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DragonTales
Fall 1999
V o l u m e 4 N o. 4 A Quarterly Publication of DragonSports USA
From the Bow of the Boat
Stumptown Paddlers
Richard Cole, President Triumph in Hawaii!
The 1999 dragon boat racing season has Shirley Ewart
ended. Portland teams made an impact Sleepy smiles were in evidence at Portland longshoremen and “ Anuenue”, a predomi-
in venues all over the world. Our teams Airport very early on the morning of July 29 ola
nantly male team. Po’ posted an easy
have shown their strength in as one by one Stumptown Paddlers recog- victory, but we came in first in the “interna-
Nottingham, England, Hawaii, Canada, s
nized each other’ blue t-shirts. Beyond relief tional” division against the AT&T Tsunami
and the USA. Congratulations go to at being at the right gate at the right time, from San Francisco and Vancouver, B.C.’ s
Wasabi for their excellent showing in the most had two thoughts in mind: we were s
Dragon’ Hearts. We were delighted that our
World Cup Races and Stumptown for going to have fun, and, with luck, we would good times qualified us for the final. Po’ola
their accomplishments in Hawaii. get through the first round and paddle more won the championship, a young team from
Portland hosted 90 teams in the than one race. Then the good news. An the Lin and Ella Wong Foundation were
Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Associa- international division had been formed with second, and we came in third.
tion Dragon Races in June and 18 teams just three competitors. We were now sure of at As he presented our captain with a very
in the DragonSports Regatta at Lake least two races. And there would still be handsome koa wood trophy, George Irion,
Vancouver in September. Thousands of plenty of time to have fun! representing AT&T, applauded Stumptown
paddlers, volunteers, and supporters We arrived in Honolulu before noon and the for the diversity of its team members noting
have participated in an outstanding same evening the whole team gathered on that our paddlers’ages ranged from twenty-
dragon boat season. Waikiki Beach for our first practice. The two to seventy-eight, and our roster included
Kaohsiung boats were very familiar to us. The two breast cancer survivors. That night we
The races provided a unique set of
paddles were not! Unwieldy, heavy mon- celebrated both our triumph and Fran Palk’ s
memories for all participants. New strosities with thick handles and thick, sixtieth birthday at a Chinese dinner.
paddlers have joined our ranks and have narrow, pointed blades they were hard to
caught the excitement, fun, and handle, but the first practice went Continued on page 2
camaraderie involved in this sport. well and we were enchanted by
Experienced paddlers have added new the warm, azure waters and the
friends, learned new skills related to tropical scenery. We had one more
calling, tilling, coaching, and race practice at Waikiki Beach, and
operations. Behind the scenes, others are then – party time!
functioning in support roles, to include We enjoyed meeting the other
maintaining our boats, distributing logo paddlers and learned that the
items, producing the DragonTales, Festival was sponsored by AT&T
coordinating callers and tillers, schedul- in partnership with the Hawaii
ing the team rental of boats, maintaining Dragon Boat Association, the
accounts and keeping records. For me Chinese Community, the State of
personally, I find the best part of the year Hawaii, the City and County of
was the positive attitude and support Honolulu. Yogi Bera, our team
shown in the volunteer efforts of so captain, got a kiss and a shell lei
many of you. It is this volunteer effort from Miss Chinatown and a real
that makes DragonSports USA work. spirit of Aloha prevailed.
This is a source of great satisfaction Race day dawned bright and clear. We all
knowing that one has individually walked down to Ala Moana State Park where
helped make the program a success. the three dragon boats were pulled up to the s
What’ Inside...
I hope each of us will continue to beach where a stage and various booths had
been set up. There were forty-one teams Paddlers Input Needed
participate in the off season, either in
regular practices or in team practices. taking part and the thirty heats included Coaches Clinic 2000 Update
This will keep us in good condition and special races for military and “international”
contestants, however in the rest of the races, Christmas Caroling Update
give us a head start on next years racing
season. Please enjoy the more relaxed novices, men, mixed, and women teams were Tips for New Paddlers
pitted against each other. We won our first
practice times and keep well.
heat, but in the next race we met our nemesis! Member Interview
ola,
Our opponents were Po’ an all-male team
of quite huge, and obviously well-buffed
Promoting fitness and friend
Stumptown Paddlers cont. from page 1 Farewell to Roberta Cobb
Every day of our five day stay, team members Roberta Cobb has resigned her DragonSports
DragonSports USA pursued their own interests. Team members USA Board position as Operations Coordina-
Open Practices quote peak experiences: Maureen Brown: tor. Roberta has been on the board several
“Swimming with a turtle at Hanauma Bay.” years and performed many vital functions
Mon., Wed., and Fri. .... 9:00 a.m. Scotty Lamb: “Mai-Tais and a tropical sunset during her tenure. She coordinated Team Boat
Tuesday ........................ 6:00 p.m. on the catamaran.” Rentals, Training Activities for tilling and
Julie Edwardson: “Having my photo taken calling, Race Registration for the Regatta, and
Thursday ...................... 6:00 p.m. other board functions. Many thanks for a job
with members of Po’ ola!”
