Based on "prominent teams expected to attend" as perhttp://www.pdbc.ca/festival/challenge.html

1. NDRC: Early season win will shock allcomers in the final and set a precedent leading up to HK
2. Slipstream: My guess is half a boat behind and will have plenty to think about pre TIDBRF
3. Mayfair Warriors: Will race a strong race and be right with Slipstream a couple seats back
4. SRP: They are going to surprise people in the post-Rob era with turnover being a net benefit
5. CSDC: Experience will lead them past the NDRC University crew and solidly in 5th place.
6. New Dragons University: With a better lane will take out CSDC, for me its a crapshoot.

You heard it from me first.

1. SLIPSTREAM - Still the crew to beat in 2012.
2. CSDC - A solid crew every year. May have learned some new tricks.
3. MAYFAIR - Might have lost a step or two.
4. NDRC - The kids are improving but they still have a lot to learn.

Also Ran - SRP, Mojos, Big Fish ...

Making predictions before knowing all the teams that are participating = a sure sign of spring.

1. Mayfair Warriors: Additions to this team... watch out
2. Slipstream: Just inched out... warriors to reclaim their thrown
3. NDRC: I always just ranked them just below Slip... based on LY
4. New Dragons -if they want it bad enough they will make A
5. Big Fish - just a guess
6. PDBC Heat - I said it.

Stop writing Mayfair.
It's now the Warriors.

"1. NDRC: Early season win will shock allcomers in the final and set a precedent leading up to HK
2. Slipstream: My guess is half a boat behind and will have plenty to think about pre TIDBRF "

"thrown" ? Are you serious?

wow game of throwns is my favourite!!

So someone thinks Slipstream is going down, and the youth of a program that dominates the U23/university ranks and has a permanent stream of new recruits and support from alumni.

We believe that this program can draw upon may challenge a program that trains out of a parking lot with one year of success under its belt?

Yes, "it's a troll".

A couple university kids added to a boat will not result in half a boat length on Canada's top team.. sorry

"trains out of a parking lot"


That says it ALL. Youthful exuberance has affected these young minds in a negative way.

I am not on New College, and for you to assume that I am is flat out wrong.

The contrast I am making is that Slipstream can recruit within its group of friends and word of mouth whereas NDRC's structure has the most solid foundation on which to build a sustainable program. And whether you respect it or not, I believe that the dividends will pay off this year for CCWC.
It's not just a few university kids. Every high school dragonboater knows about NDRC and those that come to U of T know that if they want to compete at the highest level, it has to be with New College. Other teams on campus have their merits, and in my opinion do things better than New College but the above fact remains the same.

Personally, as an A division paddler, I am aware of what Slipstream will bring to the table. But I simply don't underestimate what New College can do with Konrad and Rob at the helm, Ben coaching the U23s, and a legion of highly motivated paddlers in the GTA who are reading this thread with a new chip on their shoulders. They have their own issues, but if they keep it together and continue working hard, Slipstream is in for a huge dose of reality.

Within the same post, you go from reasonable to talking trash. Very entertaining.

Let the Slipstream vs. NDRC Forum Troll Battle begin!

POPCORN!!!

March 19 2012, 1:01 PM

tell us more, tell us more...

*feed ego

Thank you, I will try my breast to entertain.

"Slipstream to slip up in Pickering"

These three will finish all within a couple seats of each other:

1. Mayfair Warriors - Has the recruiting advantage and it will show. NDRC is too young to attract any experienced paddlers. Slipstream has a history together and is very insular.
2. Slipstream - They lose Blake, but also gain from regaining control over their team. Overall though, it will be a net loss and Mayfair will inch by them
3. NDRC - They will be faster than last year as they pickup the best from New Dragons. Rob is a good addition. Despite being faster than last year, Slipstream will manage to inch by them for most races

The rest:

4. Big Fish - They're headed to CCWC and will train as such
5. New Dragons - Have proven their ability to field an A level team despite rapid turnover
6. SRP - Hesitant to put them up here. They will likely make an even poorer showing than last year and fade into history.

this thread:

I liken Rob moving to NDRC to Isiah Thomas becoming the Knicks GM.

