We are adding Wednesday evening practices for the team starting in May. This will allow more paddler development and team cohesion building as well as more opportunities for carbohydrate re-loading after practices.
Sunday afternoons are getting hectic with parking challenges so we need to be real focussed, as Slam City Jam Skate Board Festival opens next weekend at BC Place and Cirque du Soleil opens as well.
There are 3 Sunday practices that will change to 12 noon meeting times – as our practices for 3 Sundays will change to Dragon Zone at the Ferry Dock beside the Science World. These are mandatory practices for the Alcan Festival, designed to ensure that new and inexperienced teams are familiar with marshalling, loading/unloading procedures for the Festival in order to prevent accidents and time delays. We will meet at 12 noon and be on the boat by or before 1pm. These are the latest available times – other than Sunday mornings or on Saturdays.
Ideally, this simulates the chaos and order of race day – so these mandatory practice days provide the perfect training for Race Day conditions. Please arrive early as we will start practice one hour prior to getting on the water. This one hour will be spent doing race visualization, stretching and cardio warm-up, as well as discussing race strategies. We believe that the best preparation ensures that nobody gets lost, disoriented, forgets anything or doesn't have any fun… 🙂
Practice times and places for May and June
Sunday May 2, 1pm – Plaza of Nations Marina
Wednesday May 5, 6pm – Plaza of Nations Marina
Sunday May 9, 1pm: Mother's Day Plaza of Nations Marina
Wednesday May 12, 6pm – Plaza of Nations Marina
Sunday May 16, 12 pm – Dragon Zone – Science World
Wednesday May 19, 6pm – Plaza of Nations Marina
Sunday May 23, 1 pm: Victoria Day Long Weekend – Plaza of Nations Marina (optional?)
Wednesday May 26, 6pm – Plaza of Nations Marina
Sunday May 30, 12 pm – Dragon Zone – Science World
Wednesday June 2, 6pm – Plaza of Nations Marina
Sunday May 6, 12 pm – Alcan Dragon Boat Festival Race Regatta Dragon Zone – Science World – details to be announced. This is really good race practice: 2 or 3 races in quick turnaround from 12 to 3pm.
Wednesday June 9, 6pm – Plaza of Nations Marina
Sunday June 13, 12 pm – Dragon Zone – Science World
Wednesday June 16, 6pm – Plaza of Nations Marina FINAL PRACTICE
June 19 and 20, Alcan Dragon Boat Festival – race times to be announced. 2 races on Sat + 2 races on Sunday. Please book off all of Sat and Sun for racing, and personal enjoyment time. Big Party on Saturday night on Festival Site (not Sunday anymore).
More racing throughout the Summer – We will continue on Wednesday and Sunday practices for now. Possible races include: July 17th in Kent WA (Seattle), July 24 Richmond, July 30/Aug 1 Portland OR, August 14/15 Victoria, Sept 4 Vancouver Taiwanese Boats, Sept 19/20 Kelowna.