Purpose:
The
purpose of this orientation guide is to help familiarize you with the
intricacies of the sport of Dragon Boating and more specifically, Team
ID.
The
following topics will be covered in this guide:
·
Dragon
Boat History
·
Definition
of Impavidus Draconis
·
History
of Team ID
·
Team
mission statement
·
Team
philosophy
·
Team
structure
·
Team
member responsibilities and expectations
·
Boat
safety
·
Basic
boat commands
·
Stroke
/ Paddling fundamentals
The
Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the life and death of the patriot-poet Qu Yuan
(340-278 B.C.). The festival is traditionally held on the fifth day of the fifth
moon on the lunar calendar, late May to mid June on the solar
calendar.
Qu Yuan was a minister who
advocated reforms in his home state of Chu.
After being discredited and disgraced by political rivals, as well as
criticizing the government and the emperor, he was banished. During his time in
exile, Qu Yuan wrote poetry expressing his concern for his country and
people.
In
278, when Qu Yuan heard that his former state and home had been invaded by a
neighboring state, he wandered the banks of the Mi Lo River and was never seen
again. Fishermen hurried out in their boats in a desperate attempt to rescue
him, but they could not find him.
People made rice dumplings
wrapped in leaves and dropped them into the river, thinking that the fish would
eat the dumplings instead of Qu Yuan's body. The fishermen tried to scare the
fish away by beating on their drums and splashing the water with their
paddles.
Since then, the tradition of
dragon boat racing has continued to honor the memory of Qu
Yuan.
Dragon Boat racing, as we know it, began in Hong Kong in 1976 and has grown in leaps and bounds since.
Today, it is both a recreational and a highly competitive sport enjoyed by
people of all ages in over 50 countries and territories around the world.
A
modern dragon boat is usually 10 to14.5 meters (about 33 to 48 feet) long and
between 200 - 600 kilograms (450 to 1300 pounds), and made of fiberglass, wood
or a combination of both. The dragon head and tail are attached to the boat only
for festivals.
The most popular dragon boat set-up consists of 10 rows of
seats for 20 paddlers sitting side-by-side, a drummer (caller) in the front and
a steersman (sweep) in the back. The drummer controls the stroke pace and makes
sure that all of the paddlers synchronize with each other while the steersman navigates the boat.
Definition:
Impavidus Draconis is Latin and
means:
Im-pav-i-dus:
fearless, undaunted
Dra-con-is: a kind of
snake, dragon
Impavidus
Draconis dragon boat team was formed in July of 2002 by a group of individuals
from various teams who had enjoyed the competition and atmosphere experienced
while participating in the Lethbridge Rotary Dragon Boat Festival.
After
competing in the Kelowna Dragon Boat Festival in September 2002, the team
decided to stick together, continuing to train and compete as a group. That
first team drew from a wide group of backgrounds and experience, creating a crew
of paddlers and non-paddlers who supported and encouraged the growing popularity
of dragon boating in Southern Alberta.
Team
ID continues to paddle and evolve as a team. The team has lost a number of the
original team members and has added new, fresh faces to the crowd. As a group,
we are constantly evolving, learning and adjusting... determined to become a
stronger force in the Western Canadian dragon boat society.
Team ID Mission
Statement:
Impavidus Draconis dragon
boat team provides a competitive, team-oriented and friendship fostering
environment for its members.
Coaching, training and administrative measures ensure Team ID’s ability
to compete in Southern Alberta and Western
Canada.
Simple
and in no particular order:
1.
We want to have fun.
2.
We want to improve.