Saturday ....................... 8:00 a.m. well done. Her highest priority now is being a
Yogi Bera: “Winning!”
foster parent to puppies needing lots of tender
All evening practices For this writer, the real joy of our Honolulu loving care before they go to permanent
should be using lights. adventure was to see so many very different homes. Roberta will continue to be an active
people, united by their love of dragon boat paddler on Stumptown and will continue to
For information concerning fees, competition, enjoying themselves. Everyone volunteer as a caller at open practices. We will
please call the information line had a great time, and I never heard a single miss her on the board and are happy that she
(503) 639-2799. Checks for dues or negative remark in five days. No one fell off a will remain an active member of
new memberships should be mailed to moped, got bitten by a shark, or was even DragonSports USA.
Bill Collet, Treasurer at: slightly sick. As we left Waikiki, some for
home, others for further adventures on other Laurie Jordan will take on the role of Team
3809 N.E. 35th Avenue Hawaiian islands, it was generally agreed that Boat Rental Coordinator. Laurie is a member
Portland, OR 97212 it had been a magically wonderful experience. of the Golden Dragons team and has already
Team members for the Hawaiian trip fully assumed the scheduling activities. We
Please visit our website at: thank you Laurie for taking on this very
included: Yogi Bera (Captain), Roberta Cobb
www.dragonsports.org (Caller), Brittany Weisenborn (Flag Catcher) , important task. If members wish to contact
Ken Gertz (Tiller) Liz Towill, Julie Laurie, please e-mail her at:
Board Members/Officers Edwardson, Fran Palk, Shirley Ewart, Carolyn lkjordan@teleport.com
President Stewart, Nancy Heitz, Sara Wisehart, Chris
Richard Cole Phillippe, Maureen Brown, Gary Brown, Coaches Clinic 2000
Scotty Lamb, Doug Schryver, Phil Gilmore, For those who went through the coaches
Vice President Mel Meyers, Bill Chapin. clinic with Dr. Joel Shilling in 1996, it is time
Gloria Jones to get recertified. The program will be a
Treasurer
Paddlers Input Needed 5-6 week course (one night per week) in
Bill Collet Richard Cole February 2000. Joel has put together a great
There have been several requests to change program for all coaches, new and experienced.
Secretary We will go from basic paddling skills and
the Tuesday and Thursday open practice time
Maureen Brown to 6:30 p.m. This change would make it technique to, diet, exercise, and training. We
possible for more paddlers to attend. will provide you with the necessary tools to
Jim Evans
For the board to make the best decision create a fully comprehensive workout with
John Myers your team or club. We expect to build skills
regarding a potential time change, they need
Dan Winkler to hear from you the paddlers. Please think that will aid you in the development of your
paddling team.
Committees carefully about the possible ways we can
Boat Scheduling & Rental • Laurie Jordan arrange practice times to accommodate most The cost will be $20 and registration is
paddlers. required. Please contact the DSUSA Hotline
Phone: (503) 274-9667
Please voice your opinion by either calling the at (503) 639-2799 x 2 or e-mail Dr. Joel
Communications/DragonTales, DSUSA Hotline at (503) 639-2799 x 2 or Shilling at jmacshilli@aol.com if you are
Membership Serv./Recruiting • Gloria Jones contacting our website at: interested.
Phone: (503) 639-2799 www.dragonsports.org DragonSports USA would like to ask those
that complete the course, to participate calling
Equipment • John Myers 1999 Nottingham World for open club practices.
Phone: (503) 639-6059 Dragon Boat Championships
Fall Regatta • Dan Winkler Congratulations to Wasabi on a fine showing Here We Go a Caroling!
