Well, it's all over, except the hangover. I'll have to update this at another time as it is 3:00 am and I am waiting to go to the airport. The mixed 500m was amazing! We won! The men won the b-final today which put them in 7th...a great day with lots of fight.
I learned a lot during the week and watched my paddlers do the same. I am, however, now looking forward to a holiday!!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Day 2 and 3: Open 1000m and Mixed and Open 200m
As a coach and paddler, this is certainly a full-on few days! I have cried 5 times already, 2 for happiness, 2 for distress and one for a touching paddler attitude.
The progression for the races to get to the final is: top two from heats to Semi, all others to one of 2 Reps. Top 2 from each Rep plus next 2 fastest to Semi = 2 Semi's of 6. Top 2 from each Semi plus next 2 fastest to Final. Other crews are put into a minor final.
Day 2:
On Thursday the open (men's) crew raced the 1000m. We had to go through the rep which meant 4 races for the guys which is a lot of 1000's. On the rep (2nd round) we didn't need as strong a crew so I stroked so Eugene could rest. The plan all worked great and the guys got lane 1 for the semi, a lane that has shown to be significantly faster than the other lanes, in all distances. From there, they made the final which is a great feat for a new team with the level of competition here! Every race got better and better and they raced to a 5th place in the final showing that, lane 1 in the semi or not, they deserved to be there! Finals are 6 crews.
Day 3:
Yesterday was the 200m day. Mixed in the morning, Open in the afternoon. Mixed was going well. Our heat was flat paddling but we came back with a great race in the rep. We were in a good position to expect a final position if we could execute our race in the semi where we had to be top 2 or the next 2 fastest times from the 2 semis. We were second 60 m into the race when our drum starting moving forward and back. As the stroke, the drum looked like it was going to fall on us. Our, now proven agile, drummer was grabbing at it with one hand and drumming with the other and somehow staying in the boat. There is a time penalty for not drumming. But the drum rolled so now it's sideways and I'm looking into the bottom of the drum and it's rolling around. Vivian is deperately trying to hold on to it and stay in the boat, and we're still going full speed. At one point, she's out over the left side of the boat and I think she going to fall off. I tried to paddle my best and the crew certainly kept the rhythm but Jeff and I were compromised due to worrying for Vivian and our own safety and having to be prepared for having a drum or drummer under our paddle or into our shoulders at any time. Our result was 1/2 sec out of the final, which from my perpective can be entirely accounted for with what will now been known as the incident with the drum. It was devastating. We raced the minor final with an extra woman and as much heart as we could muster and came 4th.
Then the Open team dried my tears by racing 3 fabulous rounds, with no rep needed, to earn a 5th place spot in the final. They're all heart those guys!! Along with a good dose of fitness and a beautifully blended technique.
Today: Mixed 500m where we are going to get this monkey off our backs!!
The progression for the races to get to the final is: top two from heats to Semi, all others to one of 2 Reps. Top 2 from each Rep plus next 2 fastest to Semi = 2 Semi's of 6. Top 2 from each Semi plus next 2 fastest to Final. Other crews are put into a minor final.
Day 2:
On Thursday the open (men's) crew raced the 1000m. We had to go through the rep which meant 4 races for the guys which is a lot of 1000's. On the rep (2nd round) we didn't need as strong a crew so I stroked so Eugene could rest. The plan all worked great and the guys got lane 1 for the semi, a lane that has shown to be significantly faster than the other lanes, in all distances. From there, they made the final which is a great feat for a new team with the level of competition here! Every race got better and better and they raced to a 5th place in the final showing that, lane 1 in the semi or not, they deserved to be there! Finals are 6 crews.