Paddlers:
·
18
– 20 paddling at any given time
·
Responsible
for keeping a quiet and focused boat
·
Responsible
for listening to and following instructions
quickly
Steersperson:
·
Sets
the path the boat is to take
·
Responsible
for the safe operation of the dragon boat
·
Knows
the correct boat crew commands to call out
·
Ensures
safety equipment is on the boat
·
Is
the person, ultimately, in control of the
boat
·
Once
away from the dock, the steersperson will hand over the control of the
boat
to the drummer who will then lead the practice or call the
race
At any time the steersperson can take over the boat for safety
reasons
Drummer:
·
Controls
the boat during practice or during a race
·
Prior
to docking the drummer will hand control back to the steersperson
·
Together
the drummer and steersperson bring the boat back into the dock
·
The
only exception to this is the steersperson can take over the boat at any time
for safety
reasons
·
Responsible
for the safety of the crew from sides and
back
·
Coaches
the crew through the practice
·
Knows
the correct boat crew commands to call out
·
Sets
the race tactics and calls the race
Captain:
·
Responsible
for team’s conduct on the dockside or water
·
Liaison
and communication with race officials
·
Only
person who is allowed to speak with officials in cases of
dispute
Coach:
·
Responsible
for educating and demonstrating to team members, individual and team safety
principles and practices
·
Developing
the team’s paddling skills both individually and as a
team
·
Preparing
the team technically and physically for participation in Dragon Boat
festivals
·
Understanding
the principles of training and incorporating them into team
practices
·
Communicating
the training program and goals of practices to team
members
·
Facilitating
realistic goal setting within the team, both long and short term
·
Keeping
current with Dragon Boat coaching knowledge
·
Awareness,
understanding and utilizing a Coaching Code of Ethics that recognizes the
ethical principles of: respect for
participants, responsible coaching, integrity in relationships and honouring
sport
Manager:
·
Communicating
and distributing team and festival information to all team
members
·
Managing
the logistics of the team, practices, attendance and fees
·
Processing
and submitting all required festival forms i.e. registration, waivers, team
info
·
Liaison
with race registrar and/or festival staff
Sponsors:
·
Remember
to support any sponsors of Team ID.
If you are interested in being a sponsor, please obtain our team
sponsorship package that outlines how Team ID can assist you in meeting your
goals.
Team
members shall be responsible for:
·
Learning
the art of dragon boating while having fun and meeting other soon to be dragon
boat enthusiasts
·
Attending
scheduled practices:
o
All
practices will run, unless it is unsafe due to weather conditions. As such, practices will be run, rain or
shine or wind unless the team coach or designate at the practice itself makes a
decision to cancel
o
Attendance
will be a factor in deciding the composition of the team for a particular race /
festival
o
For
each festival, team members must obtain a practice attendance of 75% or greater
to guarantee a spot in the race line up.
Those members not attaining 75% can be bumped to “spare” status if there
are enough team members at 75% or greater to fill the race line
up.
·
Learning
basic paddling, drumming and steering techniques
·
Learning
advanced paddling skills – starts, power and finishes
·
Welcoming
regimented and structured practices.
Practice focus will be on improving the level of paddling and
endurance
·
Maintaining
a fitness level necessary to paddle at the level decided by the team
·
Assisting
the Abreast of Bridge team with putting the dragon boats in the water in the
spring and pulling the boats out of the water in the fall
·
Assisting
with any equipment maintenance or repairs to the paddles and / or the dragon
boats
·
Assisting
in the retrieval and shuttling of boats prior to and following on water
practices
·
Attending
team meetings
·
Participating
in team fundraising
As
a team – Team ID - is dedicated, disciplined and focused on winning and
excelling in both the physical and mental aspects of dragon boating. Members are asked to put aside personal
needs and dedicate efforts to achieving team goals. As part of a team, team members need to
cooperate together to function and be successful as a
team.
Remember: THERE IS NO “I” IN TEAM!
Show
up on time
·
20
- 30 minutes prior to practice to get gear, warm up and review practice
objectives
·
If
unable to make a practice or unable to show up on time call the team coach or
designate
·
The
boat will leave without you if you are late, and it will not turn around to pick
you up
Coach: Dave Hunt:
Home: 320-1478
Email: http://65.54.233.250/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.IE5/ITCB25WX/[email protected]
What
to bring:
·
Water
and water bottle belt back, camel back, etc… keep hydrated! (You’ll be working
for an hour or more)
o
It
is important to keep water bottles off the bottom of the boat to decrease the
chances of contaminating your drinking water.
·
Sunscreen
(especially during festivals and during the day)
·
Mosquito
repellant
·
Snacks
(eat a light meal prior, not too heavy or spicy)
·
Towel
/ change of dry clothing, socks and shoes – just in case!
