Abreast in the Rockies Dragon Boat Team have hung up our paddles after another year of fitness, festivals and fun. The team enjoyed a successful 2016 season and welcomed a number of new members.
We began our season in February with dry land training using a program devised by trainer, Jodie Pickering. In May we were off to the pool for technique training and practice led by coaches Diane Butz with help from Martina Frensemeier and Valerie Ward.
Near the end of May the team was excited to finally get on the water! Training and practicing began at Jim Smith Lake before we moved to Moyie for most of July, August and September. Our coaches, drummers and steerspersons guided us through all of our practices.
We attended our first festival in Lethbridge in June. This was a brand new experience for our newest members and of course hard work and fun for everyone. The team won silver in the C event and the survivors, with help from other breast cancer survivors attending the festival paddled hard to win gold.
In September we were off to Flathead Lake, near Kalispell Montana to compete. The weather with strong winds did not cooperate and some races had to be cancelled but our team members braved the choppy waters and went on to receive 2nd in the A Consul race being just one tenth of a second behind the winners!
During the season we continued to fundraise for breast cancer awareness, projects and team equipment. We are proud to have supported the EKFH Starlight campaign once again. We are breast cancer survivors and supporters and our purpose is to raise breast cancer awareness and to demonstrate that women living with breast cancer can lead full and active lives.
We marched in the Sam Steele parade carrying a banner to thank all of those in the community who have supported our team. We couldn’t do it without them!
Anyone wishing to find out more about dragon boating and the Abreast in the Rockies Team can call Connie at 250-489-5573 or email Sandy at szeznik@shaw.ca