Day 3:
Yesterday was the 200m day. Mixed in the morning, Open in the afternoon. Mixed was going well. Our heat was flat paddling but we came back with a great race in the rep. We were in a good position to expect a final position if we could execute our race in the semi where we had to be top 2 or the next 2 fastest times from the 2 semis. We were second 60 m into the race when our drum starting moving forward and back. As the stroke, the drum looked like it was going to fall on us. Our, now proven agile, drummer was grabbing at it with one hand and drumming with the other and somehow staying in the boat. There is a time penalty for not drumming. But the drum rolled so now it's sideways and I'm looking into the bottom of the drum and it's rolling around. Vivian is deperately trying to hold on to it and stay in the boat, and we're still going full speed. At one point, she's out over the left side of the boat and I think she going to fall off. I tried to paddle my best and the crew certainly kept the rhythm but Jeff and I were compromised due to worrying for Vivian and our own safety and having to be prepared for having a drum or drummer under our paddle or into our shoulders at any time. Our result was 1/2 sec out of the final, which from my perpective can be entirely accounted for with what will now been known as the incident with the drum. It was devastating. We raced the minor final with an extra woman and as much heart as we could muster and came 4th.
Then the Open team dried my tears by racing 3 fabulous rounds, with no rep needed, to earn a 5th place spot in the final. They're all heart those guys!! Along with a good dose of fitness and a beautifully blended technique.
Today: Mixed 500m where we are going to get this monkey off our backs!!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Day 1: 2000m
Our results today were 8th in premier open and 4th in premier mixed. After a solid race by the open crew, we are able to bring some learnings to work on into tomorrow's 1000m event. We decided before the mixed results came out that we had an amazing race. Although the disapointment is deep at a 4th, as defending Champs, a lot of tactics and positioning comes into the 2000m, especially with the format of running starts used here and the easy sinkabililty of the type of boat used. Several crews sunk and the situation was such that, unless you got a lead on a brilliant turn or were a much faster crew, the ability to overtake was severely hampered by the huge amount of water you would take in to do so (to get past the wash). I would like to go into more detail but I'm exhausted. We are taking the outlook that 2000m results have very little relation to rankings in straight controlled sprint races. If anything, we're even more pumped up than before!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Update from Prague: Tomorrow it all starts!!!
I have been planning specifically for this regatta for 15 months and it's starting tomorrow! It's hard to believe. Last spring we put our push into preparing for trials, then, with our win at trials, the 13 month process of preparing started: unifying FCRCC women and men under one banner of FCRCC High Performance DB Program, setting a selection criteria and creating the hype, momentum and, hence, training numbers that has created our current mixed team. With the open (men's) team, the process was similar adding in a training camp with our Eastern guys coming out to Vancouver to get the whole team together and provide a starting framework for their season goals.
Final training here has been great. A couple things to be said for jet lag and a different type of boat than we've used before is that you really do feel better and better in the build to race day. We came 6 days ago to take care of the jet lag (9 hour time change from Vancouver) so each day we feel more "right". The boats are Swift boats. They are much like BUK's with slightly more banked sides (boat slants in from gunwhale, rather than straight down), lower gunwhales and a little more rocky. Now that we have them figured out, I really, really like them. Perhaps the chance of swamping in the 2000m is larger though for heavy crews. We'll see tomorrow when we race the 2000m!
The regatta is five days long with:
Wednesday: Open and Mixed 2000m
Thursday: Open 1000m
Friday: Open and Mixed 200m
Saturday: Mixed 500m
Sunday: Open 500m
I have been able to take a peak at the Canadian Senior teams too and they look incredible!!! I expect the same from the youngsters and grand masters but I haven't seen them. There have been lots of phenomenal teams out practicing so it's gonna be a tough fight!
Thanks for following our adventure!
Kamini
Final training here has been great. A couple things to be said for jet lag and a different type of boat than we've used before is that you really do feel better and better in the build to race day. We came 6 days ago to take care of the jet lag (9 hour time change from Vancouver) so each day we feel more "right". The boats are Swift boats. They are much like BUK's with slightly more banked sides (boat slants in from gunwhale, rather than straight down), lower gunwhales and a little more rocky. Now that we have them figured out, I really, really like them. Perhaps the chance of swamping in the 2000m is larger though for heavy crews. We'll see tomorrow when we race the 2000m!
