Nationals Part 2

Lake Kawana - April 2014

As the sun fell behind the horizon on the race course at Lake Kawana, we were on the start line, the last race of the day. 2km left and our first day in Queensland was done, although it wasn’t going to be easy. Komodo ended out coming 9

Komodo has produced the best results in their young 4 national’s history and climbing up the ranks to exceed all expectations. As we marshalled for races, you could see other auroras in opposition teams and everyone remaining focused, there were milliseconds that would separate us.

Our last day of club racing was intense as our opens had fallen just short of the final, in the 200m we made the mixed final, racing in the top 6 teams of the country. A first ever mixed 20s final for komodo, they cheered us in as it was only seconds between 1^st and 6^th place. Feeling proud knowing that all that training had lead to being in the top league and although not winning, the best performance we ever did was still a high achievement. With so many races, the time between races are seen as long as an hour so exploring the race course, seeing the promo items and catching up with members from other clubs, if they weren’t racing too, spent the day full of little moments.  

The end of our club campaign was a huge success and as everyone winded down, tired but still smiling, an end to all our hard work and effort had payed off. Celebrations began and while everyone was reaching for Champaign and beers, we three only had water as we had our Auroras day camp the next morning.

Responsible enough to stay away from alcohol we arrived bright and early the next day to spend with our auroras team mates, almost everyone wearing the presented race jersey. Luckily enough, we had left over food that just lasted us the rest of the day. Each time we got in the boat together, the team felt more connected, a stronger bond as we raced up and down the course. As the day went on, growing more as a team, we put in all our efforts to show that we are the Australia Auroras, prove that we are the best the country has to offer and to show to the world that we are the best. The day had finished early as everyone had to catch their flights back home, but it wasn’t a long goodbye and from that Monday, it was only one month until we would see everyone again, this time in China!

We arrive home, exhausted, tired, sore and stiff but keen, counting the days until we fly over and compete as one, the months that everyone had put into training all for this. It wasn’t long now and after a week of rest, we were ready to begin our training with just the auroras now. There were 9 of us in the ACT; we had a long month ahead of training now to prepare us. 

Nationals - Part 1

Lake Kawana – April 2014

The time had come as we arrived in the sunny Queensland state with our paddles and ready to race.  The race course down at Lake Kawana couldn’t be better with the warm sun shining on us all day. This is what our season had leaded up to, perfect weather with greatest people.  The komodo masters had been racing on days before our arrival we arrive midweek in the weeklong event. Our hotel wasn’t that far from the race course so we unpacked our bags, prepared our food for the next couple days and enjoyed the warm weather and cool waters, a much needed change from the dropping temperate of Canberra that were closing down to 0 degrees.  Our first day was the State vs. State competition and for Adrian L and I it was an Australian first, with the introduction of the under 23’s racing category. The new age category allowed us to instead of going straight from juniors into premier opens, essentially racing against any age; we were now about to race in this youth grade.  Even though as a state we were not successful, it was just a pleasure in itself to compete in the first ever races for it.

 After the state races were complete it came the moment that Adrian A was most keen about, the jersey presentation. While we were all excited everyday Adrian would be counting it down reminding us, as to him that was his highlight moment. A crowd gathered around the presentation area as the Australian Dragonboat Federation president, Kel Watt, gave an introduction. He explained the journey of the auroras and from where it had started to where it was now, which was fitter, stronger paddlers than ever. As they began to read each name of every team member out, my heart wanted to jump through my chest, the anticipation climbed as they called Adrian A, he walked out shook the coach’s hand and stood in front of the Australian Dragonboat community. I was called shortly after and proudly accepted my jersey and threw it on instantly, to stand with team mates and be recognised as an Australian Representative.

For Adrian A, it was a whole lot more than just a jersey, but being the first indigenous man to represent Australia in dragonboating, and to be selected for the first world cup. He stood there more proud than anyone and his journey to get to where he is was a long road, being turned back in previous campaigns to keep coming back. There we all stood, as the auroras! Ready to take on anyone, as we had trained hard to earn our positions. Kel Watt then proceeded to introduce a world first along with the world cup, but that at the opening ceremony over in china; Australia will be both flying the traditional flag and the indigenous flag, leaving Adrian A as the flag bearer. To represent his country, his people and his family was a huge achievement and everyone could see tears of joy stream down his face and he held up the flag to which he honours and passionately will represent.  

After the tears, photos and embrace of our team makes the small celebration which could have gone on for the rest of the day couldn’t, as in within the next few hours, we would be racing and we needed to remain focused.

