With paddles slicing the water as one, the Westshore Warriors are working hard to best last yearB次元官网网址檚 eighth-place, platinum finish at the Victoria Dragonboat Festival.
Of course, out of 80 teams, eighth place was pretty good!
But when the final race is done, no matter what the outcome, expect plenty of smiles and laughter from this group.
Originally drawn from West Shore Parks and Recreation staff and their families, the mixed Warriors team today welcomes members from all over the community, at all experience levels. The common factor is a will to work hard on the water, and share a laugh or two after, agree long-time teammates Bob Mitchell and Barton Dennis.
B次元官网网址淥n the water, we paddle hard and off the water, we have fun,B次元官网网址� Mitchell says.
Under the expert guidance of coach Jennifer Loo, who brings to the team 16 years of paddling experience, the Warriors practice twice a week from mid-April to mid-September at the Fairway Gorge Paddling Club and compete in several festivals throughout the season.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e a cohesive team and a great group of people,B次元官网网址� says Loo, also a long-time Victoria Dragon Boat Festival volunteer. B次元官网网址淚 work them quite hard, but they seem to enjoy it and they like to have fun. They seem to thrive on my tough workouts. They never complain and they have a really good sense of humour.B次元官网网址�
The Victoria festival, set for Aug. 15 to 17, is next on the competition calendar. Designed to bring people together through dragon boating, the popular celebration of Asian sports and culture fills the Inner Harbour with thrilling competition, inspiring stories, food and entertainment, with close to 80,000 people expected to take part as participants, volunteers and spectators.
Also competing will be LooB次元官网网址檚 Westshore Warriors womenB次元官网网址檚 team, entering the festival for the first year with paddlers of all ages and experience levels.
The WarriorsB次元官网网址� philosophy is one of hard work and competitiveness, but also inclusion. B次元官网网址淲e want everybody and anybody B次元官网网址� thatB次元官网网址檚 why we have a coach,B次元官网网址� Mitchell says with a laugh.
Paddlers on the mixed boat range from age 25 to 65 and include both newcomers and long-time paddlers, but all come together under the common goals. B次元官网网址淲e take our racing seriously, but we donB次元官网网址檛 take ourselves too seriously,B次元官网网址� Dennis says.
As for this yearB次元官网网址檚 Victoria festival? B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e bringing our A game,B次元官网网址� Mitchell says.
B次元官网网址淲e always do!B次元官网网址� adds Dennis. B次元官网网址淎s long as we feel weB次元官网网址檝e done well in the boat, and as long as we did better at the end of the year (than at the beginning), itB次元官网网址檚 been a success.B次元官网网址�
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
Community leaders to be honoured
The Victoria Dragon Boat Festival SocietyB次元官网网址檚 20th anniversary gala tonight (August 13) will see three community leaders receiving lifetime memberships to the society.
The recipients are: Don Yuen, founder of Fairway Market; Mel Cooper, president of Melco Management; and Captain Cedric Steele of the Royal Canadian Navy.
The recipients were chosen based on their support, either personal or financial, of the Dragon Boat Festival and the dragon boat community over the past 20 years.