What
to wear:
·
Dress
for the weather conditions, the conditions may change
quickly
·
Warm
clothes that allow for motion but will stay warm when wet i.e.
fleece
·
Quick
drying fabrics – paddling is a water sport and you are going to get wet
·
Comfortable
shorts / you might prefer padded shorts
·
Non
leather shoes/ sandals
·
Sunglasses
·
Hat
What
not to wear:
·
Jeans
·
Cotton
– becomes very cold when wet
·
Good
runners - your feet will be wet
Equipment
provided:
·
Paddle
·
PFD
– you may want to have your own.
Make sure it allows for unrestricted paddling
motion
Practice /
Meeting Location: Henderson Lake at the boat
dock
Things to
know before you get on the water:
While on the water, the steersperson is responsible for
the safe operation of the dragon boat and safety of the crew.
The
drummer controls the boat. If
instructions are given, the team needs to respond quickly. Remember that the instructions of the
steersperson take priority over the drummer, coach and / or
captain.
A
safety count is done before getting in the boat. The steersperson and the drummer must
both know how many people are in the boat before leaving the dock. Another safety count is done before
exiting the boat or on the dock before returning to shore.
Keep
an eye on your seat partner.
PFD’s must be properly worn at all times. This means PFD’s must fit properly and
be securely fastened. It is
expected that all participants will wear PFD’s as they line up on shore, while
on the dock and in the boat and until they return to shore.
Should
the boat capsize:
·
The
drummer and /or steersperson:
Will
blow their whistle and call for help to attract individuals on shore or in other
vessels
Call
for a Safety Count
·
The
crew must:
Stay with the
boat
Do
a Safety Count
Find your seat partner and stick together
Locate the person in the seat in front and behind
(the
front seats, locate the drummer; the last seats, locate the
steersperson)
Await rescue
Stay
with the boat
Listen to the drummer and steersperson and work together as a
group
Repeat
Safety Count every 30 seconds until all are recovered and accounted
for
Make sure PFD’s are properly fastened
Do not attempt to swim to shore
Stay with the
boat
Minimize heat loss by huddling close together
Reassure panicking crew members
Provide non-swimmers with additional buoyancy e.g. a handful of
paddles
Stay with the boat
·
If
someone is missing:
Look around for the missing person
Each
paddler will need to feel under the boat to help find the missing
person
If
necessary, one individual ONLY, should check under the
boat
The
Rescue Crew needs to be notified, as soon as they arrive, that a person is
missing
When
the person is found, commence First Aid and / or CPR, if
required
Please
note
that if you end up under an over turned boat, there will be an air pocket
available for you to catch your breath and get your bearings. Feel your way to the side of the boat
and then surface on the outside.
Lean
Out: position within the boat at all
times. Upper body of the paddler is
leaning out of the boat. Paddler
should be able to see the outside of the boat. The shaft of the paddle is resting on
the gunwale.
Paddles
Up: ready to paddle. Paddles are poised above the water ready
to take a stroke.
Take
it away:
begin paddling. The command to
begin paddling; usually follows the command Paddles Up. Commonly used for starting the movement
of the boat in a non-race situation.
Let
it run (or ride): stop paddling and let the boat
coast. The blades are out of the
water with the shaft resting on the gunwale.
Steady
the boat: to stabilize the boat. Paddle blades flat on the surface of the
water, blade parallel to the water.
The shaft of the paddle pressed against the top of the
gunwales.
Hold
the boat: bring the boat to a full stop with the
use of the paddles. Paddlers thrust
blades vertically into the water to bring the boat to a
halt.
Check
for drift:
to prevent the boat from drifting
from side to side. Paddles are in
the water with the blade running parallel to the boat and the shaft is held
against the gunwale.
Back
it up (Back it
down);
paddle backwards. The stroke used
to bring the boat backward into or away from the dock or a race
start.
Draw
/ Draw stroke: stroke used to line a boat up straight
at the start of a race or to turn a boat around. The paddle is placed perpendicular to
the side of the boat and ‘drawn’ towards the boat, usually by designated
paddlers.
Pry
/ Pry stroke: stroke
used to line a boat up straight at the start of a race or to turn a boat
around. The paddle is placed
perpendicular to the side of the boat and ‘pried’ or pushed away from the boat,
usually by designated paddlers.
