June 23, 2012 / Day 5 (Part 3): Attention! Ready! SPRINT!!!!!!
If what you're after in dragon boating is speed, then the 200m races were for you. In a race this short, the road to victory is paved with TECHNIQUE AND POWER!!! Every single piece of the dragon boat stroke--setting up at the catch, rotating for reach, burying the paddle blade, untwisting your back muscles, then pulling back with all your might, before thrusting the paddle out of the water and punching it back up to the catch--they are all crucially linked to sing the song of speed in perfect harmony for 200 lightning meters. 50-60 seconds and the race is done. This is a dead sprint from start to finish.
200m Heats:
Again the order of divisions for Heat #1 in the 200m would be Men's, Women's, then Mixed. Each heat was divided into 2 sub-divisions (except the Women's division) to account for all the teams. This order would be repeated for Heat #2. Times are not averaged, and the teams with the 6 best times through the two heats advance into the 200m final. Our team strategy this go around was to leave it all in the boat. As Vince puts it: "Dump it!"
SLOW DOWN here because this is animated. Ooooooohhhhhhhh, Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh...
After the first heat, the team gathered back at the tent for a peptalk. We reviewed the race, discussed methods to improve, and got ready for another go in Heat #2. Let's go team!
Meanwhile, in between our races, the slippers / sandals casualty count continued to rise.
Alright, Heat #2, then the Final. Here's what they looked like:
Mixed Division 200m Final:
By day's end, we were all exhausted and relieved to be finally heading back to the hotel. With the biggest day of racing behind us, it was time to get a healthy dinner and a good rest for the night. The biggest race of the festival, the 2000m, was still to come!
The Rest of the Day's Numbers:
Number of races we paddled: 4
Number of races California University paddled: I was told 16!
Number of hotel slippers muddied: 2
Number of hotel bathrobes muddied: 2 (by the same people)
Creepy insect tally: 11
Harvard paddlers ready to eat again: 13!
Team that acted most like zoo animals in front of the crowds: I think we all know who this was...
Number of races we paddled: 4
Number of races California University paddled: I was told 16!
Number of hotel slippers muddied: 2
Number of hotel bathrobes muddied: 2 (by the same people)
Creepy insect tally: 11
Harvard paddlers ready to eat again: 13!
Team that acted most like zoo animals in front of the crowds: I think we all know who this was...