We always thought of him as a Piston, but he's going to make his mark on NDRC wearing a uniform we never thought he would.

It's like reinventing yourself in a way that no one ever thought was going to happen. Kudos to Rob for thinking outside the box.

^self promotion, or who really gives a sh*t?

btw no mention of hammerheads or choas. They have also made some changes. Hammerheads were in the final last year no?

1. No that is not self promotion

2. No mention of Hammerheads or Chaos. But you are free to mention them yourself.

Add some value or get out.

2011 FINAL

1. SLIPSTREAM
2. MAYFAIR WARRIORS (+1.23)
3. NDRC (+2.84)
4. CSDC (+3.51)
5. SRP (+4.82)
6. QUINTE/PDBC HEAT (+9.78)

^^ The Top 4 will finish exactly as they did in 2011. 5th and 6th are a crapshoot.

It all depends on the first round lane assignment. Outside lane = huge advantage.

Slipstream will not be denied!!

It is in Jim's backyard, he gets outside lane, and wins over slipstream.

Who got outside lanes last year?

Everyone. They had no indoor lanes at all

Big Fish is rebuilding they will not make A, HH have increased numbers big time and will be fighting for top 3

"HH have increased numbers big time and will be fighting for top 3"

Will believe it when it happens. Every year we hear the same line about HH's comeback

I heard G&G has started recruiting. Gary wants to win this year so look out.

Arnt we usually provided a list of teams registered by now?

"I liken Rob moving to NDRC to Isiah Thomas becoming the Knicks GM."

Um, didn't Isiah get fired from the Knicks for sexually molesting a co-worker? Those NDRC guys better be careful in the changeroom!!!

These three will finish all within a couple seats of each other:

1. Mayfair Warriors - Has the recruiting advantage and it will show. NDRC is too young to attract any experienced paddlers. Slipstream has a history together and is very insular.
2. Slipstream - They lose Blake, but also gain from regaining control over their team. Overall though, it will be a net loss and Mayfair will inch by them
3. NDRC - They will be faster than last year as they pickup the best from New Dragons. Rob is a good addition. Despite being faster than last year, Slipstream will manage to inch by them for most races

The rest:

4. Big Fish - They're headed to CCWC and will train as such
5. New Drag

1) SLIPSTREAM- team to beat, with very strong paddlers from last years showing
2) NDRC- close second but still need time to ramp it up to first. Strong strong crew with alot of recruiting going on
3) Mayfair- hanging in at A division
4) CSDC- strong crew with little turn overs


Big fish- HUGE HUGE HUGE turn over, heard they had to recruit a whole bunch of newbies. They need time to develop these fish.

SRP is done, they have kicked the coach off their team and forming a new one. Turn overs, and not fast enough to make the A division.

Big Fish isn't going to CCWC.

Who knows what will happen this year. I guess only time will tell. We can speculate as much as we want but we all know anything can happen on race day.

Slipstream, with Blake gone, will they be as good? NDRC is still a great crew and have a roster of a bunch of young ones - lets hope they keep it together. And Rob? lets hope he doesnt mess things up for the womens team. Mayfair is mayfair and will always put up great competition. No doubt that they will be a top seeded crew this year. CSDC always been good with all that experience they hold. Big fish maybe a surprise again this summer? SR, and with Rob gone, may have just revived this crew.

We'll see in what...3 weeks?

1. NDRC: Last year was the first year paddling seriously for many of the members from past New Dragons Teams. Add U23 paddlers with Worlds experience and room to grow and this is the team with the greatest upside.

2. Slipstream: Talented and with a very warranted swagger. Seeing them out there makes me rethink my half a boat statement, but they will still be behind.

