Bob Races the Marines

Bob and his teammates pedaled hard on Saturday to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and to beat the pants off the team of Marines pedaling right next to them.

Hoo-rah!

Tampa Ground Transportation

Pittsburgh Paddlefish
From the Tampa Nationals Director:

"If you plan on going to the beach or to Busch Gardens then it would be good to have a car, but we will be providing transportation to and from the airport and your hotel, and all the hotels are walking distance ( I mean a couple of blocks at the MOST!!) to the race course. There are in-town trolleys and street cars that go to the 2 entertainment districts also."

Thanks to Rich for obtaining this information. When we get more specific details, I'll share those.

More on Tampa/Nationals

Want to know more about nationals? (i.e. why August?!!) Jeff Campbell responds to questions asked and unuttered in an ERDBA article linked here: http://www.erdba.org/attach/USDBFUpdate0605.doc .

Wanna go to Sydney in 2007? Think about trying out for one of the "super teams" (teams comprised of paddlers from a number of different clubs). For one example, see http://www.njdragonboat.org/gm/ (a mixed grand-masters team). The indoor paddling championship next month in New York City is a great site for connecting with others who may be interested in forming a super-team across geographical boundaries under a strong coach!

Toronto International Dragon Boat Festival

Reminder: if you're interested in racing in Toronto, please give Carolyn a check for your race registration fee.

Latest Update from Toronto Race Organizers:

• This year, all premier mixed and women teams will have four races. The first two heat races will be completed on Saturday. Then on Sunday, the teams will compete in two races. Apart from the divisional finals, they will also compete in either a special cup race or, for those community mixed teams who will not be taking part in the Hospital, University or Education cup races, a warm-up race before the regular division final races. The junior teams will, as in previous years, only compete on Saturday with three races – two heats and the final.
  
  
• To ensure that all the premier teams will have four races, we will limit the number of entries this year to a total of 180 teams. A maximum number of 168 will be set for premier teams (mixed and women) and 12 for junior teams. Based on the response that we have received, it is very likely that the spots will be sold out long before the first training on-water training session which is only about eight weeks away.
  

NYC Indoor Paddling Championship: Last Chance!

If you are thinking of going to the indoor paddling championships next month, you must alert Rich and/or Ben this week. The deadline loometh, and Ben is setting up groupings of four paddlers for the 500-meter team competition there.

The championships are held in New York City on Saturday, March 25th. For more information, see the ERDBA web site's events listing at http://www.erdba.org/events.htm.

Coach of the Pittsburgh Paddlefish

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Cello Cello

It was great to have both Richard Butler, the new Executive Director of TRRA, and David Bennett, long-time Paddlefish friend, at practice with us last night!

David's performing this Sunday in a free concert at the Carnegie Library in Oakland. (Maybe if we all show up with orange shirts from last year's Toronto Festival we can persuade him to join us in the races there this summer!)

Concert info below:

Cello Cello will perform at 2:00 PM Sunday, February 12 at the Carnegie Public Library Main Branch in Oakland. The cello duo will play pieces by Mozart, Telemann, Haydn, Marcello, Brubeck, and Rogers & Hart (My Funny Valentine). Cello Cello is comprised of Paula Tuttle and David Bennett. Admission is free.

Telemann - Canonic Sonata
Haydn - Baryton Duo (arranged for two cellos)
Marcello - Duets
Mozart - Voi, che sapete che cosa é amor -- "You who know what love is" (arranged for 2 cellos)
Brubeck - Blue Rondo A La Turk
Rogers & Hart - My Funny Valentine

Go Ben Go!

Team Paddlefish cheer on our "Big Ben" at the Indoor Sprints!

Get That Split Down!

Congratulations to all of the Paddlefish who participated in the erg sprints today! I'd like to give a special congrats to Lori Swensson, who pulled (literally!) through the rough times to finish her race. Let's not forget the volunteers as well! I know I lost my voice shouting instructions to the rowers on deck. Thank you again to everyone who showed up to make this year's sprints a memorable one.

Steelers Fever

Grant's ready to cheer on his mom (Carolyn, who's competing in her first indoor sprints on Saturday) AND the Steelers this weekend!