Attention
Please: Command given by race starter to alert
crew of pending start, the start gun will follow in approximately 3-5
seconds. Paddles are to be placed
in position for the first stroke (submerged or out of the water). Paddlers need to focus on the drummer
for the next command.
Paddles
in the boat: Paddles completely in the boat, above
the gunwale of the boat.
Power
10 (Focus 10): a combination of strokes used during a
race. A set of 10 strokes that is
focused and more forceful to make the boat surge. The rate does not
increase.
Time
it up: To get the paddlers back into
synchronization so the paddles enter the water at the same
time.
Listen
up: paddles in the relaxed position,
parallel over the water. The crew
should be ready to listen to the drummer or the coach.
Focus
in the Boat: command
to bring the focus back into the boat.
Command can be used prior to a race start or during a practice to bring
the paddler’s focus back into the boat.
Stroke: Refers to one cycle of the paddling
motion.
Coordinated
by the steersperson, drummer, captain, dock master
Listen
and obey the dock master
For
the Lethbridge Rotary Dragon Boat Festival practices and the festival, teams
will load:
·
Loading
begins with the steersperson and the drummer
Then
proceeds from the front (bow) to the rear (stern) of the boat
Row
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
·
Unloading
is in the same order, once the mooring lines have been
secured.
Off-load in the following order:
Row 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, drummer, steersperson
Another
Example of Loading/Unloading the boat in Festivals is from the
middle:
·
Loading
begins from the middle of the boat – row 5
Then proceeds to the ends, in alternating fashion.
Row 5,6,4,7,3,8,9,1,10,
drummer, steersperson
·
Unloading
is in the reverse order, once the mooring lines have been
secured.
Off-load in the following order:
Row 10,1,9,2,8,3,7,4,6,5 drummer, steersperson
When
loading and unloading, hold onto your paddles and onto the gunwale of the boat
(fingers and thumbs on the inside of the boat!!!), while you are on the
dock. When you are in the boat,
dockside paddlers hold on to the dock (watch your fingers!!!) to help stabilize
the boat. Waterside paddlers,
‘Steady the boat’ with your paddles.
Once
the boat is loaded, it will move away from the dock. Once away from the dock, the balance of
the boat will be checked. This will
involve a command of ‘Paddlers Lean Out’.
All paddlers are to lean out over the gunwale of the boat to check for
left / right balance. Changes may
be made to balance the boat. This
needs to be done in a coordinated fashion and everyone needs to lean out or in
at the same time.
Parts
of the paddle: The bottom, flat part is the blade. The top “T” is called the handle, grip
or top. The tubular part between
the blade and the top is called the shaft.
The part of the paddle where the blade meets the shaft is called the hip
or neck of the paddle.
Terminology:
Top
Hand: the hand on the top of the
paddle
Bottom
Hand: the hand lower down on the
paddle shaft, one hand width above the blade
Outside
leg: the leg closest to the
gunwale
Inside leg: the leg closest
to the centre of the boat
Which
side to paddle: A person can paddle on either side
unless there is a shoulder or back injury or a concern on a particular
side. The power of the paddling
stroke comes primarily from top hand pushing down (shoulders and upper back
muscles) and the rotation (back muscles).
If there is a shoulder or upper back concern, the weaker side should be
toward the outside of the boat. If
there is a lower back concern, the weaker side should be toward the inside of
the boat. Remember it may be
necessary to move you from one side to the other or forward or backward to
balance the boat. It is a good idea
to develop paddling proficiency on both sides as it will minimize overuse
injuries and help balance muscular development.
How
to hold the paddle:
Top
Hand: While standing, hang the paddle from the
thumb of the top hand. The top hand is the hand opposite the waterside of the
boat. With the thumb under the “T”, loosely wrap fingers around the “T” keeping
the knuckles along the top of the “T”.
The paddle should be held firmly, but not tightly. An overly tight grip will lead to
blisters in the palm of the hand.
Bottom
Hand: With the bottom hand, grip one hand’s
width (8-10cm) above the hip of the paddle. You should have your thumb wrapped
around the opposite side from your fingers. This reduces wrist and finger
injuries. Your grip should be firm,
but not too tight. The purpose of
this grip is not to pull the paddle but to steady it as it moves back and
forth. The paddle should now be
vertical and beside the body with both hands in place. You have to lean outward from the waist
in order to keep the paddle away from the body.
