This is of the first race Poseidon's Fury (the team I'm on) was in. This race they were in boat #1, though were in a different boat each race.
Monday, July 28, 2008
We Have Allignment! GO!
At the Dragon Boat Races, I took some photos and some videos. I decided to post some of the videos onto YouTube so I can show them to you here. I know we're supposed to be able to upload videos not on YouTube, but I find it much easier this way. It actually works, haha.
This is of the first race Poseidon's Fury (the team I'm on) was in. This race they were in boat #1, though were in a different boat each race.
This is of the first race Poseidon's Fury (the team I'm on) was in. This race they were in boat #1, though were in a different boat each race.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
I couldn't tell who was who on the video. Still, I want to recap -- you're on a boat racing team that doesn't have mandatory practice attendance; you never all practice together; there is no assigned seating so you don't know who you'll get as a partner thus never get to form a routine, and the hard decisions are made on a first come, first served basis.
That leaves me with questions: Do the other teams operate the same way? Does you team ever win? If the person who rarely comes to practice has the same chances and privileges as everyone else, what's the point in trying to excel?
Hi Quilly. You've asked some very good questions. The most important thing in a Dragon is timing. If everyone has their timing down then it shouldn't matter who is seated where. At the very front of the boat the 2 people on that first seat are "the strokers", then mid way down you have 2 "mid strokers". When paddling you keep your eyes glued to your stroker. I sit in the back of the boat so I watch one of the mid strokers, if I'm seated on the right of the boat I watch the stroker on the left, and vise-versa. Paddlers in the front half watch the strokers, the mid strokers watch the strokers and the paddlers in the back watch the mid strokers. In your peripheral vision, watch your partner too, but you don't paddle according to what they are doing. Does that make sense? It actually works very well.
However, I totally believe that everyone should attend all practices and put this as a priority rather than just something to do if you don't have other plans. June 4 was the first practice we had and for a few weeks Tuesday evening was our only practice each week. Then we added Saturday mornings. We are on the water for about 1 hour each practice, so if you figure in the time for getting ready to go out, getting into the Dragon, the hour on the water, getting out of the Dragon, a few words from the coach on how we did and upcoming stuff, then you're looking at 1 1/2 hours out of your day. Sometimes something comes up that you don't get onto the water as fast as that, like Saturday mornings when rowers are there and we have to wait for them to load or unload and move out of our way. So that can mean we're there for 2 hours or so. Not a big chunk out of ones day. I am very busy in my life so I do understand what that is like and know most others are just as busy if not more so... yet when I make a commitment I stand by it to the very best of my ability.
Since the beginning, I have only missed one practice. It was a Saturday morning when my back hurt so much I could barely walk in my house, so decided it was a good day to take pain meds and go back to bed. Otherwise I have been to every practice and then on top of that, there was one Sunday that there were clinics given for anyone interested in drumming or steering. I had church in the morning, but went out there in the afternoon to help paddle the Dragon so the people in the steering clinic could practice what they just were told. I think that makes up for the one practice I missed.
I don't want to judge or criticize anyone, so all I will say is that I just don't understand why anyone would join any kind of team sport and only come to a practice here or there instead of coming to them all.
I guess some people may think I let the team down this weekend because first I was late arriving. Still way ahead of when the boat went out, but late from what our coach wanted us there. Then getting mixed up on the time thing and missing the second race we were in. However, it's not like there was an empty seat because of it. Then not going there on Sunday. Coach wanted me to go and cheer the team on and I didn't. In the morning I couldn't drive my truck without my right arm. By the time I could, I didn't go anyway. I didn't see the point in burning the gas to go sit on the beach and do nothing for the better part of the afternoon. With gas prices what they are and me on a fixed income I am very careful about doing extra running around... why am I going there and all that stuff.
So I'm not sure if I answered any of your questions or just babbled and bitched, but I hope I answered at least some of what you wondered. So far I don't know how our team did in the standings, but I hope they did well. Our team is more about fun than it is about going to the Olympics, like some of the teams are. I'll bet they all show up for every practice!! They were fantastic to watch.
Well, you did say you were going for the Gold and the practice schedule didn't sound like what it takes to earn a place, let alone win a medal!
Thanks for the description about how the rowing works. I am familiar only with canoes. I know that when there are several of us, we all have to be in sync in order for the boat to make decent headway.
Goodness! I never KNEW Canada had Dragon Boats! I thought that was strictly a Chinese thing! Now you've got me wondering if the U.S. does Dragon Boats! LOL! Verrrrrrry cool!
The most hard part of doing that thing is the rhythm. Every one need to follow the same rhythm at the same time.
Post a Comment