The regatta is five days long with:
Wednesday: Open and Mixed 2000m
Thursday: Open 1000m
Friday: Open and Mixed 200m
Saturday: Mixed 500m
Sunday: Open 500m
I have been able to take a peak at the Canadian Senior teams too and they look incredible!!! I expect the same from the youngsters and grand masters but I haven't seen them. There have been lots of phenomenal teams out practicing so it's gonna be a tough fight!
Thanks for following our adventure!
Kamini
Saturday, August 22, 2009
World's countdown: T-4
We had our first of four practice days today. There weren't a lot of teams paddling today but as I sit here in the hotel lobby the Iranian team is checking in. This worlds has many countries we have not seen before, Iran being one of them. I've put the 2000m draw for all the categories belwo so you can check out all the countries. Personally, I'm excited there is a team from India!!
Typically, the first practice after a big plane trip is flat and sluggy, but not today! I am really pleased with both the mixed and the open (men's) practices. The mixed team is all FCRCC paddlers, the open team is a Canada-wide team of 15 FCRCC paddlers plus the drummer and steers, 5 Mayfair (Toronto) paddlers, 1 Beast (Halifax), 2 from Montreal, 1 from Toronto's Canadian Seniors (although too young) and a wandering fella who has no fixed address and paddles with Scotia Rouge. As a result, the challenge with the men is gelling them quickly. They have all come fit and ready to go so the practice surmounted my expectations and now I, as coach, will be able to sleep well tonight.
Our FCRCC paddlers racing on the Canadian Senior women's team arrive tonight.
For anyone who wants to follow the races, they are apparently aiming to show them online at:
http://idbfworldchamps.com/
Race draws and results will be posted on this site too.
If you're looking for your friend, an approximate seat order for mixed follows. Open is still in the works.
Lefts:
1. Kamini Jain
2. Leah Nagano
3. Eugene Chong
4. Erin Lim
5. Ed Low
6. Jimmy Jay
7. Maleska Young
8. Chris Grunow
9. Rob Magus
10. Brad Morrison
11. John Siderfin
12. Kimberley Amundson
Rights:
1. Jeff Chen
2. Inna Shektman
3. Erica McArthur
4. Chris Scully
5. Catherine Trask
6. Ron Santos
7. Phil Chan
8. Moe Saboune
9. Graham Smith
10. Kevin Fung
11. Sheila Kuyper
12. Leanne Zrum
13. Rebecca Chan
We're still awaiting the complete race draw. We just have seen the 2000m start order. Our favorite race!!! Draw is below. The two teams I coach are in red, although I am excited for the races of all the Canadian Teams!!
Race 1 - JUNIOR & SENIOR A & GRAND DRAGONS WOMEN 2000m
Start time: 13:00
Boats: A.B.C(4)
Format: Crews will start at 12 second intervals, Junior crews first, then Senior A and then GDs
Start Order Competition Class
1 Jnr Australia Aus
2 Jnr Singapore Sng
3 Jnr China Chn
4 Jnr Canada Can
5 Jnr Czech rep. Cze
1 Snr A Italy Ita
2 Snr A USA Usa
3 Snr A Australia Aus
4 Snr A Hungary Hun
5 Snr A Czech rep. Cze
6 Snr A Canada Can
7 Snr A Germany Ger
1 GDs USA Usa
2 GDs Australia Aus
3 GDs Canada Can
4 GDs Czech rep. Cze
Race 2 - SENIOR A & GRAND DRAGONS OPEN 2000m
Start time: 13:45
Boats: A.B.C + 2
Format: Crews will start at 12 second intervals, Senior A crews first.
Start Order Competition Class
1 GD Australia Aus
2 GD Ukraine Ukr
3 GD USA Usa
4 GD Russia Rus
5 GD Poland Pol
6 GD Czech rep. Cze
7 GD Germany Ger
8 GD Canada Can
1 Snr A Japan Jpn
2 Snr A Slovak rep. Slo
3 Snr A Ukraine Ukr
4 Snr A Australia Aus
5 Snr A Great Britain Gbr
6 Snr A Hungary Hun
7 Snr A USA Usa
8 Snr A Germany Ger
9 Snr A Poland Pol
10 Snr A Russia Rus
11 Snr A Canada Can
12 Snr A Czech rep. Cze
Race 3 - JUNIORS & U23s OPEN 2000m
Start time: 14:30
Boats: C(4).A.B.