Seating
position:
·
Set
hips up square in the seat.
·
Sit
up tall, activating the core muscles (abdominal and back) to keep back
straight.
·
Angle
the torso slightly forward from the hips until your chin is located over the mid
thigh region. Do not flex the
lumbar or mid-thoracic region of the back.
·
Outside
leg or gunwale leg is extended forward and braced against the seat in front or
braced against the bottom of the boat in such a way that you can push through
the foot and into your leg. This
allows for the power transfer.
·
The
inside leg is braced for stability against the seat you are sitting on or tucked
under the seat slightly with the knee pointing forwards but able to pivot in
towards the centre of the boat.
·
Slide
against the closest gunwale of the boat, positioning weight on the gunwale leg
by angling your whole torso slightly out of the boat from the hips so that your
shoulder is out over the water. Do
not flex the back to achieve this position.
·
Try
to keep your shoulders parallel to the water and the boat as much as
possible.
There are seven key parts to the dragon boat stroke. The first four components set up the
stroke, while the last three components are considered to be the work-phase part
of the stroke. The seven components
are: rotation, reach, entry, catch, pull, exit and
recovery.
Rotation: Rotation is initiated through the
outside leg by pushing the hip back and letting the inside knee rotate outward
from the body. At the same time,
the inside hip rotates forward. The
rotation extends from the hips to the thoracic vertebrae, but not into the neck
and head. Keep the head looking
straight ahead through the paddle shaft.
The outside shoulder should now be leading forward and the inside
shoulder angled back.
Improper
rotation or twisting can cause serious lumbar discomfort and can increase the
risk of low back injuries. A true
rotation is achieved through the hip and torso acting as a single
unit.
Imagine that you are rotating around a pole inserted through your head,
along your spine and anchored to the dragon boat seat. Think of rotating around the pole so
that your chest is facing your partner, while keeping your eyes focused
forward.
Reach: A proper reach position is the
foundation of a proper dragon boat stroke. The reach position is the extended
position with the paddle a few inches above the water before the driving of it
into the water. Reach is from the
shoulders and arms only; the torso position and angle remain unchanged in the
boat, once maximum rotation has been achieved. The top arm extends forward
coming over the head attempting to keep the paddle as close to vertical as
possible for the entry. The bottom arm extends forward from the elbow, parallel
to the water, the arm extending forward along the length of the boat. As the paddle moves forward into the
reach position, it is at its highest potential energy level. From this position, the potential energy
will be used to submerge the paddle as the stroke progresses.
Entry: If the entry is not performed correctly,
the effectiveness and efficiency of everything that happens after are
reduced. The top arm initiates the
paddle entry. The top arm drive is
accomplished by pivoting around the shoulder trying to keep the paddle as
vertical as possible. The
bottom arm does the same. The entry
into the water should follow the long axis of the paddle. The paddle should
punch a hole in the water with the tip of the blade and the rest of the blade
follows through that hole. Once the
blade of the paddle is submerged up to the neck, the top arm drive ceases, it
stabilizes and the top of the paddle becomes a pivot point. Once the entry is complete and the blade
is fully buried in the water, but before the pull is initiated there is a very,
very, short pause. If this pause is
in place, the catch and the pull will be much more
effective.
Remember the sequence is Enter,
Pause and Pull
Catch: The catch is not a part of the stroke
per say, but the moment in time between the vertical components of the entry and
the horizontal components of the pull.
The catch occurs at the moment immediately after the top arm drive
ceases, stabilization is begun and the pull is initiated. Once the top arm stabilizes, the
outside leg initiates a push from the knee (as if kicking a ball). As the outside foot is braced against
the seat or floor, the push is transferred into the outside hip (which then
moves back slightly). This hip
rotation is then transferred into the shoulders and then the bottom arm and to
the paddle. The force is transferred from rotation to the paddle. To ensure that
the rotation is transferred to the paddle, the bottom arm must remain fully
extended. If done properly, the hull moves past the
paddle.