3. Warriors: The veterans on this, the oldest team in the Premier Mixed category is getting older year after year. Despite the injection of new blood in the crew, it will not be able to fight the surge of NDRC and its youth movement.

4. Scotia Rouge: A crew in search of a new identity and a desire to prove the naysayers wrong will sufficiently motivate these boys and girls to a strong finish in Pickering.

5. CSDC: When there are more than 4 lanes in the final, CSDC, quite simply, will be there.

6. New Dragons University: The World's Best Under-23 mixed team coached by the fitness guru himself, Canada's National U23 open coach. Enough said.

You heard it from me...again!

NYN

May 9 2012, 8:27 AM

Looks like you just wanted to bash Rob under a thinly veiled post about other teams.

No bashing. But if you say so and by saying so we know WHO just posted...
go ahead block me from this forum.

Right. Because its impossible for someone to call out a troll without being involved.You trolls need something useful to do

whats considered high Turnover..

What are we talking about here 1,2,3,4 paddlers are going to make a difference in terms of leap frogging another? Get Real...Warriors were strong last year, how many people did they actually replace.. NDRC recruited how many U23? Its a different team in anycase...and probably have lots to learn, Fish was strong last year how many did they loose and what factor that counts them out?

I havent heard any recruitment noise about Slipstream, Im assuming they kept everyone with the qualified team... theirs to loose if we want to measure it on turnover.

My money is on the team has has Already proven itself. I don't think Blake's departure will drag on performance- he inherited a team of talented paddlers. All else is speculation. My two cents.

3 or 4 strong paddlers will certainly make a difference on a boat. With the new paddlers that Mayfair obtained from Fish and others, they are the ones to watch. The question is whether these new paddlers are enough for Mayfair to close that gap and overtake Slipstream. Yes...I know Mayfair actually beat them at GWN...blah blah blah.

It's LOSE. Not LOOSE. Geeeez!!!

Average time in Pickering 2011

SLIPSTREAM - 1:53.5
MAYFAIR WARRIORS - 1:55.3
NDRC PREMIER - 1:55.9


Average time at the Nationals 2011

SLIPSTREAM - 1:55.3
MAYFAIR WARRIORS - 1:57.0
NDRC PREMIER - 1:57.1

All of these teams are doing what they can to be faster. For Mayfair or NDRC to leapfrog Slipstream, they'd have to do something very significant because they are 2 seconds behind. My guess is that the 1st, 2nd, 3rd rankings carry over from last year

"My money is on the team has has Already proven itself. I don't think Blake's departure will drag on performance- he inherited a team of talented paddlers. All else is speculation. My two cents."


ALL of this is just speculation. Inlcuding you own comment.

And I think a coaching change is about the most drastic change that can happen to a team, so I wouldn't place any bets on or against them.

Sure its speculation, opinion, best guess, musings, etc. That's what forums are here for though this forum tends to be more for bitching and slamming others.

But back to the thread.

New for this year:

Mayfair - At least 4 new stronger paddlers (+)
Slipstream - change of coach (-)
NDRC - new paddlers plus youth (+)
NDRC - Rob Chang (+)
Slipstream - 2nd year as a team with time to gel (+)
Slipstream - turnover (?)

NDRC Womens - RC (?)

Rob's gotta be flattered. Someone has a real hardon for him

Hard on? That's a bad thing unless he's...

NOPE.

That line of conversation ends here. It has no bearing on his effectiveness on a coach and is purely speculatory from somebody who is bored and had nothing else to contribute to this thread.

Stay on topic.

The topic is Pickering 2012 predictions. Lets hear more of those!

Here are the OFFICIAL Pickering 2012 Predictions:

1. SLIPSTREAM - Try and knock them of their perch but they are too strong. The technique that Blake engrained in this crew is still clicking.
2. WARRIORS - Retooled but will not take the title away from Slipstream. The paddlers that abandoned Big Fish will have something to prove but it won't be enough.
3. CSDC - Still one of the fittest and strongest crews around and will benefit if the 2000m race actually happens this year.
4. NDRC - Young and strong but their overall lack of experience will hurt them. This crew will be the one to beat in the future but not yet.

