teams. Fewer European nations teams than the EDBF ENC, even fewer from outside Europe considering this is supposed to be a "world championship" (Can, US, Jap, Iran in 2012s and Korea in a 912) Not exactly a world-class event. Why bother?

watching the medal ceremony for Premier Mixed live, the second place Russians had a bunch of old and fat guys mixed in with some younger studs no wonder times were slow

You ICF bashers sound like a bunch of Republicans. Shut the F up and let them paddle.

They can paddle all they want ..... POORLY! It is obvious to EVERYONE that this "World Championship" is a JOKE.

A bunch of rec. paddlers were sent to Hungary to represent Canada in an international event. It is embarrasing. The ICF and CKC need to wake up. We don't want them!

"Advocates of a republic, a form of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is generally associated with the rule of law."

Uh, okay. We're Republicans. Sorry for that whole "rule of law" thing. Our bad.

I wonder how CKC members feel about their funds going to send this embarrassment of a DB team to the ICF worlds.

And make no mistake, they were representing CKC and not DBC there. You must be so proud.

This event has mercifully come to an end.

An incredibly BAD showing for Canada and their band of merry rec. paddlers.

They saved the best for last, the Canadian Masters Mixed made the podium in the final event. Third out of four besting the USA! National dragon boat pride has been restored!!!! Unless of course you choose to think that getting spanked by 26 seconds and only beating one team for a "world" medal is still embarassing. Perhaps the USA was being good neighbors and let them win as Canada was the only team they themselves could beat in Masters?

Masters Mixed 2000 m
Final A 29 Augusztus 2010 15:55
1 Hungary 00:08:41.911
2 Germany 00:08:46.973
3 Canada 00:09:08.203
(+ 00:00:26.292)
4 United States of America USA 00:09:14.085

Senior Mixed 500 m Final A
1 HUN 01:59.148
2 RUS 01:59.460
3 GER 02:00.678
4 SUI 02:05.646
5 USA 02:05.862
6 JPN 02:09.144

Japan making the Premier Mixed Final????
Enough said, weakest field ever.

Canada not even in the A Final. What a joke!

So the medal haul from this "World Championship" for Canada was 1 Bronze. Whoopeeee!

I can't believe the sprint athletes are putting up with this nonsense. The taxpayers money should be going to them, not this. Even if the money for this team came from "development" i.e. club funds - it's still just smoke and mirrors and came indirectly from the taxpayer. CKC please, please, still to producing quality results in Olympic events (which, by the way, weren't so great this past Worlds, esp, in women's kayak).

Spend every penny on SPRINT athletes - not this!

The message should be clear that Canada's dragon boat community does not support this ICF attempt to takeover the sport or to have its own "world championships". The country with thousands of dragon boaters could not come close to fielding a full team and what was sent was third rate.

If the ICF steps back a mutually productive relationship could be renewed. CKC should relay that message to the ICF now. Otherwise, the ICF will see this lack of support first hand next year if they go ahead with their "club crews" worlds in Canada. After this much hyped fiasco in Hungary who would travel to Canada to maybe race 1-2 other teams? This is in the wake of the ICF cancelling their Asian championships earlier this year and their big European club event recently. Hopefully the organizers have not put up any money yet. The serious paddlers will have all learned by word of mouth that these events are not worth going to.

absolutely no news on the ckc website

What? The CKC site isn't posting their Canadian teams results from the ICF DB world championships? How strange.

Ditto for USACK, the site is covered with updates on the sprint nationals zippo on dragon boat, maybe this intentional given the performance?
Ditto for the ICF site, nothing to report on dragon boat.

All kidding aside, and while I have plenty of DB reasons for wanting the ICF stuff to fail utterly, this really is a terrible use of CKC funds. Unless they think they can really get this ball rolling and pull DBC DB dollars over to CKC DB dollars, which I think must be a really really long term view. And low probability at that.

Our CKC paddlers have little enough to work with as it is. All paddling and governing bodies aside, as a Canadian, I would prefer to see the money go where it will actually benefit CKC paddlers. Who deserves it more, Adam and Co. or the folks that just participated in that ICF farce?

well said - I would like a Sport Canada audit into where these funds are coming from. Dragon Boat already has a national body - CKC's mandate is sprint canoeing and kayaking. How the hell do my tax dollars, directly or indirectly, go from CKC to dragon boat.