Pull: Once the paddle is fully submerged or
buried, the next component of the stroke is the pull phase. The pull phase is a rotation about the
spine combined with a downward pull with the entire arm from shoulder to
wrist. The top arm unit (shoulder,
elbow, and wrist) should be about equal to the top shoulder. The top hand stabilizes the paddle as
the bottom arm and back muscles pull back.
The torso position does not change, as the rotation is around the long
axis of the spine. The bottom arm
remains extended with minimal elbow flexion during the pull. The path of the bottom hand is a slight
downward arc, where the little finger drops closer to the water by the
exit. The bottom shoulder does not
come behind the spine and should finish perpendicular to the direction of boat
travel. It is important to pull
back directly parallel with the boat keeping the blade square through the
pull.
Exit: This is initiated at the end of the
pull, which should be between mid-thigh and hip. The top hand dropping slightly into the
boat as the bottom wrist and elbow roll in to lift the paddle out of the water.
The blade exits to the side by externally rotating the whole bottom arm. The elbow and wrist continue flexing
until the blade is clear of the water and moving forward. The vertical angle of the shaft should
be no greater than 45 degrees. As
soon as the blade is clear of the water, the bottom arm pushes it forward until
rotation and reach are fully completed and the bottom arm is fully
extended.
Recovery: As soon as the exit is completed the
recovery begins. The outside leg
bends slightly at the knee as the inside leg stabilizes to help reposition the
hips for the next stroke. The torso
rotation starts and should be fluid and smooth with no sudden stops or starts to
it. The shoulders should remain
parallel to the water during the recovery. The shaft of the paddle should be
vertical or parallel to the gunwale.
Timing: The timing of the stroke is the uniting
element that brings all the paddlers together as a team. Even if all eighteen to twenty paddlers
have impeccable technique and are strong, if they can’t paddle together in time,
the boat will not move well at all.
Besides the left and right sides of the boat being in time, the other
components to timing are:
·
The
entry of the paddles must ALL occur together and at the same
speed.
·
The
pull must occur together
o
The
catches occurring at the same time
o
The
force being applied at the same time
·
The
pull speed must be the same.
·
The
paddles must all exit the water together.
·
The
torso, hip, leg and paddle movement on the recovery must occur
together.
The
power output of each paddler contributes to the speed of the dragon boat. Power output is a function of the stroke
rate and the force per stroke. Too
much rate reduces force, too much force reduces rate. There is an optimal balance point for
each paddler and crew.
It
is essential to learn how to paddle with good force at slow stroke rates. Without learning the basics at low
rates, you will not be able to paddle well at higher
rates.
After
learning to paddle with good force, you can slowly increase the rate as the
season progresses.
It
is easier to increase the rate rather than the force per stroke while racing and
fighting fatigue. It is wiser to
maximize force per stroke early on and keep any increases in rate for later in
the race.
Crew
/ Seat positions:
·
The
two paddlers in the first row are the ‘strokes”. These paddlers need to have a good sense
of timing as they work with the drummer to set the paddling pace. Often these individuals will have a
music, dance or fitness background.
·
Rows
2 and 3 assist the strokes and need to prevent the back of the boat from
speeding up the paddling pace or “pushing ‘ the boat.
·
Rows
4 through 8 are the ‘power house’ or the ‘engine room’. As suggested, this is where the powerful
and stronger paddlers should be seated.
·
Row
5 should be occupied by the heavier paddlers with progressively lighter paddlers
placed in the rows in front and behind them.
·
Row
5 is the position of ‘mid strokes” and will be matching exactly the pace set by
the front strokes.
·
Rows
9 and 10 require paddlers with good technique and timing. They have to maintain
the pace set by the strokes and not be rushed by the fast moving water at the
stern of the boat.
When paddling, paddlers need to be looking up the center
and focus on the stroke on the opposite side of the boat (focus is up the boat and
diagonal). To assist with
visibility of the strokes, the inboard hands of all four strokes can be marked
with surveyor’s tape.
Race
start procedures:
The start for many Dragon Boat Festivals is a “(Slow)
Running Start”. The Festival
Officials and / or Race Director may change the start due to weather, course
conditions, safety considerations or any other situations that arise.
·
After
leaving the dock, boats will head toward the starting
area.