After the Top 4 does anyone care? Didn't think so.

I will have to go with Mayfair to edge out Slipstream this year based on the new paddlers and the Mayfair training ethics which is superior to the kids on Slipstream who have been getting by on their strength and pure determination.

Slipstream are kids? Take another look.

Some of you may not know me, but I need to add something to the discussion, and bring some cross-border perspectives to you Ontarians!

A Championship

1. Slipstream: These are the defending National Champions from the deepest field in Canadian Championships history. For them to lose will be a surprise.

2. (Mayfair) Warriors: Going the safe route and assuming that this crew will come in second again. But the luck of the lane draw can change Slipstream's fortunes.

3. Verdun: La Belle Province's finest will be in the thick of things but with there only being so many good lanes on the Pickering race course one of Canada's top 3 crews will get shafted and even milliseconds in qualifying time can do that.

4. NDRC: They have the speed to overtake anyone above them with an inspired race. I just think it'll take them so time to get where they need to be given their youth. They will be slightly behind 1 through 3 but find separation, however from 5 and 6.

5. CSDC: Always strong, and always inspired. The reality however is that the top premier crews in Canada are stronger than them at this period in time.

6. Scotia Rouge: My bet is Scotia Rouge over Big Fish. Unless there are new crews deciding to step it up

A Consolation

7. Big Fish: Will be the big name that get shafted out of the final given the high degree of turnover. My suspicion is they will still be very fast, but will not be able to seriously challenge 1 through 5. A good race and some luck of the lanes, and they make the final.

The Big Wildcard

8. NDRC New Dragons: I don't know what the extent of the turnover was year over year for this crew but this crew put up times in the U23 category were of Premier calibre in Welland and they did finish 2nd at the Toronto Island if I recall correctly. This prediction assumes major turnover and a slight drop in talent. If turnover is not too bad or results in greater talent then they jump as high as 5th and we see 2 NDRC teams in the final.

From what I have heard, the best u23s went to NDRC Premier and there is a huge turnover in the University kids team.

Who is coaching the Warriors? I heard that Jim left.

Gatineau Gino is bang on.

I think you need to add the Hammerheads name into the mix somewhere. Just not sure where yet. And I don't think big fish is doing Pickering.

Let's say Hammerheads in A Consol. Champs

NYN

I have to say.. its pretty cool that Verdun is coming to Pickering.

Add Hammerheads to the A Consolation Final because the A Final will look like this, in alphabetical order.

CSDC
NDRC PREMIER
NDRC NEW DRAGONS
SLIPSTREAM
VERDUN
WARRIORS

9:22 AM is SPOT on with his prediction. That's the most accurate prediction ever to be posted on this forum.

I'd be impressed if he can order the teams by average age!

The accuracy of a prediction can only be made after the discussed event has been realized.

By average age (oldest to youngest), though I think sarcasm was lost in previous post.

CSDC
Warriors
Verdun
Slipstream
NDRC Premier
NDRC New Dragons

It's ok, thanks though - I found it now.

And so were so kind and polite about it.

What gives?

I predict crappy weather with the usual delays.

How many teams are racing in Milton instead?

Milton is the week before. Slipstream is going to take it. I hear they are practicing 6 times a week.

Slipstream must be really slow if they need to practice 6 days a week!!

I heard they are actually out 6 times a day!

I heard they are out practice 6 times each practice.

*I heard they practice 6 times at each practice.

Apparently they're so good they turned Chuck Norris down.

The crew I'm on is so good that we NEVER have to practice! Practice is for losers.

Slipstream shouldn't get too excited if they take Milton

You don't turn down Chuck Norris, Chuck Norris turns down you.

