Dragonboating

[bobbins]

I am training for the worlds club crew dragon boat championship in Malaysia - August 2008

I man curious if anyone in the club have paddled on a dragon boat?

Below is a video clip of my team - I am interview for a brief moment.....this was taken 3 months ago...in the cold!!!!

Fun sport!!

Bob

 

[toggleswitch]

Fabulous!

Looks like an awesome workout!

 

[hooverwheelaway]

Dang!

I feel like I got an upper arm workout just watching that!

Good luck to you and the rest of your team!

~Fred

 

[bobbins]

Yes it is exhausting...now I am 40 and my poor body takes longer to show the benefits, yet my partner notices the changes Nothing fits me, all my shirts are too small....

I am training on the water 7- 8 times a week (morning and evenings), I am in the gym 3 times a week, and cross training ..plus I am still working full time, writing my thesis and I always find time to play with my washing machines...lol

I know I am gettting bigger and stronger...I can move my those bendix washers without a dolly...but I get stuck working on them....arms too big..lol

Oh well.....only 4 months left of training!

Bob

 

[frigilux]

Yet another sport I had no idea existed. I agree with the others---that looks like one hell of a workout. Thanks for the link...and good luck!

 

[rapidry1000]

Every Chinese Lunar New Year which usually falls in late January or early February, there is a Dragon boat competition on San Francisco Bay originating at Treasure Island. Quite a few various groups including corporate sponsored teams compete. It a great spectator sport during the new year's celebration. There's even a gay team.

 

[pushtorelease]

good for you Bob! I'm in Victoria next weekend for the first time in ages, so I'll look for you! Is that the Gorge or the harbour? I don't recognize the buildings anymore...

 

[golittlesport]

Dragonboater here!!!

Hey Bob!! OMG!!! Who would have thought there would be another dragon boater in the appliance club!!! I've been dragonboating for about 7 years now. It is an incredible sport. I also outrigger.

I tried out for our Los Angeles nationals team this year, and made the cut! I was the 14th of 18 men selected...and the oldest!! We began an intense weekend training regime in February...one hour on the water, one hour boot camp on the beach and then another hour on the water...both Sat and Sun. Plus workouts at the gym through the week. I know how hard you are training, Bob!

But three weeks into the training I was in a bicycle accident and fractured my left arm! There went my hopes of competing with the nationals team this July. I'm out of my cast now and have just started back, but slowly. I went out paddling for an hour today...it was so great to be back on the water. I had planned to travel to Vancouver in June for a tournament, but not sure if I will be ready for that.

I hope to be able to compete in some of the CA races later this year, Long Beach in July and San Francisco in August or September.

Anyway, I am stoked to find out there is another dragon head in the club. Here is a photo of me and a couple mates showing off our tattoos at a meet. I'm in the center.

Rich

 

[bobbins]

Cool Rich!!

I have been paddling for 7 years too! I started in 2001. I was originally only paddling for recreation and eventually my partner got my on his competitive team. This year I am on the top team on the Island and second top team in Canada - next to False Creek.

Right now I am outrigging on the OC-6 three times a week plus OC-1 twice a week in addition to two practices on a dragon boat. We are changing the training schedule next week.

Tomorrow I have a time trial…yikes I hate these!

The team I am training with (Gorging Dragons) won the worlds in South Africa in 2004 (they in came in 3rd).

We practice dragon boating on the gorge and out rig in the ocean all winter.

For the first time in 7 years I experienced 2 huli's in an outrigger during a race and practice(boat flipping over) The steers person had to rescue me during one of the races as I was starting to go in to shock from the cold water (February). Not very fun to experience this...wake up call!!

Several years ago, I raced in SF Dragon boat festival (September 2004). I knew the race organizers and they knew that I am a part time fitness instructor so they asked me to do the festival warm-up. That was lots of fun to get every one warmed up....they want me to come again to it.

Do you race at the Vancouver Alcan Festival?

Paddles UP!

The picture below is a few years old..now I am much bigger..better technique..stronger…harder…leaner..lol

Cheers!

Bob

 

[golittlesport]

small world

Hey Bob

I was at that SF festival where you did the warm up...I remember it! In 2004 it was at Lake Merced. (The SF race is now held at Treasure Island....which is a better venue.)

It seems we are twin sons of different mothers --- I am a part time fitness instructor also -- LOL! I currently teach two "spinning" classes a week. Isn't that fitting? Ha!

We have probably walked passed one another at Alcan! Best of luck on your competitive training and races! "Paddlers are you ready??"

I'm going to drop you an email.

Rich

 

[bobbins]

lol...were you at the warm-up in the 2004? Heck, were you at that party the night before when we had to do the skit...I was doing the warm-up stripper.....I made $15.00 USD!!!

Bob