Phone: (503) 639-8520 at the World Cup Championships! Gary Our annual Christmas Ships Caroling is
Gear Marketing • Jim Evans Carstens reported: “The Wasabi crew did a scheduled for December 14, 1999 at 7 p.m.
great job representing the states. They put together There will be no open club practice that
Phone: (503) 297-3264
a good competitive crew and did remarkably night, so we can decorate the boat. We will
Membership Dues • Bill Collet well in tough competition. I am very proud of have a trained vocalist on hand to lead the
Phone: (503) 287-4201 their accomplishment.” singing effort. Join the crew and have a great
The full results are available at: time. After caroling, please join us at the
www.dragonboat.com Spaghetti Factory to warm up with food,
Page 2 • Fall 1999
dship through paddle sports
drink, and friendship. It is important to sign item that I recommend for everyone is Tina Lyons...
up early, as the boats will fill up quickly. It neoprene gloves or mittens. The Willamette is
will be on a first come, first serve basis. icy cold in January and hands can get
A Mover and a Shaker
painfully numb in less than 5 minutes. Shirley Ewart
Please check out our web page at
www.dragonsports.org for more information Bring a complete change of warm clothing It is hard to realize that Tina has only been
about DragonSports Club and it’ upcoming
s with you and a towel. If you go into the river dragon boating since 1997, she is so fully
activities. You may also call the DSUSA or get totally soaked in the rain, you will be involved in all aspects of the sport, paddling,
Hotline at (503) 639-2799 x 2 and leave happy you did. calling, tilling, and as the organizer who
your name and number. schedules other tillers and callers for open
Parking: RiverPlace is a popular spot year- practice. But this involvement is typical of
round and parking is generally a challenge. everything that Tina does.
Tips for New Paddlers There are several lots that I can usually find a Tina first became aware of the dragon boats at
Cris Trimble stall to park my car in. Many team mates car the PKSCA Dragon Boat Races and later
One beautiful Saturday morning after a pool and share the parking expenses. The answered an advertisement for paddlers at her
DragonSports USA club practice, some of my parking fee starts at $2.00 per hour and goes Nautilus gym. That first winter in 1997 she
veteran paddling mates and I were discussing up from there. The most expensive ones are kept on paddling through rain and sleet and
the questions I had been answering during s.
near the turnaround by Stanford’ Usually I after practice drove home over icy roads. But
my latest team recruiting drive. As the can find a place in the $2.00 lot when my she prefers to remember the beautiful, clear
conversation went on, we realized that we had other options have failed. There are also many moonlight and starlight of winter nights, with
many experiences that we could share with parking meters on the street that are less the lights of the city as a backdrop to the
our fellow club members. The following is a expensive than the lots and are free after riverscape. She says this is what gave her the
result of our conversation on that sunny 6:00 p.m. The competition for those are high incentive to keep going all winter.
morning: so getting there early is a good idea. The In the Spring of 1998, Tina was invited to
meters are also patrolled on a regular basis so a join the Hampton Woods team. She delights
Equipment: DragonSports provides life vests
ticket for being overtime is practically in their workouts and was thrilled when they
and paddles for members. I tell new paddlers
guaranteed. came in second in Division II at the PKSCA
when they decide to continue paddling they
will probably want to purchase their own vest No matter where you park, be aware that Dragon Boat Races. Anxious to add more
thieves will break in. I managed to park safely skills to her repertoire, last winter Tina started
and paddle. Grey Owl paddles can be bought
for 7 years without experiencing a theft. tilling and calling. She enjoys both, but
through the club and really enhance your
Unfortunately, I was hit this year. The lesson admits her first love is paddling.
paddling experience.
is, don’ leave anything of value in your car! If
t Tina uses her “people skills” as Import
Life jackets are available at various outdoor Manager at Pro-Food USA, Inc. a company
you think you are alone when you stash your
stores. I suggest that you try several on to see that both imports and exports animal feeds
purse under the seat or your wallet in the
if they ride up under your chin or chafe your and other commodities. There she deals with
glove box, you are wrong! Take valuables with
arms when you paddle. One feature that I customers from the South Pacific, Australia,
you. A wet wallet is better than none. When
always look for is a secure pocket that is large New Zealand, and Asia. She is also active in a
leaving your change of clothing in your car,
enough to hold my wallet and keys. Go to a club for women in the shipping industry.
lay them out so it is apparent that there is
shop that specializes in kayaking, canoeing, or The Lyons family, consisting of Tina, her
nothing hidden that a thief might want.
