Beverley O芒鈧劉Connor and her fellow paddlers have formed a supergroup of sorts.
The dragon boating enthusiast wanted to compete in the BC Seniors Games this September, but didn芒鈧劉t want to leave her own regular team to join one of the local groups already signed up.
So she came together with a number of other over-55 paddlers to create the Flashdragons.
The team members are all members of other local dragon boating crews, but now they芒鈧劉ll have a single banner under which to compete against foes both from 91原创 and the Lower Mainland and from around the province.
Dragon boat racing is one of the more popular sports in the Seniors Games, with hundreds of athletes taking part.
Teams have a drummer, a steersperson, and 20 paddlers.
Unlike many athletic endeavours, dragon boat racing is dominated by women to such an extent that there is no men芒鈧劉s division in the Seniors Games, noted O芒鈧劉Connor. There are women芒鈧劉s teams, like the Flashdragons, and mixed teams only.
She芒鈧劉s hopeful that the Flashdragons will have enough time to learn to work well together before they have to face off against their opponents.
芒鈧揙ne of the most important things is timing,芒鈧� said O芒鈧劉Connor.
With their new coach, the team members will have to learn to put their paddles in and out of the water in perfect unison.
They held their first full practise on the weekend, and will meet up for a total of eight more sessions before they head into the competition.
That芒鈧劉s not a lot of time for a traditional team, but because each member is already and avid paddler, they really just need to get to know one another and to mesh with their coach芒鈧劉s style.
芒鈧揈veryone芒鈧劉s keen, they芒鈧劉re all fit because they芒鈧劉ve been working hard on their own teams,芒鈧� said O芒鈧劉Connor.
She芒鈧劉s now sure how they芒鈧劉ll do. The last Seniors Games were in the Interior.
芒鈧揃eing in the Lower Mainland, there may be a little bit more competition,芒鈧� said O芒鈧劉Connor.
The Games are Sept. 9-13.