"How the hell do my tax dollars, directly or indirectly, go from CKC to dragon boat."

Easy answer... they don't. Sport Canada money can only be used for the Olympic disciplines (i.e. sprint and whitewater).

The dude said "directly or indirectly". If you thought a little more, you'd see what he means.

Directly is straight from the fund until the pockets of the athlete. Indirectly is money reallocated somewhere else because tax payer money is directed to the first choice.

Do you need an example?

Spoke with one of Canada's paddlers that just returned from Hungary and he truly believes that they represented Canada very well amongst some of the best competition in the world.

I had to do everything in my power not to breakout laughing. BWAA HA HA HA HA!!!! There, that feels better.

"Low IQ August 31 2010, 8:50 AM


The dude said "directly or indirectly". If you thought a little more, you'd see what he means.

Directly is straight from the fund until the pockets of the athlete. Indirectly is money reallocated somewhere else because tax payer money is directed to the first choice.

Do you need an example?"

Yes, please. Please demonstrate how you can show with certainty that any non-governmental funds collected by CKC that might have been used to support dragon boat would have otherwise been spent on the high performance program? The CKC domestic development program and high performance program have separate budgets, and support for dragon boat falls under the domestic development budget. I can't tell anything about your IQ from your comment, but I can tell that you are uninformed.

Low IQ

Canada only had 9 male paddlers plus the crew paddled both the senior and the masters - 8 races on the first day.

"Canada only had 9 male paddlers plus the crew paddled both the senior and the masters - 8 races on the first day."

Holy crap is that true? How did they beat the USA in the 2000 Masters mixed, were both teams that weak?

In regards to 857 AM's comment:

Maybe they mean they represented well by being nice people and letting others win all the medals?

"Spoke with one of Canada's paddlers that just returned from Hungary and he truly believes that they represented Canada very well amongst some of the best competition in the world.

I had to do everything in my power not to breakout laughing. BWAA HA HA HA HA!!!! There, that feels better."


I would rip his Canada jersey (if they even had them) right off his chest

"Spoke with one of Canada's paddlers that just returned from Hungary and he truly believes that they represented Canada very well amongst some of the best competition in the world.

I had to do everything in my power not to breakout laughing. BWAA HA HA HA HA!!!! There, that feels better."

I'm as anti-ICF as the next guy, but that just sounds completely made up.

I'm sick of the recent torrent of anti-ICF posts. They're immature, borderline infantile, even. And I'm pretty sure it's all coming from one or two people.

Please, do the rest of us a favour and stop. Many people have legitimate concerns regarding the ICF, but you're just overshadowing the issues with incessant not-very-clever mocking.

What if the ICF event turned out to be more successful? Does that mean that the ICF can rightfully claim international dragon boating as their own, even though it was built and fostered by the IDBF? Just think about it.

"Canada only had 9 male paddlers plus the crew paddled both the senior and the masters - 8 races on the first day."

Why?

""""Spoke with one of Canada's paddlers that just returned from Hungary and he truly believes that they represented Canada very well amongst some of the best competition in the world.

I had to do everything in my power not to breakout laughing. BWAA HA HA HA HA!!!! There, that feels better."""

With all the male paddlers still in Europe, its interesting that you spoke to one who just returned. Do explain how that is possible.

A number of countries said they are looking forward to coming to Toronto to race at the 2011 ICF club crews. That's the point, they came to race, not to take a political stand as to who should organize international dragonboat races. Some of these paddlers were also in Macau.

So how does Canada look to other countries when we slag paddlers who go to ICF events especially when a number of paddlers are connected with the Olympics? How embarrassing for Canada if our paddlers boycott ICF next year because of politics between ICF and IBDF. At the end of the day, we are paddlers not politicians so why not share that passion in healthy competition with paddlers from other countries? I agree with the above poster, all this chatter just looks really bad and does not fix anything.

While I agree that we are athletes, not politicians, I do see a value in not participating with an organization that I don't agree with. Turning a blind eye to something that one perceives to be wrong is how wrongdoing is allowed to persist.