t
sailing. Even if you don’ buy your equip- husband Phil, and “Mouse” a ninety-pound
ment there, the salespeople are experienced Other Transportation: If you don’ want to
t Bernese Mountain Dog, live in northeast
and can help you with fitting questions. brave downtown traffic or pay for parking, Portland. Together they enjoy skiing and
there are other modes of transportation. Many hiking, and this summer went on a kayak trip
Clothing: My patent answer is “this is a water
of my team mates ride their bikes to practice. through the San Juan Islands. She says the
sport, you will get wet”. There are as many
There are some stands near the top of the technique of kayak paddling was quite hard,
ways to dress for paddling as there are
dock where you can secure your bike and they ll
and for now at least, she’ stick to dragon
individuals on the boat.
cost nothing to use. I ride Tri-Met and walk to boating. This is good news for both her team
In the summer it is pretty easy to figure out. I practice. Any bus that goes down the Mall and for DragonSports USA. People with Tina’ s
suggest that you choose shoes with nonslip will work. I get off at the stop nearest Jefferson enthusiasm, dedication, and competence are
soles and wear something other than cutoff Street and walk down. The paddle and life hard to find and make it possible for all of us
jeans. They are downright uncomfortable jacket usually spark some interesting conversa- to enjoy the sport we love.
when they are wet. tions on my ride.
Winter practice has many more options. Bits and Pieces: There are many other tips s
It’
Most people like to be as warm and dry as that I have not written that your coach or time
possible during the wet season. I have seen captain will probably cover. Things like stroke to come and
paddlers wear polar fleece, rain gear, boots, basics, stretches, and conditioning that are join in the joy of
hats, and even wetsuits. Then there are those the Christmas Season
s
specific to your team’ goals and style. Don’ t tell them Gloria Jones sent you
who get quite warm and come with layers be afraid to ask questions and try new things. tickets on sale now call (503) 557-tree
that can be removed or replaced as needed. I Your coach and team mates will be happy to visit our web www.singingchristmastree.org
am usually wearing leggings and a tee-shirt help you along. The Singing Christmas Tree November 26 - 30
under my rain pants. Add a sweatshirt and a One Voice Productions presents the 37th Annual
Most of all, have fun! 1999
water resistant shell and I am happy. The one
Fall 1999 • Page 3
Gloria Jones
Circulation Manager
Stephanie T ravis
Typography&Design
Cris T rimble
Gloria Jones
ShirleyEwart
RichardCole
ContributingWriters
JoelShilling
ExecutiveEditor
AddressCorrectionRequested
Tigard,Oregon97281-3502
P .O.Box23502
c/o Gloria Jones
DragonTales
DragonSports USA
Vancouver Lake Regatta Results s
What’ Happening...
Advertising in Competitive Division: December 14, 1999
DragonTales
Christmas Caroling, 7 p.m.
1st Place: Scurvy Dogz 2:22.66 RiverPlace Marina
2nd Place: Portland Paddlers 2:27.44 Captains meetings in January; 6:30 p.m.
Readers who are interested in placing an 3rd Place: Pulp Friction 2:28.04
advertisement in DragonTales are 4th Place: Wasabi I 2:28.81 North America Dragon
welcome to do so as follows:
Recreational Division: Boat Races in 2000
1st Place: DBI 2:35.85 PKSCA Dragon Boat Races
2nd Place: Two Cans 2:36.73 Portland, OR June 10-11
Rates: 3rd Place: CCBA 2:37.00 Canadian International
$10 for active members 4th Place: Hampton Woods 2:37.13 Dragon Boat Festival
$20 for corporations or nonmembers Vancouver B.C. June 16-18
Pacific International
Ad Format: Looking for New Dragon Boat Festival
2 3/8" x 2 3/8"
Advertisers should furnish either Board Members Seattle, WA
California International
July 9
electronic files, camera-ready art, or a Do you... Dragon Boat Festival
proof copy. Advertising copy acceptance Oakland, CA August 12-13
is subject to space availability and • Provide guidance
International Festival
approval by DragonSports Inc. For more • Have good leadership skills Dubuque, IA September 9-10
information please contact Stephanie
Travis at (503) 283-6450. • Enjoy challenging opportunities DragonSports USA
Vancouver, WA September 9
Please contact Richard Cole at
Do you have any ideas or topics you’ like
d (503) 289-0079 or e-mail at Northern California
to see covered in DragonTales? Comments rac@teleport.com if you are International Dragon Boat
and article inspirations are always welcome. interested. Championship
Foster City, CA October 1-2
Page 4 • Fall 1999