Format: Crews will start at 12 second intervals, U23s first. Jnr B last.
Start Order Competition Class
1 U23 Canada Can
2 U23 Poland Pol
3 U23 Slovak rep. Slo
1 Jnr A Australia 2 Aus 2
2 Jnr A Singapore Sng
3 Jnr A New Zealand Nzl
4 Jnr A Ukraine Ukr
5 Jnr A Great Britain Gbr
6 Jnr A Australia Aus
7 Jnr A Poland Pol
8 Jnr A Slovak rep. Slo
9 Jnr A China Chn
10 Jnr A Czech rep. Cze
11 Jnr A Russia Rus
12 Jnr A Canada Can
13 Jnr A Germany Ger
1 Jnr B USA Usa
Race 4 - PREMIER WOMEN 2000m
Start time: 15:15
Boats: A.B.
Format: Crews start at 12 second intervals.
Start Order Competition Class
1 PW South Africa Rsa
2 PW Iran Irn
3 PW Australia Aus
4 PW Macau Mac
5 PW Hungary Hun
6 PW USA Usa
7 PW Czech rep. Cze
8 PW Germany Ger
9 PW China Chn
10 PW Great Britain Gbr
11 PW Canada Can
12 PW Russia Rus
Race 5 - PREMIER OPEN 2000m
Start time: 16:00
Boats: A.B.C(5)
Format: Crews start at 12 second intervals
Start Order Competition Class
1 PO South Africa Rsa
2 PO India Ind
3 PO Singapore Sng
4 PO Iran Ira
5 PO Bulgaria Bul
6 PO Australia Aus
7 PO Poland Pol
8 PO Macau Mac
9 PO Philippines Phl
10 PO Great Britain Gbr
11 PO China Chn
12 PO Canada Can
13 PO Hungary Hun
14 PO Czech rep. Cze
15 PO Germany Ger
16 PO Russia Rus
17 PO USA Usa
18 PO Slovak rep. Slo
Race 6 - JUNIORS & U23s MIXED 2000m
Start time: 16:45
Boats: A.B.C(5)
Format: Crews start at 12 second intervals, U23s first.
Start Order Competition Class
1 U23 Hungary Hun
2 U23 Poland Pol
3 U23 Slovak rep. Slo
4 U23 Canada Can
1 Jnr A Australia 2 Aus 2
2 Jnr A Singapore 2 Sng 2
3 Jnr A Canada 2 Can 2
4 Jnr A Australia 1 Aus 1
5 Jnr A Slovak rep. Slo
6 Jnr A Singapore 1 Sng 1
7 Jnr A Great Britain Gbr
8 Jnr A USA Usa
9 Jnr A China Chn
10 Jnr A Canada 1 Can 1
11 Jnr A Poland Pol
12 Jnr A Czech rep. Cze
13 Jnr A Germany Ger
Race 7 - SENIOR A & GRAND DRAGONS MIXED 2000m
Start time: 17:30
Boats: A.B(2).C.
Format: Crews start at 12 second intervals, Senior A crews first.
Start Order Competition Class
1 Snr A USA Usa
2 Snr A Great Britain Gbr
3 Snr A Australia Aus
4 Snr A Czech rep. Cze
5 Snr A Poland Pol
6 Snr A Hungary Hun
7 Snr A Germany Ger
8 Snr A Canada Can
1 GD Italy Ita
2 GD Australia Aus
3 GD USA Usa
4 GD Czech rep. Cze
5 GD Canada Can
6 GD Germany Ger
Race 8 - PREMIER MIXED 2000m
Start time: 18:10
Boats: B.A.C(3)
Format: Crews start at 12 second intervals.
