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Race FAQ for Paddlers
What is the Alcan Dragon Boat Festival (ADBF)?
The Alcan Dragon Boat Festival (now known as Rio Tinto Alcan Festival) is an annual festival held in Vancouver for dragon boat teams from around the world to compete at the sport of dragon boat. For more information, please visit their website at http://dragonboatbc.ca/
What is the difference between the first and second regattas we race in?
GENERALLY, The first regatta serves as practice races (FCRCC Regatta). It's a chance for teams to show each other what they have and who they are. The second regatta is a lot more competitive because it is the last non-ranking pre-festival race before Alcan. The second regatta is called DragonZone Regatta - last chance for team to see how they are compare to other local teams (some may be racing for the first time!). (Alcan has a lot of visitor teams from outside of Canada)
During race days, why do we need to come to the site 2 hours before the race?
It's suggested by the people who run the festival and the coaches to be with your team 2 hours before the race. You all need to warm up, get together, stand by before they call you and marshall half an hour before the race. Time is tight, so please be on time! We may paddle sooner than we're scheduled, so you have to mentally prepare for that.
I'm going to drive to the festival. Will there be parking?
Yes, but during the festival weekend, parking by the streets is high in demand. You'll have to come extra early or park further. There is also pay parking nearby. Either way, come early! Also, where there's car, there's auto theft. Make sure you don't leave any valuables inside your car. Lock your vehicle and and steering wheel when possible.
Suggest free parking may be: (watch out for restrictions/exceptions!) E.2nd, E 3rd, E.4th Avenue and along Quebec Street. Good luck. Remember, leave your valuables at home or on you.
Here's my two-cents for y'all: DO NOT bring shiny bags or jewelries if you're not going to bring them to the boat.
Parking is hard to find, what other methods of transportation are available?
Public transit -- Make sure you plan ahead (check Translink for schedules). If you are taking the SkyTrain, note that on Sundays, the first skytrain leaves the terminal at 7:05am. (We might meet realllllly early)Car Pool -- Arrange a ride with your friend or teammate.
During the Alcan, am I allowed to temporarily substitute as a paddler for another team?
The short answer is NO, because the International Dragon Boat Festival says so.
If you are a drummer or a paddler for a mixed adult team, you may not paddle for another mixed adult team. If you are a steersperson, you MAY steer for another mixed adult team.
How long is the race course for the Alcan?
500 Meters from somewhere near Cambie Bridge to somewhere around Science World.
How many boats compete at each heat?
About six to eight boats per heat. We'll know when the race grid comes out.
What kind of boats are we going to use @ the festival?
Gemini, and BUK (faster boat with foot brace underneath the seat infront of you, light boat, rough seat - raspberries beware!). I don't know if it's true that they're not going to use 6-16 this Alcan. We'll see.
What happens once we're on the boat?
The boat will be marshalled down (practice our start on our way down) to the starting area.The starter (on th PA) will have us approach to the starting line and align us before we start. Before we do, we might have to wait for the traffic to clear. Just stay chill.
The starter will say something like..
"I will ask you all to approach the starting line together and align you one by one. If you fall behind, we will start the race without you...All boats, please approach the starting line now." <---- cue to listen to your own steerer
"Boat 1, back paddle...." <--- very distracting!! stay focus. you're not boat1 anyway.
"Boat 2, back 2 seats!.." <--- you get the idea.
"boat 3 HOLD boat 4 HOLD.. boat 1 and 5 HOLDDDD!!!!!!! ALL BOATS HOLD, we have an alignment"
"Paddlers ready? Attention Please..." (silence)
*HONK!!!* The horn will go off and the race begins. (our caller will go 2....3.....4......5......6.. up up up ......)
*** please take your first stroke ON the HONK! then do your 2nd stroke.. 3rd..so on..
Different starters start the race slightly different, so be prepared and listen for the horn when you are AT the starting line. You'll be surprised how many people are outta focus. BE REALLY ALERT!
In year 2006 we had a collision. Why weren't we able to re-race? That was so unfair!
The rule says after 50m away from the starting line, the official will have no ground to allow re-race unless under "extraordinary circumstances". So this year, if you see SOME boat coming at you,(you shouldn't even be looking outside your boat anyway) don't be scared. JUST DO YOUR THING. There's no way to turn back or re-race. JUST KEEP GOING! Maybe by doing so, our team will dodge it and win the race! Just keep your mind away from anything else~~ trust your steersperson. Don't stop unless the steersperson and the official says otherwise.
That explains why this year, John want us to experience "intimate" dragon boat racing with other boats. "get close!~ yeah.. so we can smell them!" We need to practice how to handle the "intimacy". We have to practice to not fear even if the other team is hitting our paddle!
Touch wood! What IFFFF we do get involve in a boat collision?
Protocol: do not panic!! Open your ears for your STEERER'S COMMAND then CALLER'S COMMAND. That's all you gotta do. Just listen to them and nooooo body else. Steerer takes order from the water officials, y'all just listen to the steerer. Most importantly, be there for each other! It's common that people in the boat will freak out. Help your teammates get back to it. Don't ask why.....yet.
I see people practice on the weekend before the race, that's hard core! Can our team do that too?
They're call "Festival Practices". It's not required. For new team, (who knows, maybe they're from out of town and they just wanna have fun at Alcan) it's important for them to at least try dragon boating for their first time before going to the festival! It's free! They can have 3 practices on Saturday and Sunday afternoon (from Apr to June). Your team have to register with Dragon Zone ahead of time. Space is limited. Three practices per week is really hard core. Don't hurt yourself.
I just bought my paddle! I heard there are restrictions with equipment. What are they?
Paddles -- If you bought your paddle from our coach, you're fine! They allow carbon fiber paddles. You may also put tape or wax on your OWN paddle only.
PFDs (lifejackets) --
If your PFD is approved by DOT, CCG and DFO, you're fine (except for manual/auto inflating jackets).
For more information, please see 2009 Rules and Regulations FAQs
I hate raspberries! Can I bring my mouse pad to the boat to ease the "friction"?
Yes! You can bring a seat pad or foam pad as long as it's under 15mm thick.
Can I bring my water bottle and my lucky charm to the boat at the Alcan?
Sure, but please consider you may be adding dead weight to the boat, and hence, requiring your whole team to pull more weight. If you do plan on bringing your belongings, please do not leave them in the boat.