ACT Champs

Canberra – March 2014

It was now one month away from Nationals, training hard with Komodo and getting ready for our last regatta for the season in Canberra.  ACT Championships this year was also an invitational regatta, which allowed interstate clubs to come down and compete alongside the Canberra clubs that were about to battle out for the best in the ACT. Komodo was training hard and coming into this regatta feeling strong, and the whole club was ready for as the regatta was spread across two days. Day one was 200m and 2km’s while day two was 500’s, which we were all strong and fit enough to put in the effort.

The first day went with reasonable weather, which didn’t burn and was perfect for racing. We remained focused and we did deliver to come out winning silver across 200m and in the 2m. By the end of the first day we had felt it and needed a good rest if we were going to have to be able to pull an effort the next day.  Previously before, we had been told we were expecting to benchmark on Sunday afternoon at the end of the two day regatta, but at the end of the first day, we got let off, due to the fact that we were racing.

Day two went by without any hassles, we raced, we laughed and we were happy without results and set us in a good mind set for nationals. Interacting and talking to other clubs that are from Canberra was also good and got us prepared for the amount of teams we would be racing against. Seeing some other auroras paddlers who had come down with their clubs also added on, the whole weekend really captured the sense of community that dragonboating has in Canberra. Everyone is always smiling no matter the result, everyone works together and puts in their all and this sense of community and family is an aspect that brings everyone closer.  Dragonboating is a team sport, and it really feels like a second family, and this happens in the auroras too, as we prepared for china.

   

The weekend had passed, we rested our time and got straight back into training, this was the point to where we had to be on our game. For komodo not just to be one of the top teams in the ACT but now it was time to prove it to the rest of the country. Along with competing at nationals, in Queensland, we would also be presented with our auroras jersey. This was a moment that we had been waiting for and it was also there.  

Settling In

Canberra – February 2014

Our training resumed as usual and there was much excited all about our lead up now, buying new gear and booking our flights was first in. While we currently trained within our club, Komodo Paddle club, there was various other training building up to soon a full and heavy workload this month. It was the middle of the season and our club was beginning to prepare for the Australian National Dragonboat Championships held this year in sunny, warm Queensland at Lake Kawana.

On top of this there was the beginning of the ACT selections for their divisional state team to also compete at nationals. Adrian L and I were a part of the first ever under 23’s team while Adrian A was going into his second year representing state at premier level.  This was just our regular commitments and now we had auroras TK1 training and then our own gym programs on top of this, so this lead to quite the workload and it was important to eat, rest, and take care of our bodies not to get injured.

To prove that our fitness was not dropping down and prove it was progressing, we would benchmark regularly with the help of Andrea Trappes, who essentially took care of all the auroras in Canberra. She would organise TK1 sessions and benchmarking sessions to make sure we were all getting the right things done.  There are about 9 paddlers within the entire squad that are from Canberra which made the benchmark sessions short, everyone motivating and cheering each other on to perform their best. Each time we would benchmark, we would improve and feel stronger each session. During every exercise we would cheer, motivate and push each other on.

A memory that brought back to the very first trail camp, during the beep test, it was so hot and I was struggling to keep up but at the line was Adrian A yelling at me to continue. “Common! Keep Going! You’re going to sprint the last run!” He would nearly yell to me as I would reach the line and turn around, and using every effort to finish it strong.

Although the club season was in full force, balancing all these trainings and benchmarks there was the annual Lake Jindabyne Festival that was held at the end of February. Our benchmarking was put off for this event as we all Canberra clubs drive up to participate in the event. There was even another aurora team member who came down from Sydney to volunteer during the regatta. This lead towards more bonding and a great ending to the month as we drew closer to our next big event. 

Australia Day

Melbourne - January 2014

A month had passed off our Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, for which had be even more to celebrate after making the team, but celebrations couldn’t be overdone for too long. In the peak of summer now, we continued on with our training in preparation for an upcoming team training camp, where the entire team comes together to train as unit. We had met the fitness and technical requirements and now it was time to put them together as a team, so we packed our gear and headed down to Melbourne.

In a similar way the Sydney camp had went, Adrian L and I had got billeted to stay at the house of two other team mates, saves accommodation and a chance to bond with our new team. Adrian A had been billeted off to another teammate with another aurora from Canberra. The Melbourne weather was something that caught me off guard being my first time there, raining when we arrive to a very humid night. Day One started with freezing winds down at the docklands area which was something I’ve never paddled before, huge million dollar yachts and boats flowing in and out, making us feel so small on the water. This camp now let everyone get to know each other more, with this slightly less competitive side now that this was the selected team, so going around and meeting the team was something that everyone did in the breaks between training.  The first day had ended and instead of everyone leaving to go home and eat, there was a small dinner set out right in the shed for which we were all day. Bonding and eating with everyone ads to growing the strength of whole team becoming closer.

