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Dragon Bits January-June 2002

June 22-23_Vancouver, B.C. TDBA silvered in the Recreational Division A championship final with a time of 2:10.69. They were edged out by half a second from first place by the Laoyam Eagles (2:10.12). The final was an exciting close race, with Strathcona Dragons (2:10.85), Merrill Lynch Bay Area Dragons (2:10.95), TD Lightning (2:11.15), Hampton Woods (2:11.85), Dangerous When Wet 2:13.49), and Killer Guppies (2:20.72) taking places 3-8. TDBA is in Boat 3 in the image below. The red line is the finish line.

June 8-9_ Portland, Oregon. In the 14th annual Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association Dragon Boat Races, the Destiny Dragons crew took first place in the two seeding races and quarter-finals to win a chance to compete in Division 1 with eight other great crews. They placed fourth in the semi-finals, with a time of 2:52:22 on the 565 meter course, not advancing to the finals. They placed seventh among the top eight crews, with 90 crews competing. Great job guys!

Last week of May_ Clem Corbiell, Head Coach, and Mike Gehrke, President, were interviewed for a segment on CityLine, which aired the program 11 times during the week.  They announced the three-tier training program TDBA introduced this year that includes two recreational racing crews and a novice program whose paddlers prefer not to race. 

May 26 Press Release_The Tacoma Dragon Boat Association women’s crew placed third in the Fourth Annual Women’s Regatta in Delta, British Columbia on Sunday. Of 36 competing crews, the Destiny Dragons placed first in the first and second heats to take the bronze in the final heat for the recreational division. Head Coach Clement Corbiell, and Crew Captain, Candy Callaway, directed the training regimen for the 22-person crew. The 43 foot long fiberglass boats, powered by 20 paddlers, plus a steersperson and drummer, competed in four-boat heats on a 500 meter course at the Deas Island National Park in Delta, B.C. The event was sponsored by the False Creek women's dragon boat team.

May 11_The Destiny Dragons had so much fun with the Sound Rowers, that we participated in another distance race, this time on our turf in Commencement Bay. The seven-mile course from the Lobster Shop on Ruston Way had two turns near the entrance of Thea Foss Waterway. Great weather and salt water resulted in faster times for this distance than on American Lake. The variety of human-powered craft added to the interest and fun. We placed 18th and 22nd, earning us first and second in the illustrious Other category, with times of 53:43 and 55:15. Thanks again Sound Rowers and Paddlers for hosting a fun event.

 April 13_The Destiny Dragons substituted a Saturday morning practice with with a fun distance race. Sponsored by the Sound Rowers and paddlers, the six-plus mile course was three laps around an island in the middle of American Lake. All human-powered craft were welcomed, and included rowers, kayakers, a peddle-boat, and sweeps of all sizes.  There were 48 entries, and we came in 14th and 22nd. They were kind enough to include a category called Other, in which we took first and second place--the only entrants in that category. It was great fun and we were treated most hospitably. That's an event we look forward to participating in again.

The Bjorklund Trainer is a handmade boat that has the unique quality of going straighter and slower with a  harder and deeper stroke. It is very stable, and is a great off-season training tool.

This boat is Destiny Dragons steersman Lee Bjorklund's design. If you have questions, he'd be happy to answer them. Click here to send Lee an e-mail.

What's that sneaking up on the dragon boats? It's a Soviet submarine, visiting the Foss Waterway on its way from Vancouver, B.C. to Seattle, where it will be a tourist attraction in May at Pier 48. 

The diesel and electric-powered sub carried a crew of 80--which had to be very cozy--there isn't much room in there. Commissioned in about 1974 and decommissioned twenty years later, it was an impressive addition to the variety of vessels on the Foss Waterway. Thanks to the Seattle Intelligencer for the photo.

April held some weather surprises. Snow fell during practice, beautiful but distracting to steerspeople who wear glasses. We've added anti-fog spray to our steering kit.

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This page was last updated on 08/08/08.

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