And I do believe that the ICF is in the wrong here, for all of the reasons that have been rehashed on this forum over and over again. I would have suspicions of any organization that tries to enroach on something that somebody else invested a lot of resources to build. This is why I will personally boycott ICF dragon boat events and invite others with similar views to do the same. I don't think the boycott would be an embarassment for Canada, but rather, a clear statement on where the dragon boat community stands.

I say all this with no animosity as I respect your decision to disregard politics and just develop as an athlete.

More importantly, I respect that we can have a civil discussion about this. And I'm with you in detesting the tone of the recent posts about the ICF worlds.

As stated many times before, the ICF and if CKC supports them in this then them as well are only interested in DB in so much as they can use it to generate revenue which would then in turn be spent on ICF/CKCs "true" paddling discipline interests.

There is absolutely no value for DB there. As it stands it was/is a good working relationship in Canada whereby many of the coaches and even training facilities come from CKC member locations (think MCC paddle pool). They make money, we get value in return. While the IDBF and DBC are surely not perfect, at least they are geared towards DB and DB paddlers.

Trying to take over the sport on any larger scale will only result in frustration on everyone part.

http://canoeicf.com/icf/NewsMedia/News/Dragon-Boats-take-their-Marks-at-the-2010-ICF-Dragon-Boat-World-Championship.html

Last weekend saw the 2010 ICF Dragon Boat World Championships take place in the world famous Canoe Sprint course in Szeged, Hungary. Thousands of spectators lined the 2-km long course to watch the 3,000 participants from 15 countries compete.

True to form, Hungary dominated the finals managing to beat their traditional rivals Russia, who were pushed into second place in the medal table. In the senior events, Hungary won six golds on Sunday to finish the championships with a total of eight gold medals. Russia, their closest rivals, won four golds in total.

The event was held for Senior, Junior and Masters teams as well as amateur races for clubs, organisations, and companies which many Hungarian organisations enjoyed. The races were mainly held on 20-seater Dragon Boats over distances of 200m, 500m, and 2,000m. There were both men's and women's events, but the mixed events in which 12 men and 8 women comprise a team set Dragon Boat aside from the rest of the ICF Canoe disciplines.

Furthermore, this was a big year for the ICF Dragon Boat; this was the first time that 10-seater boats made it into the competition programme. With 12 teams in the Men's 200m, 8 teams in the Women's 200m and 6 teams in the Mixed 200m, the new event is a big success. ICF Secretary General said; The 10-seater has been a great innovation for the ICF. Existing teams have chances to win more medals but significantly smaller nations can fund a team to compete in ICF Dragon Boat competitions. Going forward, 10-seater boats definitely have a future in ICF Dragon Boat events. With nearly all 32 10-seater boats sold to National Federations during the event, this is looking like a certainty.

Clearly enjoying the moment and the loyal Hungarian fans, Peter Remenyi, manager of the Hungarian team told reporters, The atmosphere over the last three days has been unbelievable... I'm very satisfied with our team's performance and proud of the eight gold medals.

Etele Barath, president of the Hungarian Canoe-Kajak Federation, said his goals had been met during the world championships. As an official world championship, of course we wanted to get as many gold medals as possible, but we had to fight mighty battles, particularly with the Russians and Germans, to do so."

Also competing at the competition were USA, Russia, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Iran, Korea, Serbia, Ukraine, Canada, Italy, France, Slovakia, Romania.

Breakdown of the Big Events
Senior Mixed 500m: Hungary, Russia, Germany
Senior Mixed 200m: Hungary, Russia, Germany
Senior Men 200m, 10-seater: Hungary, Russia, Iran
Senior Women 200m, 10-seater: Russia, Hungary, Iran
Senior Mixed 200m, 10-seater: Russia, Hungary, USA
Masters Men 2000m: Hungary, Germany, Ukraine
Masters Women 2000m: Hungary, USA
Junior Men 2000m: Hungary, Hungary, Hungary
Senior Men 2000m: Hungary, Iran, Germany
Senior Women 2000m: Hungary, Russia, Iran
Junior Mixed 2000m: Hungary, Germany
Senior Mixed 2000m: Hungary, Russia, Germany
Masters Mixed 2000m: Hungary, Germany, Canada

For more information see the official event website: www.kajakkenusport.hu.
For full results click on this link:http://results.mkksz.hu/en/cikk/fooldal.

