Comox Valley Blazing Paddles started their racing season off with a bang at the False Creek Women’s dragon boat festival on the May 25 weekend.
The cool weather and rainy skies never dampened their team spirit, and they saw that all their hard work during practices paid off. This one-day event saw 50 teams participate in three 500-metre races throughout the day.
Each race consists of four or five boats racing in close proximity to each other. There was much excitement as all the teams’ drummers and tillers were yelling encouragement during the races.
Blazing Paddles did an amazing job staying focused, in time and on task. In their second race they jockeyed back and forth for first place all the way down the race course with the boat next to them, losing first place by only 6/10th of a second.
It was an exhilarating race and at the end of the day, when the sun started to come out, they placed second in their category. Being the first festival for their drummer and some paddlers, the team gelled well and should feel proud.
Blazing Paddles thank their sponsors Comox Bay Marina, Comox Valley Regional District, First Student Bus Lines and Wills Marine.
– Blazing Paddles