GrandMasters Database

CALLING ALL GRAND MASTERS!!!
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RSVP via email to Ellen Law directly and/or complete the online informational form if you will be at least 50 years old on January 1, 2005 and interested in trying out for a shot in paddling a dragon boat representing USA at the 2005 IDBF World Championships scheduled for Aug 3-7, 2005, in Berlin, Germany.

INFO REQUESTED: Age @ 1/1/05, full name, gender, weight,
experience in: paddling, dragon boat, steering.
paddling side, drumming experience, current
team name, your name, your email, your phone#,
current residence (city,state).

Ellen is building a database of US dragon boaters to determine the feasibility of building a program of sorts to pull together athletes from around the country for tryouts and practices.

GRAND MASTERS @ BERLIN?
=======================
. The IDBF World Championships currently determine world champions at the Open, Junior (12-18 yrs old), Senior (40+ yrs old) Classes. Members of the international dragon boat community are working with the host organizations to find a way to add the Grand Masters Division.
. Much depends on the flexibility of the facility, organization and interest in member nations for this new division to get added to an already heavy race program. Although IDBF World Championships have only once succeeded in getting 20 nations to participate, IDBF organizers expect 2005 to have attract more than 20 nations.
. USDBF suggests waiting until IDBF confirms the division for the Berlin races and for the competition committee to decide on action...
-- In the meantime, Ellen hopes to build a database and prepare
US paddlers in the event the division gets the "GO AHEAD".
-- The NJ Dragon Boat Club is prepared to assist with the
team selection process with practices, try outs and some
west coast scouting trips planned.
. Nations who replied positively @ Shanghai:
. Canada, Australia, Great Britain, Germany, USA

NOTES FROM ELLEN LAW
=====
. I am not a rep of USDBF nor IDBF. I am serving only to
volunteer to build this database and share information I
receive about the Berlin program and races through our club
website.

. Gary Carstens, USDBF President, assured me in mid-November:
"sit tight, sit tight". There wasn't any mention of a Grand
Masters class in today's USDBF bulletin which recapped a
recent IDBF bulletin.

. There are NO guarantees about a GM team at this time, until
USDBF confirms a TEAM USA for GM. Gary Carstens assured me
he will share any info on a Grand Masters Class for the
Berlin races as soon as he hears from IDBF.
. I will work to keep updated GM related info on our
NJ Dragon Boat Club website:
http://www.njdragonboat.org/masters

Hope everyone the best of health and happiness during the Holidays and
throughout the New Year! Keep paddling!

Ellen Law
NJ Dragon Boat Club
http://www.njdragonboat.org
TEAM USA member: 1998-2005

Inspiration

From Lisa:

Here is a haiku written by Idris Evans of the EDC team who was inspired by the Dragon Boat Festival:

Center of teamwork
With strength of one move river
Victory is sweet

We could almost adopt that as our Paddlefish motto. It would go nicely with our logo, if we had a logo. Hint, hint to all you artistic people out there.

Laurie, Joan, Gina and Idris proudly display their medals
 

Catching Up

Colds, festivities, and seasonal busy-ness are making it harder to stay in touch at practice, so this is just a note to make sure everyone's caught up on what's happening....

Mina, Jen, Ada, Stef, and Rachel all participated in the Central Catholic Biathlon this past Saturday: way to go!!!!

Thursday's practice is at Washington's Landing (6:30 PM).

Reaction to the idea of spinning this Saturday has been pretty evenly split, so we'll defer spinning till the new year. Many thanks to Judy D, who has volunteered to organize the next spinning expedition. We'll meet at Millvale for practice this Saturday morning.

Saturday evening is party time! Celebrate Carolyn's birthday and the season at Lisa's house, starting around 7 PM.

Paddle Cheers

Vigorous paddle cheers to Dick and Marie, who are both on track for successful completion of the Concept II Erg Challenge!

And another set of paddle cheers to all those Paddlefish who are erging and running/walking in the 3rd Annual Central Catholic Biathlon at the boat house this Saturday morning! Mina, Jen, Ada.... Who else? They are meeting up at 7:30 AM: women erg for 7500m; men for 10000m; all erging stops after 50 minutes, finished or not, and is followed up by a run or walk of 6 miles – down to PNC park and back.

Spinning on Saturday

From Pauline re Saturday:

Millvale Tank Session: 8:45 - 10:00

It would be terrific if people could arrive a little early on Saturday and warm up.I would like to start the tank session at nine so that we can get a good 50min in. I then would like to go over a few things about spinning before wehead over.

Spinning - What to Expect: 10:30 - 11:30

I'd like to head over to BodyTech no later than about 10:15
- Mary is expecting us at 10:30. She will go through the whole routine of setting up a bike, riding positions, etc and then lead a 30-45min workout.

One thing to note here: You can go AT YOUR OWN PACE and make it as easy on your body (if you have injuries) or as challenging as you like. For those of you with sore backs (Carolyn, Lori, Chuck) - this might besomething to consider trying - great cardio, not as stressful as rowing or paddling on the lower back. Check with your doctor if you are not sure, though!

Spinning - What to Bring

Bring $4.25 to pay for the class.
Everyone who plans to spin should bring an extra set of workout clothes.
- If you have bike shorts, those are great. If not, I would suggest leggings, or shorts.
- T-shirt is fine on top.
- No special shoes needed - running shoes are fine.
- Bring a water bottle!!!! (you can buy one there, but it's $1)
- There are small towels if you want during the class.
- There is a locker room with towels and a shower.

Spinning - How to Get There
- BodyTech is on Freeport Road
- from Millvale take Route 28 and exit at the HighlandPark/Aspinwall/Sharpsburg exit.
- take the Aspinwall ramp (don't head over the bridge!!)
- you will pass a oil/lube place (on your left), then a parking lot, then start looking
- it is on the northeast corner, right beside a fishing/outdoor store, and you have to turn left (there is no light at thecross-section
- if you have reached St. Margaret's hospital you have gone too far
- there are two small parking lots and street parking

Hope this helps!

Pauline