WTH is with you and Chuck Norris. Same retard who thinks he's so tough :P

So tough that maybe he should do MMA...not.

OK, dummies. This thread is about Pickering. Slipstream is not even entered in Milton.

Chuck Norris crossed the road. No one has ever dared question his motives.

Sounds like you got a hard-on for Chuck. You get too many shots to the head as a sparring dummy?

1. Slipstream
2. Mayfair
3. Verdun
4. NDRC
5. CSDC
6. NDRC kids

Chuck Norris is so hot, that for a while he worked as the sun.

Had to laugh when I read this from their website.

New in 2012
Fan friendly 'Mystery Race' during lunch:
- Any crew can enter for $25. The festival will match each $25 entry fee.
- Maximum 12 crews will compete in a winner-take-all 'Mystery Race' for ALL of the prize money.
- Crews competing will be provided race instructions in a sealed envelope once they have loaded their boats.

Featuring
Ontarios most competitive regatta of 2012
Elite Canadian crews from every racing class

Money grab for prize of more beer coasters? :P
Most competitive regatta of 2012? Hahahahaha
Elite Canadian crews. Oh please, you mean Ontario.

So Verdun is coming to Pickering, fyi. And the only 'fast' crews in Canada outside of Ontario are One West, False Creek, and Dragon Beasts.

All but one of the crews that were featured in any of the Premier Mixed Finals at 200m and 500m at Nationals are coming to Pickering.

So what exactly is incorrect about most of the top teams in Canada not coming?

And don't say Montreal Mixed or Gorging Dragons.

regardless of the above posts about who is an elite team and who is not, is BMO coming? Genuine question.

My bad. I didn't know Verdun was registered. Self correction about the Mystery Race, where winner gets all.

But come on, "Ontarios most competitive regatta of 2012"?
So no love for Ottawa or the Island? :P

A few teams have had it with Pickering and it's track record of a crappy regatta for what you're paying and doing Milton.

"A few teams have had it with Pickering and it's track record of a crappy regatta for what you're paying and doing Milton."

Yeah Milton is great for BBQs, picnics in the park and team cheers. Pickering is where to go if you want to actually race against top brass.

I think pickering is one of the best run regattas in Ontario. Other than weather, what have they done wrong?

Why this didn't up into a pissing match, I don't know. WHY ARE YOU SO CIVIL.

BMO is another strong crew that deserves a mention, so my bad (since we are all being so civil).

I think Toronto will be slightly less competitive if you take Verdun out of the picture, and with HK only a couple weeks after the Island, one would imagine it to be a perfect 'warmup' for CCWC.

Ottawa you always have those Rideau kids under that Bobblake banner so it'll be competitive too. With most teams going to CCWC from Toronto going to the Island, given the conflict I'd guess (and won't know for sure since I do not know who is regsitered) Pickering will have the most CCWC teams racing against each other, Toronto second, and Ottawa potentially none.

That's the rationale, if you're asking why I thought in terms of comeptitiveness Pickering > Toronto > Ottawa this year.

And yes, I know, Pickering's course is terrible.

Updated list of teams:

SPORT MIXED:
Verdun DBC Adrenaline
Verdun DBC Express
CSDC Mixed 1
CSDC Mixed 2
NDRC New College
NDRC Premier
OHDBC Goodlife Warriors
OHDBC Hammerheads
Phoenix ETS Fireball
Slipstream
St. Robert Alpha
Waterloo Warriors 1
Quinte/PDBC Heat
Quinte/PDBC White Heat
PDBC Masters
Hanalei

SPORT OPEN:
CSDC Open
Mahjongg Montreal Men
NDRC Open
Ocean 1
OHDBC Hammerheads Men
Phoenix ETS Ironball
Sr. Robert Omega
Cascades Senior Women
Quinte/PDBC Heat
PDBC

SPORT WOMEN:
CSDC Women
Entre-Amis
NDRC Women
Outer Harbour Senior Women
Outer Harbour Premier Women
Cascades Premier Women
PDBC Masters
Quinte/PDBC Heat
PDBC Premier

Warriors swapped out sponsors from Mayfair to Goodlife?

