Back from the Dead
Back from the brink of complete loss.
No lights at the end of tunnels.
Every race being the Last Stand.
OPEN HOUSE 2012
The Suen Feng Loong (SFL) Dragon Boat Team has returned and it’s time to hit the water for an exciting 2012 paddling season. Start shedding those holiday pounds, get a good workout, and meet some crazy people.
New to the sport? Experience the fun and excitement of the sport first hand as our experienced paddlers and coaches show you how to paddle safely and efficiently.
Already a paddling god? Come realize your paddling potential and value as a team member on a individual-oriented team that emphasizes both performance and fun. Learn what makes our team different than all the rest.
FREE to try. Paddle and PFD (life jacket) provided.
See you on the water!
Apex Paddles Revisited
As a follow up to my earlier post:
Just heard back from Apex Sport about my paddle. Not only that, but received the reply from Henry Kim, THE President of Apex Sport. You can read more about him here. Downside is that my paddle was purchased in 2009 and has exceeded the 1 year manufacturer warranty. Good news is that Henry puts confidence in the structural integrity of his products alongside the black magic performance ingredients. He has assured me that if the paddle were at risk of breaking, it would likely have done so by now as gradual cracking/failure is very rare, just like the end of the universe and undoing of all that is (my words, not his).
Therefore, my Apex Accelerator paddle is not one to get old and tired with age but rather to go out with a Big Bang (or should I say snap) if at all. I’m hoping for the best and if that sad day should come, you should know Apex Sport and Henry are very serious about their customer loyalty…unless it really is the end of the universe, then I probably won’t get the paddle in time despite overnight shipping expenses. Why does Canada need to be so far away, eh?
Jerseys sooooon
Heard from Christine that our team jerseys have made it through production and are getting ready to be shipped. Hopefully we’ll receive them within 2 wks and make it to your hands, on your bodies, on the water, to the races! Woo!
Ready, Get, Dressed
First off, I wanted to thank everybody for being a sport last year when we didn’t have enough team jerseys to go around. Now that 2011 is here, that’s soon to change! We’re currently working on our new line of team jerseys and will hopefully have them by May Race if not soon after.
These jerseys will be sublimated which allows the design and ink to be permanently printed into the fabric. I’ve done the sunscreen, salt water, washer/dryer tests and the samples have all held up perfectly. Love it or love it more, here’s our new skin for 2011!
2011 a Go-Go!
It’s that time of year folks! Dust off those paddles and loosen the straps on your PFD to fit your huge muscles built up over off-season. (yes…you heard me)
THE 2011 SFL OPEN HOUSE IS HAPPENING
Sprint? Buk Yea!
Looking good SFL Bronson Buk Norris!
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/111987
Need to jam off the line a bit faster, but awesome top speed and fightin’ midrace! Let’s go!
The Tortoise and Hare
The eternal struggle between spastic and being deliberate. I am planning to one day train a paddler to be a hairy turtle or maybe a rabbit with a shell. That should end this dilemma once and for all!
Witness the Glory
Oh to be unstoppable! Faster than being on any West Coast men’s boat (sprint distance or otherwise) is this race captured here w/ FCRCC and Dragon Hearts Magnum duking it out for 1st place. If I ever raced 1:53 in a 500m I could see myself retiring from dragon boat altogether…job’s done…throw in the towel….
Some Blog Feedback
The following was submitted by Alex Ha, our fastest and strongest paddler, and I’d like to share it as it reflects some of our most basic of principles.
I like everything on the blog, especially the emphasis on individual accountability in practice, getting wet before the start, and training before dragonboat season. Personally, I feel that improving your ability as a dragonboat paddler can be done by these two things.
First obviously it depends on how much you practice because practice makes perfect (duh). At practice you can really understand what your body is capable of and when you have a grasp of that, then you have the ability to push your limit.
Conditioning outside of dragonboating is probably the key element to becoming a better dragonboater. We’re all athletes, and as athletes we should treat our bodies with that respect and condition ourselves so we can perform at a higher level.
Of course there’s so many other factors to consider but if we can focus on a few things individually, like making a habit of coming to practice and taking a few days to do maybe 20-30 minutes of exercise outside of dragonboat practice it’ll definitely put us in a better position to surpass our accomplishments of last year.
We definitely need to bring it this year if we intend on building the success we had last year. I would love to add to my lonely Long Beach medal that sits there with no friends.
I know Alex isn’t the only one on the team whose medals sit lonely and neglected. It’s a serious matter that demands all of our attention and awareness. I’m begging all of you, please, spend at least 50 hours this season working to bring home as many medal siblings and cousins home to your existing medals. They all deserve a good home. Your home. Thank you. Make it happen. No excuses.