Wow, so they basically made up the numbers. Nice.

Lot of spin there as expected. This will not fool the paddlers however.
Only one team came with a full squad, Hungary the home team. A number of those countries could only get a 10 seater together.

Gear up for an event for a year or more, spend a lot of time and money and when you get to the race venue you find out that you have to beat nobody or one team for a "world championship" medal. Because there are only 2-4 teams in most events you race mainly in the best combined times format so it is pretty decided after your first race how the medals will fall out. This has to leave a bad taste especially to anyone who has attended an IDBF event in the past.

It would be best for the sport for the ICF to get out of dragon boating.

There are some real questionable things that happened over there and even the 10-seaters they hype were poorly attended. The breakdown of this race is an example.
Senior Mixed 200m, 10-seater: Russia, Hungary, USA

This is a Premier Mixed race a big deal right? This race only had two 3 boat heats. Serbia then shows up for the repechage and is allowed to race to bring the total field to 7 teams, what is up with that? Germany doesn't even enter so you have a very weak field in what should be a top race.
Spin is in.

"So how does Canada look to other countries when we slag paddlers who go to ICF events especially when a number of paddlers are connected with the Olympics? How embarrassing for Canada if our paddlers boycott ICF next year because of politics between ICF and IBDF. At the end of the day, we are paddlers not politicians so why not share that passion in healthy competition with paddlers from other countries? I agree with the above poster, all this chatter just looks really bad and does not fix anything."

Last things first, and first things last.

All this "chatter" does not fix anything, but it may point out the futility of the ICF events to future paddlers, thus helping them end all the sooner. Hey, maybe it does help "fix" things after all!

Paddlers should not be politicians? Okay, we're not politicians. We're voters. And this event was very clearly voted DOWN.

"Embarrassing" for Canada, a long term IDBF member and supporter, to not back the sport-splitting ICF event? Quite the contrary. It would show great support for the organization that rightfully controls the sport. The IDBF ain't perfect (believe me I know) but it certainly seems a lot better than the ICF when it comes to running quality events and showing genuine interest in developing our sport.

The Olympic line again, eh? What a waste of wind. The Olympic carrot has been dangled over and over again as an ICF incentive, but we all know how little this means. Ain't gonna happen, not anytime soon at least. And the ICF is not going to be the organization that makes it happen if it ever does. Back them into a corner, put it to them bluntly, ask them what canoe disciplines are their top priority for Olympic inclusion. Is Dragon Boat racing #1? What about Womens's C1 & C2? Men's C4? Canoe waterpolo? Or maybe just maintaining their current allotment of races/distances. Don't you think THOSE might be their #1 priority? Promoting Dragon Boat racing as an Olympic event? I don't think so. Not from the ICF.


If you particpated in the ICF "World Championships" I hope you enjoyed your trip. But I don't support you, and I hope the next ICF event is even worse than this one, whether or not it happens in Canada.

I suppose that press release was comprised by the ICF. If so they are spinning a lie and have violated their own rules. The below is from their rulebook. Ain't no way this minor regatta met the below requirement. There was absolutely NOT 6 Federations in each event, there was only one in Junior Open. The whole regatta was a sham, they should have cancelled because it did not meet their own rules!

36.4 A valid World Championship is held only if there
are at least six (6) Federations in each event AND there
must be at least three (3) Continents starting OVERALL
in the competition. If during the course of the event
some Federations drop out or do not finish, the validity
of the Championships is not affected.


Check it out for yourself:
http://www.canoeicf.com/icf/Aboutoursport/Dragon-Boat/More-on-Dragon-Boat/Technical-Information.html

This was not a world championship. Farce is correct.

"ICF dragon boat rule 36.4 A valid World Championship is held only if there
are at least six (6) Federations in each event"

It does say each event not just a few 10-seater races. So those who went to Hungary were duped. Is there anyone of character in CKC, USACK or the ICF who will challenge the ICF leadership regarding this violation of standards? Anyone defending the ICF incursion on our sport is in league with liars.

