Saturday, July 9, 2011, Lake Banook, Dartmouth
It’s that time of year again – dust off your paddles and join us at Lake Banook in Dartmouth for the 14th Annual Race & Judo Nova Scotia Fund Raiser.
As many of you know the dragon boat race is a major fundraiser for Judo Nova Scotia each year. Last year, the team raised over $5000 for important athlete events around the country. This year’s goal is to hit the $10,000 mark which will require all of your support.
How Can you help?
1) Come out and show your support: While this is a major fundraiser, it is also meant to be a fun family event. As per previous years we will be holding our bbq site on the hill overlooking the race and there are plenty of activities for the kids. So most come out, enjoy a beautiful day by the lake and cheer our team on
2) Paddlers: We would like to have 30 paddle volunteers to participate but require a minimum of 20 paddlers consisting of at least 8 male & female. Two practice sessions will be held but are not mandatory since many of you are from out of town. If you are interested in participating please contact one of us via email below:
Paul Matthews – pmatthews@bfm.bm
Vanessa McDonald – vanessamae85@hotmail.com
3) Club Fundraising: Similar to last year we are asking each club to raise $500 towards this event. Any club that is successful in reaching that target or higher will have 50% of their fund raising efforts returned for use at the club level
With a little hard work and support from all of our clubs across the province let’s make this year’s fund raiser an extra big success to allow us to continue investing in our up and coming champions and building on the success of the Canada Games.
Thanks,
Paul & Vanessa
Festival Location
VIEW LOCATION MAP
The Festival is once again located on Lake Banook in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Practice sessions take place at Graham's Grove Park across the Street from the Braemar Superstore on Prince Albert Road. The Festival day itself takes place on Prince Albert Road at the foot of Lake Banook.
On the day of the event, Prince Albert Road will be closed from Hawthorne to Sinclair Streets. Parking is available on side streets and we will also be offering a shuttle service from Alderney Landing (the Dartmouth Ferry Terminal) throughout the day.
On the day of the event we will set up our team camp at the top of the hill on Prince Albert Road, overlooking the event.
History of Dragon Boat Racing
Dragon boating is part of a larger Chinese cultural tradition that dates back 2,400 years. It began on the banks of the life-sustaining rivers in the valleys of southern China as a fertility rite performed to ensure bountiful crops. The first participants held their celebration on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. The race was held to avert misfortune and encourage the rains needed for prosperity, and the object of their worship was the dragon.
Today dragon boat races are held on six continents. In Canada alone festivals are held in 24 cities from coast to coast and each festival brings together thousands of people from the public, private, and volunteer sectors. In addition to the races, participants and spectators alike enjoy exciting performances and interesting cultural displays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be an experienced "paddler" to participate?
No you do not need to be an experienced "paddler" to participate. In fact, most of our participants had never picked up a paddle before their first team practice. Due to the size and design, dragon boats are very stable, making them highly suitable for beginners. Dragon Boat teams consist of 20 paddlers - a minimum of 8 from each gender is required - a trained steer-person, provided by the Festival, and a drummer, who keeps the beat of the stroke.
When is the festival?
Saturday, July 9, 2011, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m
What is a dragon boat?
A typical Hong Kong style dragon boat is almost 12 metres long, 1 meter wide, and weighs about 1,500 lbs. It consists of the main body of the boat, with a dragonhead at the front and a long tail at the back.
How safe is a dragon boat?
Due to the size and design, dragon boats are very stable. This makes them suitable for participants of all levels.
What are dragon boats made of?
Traditional dragon boats are constructed of wood, while newer boats are often made of fiberglass or a combination of both materials.
Why the drummer?
The drummer is there to keep the beat of the stroke.
Is it different from a war canoe?
Although the basic stroke is very similar to the one used in a war canoe, dragon boating is distinctively different. Dragon boats are bigger than war canoes (they hold more people) and are much more stable. Furthermore, dragon boat paddlers remain comfortably seated while they paddle versus kneeling in a war canoe.