Getting to put your training to the test on the world stage is a rare opportunity for an athlete, particularly an athlete from a small Canadian city, most of whom are on the brighter side of 50.
But so is the case for 10 north Islanders who are gearing up to participate in the International Dragon Boat Federation鈥檚 Club Crew World Championships in Ravenna, Italy, from Sept. 3 to 8.
Representing Canada and their local dragon boating club, VI Paddling, the north Island contingent 鈥擜lanna Best, Barb Bock, Cindy Hardy, Jane Bowering-Hay, Jo-Ann Denniston, Lynn Egan, Marcy Petersen, Rupert Wong, Adam Sawula and Jen Sawula鈥攚ill join teammates from across Vancouver Island to battle it out in a city most days better known for its Roman and Byzantine architecture than its paddling festivals.
鈥淐ompeting at this level is already an exciting, stressful, and validating experience, but to get to do it in Italy amongst 7,000 athletes worldwide is a real treat,鈥� says Tom Arnold, head coach of the Gorging Dragons high-performance program, and president of VI Paddling. 鈥淲e鈥檙e so fortunate in this sport to travel the world while doing what we love.鈥�
The north Island paddlers are no strangers to travel. Northern crews train on Comox Lake and in Comox Harbour, but make regular trips to VI Paddling鈥檚 primary dock and gym based in Victoria to practice with the rest of their teammates throughout the year. But travel is just one part of what it takes to get to the bi-annual competition.
The road to the Club Crew World Championships is years long and requires immense dedication from those hoping to make the cut. Paddlers, aged 18 to 70+, train on the water three or more days a week and incorporate multiple dryland training sessions, including strength training/crossfit, dragon boat ergs, and cardio sessions. Lifestyle and nutrition changes are also huge factors in a paddler's success.
鈥淭hese are high-performance athletes and it takes an incredible amount of time, energy and hard work to get to that level,鈥� says Arnold. 鈥淚t takes real mental toughness and thousands of hours of training, eating right and travelling up and down the Island to get to that high performance, world stage level.鈥�
That hard work is about to be tested in Italy, but the crews are prepared for whatever the competition has to throw at them, even if it鈥檚 the temptation of fresh pasta and Italian wines.
Vi Paddling鈥檚 North Islanders will hit the water in Ravenna in the Flat Out (breast cancer survivors), Para, and Senior B teams beginning Sept. 3.
