Spotlight on paddle power
Dragons will be seen gliding effortlessly across the water in Welland during the weekend.
The 2016 Canadian Dragon Boat Championship are under way on the Welland International Flatwater Centre’s north course, where more than 2,000 athletes are competing over three days in hopes to call themselves national champions.
The competition boasts 100 teams that have travelled from as far as Vancouver to compete. Although it is the Canadian championships, the event is open to crews from the United States as well.
“We have very open policies because we think the more the merrier, so we have nine crews that are here from the United States and we are thrilled that they have come,” Dragon Boat Canada executive director Chloe Greenhalgh said.
“We always want them to spread the word and have their friends come next time.”
There are eight age classes, each with a mixed, open men and women class. The youngest paddler is only nine years old and the oldest is 77.
Saturday’s races will include the 500-metre followed by 2,000-metre races for men and women. There will be 2,000-metre races for mixed crews on Sunday’s final day of the competition.
Greenhalgh said what makes the 2,000-metre races interesting is it is done on a circular course. There are three turns on the course which crews have to manoeuvre while travelling about 14 kilometres an hour in a 42-foot-long boat.
She said this race can be fun to watch because of the challenges the paddlers have to go through.
Although it isn’t too common, Greenhalgh said there have been instances where crews have capsizedt. She said that usually happens with inexperienced paddlers or a crew that gets a bit too excited or aggressive.
“It’s certainly exciting. It’s a bit like having NASCAR in a boat.”
Mixed crews can have a maximum of 10 rowers from each gender and a minimum of eight rowers from each gender.
“So it truly is equal in terms of gender equality, which is pretty cool and very rare,” Greenhalgh said.
Dragon Boat Canada has entered an agreement to host the national championships on the former canal over the next few years. Greenhalgh said nationals will be held in 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021.
Greenhalgh said what has made the organization want to keep hosting races in Welland is the “great water.” She said it is always consistent and the facilities are “excellent.”
Greenhalgh said working with the Welland Recreational Canal Corporation has also been a great experience. The staff, facilities and volunteers have worked to make the championships a success each year.
The national championship is a qualifier for the world championships.
Race results are available at dbcresults.ca.