Anyone from ndrc camp want to make another attempt at the predictions? They failed to impress this weekend.

Someone's got to pay Jim's fees.
You don't think the average Warrior paddler can afford that and HK ?

NDRC and the Warriors get along just fine. Some of us work out together at GoodLife, others work out in the same gym at U of T, and some of us went to the same high school in Scarborough.

Don't try to imply that anyone from either team is starting the above nonsense.

schedule up... SRP = Storm powered by Scotia?

Looks like attendance is down for Pickering. Yeah the tops teams are there but how long do you think the festival will continue when they have to jackup the entrance fee

The sport division has grown, and the rec division has shrunk. That's because many more rec teams are choosing to instead attend the "community" festival that happens on Sunday. I think eventually Saturday will be dedicated entirely sport division teams and Sunday will be entirely rec division teams. That would be cool in my books.

Saturday should be interesting to watch. So far the status quo appears to be maintained, but slipstream and verdun remain untested. None of the top teams have raced head to head. Big Fish is unquestionably in a rebuilding year. Hammerheads appeared to have made gains.

Another race that shouldnt be missed is the university cup. Waterloo is a hair away from dethroning new college (see Milton results). Finally another university team steps up to the plate with a real chance of ending new college's 6 year rain

I do hate rain

So does Thunder Bay

"Another race that shouldnt be missed is the university cup. Waterloo is a hair away from dethroning new college (see Milton results). Finally another university team steps up to the plate with a real chance of ending new college's 6 year rain"

Waterloo seems to have a good program. One of their coaches said they're putting in 3 boats in pickering and that their b team boat that finished like top 10 (can't remember exact placing too lazy to check results but they did good) had lik2 15 out of 20 paddlers who had never even been in a boat before april. Could see Waterloo by the end of the season have 3 decent boats, maybe not enough for their hong kong boat to be super stellar and make the upset but 3 boats of dedicated paddlers=a huge platform for the future of the sport down there.

Thanks for that update waterloo

6:20pm - shouldn't you be studying right now?

^ School is over for the summer brah.

Not from waterloo haha university for me was a long time ago . Just saying the university teams are coming up. I dont think anyone's beating new college even with turnover but lots of gung ho kids are good (or bad for us old guys depending on how you look at it haha) for this sport

thanks for trying to deflect the attention waterloo

"One of their coaches said they're putting in 3 boats in pickering and that their b team boat that finished like top 10 (can't remember exact placing too lazy to check results but they did good) had lik2 15 out of 20 paddlers who had never even been in a boat before april."

Like, really? Obviously a snotty nose university kid that can't even type without all the "likes". What is happening to (like) the english (like) language???

@12:56
+1

Predictions

I expect the results won't be so much in NDRC's favor as these forums suggests. A lot of hatred towards Mayfair (on these forums especially) gives off the general impression that they are out and out team. OHDBC 2012 edition proved differently.

On the premier level; some teams have stepped their game up (Slipstream) while others have gotten too confident for their own good (Big Fish and NDRC come to mind- judging by this past weekend's results at OHDBC). Should be an interesting regatta.

It can't be denied that the university kids seems to keep getting better each year; Loo especially seems to have stepped their game up but the fact that they toot their own horns (prematurely) on these forums leads me to believe they are a bit more confident than they should be.

I guess it's really time we get out and race... 108 posts for predictions in pickering... Com'on..

University kids are stepping up on both ends of the country. The present is looking good but the future is looking bright for the competitive scene if these kids keep it up.

Few members of A-level crews will post positive things about themselves nowadays because everyone assumes self promotion. I think its safer to assume someone else is trying to bait a backlash by writing positive things.