"The 10-seater has been a great innovation for the ICF."

They don't have to give credit to the IDBF, who implemented the 10-seater first, but to claim that it is an innovation of the ICF is pretty low.

Don't you have anything better to do than over analyze the ICF/CKC? I find it pretty funny that you rip apart the funding allocations without an understanding as to how one of the top sport governing bodies in Canada operates.

Your posts scream of not only ignorance but jealousy.

There goes 10 minutes of my life I won't get back.

Hey, as long as your proud of how CKC was represented at the event and how your dollars where spent, who are we to question it.

"Don't you have anything better to do than over analyze the ICF/CKC? I find it pretty funny that you rip apart the funding allocations without an understanding as to how one of the top sport governing bodies in Canada operates.

Your posts scream of not only ignorance but jealousy."


Jealousy?! Are you kidding me? It is more like disgust and disdain for a parasitic organization that are trying to muscle in on someone else's successes and suck the life out of it. This so-called CKC/ICF World Championship has done nothing to advance the sport of dragonboat. In fact, they may have harmed the sport due to their lack of respect and understanding of the dragonboat community. The pathetic level of competition and lack of support for this event has exposed the CKC and ICF for exactly what they are. A desperate bunch who are willing to do anything to reach into paddlers' pockets and rip them off.

Make no mistake about it. The ICF sending a recreational festival team to represent Canada in an international competition is an act of DESPERATION.

Sorry,actually meant to say...

Make no mistake about it. The CKC sending a recreational festival team to represent Canada in an international competition is an act of DESPERATION.

As a paddler from Winnipeg, where the "National" team is based (insert joke here) I can tell you that there were no real tryouts.
It was basically a club team from Winnipeg that on occasion beat another local team, and added a few paddlers from Ont. to fill the roster when not enough people from Winnipeg would write the cheque to go.
The ego of the guy running this sham is a local joke. He actually entered his team in 17 races in 2 days and truly thought they could compete and actually win with a minimum amount of paddlers.
They didn't even approach the best local paddlers because of ego and politics, so its not surprising they got their asses handed to them.

FINALLY, the truth comes out! Many people already knew this but were afraid to talk about it. A desperate attempt by a desperate organization. Let this thread die.

There has never been so much passion on this blog.

How many ordinary paddlers are really writing these responses.

Is it not possible that some of the people with such bitter and belittling comments have a lot of financial stakes in this IDBF and ICF battle ? (maybe only a few people are really putting in their feelings).

Imagine all those corporations going bust because Sports Canada (CKC) just became involved.

Don't get me wrong.....the IDBF events are bigger and cover a far wider range of paddlers. Probably better run and as good competition as the ICF (maybe even better and more competition).

If IDBF is better then good. If ICF is inferior too bad.
The ICF wants dragonboat under their control because they consider it a paddling sport and should fall under their jurisdiction.
Mike Haslam or someone before was given the OK by Olympic Association to run DB way back and after the fact the ICF realized they should have been in the game and now is trying to get it back.
Haslam is doing an excellent job up to now.....if he gets hit by a car I hope someone can fill his shoes.

Frankly, I'm just an ordinary competitor who loves this sport, but knows what is going on politicly here, in Germany and Hungary at least. Give me a paddle and a crew.

Dragonboat is a very lucrative business with training camps, personal training, events, equipment sales, nightly and winter training.
Add up your yearly expenses paddlers !
I would be defensive too whoever is doing all the writing.

This blog is the extension of a long going battle between IDBF and ICF.
Too much dirt....i was neutral but someone just pushed my button on this one.

The only thing ICF wants is the money they can generate from having DB under their control. That's it, that's all. If governments like Germany stopped funding based on participation the ICF would drop DB like a hot potato.

Listen, the only reason I got into this is because of the tone of the business interests and possibly a few armchair analysists.

You just said it, it's all about protecting or losing income.....I don't think it's that simple.

I'm trying to be objective and not one sided. If you think I'm just trying to push ICF, feel free to say so. Incidently, I race IDBF.