Start Order Competition Class
1 PM South Africa Rsa
2 PM Hong Kong Hkg
3 PM Norway Nor
4 PM Italy Ita
5 PM Australia Aus
6 PM Ukraine Ukr
7 PM USA Usa
8 PM China Chn
9 PM Poland Pol
10 PM Macau Mac
11 PM Hungary Hun
12 PM Czech rep. Cze
13 PM Germany Ger
14 PM Canada Can
15 PM Russia Rus
Typically, the first practice after a big plane trip is flat and sluggy, but not today! I am really pleased with both the mixed and the open (men's) practices. The mixed team is all FCRCC paddlers, the open team is a Canada-wide team of 15 FCRCC paddlers plus the drummer and steers, 5 Mayfair (Toronto) paddlers, 1 Beast (Halifax), 2 from Montreal, 1 from Toronto's Canadian Seniors (although too young) and a wandering fella who has no fixed address and paddles with Scotia Rouge. As a result, the challenge with the men is gelling them quickly. They have all come fit and ready to go so the practice surmounted my expectations and now I, as coach, will be able to sleep well tonight.
Our FCRCC paddlers racing on the Canadian Senior women's team arrive tonight.
For anyone who wants to follow the races, they are apparently aiming to show them online at:
http://idbfworldchamps.com/
Race draws and results will be posted on this site too.
If you're looking for your friend, an approximate seat order for mixed follows. Open is still in the works.
Lefts:
1. Kamini Jain
2. Leah Nagano
3. Eugene Chong
4. Erin Lim
5. Ed Low
6. Jimmy Jay
7. Maleska Young
8. Chris Grunow
9. Rob Magus
10. Brad Morrison
11. John Siderfin
12. Kimberley Amundson
Rights:
1. Jeff Chen
2. Inna Shektman
3. Erica McArthur
4. Chris Scully
5. Catherine Trask
6. Ron Santos
7. Phil Chan
8. Moe Saboune
9. Graham Smith
10. Kevin Fung
11. Sheila Kuyper
12. Leanne Zrum
13. Rebecca Chan
We're still awaiting the complete race draw. We just have seen the 2000m start order. Our favorite race!!! Draw is below. The two teams I coach are in red, although I am excited for the races of all the Canadian Teams!!
Race 1 - JUNIOR & SENIOR A & GRAND DRAGONS WOMEN 2000m
Start time: 13:00
Boats: A.B.C(4)
Format: Crews will start at 12 second intervals, Junior crews first, then Senior A and then GDs
Start Order Competition Class
1 Jnr Australia Aus
2 Jnr Singapore Sng
3 Jnr China Chn
4 Jnr Canada Can
5 Jnr Czech rep. Cze
1 Snr A Italy Ita
2 Snr A USA Usa
3 Snr A Australia Aus
4 Snr A Hungary Hun
5 Snr A Czech rep. Cze
6 Snr A Canada Can
7 Snr A Germany Ger
1 GDs USA Usa
2 GDs Australia Aus
3 GDs Canada Can
4 GDs Czech rep. Cze
Race 2 - SENIOR A & GRAND DRAGONS OPEN 2000m
Start time: 13:45
Boats: A.B.C + 2
Format: Crews will start at 12 second intervals, Senior A crews first.
Start Order Competition Class
1 GD Australia Aus
2 GD Ukraine Ukr
3 GD USA Usa
4 GD Russia Rus
5 GD Poland Pol
6 GD Czech rep. Cze
7 GD Germany Ger
8 GD Canada Can
1 Snr A Japan Jpn
2 Snr A Slovak rep. Slo
3 Snr A Ukraine Ukr
4 Snr A Australia Aus
5 Snr A Great Britain Gbr
6 Snr A Hungary Hun
7 Snr A USA Usa
8 Snr A Germany Ger
9 Snr A Poland Pol
10 Snr A Russia Rus
11 Snr A Canada Can
12 Snr A Czech rep. Cze
Race 3 - JUNIORS & U23s OPEN 2000m
Start time: 14:30
Boats: C(4).A.B.
Format: Crews will start at 12 second intervals, U23s first. Jnr B last.