"Few members of A-level crews will post positive things about themselves nowadays because everyone assumes self promotion. I think its safer to assume someone else is trying to bait a backlash by writing positive things."

Too true, self promotion or not, it's true that a lot of young kids are stepping up to the plate. Should be motivating them to continue in the sport. The one thing that irks me about dragonboat is the aggression on these forums and in competition towards other crews. Coming from a flatwater background, and other guys who do dragonboat now from flatwater agree (there's been a lot of turn around lately after guys quit in their 20's) is that in flatwater you could be racing and trying to catch that guy whose in front of you for half a second and hate his guts, but if you make canada games team, pan ams, ontario team, national team, euro tour etc, you could be stuck in that boat with that guy and he's going to have to become your best friend. I think dragonboat needs to step up to that kind of community level, and it has started being better, but these forums just show how xenophobic crews are. laying hate for coaches,paddlers and teams alike, it's bad for the sport. flame me, but it's true.

Clapping

Well, one could argue that the venom spewed here would only motivate a team to work even harder to prove otherwise.
I do agree however that when it becomes too personal (e.g. coaches, individual paddlers) a line has been crossed.

Perhaps it's that DB Paddlers take the sport a little more seriously
than they should.

It's like seeing a bunch of AAA Midgets thinking they are playing in the NHL.

Based on experience, whats the difference between lanes 5/6? Should we expect all of lane 6 teams to get into the finals?

The fastest teams from last year's race and from the nationals were given lane 6, which is obviously the best lane for seating purposes. The top ranked team in the semi and the final will also be given lane six. Lane 5 and 6 are so far out though that I doubt there is any significant difference between the two. It's not like lane 1 to 3 which are noticeably slower.

You have no evidence to substantiate your claims about the various crews that you have criticized.

For example, how is Big Fish and NDRC "too confident for their own good" - by virtue of their past strong results you solely attribute the level of their performance to one attribute. Big Fish lost paddlers to NDRC, Mayfair and simple retirement. A strong case could be made for turnover being a greater contributor than overconfidence, which is a very qualitiative judgement to make. NDRC could also be struggling from injuries and turnover from people moving on to different stages in their life. There are other contributing factors that either of us are not aware of. But don't assume due to their performances not reaching your expectations, that they are overconfident.

Don't feed the troll.

I heard that NDRC is overconfident because the "4th" on the medals they got at the 2011 nationals was printed poorly and looked more like "1th".

That's probably why their cheer this year is "NDRC Fir'th forever!"

Someone should let them know so they stop being so damn overconfident and start training seriously

^ Is it tough typing on the short bus?

"Is it tough typing on the short bus?"


Is it tough going through life without a sense of humour? Obvious NDRC troll.

@10:42 Can't agree more with you on that one.

Anyway good luck to all teams in Pickering this weekend!!

and pack your rain gear (goes without saying perhaps)

"@10:42 Can't agree more with you on that one."

Another NDRC troll.

I was actually referring to this 10:42 poster not the "short bus" one

Too true, self promotion or not, it's true that a lot of young kids are stepping up to the plate. Should be motivating them to continue in the sport. The one thing that irks me about dragonboat is the aggression on these forums and in competition towards other crews. Coming from a flatwater background, and other guys who do dragonboat now from flatwater agree (there's been a lot of turn around lately after guys quit in their 20's) is that in flatwater you could be racing and trying to catch that guy whose in front of you for half a second and hate his guts, but if you make canada games team, pan ams, ontario team, national team, euro tour etc, you could be stuck in that boat with that guy and he's going to have to become your best friend. I think dragonboat needs to step up to that kind of community level, and it has started being better, but these forums just show how xenophobic crews are. laying hate for coaches,paddlers and teams alike, it's bad for the sport. flame me, but it's true.

Just sayin....

that spirit exists in person, and outside of Toronto. Most of us outside of Toronto can't figure this out.

Then again, I think activity on this forum, good or bad, is a sign of health in the dragon boat community.