·
Paddlers
must listen to Race Officials or Safety Boat Officials and follow instructions
quickly.
·
The
Starter’s directions will include instructions for boats to ‘hold’, ‘back up’, ‘move forward’, ’move right / left’ while boats are
lining up for the start.
·
Once
the Starter feels the boats are lined up evenly (at his / her sole discretion)
in the designated starting area, the warning signal of ‘Attention Please!’ will be
announced. This will cue all
paddlers of every competing boat to prepare for the Start.
·
The
Starter will sound the signal at any time following ‘Attention Please!’
·
Drummers
may not drum during the Start procedures.
·
Drummers
must stop drumming if the Starter calls a ‘False Start’ or the race is stopped
for any reason.
·
A
‘False Start’ will be signaled by three sound signals after the Start signal.
·
In
the event of an UNFAIR START and a ‘False Start’ cannot be called, but in the
opinion of the Starter an advantage has been gained by the crew or crews, the
Starter may award a ‘Time Penalty’ to the crew or crews in question.
·
An
UNFAIR START is when a crew “jumps the start” which for this purpose in the
Rules of Racing means that a crew has anticipated the Starter’s word of command
or sound signal and has gained an advantage.
Race start technique:
Race starts often vary due to festival course conditions,
festival boats and coach decisions.
Team ID is using a 6-12-5 start.
·
The
first ‘6’ - the paddle is buried
deep for the first 6 strokes. These
powerful strokes start to propel the boat forwards.
o
the
first stroke is a 1/2 stroke – the rotation of the body is only forward half the
distance
o
the
second stroke is a 3/4 stroke – the rotation of the body is only forward three
quarters the distance
o
the
third to sixth strokes are full strokes – the rotation of the body is forward
the whole distance
·
The
next ‘12’ - the stroke rate is a
little faster and the stroke length is not quite as long. These strokes create turbulence to help
lift the boat out of the water and continue the forward motion of the
boat.
o
The
drummer and steersperson will indicate when the first 6 strokes transition into
the 12 by yelling “hup”. Always watch your strokes for the start,
the transitions, the power/focus 10s, the race piece
etc.
·
The
drummer counts the 6 and 12 strokes. This allows the team to be paddling in time
during the start.
·
The
last ‘5’- these strokes are full
strong regular depth strokes that transition the crew into the race pace. During these last 5 stokes the
drummer calls ‘Ready’ ‘And’ ‘Reach’ ‘It’
‘Out’. At the end of these 5
strokes, the team will have transitioned into their race pace. The drummer and lead strokes work
closely together to maintain an appropriate race pace making adjustments as
required.
Race
Strategy:
·
A
race pace is one where the crew can paddle at a rate where the force of the
stroke is strong and pulling the boat forward. It is imperative that the crew keeps in
time.
·
Anytime
timing is off, the paddlers need to be reminded to ‘Time It Up’
·
Midway
through the race a ‘Focus 10’ can be called. These 10 strokes are not about more
speed or power, but about focus on timing and technique. This often will improve power.
·
Approximately
10 strokes from the finish line, another ‘Focus 10’ should be called to help the
paddlers finish the race.
·
It
is important not to push to the finish too soon as the paddlers will ‘poop out’
before the finish line and their ‘get up and go’ will have gone. This last push depends on the fitness
level of the team and their experience as paddlers.
·
The
first ‘dragon’s nose’ to cross the finish line wins the race. As you paddle to the finish line you
want to remember to paddle through the finish line.
Race
Finish / Post Race:
·
Once
the boat has crossed the finish line, the drummer will call ‘Let it Ride” and
the crew can let the boat run and catch their breath.
·
The
steersperson needs to be aware of where the other boats are and avoid a
collision as well as avoiding any other hazards.
·
The
boats will then start to proceed back to the dock.
·
Proceed
back to the dock as quickly and safely as possible.
·
Once
at the dock, remember to do a safety count.
·
Unload
the boat as directed by the Dock Officials. Assist each other out of the boat
and return to shore.
·
Return
any festival PFD’s and paddles to the appropriate locations and depart the
staging area.
·
Meet
together as a team to review the race and to debrief.
Welcome
and…………………. Paddles up!!!!