Start Order Competition Class
1 U23 Canada Can
2 U23 Poland Pol
3 U23 Slovak rep. Slo
1 Jnr A Australia 2 Aus 2
2 Jnr A Singapore Sng
3 Jnr A New Zealand Nzl
4 Jnr A Ukraine Ukr
5 Jnr A Great Britain Gbr
6 Jnr A Australia Aus
7 Jnr A Poland Pol
8 Jnr A Slovak rep. Slo
9 Jnr A China Chn
10 Jnr A Czech rep. Cze
11 Jnr A Russia Rus
12 Jnr A Canada Can
13 Jnr A Germany Ger
1 Jnr B USA Usa
Race 4 - PREMIER WOMEN 2000m
Start time: 15:15
Boats: A.B.
Format: Crews start at 12 second intervals.
Start Order Competition Class
1 PW South Africa Rsa
2 PW Iran Irn
3 PW Australia Aus
4 PW Macau Mac
5 PW Hungary Hun
6 PW USA Usa
7 PW Czech rep. Cze
8 PW Germany Ger
9 PW China Chn
10 PW Great Britain Gbr
11 PW Canada Can
12 PW Russia Rus
Race 5 - PREMIER OPEN 2000m
Start time: 16:00
Boats: A.B.C(5)
Format: Crews start at 12 second intervals
Start Order Competition Class
1 PO South Africa Rsa
2 PO India Ind
3 PO Singapore Sng
4 PO Iran Ira
5 PO Bulgaria Bul
6 PO Australia Aus
7 PO Poland Pol
8 PO Macau Mac
9 PO Philippines Phl
10 PO Great Britain Gbr
11 PO China Chn
12 PO Canada Can
13 PO Hungary Hun
14 PO Czech rep. Cze
15 PO Germany Ger
16 PO Russia Rus
17 PO USA Usa
18 PO Slovak rep. Slo
Race 6 - JUNIORS & U23s MIXED 2000m
Start time: 16:45
Boats: A.B.C(5)
Format: Crews start at 12 second intervals, U23s first.
Start Order Competition Class
1 U23 Hungary Hun
2 U23 Poland Pol
3 U23 Slovak rep. Slo
4 U23 Canada Can
1 Jnr A Australia 2 Aus 2
2 Jnr A Singapore 2 Sng 2
3 Jnr A Canada 2 Can 2
4 Jnr A Australia 1 Aus 1
5 Jnr A Slovak rep. Slo
6 Jnr A Singapore 1 Sng 1
7 Jnr A Great Britain Gbr
8 Jnr A USA Usa
9 Jnr A China Chn
10 Jnr A Canada 1 Can 1
11 Jnr A Poland Pol
12 Jnr A Czech rep. Cze
13 Jnr A Germany Ger
Race 7 - SENIOR A & GRAND DRAGONS MIXED 2000m
Start time: 17:30
Boats: A.B(2).C.
Format: Crews start at 12 second intervals, Senior A crews first.
Start Order Competition Class
1 Snr A USA Usa
2 Snr A Great Britain Gbr
3 Snr A Australia Aus
4 Snr A Czech rep. Cze
5 Snr A Poland Pol
6 Snr A Hungary Hun
7 Snr A Germany Ger
8 Snr A Canada Can
1 GD Italy Ita
2 GD Australia Aus
3 GD USA Usa
4 GD Czech rep. Cze
5 GD Canada Can
6 GD Germany Ger
Race 8 - PREMIER MIXED 2000m
Start time: 18:10
Boats: B.A.C(3)
Format: Crews start at 12 second intervals.
Start Order Competition Class
1 PM South Africa Rsa
2 PM Hong Kong Hkg
3 PM Norway Nor
4 PM Italy Ita
5 PM Australia Aus
6 PM Ukraine Ukr
7 PM USA Usa
8 PM China Chn
9 PM Poland Pol
10 PM Macau Mac
11 PM Hungary Hun
12 PM Czech rep. Cze
13 PM Germany Ger
14 PM Canada Can
15 PM Russia Rus
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