When Linda Nimshon received an email about the first Tim Hortons IDBF World Crew ICE Dragon Boat Festival that was taking place this year in Ottawa, she knew she really wanted to compete in it.
The dragon boater and outrigger paddler at the Victoria Canoe and Kayak Club had trouble finding a single ice dragon boater on the island or even in all of B.C. to team up with, let alone corralling the ten women it would take to row the boats on ice.
She decided to sign up as an individual.
B次元官网网址淚 thought, B次元官网网址楯eez, thatB次元官网网址檇 be different to do,B次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址業B次元官网网址檝e never done that,B次元官网网址� so I decided to give it a try,B次元官网网址� Nimshon said.
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After a while, she received an email from organizers that teams were full and there were no spares needed, but they had received interest from enough women and decided to put them together.
Nimshon was placed in a crew that assembled five other women from Newfoundland.
B次元官网网址淐oast to coast,B次元官网网址� the Victoria native said.
Another crew member was from the Czech Republic and one had flown in from London, England.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檇 never met each other.B次元官网网址�
The crew continued to B次元官网网址渢ouch baseB次元官网网址� over the phone before the event, Nimshon said. When they got together they B次元官网网址渏ust clicked.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲e absolutely got along,B次元官网网址� she added. They had around 20 minutes to practice during the afternoon before beginning the chilling B次元官网网址淪hiver & GiverB次元官网网址� event at nightfall.
The women on the team had all raised money to be a part of their first ice dragon boat charity race.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 amazing that we were able to pick it up quickly and learned how to use the sticks because theyB次元官网网址檙e unusual,B次元官网网址� she said.
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| Glacial Globetrotters had 20 minutes to practice before their first race (Submitted |
The next day, the team started by paddling two 500-meter races in the morning and two more in the afternoon, placing them into the semi finals and in the Final B次元官网网址淏B次元官网网址� race, before being knocked out. Their best time in the 500 meters was 1:06.
Nine years ago, Nimshon, 58, who was active when she was younger, realized she missed doing sports being a busy mom.
B次元官网网址淚 met a woman who said, B次元官网网址榊ou know, you should try dragon boating,B次元官网网址� she recalls. At first, she said she was afraid and thought, B次元官网网址淏次元官网网址榃ell, I donB次元官网网址檛 know how to do that.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Then she realized it may help her relieve some stress.
B次元官网网址淭hen I started dragon boating. I moved up the ladder from recreational to more advanced groups and went to nationals with Fairway Gorge in Welland, Ont.,B次元官网网址� she said.
The following year, she was unable to continue paddling competitively due to B次元官网网址渁 very stressful situationB次元官网网址� in her personal life.
Nimshon developed PTSD and said she used B次元官网网址減addling as therapy.B次元官网网址�
She said paddling has helped to ease her mind.
B次元官网网址淚 can take it out on the water and the waterB次元官网网址檚 very forgiving,B次元官网网址� she said with a laugh. B次元官网网址淵ou can put all your sadness and your frustrations into the water, and the only way it fights back is tossing you into the water.B次元官网网址�
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Padding and out-rigging has given Nimshon a reason to visit Nanaimo, Welland, Vancouver and Hawaii. For three years, she participated in the BC 55+ games.
NimshonB次元官网网址檚 family, whose support she said she always counts on, includes two children and four grandchildren.
Looking back, Nimshon is pleased with the hobby she found late in life and nevertheless turned into a passion.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 grateful to have been on each and every boat, with each and every paddler and with each and every club because that has allowed me to achieve a great deal of friendships, sportsmanship and memories,B次元官网网址� she said.
Glacial Globetrotters, NimshonB次元官网网址檚 circumstantial team from Ottawa, are thinking of competing together again next year.
swikar.oli@goldstreamgazette.com
