Paddlers from BC and Alberta test their skills on Burnaby Lake in a national camp
October 19, 2022
On a mid-October weekend with summer-like weather, about 150 paddlers from B.C. and Alberta took part in Dragon Boat Canada’s first national training camp to be held at Burnaby Lake.
The four-day camp was a chance for western Canadian athletes in various age categories to show off their skills to coaches from across the country in anticipation of earning spots on national teams for the 2023 season. And, for the first time, para-athletes also took part in this type of try-out camp.
From races and practices on the water, to indoor paddling machines to rooms for training meetings and technical study and testing, camp organizers were impressed with the Burnaby Lake facilities.
“We had the best of the best here in Burnaby,” said Tom Arnold, a member of the Dragon Boat Canada’s national coaching team. “We were able to bring all of our programs together to create a team Canada camp spirit and offer a range of activities all in one place.”
The camp is the first step in the process for Dragon Boat Canada coaches to establish baseline testing for the athletes for next season. Arnold said hosting this event in Burnaby was ideal for organizers. “The opportunity to have a central location right here in the Lower Mainland with access to sports facilities with room to host a large number of athletes is a wonderful set up for a national team camp. We hope to come back again.”
Canada is a world leader in the sport and is always challenging China for the top spot.
A final Team Canada selection camp will be held before the 2023 World Dragon Boat Racing Championships, scheduled for next August in Thailand.
More information about Dragon Boat Canada is available here.
Photo Credit: Manto Artworks