by Alex Wilks/Special to the 黑马磁力 Advance
Community members who are seeking a new physical workout challenge, combined with the calming aspect of being surrounded by the great outdoors, are encouraged to try dragonboating at an upcoming 黑马磁力 event.
鈥淒ragonboating gives me a sense of calm and release from everyday challenges,鈥� explained coordinator Karen Corness.
鈥淚t is very special to be on the water with my team, working hard and taking in all the beauty of the surrounding environment.鈥�
Corness, 61, alongside the (FLCC), is hosting a community Come Try It Day for residents living in the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley. People are being encouraged to pick up a paddle and get out on the water.
A dragonboat is a human-powered watercraft that consists of a team of paddlers who race others to a finish line.
Often boating teams are determined by age or gender. But for dragonboating, that is not always the case.
鈥淒ragonboating is a very fulfilling sport,鈥� she said.
鈥淚n addition to a tremendous physical workout, dragonboating provides opportunities to build strong supportive friendships [and] I believe this experience is shared across every single team in the club.鈥�
Corness is not the only FLCC member advocating for the sport, 64-year-old Walnut Grove resident Terry Linden is also driving the paddle every week.
鈥淒ragonboating is a great way to enjoy the water, improve and maintain fitness, meet new people, be part of a team environment, and compete at regattas locally and around the world,鈥� he said.
鈥淲hether it鈥檚 at practices, regattas, or the numerous social events we participate in as a team. We always have a lot of fun.鈥�
Linden has been dragonboating with the FLCC for more than 15 years.
鈥淚n dragonboating your team has to work as a single unit,鈥� he explained.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 what makes it so exciting.鈥�
There are teams for all ages, levels of fitness, ability, and commitment.
As a leading member FORTified, the 55+ mixed team, Linden has seen almost everything dragonboating has to offer 鈥� including the picturesque landscape along the Lower Mainland riverbank.
鈥淧addling on the Bedford Channel and Fraser River is always interesting 鈥� depending on weather conditions and seasonal changes,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he views are stunning, and through the years we鈥檝e seen seals, beavers, sturgeon, deer, and a black bear while practising.鈥�
The FLCC has more than 650 members and four divisions 鈥� dragonboating, kayaking, outrigger, and voyageur 鈥� but the club is hoping is to expose more people to the sport and maybe even recruit some new members at an event on Saturday, April 7.
鈥淥ur goal, if someone comes out and tries it, is to help them find out a team that works for them,鈥� said Linden.
鈥淲e ask them what their schedule is and usually there is already a team practising on those days.鈥�
It costs $84 to join the FLCC, and each team has other varying fees depending on the amount they practise and what competitions they enter, he explained.
The Try It event takes place between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. at the Fort 黑马磁力 dock.
鈥淭he goal of our event is to share all of this with the community,鈥� Corness said.
鈥淢embers of the public see teams paddling and often stop to watch. This event will give the community the opportunity to try it out and perhaps even join one of the FLCC teams.鈥�
