News
08/12/2008 05:52 PM
Bemidji Festival ArticleThe following article was from 'The Bemidji Pioneer' news paper.
Norm Woodbeck, a member of the "Eh" Team from Winnipeg, Manitoba, has one quibble with the Lake Bemidji Dragon Boat Festival – the title should include the word "international."
The "Eh" Team – the name punning on a Canadian speech mannerism – joined the competition as a first-time team this year because their fellow Winnipegians, the Dragon Power Team, hyped the event so strongly.
The "Eh" Team made it to the finals and took third overall.
Woodbeck said he paddled with Dragon Power during the first Lake Bemidji Dragon Boat Festival in 2006, but he wasn’t able to make the trip last year.
"We told people about Bemidji, and now, we have two teams," he said. "Next year, we might have four or five."
Lori Irwin, another "Eh" Team member and first-time visitor to Bemidji, said the people who raced with Dragon Power in 2006 and 2007 had such good stories to tell about the event a second Winnipeg team assembled.
"Bemidji is very well talked about," said "Eh" Team member Jason MacInnes. "They say it’s one event you have to come to."
"This year when the opportunity came up, I couldn’t pass it up," said Dwayne Gregorash, another first-timer to Bemidji. "It’s the most fun family event."
He said everyone makes them feel welcome. For example, he said a cashier in a store saw their team T-shirts and ran up to them to say she wished she didn’t have to work so she could cheer on the Canadians.
The event draws people of all ages. Mary Campbell and Nedra Dearholt, resident of Birchhaven Village perched on their walkers Saturday afternoon in Library Park to cheer on Mary’s daughter’s team from Marco Business Products.
"They came in second this morning," said Dearholt.
Winona LaDuke, whose daughter, Wasay LaDuke paddled with the Gwenaabishkaawaad team for the Indigenous Environmental Network, cradled a sleeping baby. She said White Earth Land Recovery businesses, Muskrat Coffee and Native Harvest, helped sponsor the team. The name means "We tipped over," she said.
Gwenaabishkaawaad team member Chris Reopelle said he and his teammates didn’t actually end up in the water, but added, "Those waves out there put some water in the canoe."
Teams that did finish in the water included the Pioneer’s Deadliners and the Pepsi Chuggers.
"No one is happier that the Bemidji Jaycees," said emcee Brian Bissonnette of a team whose members dumped their boat in 2007. "Well, they’ll always have a story to tell."
Spectators found good views of the competition from bleachers, the Library Park banks and camp chairs on the hill.
Sheila Siems, from Lake Lillian, Minn., and Leone Schultz, from Florida, found places on the bleachers. They said they arrived in Bemidji to visit relatives, but ended up with plenty of events to attend, as well.
"I came to visit and I got to all this fun," said Siems. "This is wonderful, to see all the tents they have decorated. It would be awesome to be a part of that, the camaraderie and how they’re all together."
She said she plans to write the first weekend of August on her calendar for 2009 to remind her to come back to Bemidji for the fourth annual Lake Bemidji Dragon Boat Festival.
The weekend included the conclusion of the Birchmont Golf Tournament at the Bemidji Town and Country Club, Crazy Daze downtown and the Beltrami County Fair, which closes this evening.
"I think with all that’s going on in the community, it’s an opportunity for people to circulate and take in the shopping and the fair," said Lori Paris, Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce executive director. http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/articles/index.cfm?id=17427&pnref=VUJE2D42B9C1
Norm Woodbeck, a member of the "Eh" Team from Winnipeg, Manitoba, has one quibble with the Lake Bemidji Dragon Boat Festival – the title should include the word "international."
The "Eh" Team – the name punning on a Canadian speech mannerism – joined the competition as a first-time team this year because their fellow Winnipegians, the Dragon Power Team, hyped the event so strongly.
The "Eh" Team made it to the finals and took third overall.
Woodbeck said he paddled with Dragon Power during the first Lake Bemidji Dragon Boat Festival in 2006, but he wasn’t able to make the trip last year.
"We told people about Bemidji, and now, we have two teams," he said. "Next year, we might have four or five."
Lori Irwin, another "Eh" Team member and first-time visitor to Bemidji, said the people who raced with Dragon Power in 2006 and 2007 had such good stories to tell about the event a second Winnipeg team assembled.
"Bemidji is very well talked about," said "Eh" Team member Jason MacInnes. "They say it’s one event you have to come to."
"This year when the opportunity came up, I couldn’t pass it up," said Dwayne Gregorash, another first-timer to Bemidji. "It’s the most fun family event."
He said everyone makes them feel welcome. For example, he said a cashier in a store saw their team T-shirts and ran up to them to say she wished she didn’t have to work so she could cheer on the Canadians.
The event draws people of all ages. Mary Campbell and Nedra Dearholt, resident of Birchhaven Village perched on their walkers Saturday afternoon in Library Park to cheer on Mary’s daughter’s team from Marco Business Products.
"They came in second this morning," said Dearholt.
Winona LaDuke, whose daughter, Wasay LaDuke paddled with the Gwenaabishkaawaad team for the Indigenous Environmental Network, cradled a sleeping baby. She said White Earth Land Recovery businesses, Muskrat Coffee and Native Harvest, helped sponsor the team. The name means "We tipped over," she said.
Gwenaabishkaawaad team member Chris Reopelle said he and his teammates didn’t actually end up in the water, but added, "Those waves out there put some water in the canoe."
Teams that did finish in the water included the Pioneer’s Deadliners and the Pepsi Chuggers.
"No one is happier that the Bemidji Jaycees," said emcee Brian Bissonnette of a team whose members dumped their boat in 2007. "Well, they’ll always have a story to tell."
Spectators found good views of the competition from bleachers, the Library Park banks and camp chairs on the hill.
Sheila Siems, from Lake Lillian, Minn., and Leone Schultz, from Florida, found places on the bleachers. They said they arrived in Bemidji to visit relatives, but ended up with plenty of events to attend, as well.
"I came to visit and I got to all this fun," said Siems. "This is wonderful, to see all the tents they have decorated. It would be awesome to be a part of that, the camaraderie and how they’re all together."
She said she plans to write the first weekend of August on her calendar for 2009 to remind her to come back to Bemidji for the fourth annual Lake Bemidji Dragon Boat Festival.
The weekend included the conclusion of the Birchmont Golf Tournament at the Bemidji Town and Country Club, Crazy Daze downtown and the Beltrami County Fair, which closes this evening.
"I think with all that’s going on in the community, it’s an opportunity for people to circulate and take in the shopping and the fair," said Lori Paris, Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce executive director. http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/articles/index.cfm?id=17427&pnref=VUJE2D42B9C1
07/28/2008 05:14 PM
MPA results 2008Congratulations to Boogie's Draggin' Butt for placing second in the "A" Division of the 2008 "River City Dragon Boat Festival" held last weekend.
It was an amazing weekend, weather and racing wise, and many, many beers were sacrificed to the Dragon Boat Gods!
Congratulations to the ACRA Kight Crew who won bragging rights this year, paddling away with the "A" Division title!
Congratulations also to the Manitoba Paddling Association for hosting an incredibly fun event.
Now, some paddlers train for the Bemidji event next weekend, followed by Kenora, the "Manitoba Dragon Boat Festival" in September and for a few of our paddlers, Poznan, Poland!
It was an amazing weekend, weather and racing wise, and many, many beers were sacrificed to the Dragon Boat Gods!
Congratulations to the ACRA Kight Crew who won bragging rights this year, paddling away with the "A" Division title!
Congratulations also to the Manitoba Paddling Association for hosting an incredibly fun event.
Now, some paddlers train for the Bemidji event next weekend, followed by Kenora, the "Manitoba Dragon Boat Festival" in September and for a few of our paddlers, Poznan, Poland!
07/09/2008 07:00 PM
How Cool is THIS!Since the official launch of our new website (this one) the number of hits has been climbing higher and higher.
In the second half of June, we had almost 170 hits on the site and so far this month we are well ahead of that pace.
Thanks to the computer wizardry of Adam, I am able to check some stats and I am happy to say that we have had visits from Canada (obviously), the USA, Hong Kong, Japan, Spain, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates!
Who knew they Dragon Boated there??
We expect even more hits as we add more toys and points of interest to this site, so stay tuned.
We are always interested in ideas on how to make the site more interesting and fun so feel free to drop us some suggestions.
In the second half of June, we had almost 170 hits on the site and so far this month we are well ahead of that pace.
Thanks to the computer wizardry of Adam, I am able to check some stats and I am happy to say that we have had visits from Canada (obviously), the USA, Hong Kong, Japan, Spain, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates!
Who knew they Dragon Boated there??
We expect even more hits as we add more toys and points of interest to this site, so stay tuned.
We are always interested in ideas on how to make the site more interesting and fun so feel free to drop us some suggestions.
06/15/2008 11:17 AM
Website InfoWe have "officially" launched the new and improved website!
Team members are encouraged to register in the members section.
We also welcome our visitors from across the world who have been visiting the site to check on Dragon Boating in Canada.
Team members are encouraged to register in the members section.
We also welcome our visitors from across the world who have been visiting the site to check on Dragon Boating in Canada.
09/11/2007 10:38 AM
FMG Race ResultsThe Competitive team, with an average time of 2:21.31 came in 4th overall, as FMG bases their final results on average time. They were the best team that did not have their own boat, or virtually unlimited access to boats since April!
BUT...CHECK THIS OUT!!!
The rec team, with an average time of 2:31.42 came in 22nd in the rec division, and 28th overall, of the 151 boats entered in the competition!!!!
Not bad for a team project that was almost scrapped in the 12th hour, huh?
They beat some veteran teams, as you will see when you check the names on the results.
Congrats to both teams on a great weekend.
BUT...CHECK THIS OUT!!!
The rec team, with an average time of 2:31.42 came in 22nd in the rec division, and 28th overall, of the 151 boats entered in the competition!!!!
Not bad for a team project that was almost scrapped in the 12th hour, huh?
They beat some veteran teams, as you will see when you check the names on the results.
Congrats to both teams on a great weekend.