Probably 15 or so years ago executives in ICF started watching how big dragonboat was getting. (This was well before the big events and big money came into the picture....so money was not the issue).
Dragonboat was the sleeping giant. ICF was afraid it would overwhelm flatwater canoeing. The pureists were and are trying to protect a traditional olympic sport.

Dragonboat is much larger than flatwater canoe in terms of people involved, but it is still an international water sport. Why wouldn't the international sports body try to take it in.

IDBF has got to be the most successful private enterprise sport in the world. (with one man control).
Private enterprise or government control ????

THE PADDLERS HAVE SPOKEN......NOT SO SIMPLE EITHER ! Do Macau and in Canada (Whistler), then jump to Europe weeks later......ICF has got lousy timing.....the same will likely happen next year when they hold the ICF Clubs in Toronto near the time of Tampa.

I just hope you guys can bury the hatchet in the ground.....and not in each other's head.

And stop throwing mud at people going to events......don't hurt people who just want to paddle.

Who cares? It's only dragonboating, not world peace. Shut up and paddle in whatever events you want to attend. The ICF effort will never displace the IDBF anyway, so why all the fuss?

Anon - September 4 2010, 9:35 AM

Your close, but this is what really happened.

ICF vs. IDBF

Bare with me as I forget the names, but these are the facts as I remember them from discussions gone bye. A Long Long time ago, in a galaxy far far away (Germany)...

Back in the day there was this funny little sport called Dragon Boating. Hardly even a sport at the time it was loosly participated in festivals around the world and widely associated with China primarily. Not that that is a bad thing. They started it and I thank them.

The ICF ignored it. Who can blame them? Pretty much anyone not participating ignored it. Go back 12-14 years and you were the only one your friends knew doing the silly thing.

Then something weird happened. It exploded. While I don't remember the exact timeline somewhere around 10-12 years ago Dragon Boating became the fastest growing water sport in the world. Not just paddle sport and maybe sport period. You went from having to explain to anyone what Dragon Boating was when heading to practice to people actually knowing other people who did it and heck, that person they know in (insert city here) has actually heard of your team.

Now in a concurrent timeline in the remarkable galaxy of ICF, a certain head of the ICF in Germany got voted into the Senate (Head of ICF) by the hated trade federation. Now in Germany sports funding is allocated based on participation (clearly similar to other countries). Ooooh. Interesting!

Now on one fine day, the now head of the ICF looked out his window over the river and spotted a superbly fit C1 paddler cruising down the Rhine. What he also noticed was that this lone fellow was surrounded by 500 dragon boats. And being the smart guy that he is he thought to himself "If I take their presents, boxes and bags their will be no Christmas". No wait, wrong story.

What he actually reasoned and it makes perfect sense from his position at the head of the Empire was that if all these Dragon Boaters in the crazy growing sport (he didn't actually think it a sport, but more of a cow... a cash cow) were part of the ICF then my/his (ICF Germany) funding would mushroom... EXCELLENT!!!

They build a bunch of star ships including the death star and made the fateful statement "Woahhh, hang on a second! Dragon Boating IS A PADDLE SPORT! We own it bitches!!!"

Cheers, piece out, may the schwartz be with you.

Dragonboating has not "exploded" in the U.S. It's still a niche sport here. Most people I speak to still have not heard of the sport here in the U.S. Yes, more people than 10 years ago have heard of it, but it is still far, far from being a mainstream sport here.

Well then you are obviously correct based on your US centric view then.

Maybe your view is Toronto-centric?

Sorry about that Americans.....you see we have morons here in Toronto like everywhere else.

The ICF will be able to take dragon boating much further than the IDBF people, watch, learn and you will see. Hold your horses as it is going to happen. Those of you in denial are new to the sport, so welcome and you will be guided in the right direction. The IDBF and the organizers really have no freinds and will be pushed aside with their bad attitudes and they way they continue to treat the core. Have another bottle of boose you IDBF guys because the last Hurah is coming.

^^^ I actually think he is serious and believes that.

Given the ICF's current progress over the last 10 years in attempting to take over DB I figure they may have a chance by 2050 to hold a decent event.

So you may be right eventually.