Is anybody else on a dragonboat team?

[tammymarie]

Hi I'm still petty new here but I was wondering if there are any other dragonboaters here? I am on a team called spirit abreast. http://www.spiritabreast.com check it out if you're interested.
Tammy

[Lolly]

Wow! This is news to me, sure looks like fun but I'd have to do some serious working out to make the team!

<3,
Lolly

[*_Celina_*]

I was on a dragon boat team in Toronto last year when I was living there. It was so much fun...and you really don't need to have much prior experience to join a team...anyone could do it.

[Pond ~]

Hellooooo ~ I am a newbie BC Survivor. Dx 2/05 ~ Bilateral Mastectomies 3/05, 4 A/C, 4 Taxol, last chemo July 6th. I have joined Portland, Oregon's WASABI Team SOAR and have been paddling 5 weeks. Went to my very first race in Bellevue, Washington this weekend. What an experience. I encourage everybody to consider this. I almost declined and then was told by my hubby and other BC survivors ~ don't pass it up ~ don't want to have woulda, coulda, shoulda. So ~ Yes ~ I am a Dragon Boater now and love it!!! I plan to travel with the team racing so perhaps we will meet up one day. I will get next years schedule tomorrow ~ but I know I will be going to Florida August 2006 and hopefully to Austrailia summer 2007. I hear there is Singapore is in 2006 and Toronto too. I had a wonderful time this weekend. Only 2 months ago I was still in bed, unable to sit up for more than an hour during my chemo. I have been doing pilates for 3 weeks now, yesterday I was power walking, exercising and racing and winning not only the races but winning ME back ~ MY life! I am so excited! A fellow BC sister from the AOL boards linked me to this posting. I would love to receive emails from any other Dragon Boaters ~ Muuuuah ~ Love, Pond Thank you ~ (PondMermaid@AOL.com)

[karen]

Does anyone know how I would go about joining a team in Northern California.

Walnut Creek to be exact?

Thank you.

Karen

[Pond ~]

Hellooo Karen ~ I was invited from a friend who was already on Wasabi Team SOAR but you might check with the Komen Foundation as well as check with stores who sell Kayak and paddling supplies in your area. Also, check at the hospitals Breast Centers. I am planning to take fliers to my hospital next week at their request. We have our Race for the Cure on September 18th here in Portland, Oregon. While my family walks ~ I will be paddling on the Willamette River (not racing) to be visable to other BC survivors and make them aware of us and hopefully get more to come join us. Anybody reading this ~ you need not get in shape before you start this. My first day on the boats I had only just been out of treatment and it was all I could do to sit upright. The next week I paddled a few and each week I have gone a bit further. After 5 weeks I was invited to attend my first race and raced two of them, my body told me I was too tired to paddle the third and so I asked to be the alternate out, plus I wanted to watch and see what it was like to SEE the race too. BTW ~ Wasabi Team SOAR won all 3 races and we came home with a beautiful trophy and each a gold medal on a ribbon for the Suvivors Division. Our time was beat by 3 seconds from a team of men and women, ages 20 - 30 from a Corporate Division. Not bad eh? We have women in their 30's - 70's on our team. I am 47. I can't wait to see the team pictures. I was in bed for 5 months very ill with the chemo and unable to even walk. Now I am up and going strong and stronger ~ I am still pretty bald ~ chia pet head as my family calls me so this has been quite a journey for me and I feel that the Dragon Boating is my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Hope you find a team to join. I would highly recommend you try it at least 4 times before you decide. I kept thinking, no not for me, I am not upper body strong, not competitive, had never gone anywhere without my hubby or family and didn't think I could do this ~ trust me if I can ~ you can too! Best of luck ~ Love, Pond ~ Muuuuuuuah ~ http://www.wasabiusa.org/ <~~ here is the link ~ hope you enjoy. If you click on Remember and then Sellwood and South Africa, those are the women I was with this past weekend. Is this cool or what? <wink>

[suzan w]

This looks amazing!! I am in the seattle area...do you know if there is anything like that near me? Puget Sound.. to be exact!!! Suzan

[interested in Dragon boating?]

Hi, Here is a link that might be helpful to those interested in the US.
I probably didn't send the link right, but heres the address anyway!

Tammy








http://www.dragon-boats.com/dbnet/Dragon_B...m_Links_USA.htm (http://www.dragon-boats.com/dbnet/Dragon_Boat_Team_Links_USA.htm)

[Hey Pond!]

We had a couple of girls fill our boat from Wasabi when we were at the 10yr Abreast in a boat celebration in Vancouver. This is my first year and I love it too!! I seem to recall that at the celebration in June a team from Portland (i thought) lost a team member the night before. It really hit us at this big celebration and when they did the flower ceremony. (waving pink carnations to The River by Garth Brooks and then throwing the flowers in the water in memory of or in support of someone) I don't know if you've experienced this yet so I thought I'd explain it. Our team has one more competion this year in Kelowna BC, (Sept 16-18) and then we hang our paddles until next spring... too bad I have totally enjoyed this season!!! It has been so good for me and my family to be doing something so positive and different then the "norm"

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Wasabi kick butt in Vancouver this year??
Well....... we'll get you next time....
Our team is also planning on going to Australia in 2007!!!!!! Wahooooooooo
Tammy

[Pond ~]

Helloooo ~ YES ~ Wasabi SOAR took the Gold in Vancouver, BC so I am told. They are becoming known quickly for their grace and style and of course winning. I have only been paddling with them for 5 weeks and this was my first race so I am not exactly sure what races they have participated in and/or won. I'll ask tomorrow and report back. These are amazing women with such integrity and I am honored to be invited to paddle with them. I LQQK forward to future races and meeting more BC survivors around the world with my teammates, the lovely, gracious gals who have a BC Warrior spirit and a style that seems to be unique and working for them. Thank you for asking ~ I'll get more info and reply soon ~ Love, Pond ~ Muuuuuuah ~

[StephN]

Hi Suzan W, -
We do have a dragon boat team in the Seattle area.
Go to the web site for Team Survivor Northwest here in Seattle and you can find out about all the programs they have for women cancer survivors.

I do not do the dragon boat as it is a ways for me to drive to the practice location and it is very early in the morning. There are some die hard veterans here, though, and I am sure they would love to have you.

Check it out! They just hosted a meet - maybe it was this weekend?