The team works better together is there is a sense of family, and this is what the team starts to feel like. Everyone talks and shares stories bringing us to a close network as we go through the same experience together. The second day was Australia day, and all of us away from our families couldn’t celebrate with them. Instead, as a team we went out to dinner showing this sense of family within us.  As the third day came we felt the nearly all aspects of Melbourne weather, with a scorching 35-40 degrees, if we weren’t in the boats, we were in the shed drinking water and eating and relaxing whenever possible now.  

The fourth day was the last and everyone was feeling the weather, their muscles and aches but was still keen to get out and train hard. Pushing through a windy 40 degrees to conclude a successful camp, everyone getting closer and making memories with two big moments happening over the camp. The first big moment was a large group shot for a local Melbourne newspaper which had everyone wearing past Auroras jerseys to give everyone the feeling of a jersey. The photo had us all crammed together and was brilliant to see everyone in the iconic green and gold. The second big moment was during this camp, a selective 12 men and women from the already large side are going off to represent in the world’s first IDBF Dragonboat World Cup two weeks after Asian Champs.

Adrian Andrews was selected into this momentous event and couldn’t be happier being already the first indigenous man to represent Australia in dragonboating and in the first world cup. More to be posted about that soon, while we lead up to this huge event. 

News Article from the camp

The Start

Sydney – December 2013

Backtracking a few months, that this was the first trail camp for which they would select the representative team. Here was the moment where we would need to give everything if we want to prove we are the best in the country. Each of us were sent to be billeted with other athletes also trailing for the team.  The each prepared ourselves for what would be a rough couple of days.

In the middle of summer, harbour for which the trailing began was hovering above 30 degrees and the pressure was on. High tensions left little room for everyone to become friendly, it was more everyone sizing each other up to see their chances. As competitive and day started, we went through the basic trailing benchmarks under close watch and then we moved into the dragonboat, racing various distances and seeing the power that is capable.

The second day consisted of single craft time trail races (or TK1). This was ultimately the most daunting part, having to race up against other guys and the fastest times are obviously the stronger paddlers. Each of us went through our own turns racing, hoping we weren't going to race each other.  We luckily survived and proceeded to race 2 km races in full boats. During this time, we were being watched closely on our technique and if the overall boat was up to the ability required to compete internationally. By the end of the day, you were already feeling stiff and you knew that it wasn't over yet.

The final day was probably the most nerve racking day, there wasn't much time to prove that you had what it takes. They were running more single craft runs for those athletes essentially that were on the fence, and this was myself and Adrian Liszczynsky. The final tk1 race was between us, my heart sunk, knowing that I was up against such a close friend. I had to not let this effect my performance and we both knew it was still a fight. Settling on the start line, about to give it everything, wishing you both could somehow win…

The outcome was during the race, Adrian and the other participant in the race crashed into each other and I came through to win, not so much as an act of sacrifice but just bad luck. The final full boat runs you could feel the raw power of what felt like a strong boat, with various people being put in and changed around.

The camp ended and everyone became a little closer, learned so much more the sport and teamwork and anxiously awaited to hear the results of three days in the blistering sun. Christmas Eve, and the word was going out that people had heard, and one by one more people cheering. I remember at 15 minutes past Midnight on December 25^th with 1% battery left on my phone, I scrambled to check my email to find myself successful.  Both Adrian Andrews and Adrian Liszczynsky were confirmed in the squad as we now began to prepare ourselves for a long journey ahead. 

Introductions

Dragonboating is a team sport that races with 20 or 10 people across various distances. While immensely popular through Asia, it has a growing culture in Australia becoming more popular each year. It seems that nearly anywhere that has water, there will be a dragonboat with teams from far Western Australia, to Darwin, all along sunny Queensland, down through Sydney, Canberra, South Coast, Melbourne and the south of Adelaide. Each teams from all parts of the country train together and compete at local, state, national and international level wherever possible, making there no shortage of competition.

While teams may be good, as all sports go, we find the best of the best and prove on a world stage the capabilities we have. In dragonboat racing has competed with an Australian, known as the Australian Auroras, since 2010. The Australian Dragonboat Federation created this team to gather the best from the country and give everyone the chance to be apart of the team. Before 2010, the winning state team overall at the Australian Championships would go on to represent Australia, which wasn't always the best team possible.

Since then, each Successful campaign the Auroras has competed in has be greater, with more medals and a fitter, faster team. The Auroras compete every two years in the Dragonboat World Championship across multiple age categories, and the International Dragonboat Federation Asian Championships, along with small international regattas.

in 2014, the Auroras will be competing in this years Asian Championship, held in Macau, just off China. One week after this, a selected 20 from the Auroras will continue on to compete in the first ever Dragonboat World Cup, in Fuzhou China.

This is an exciting time for the dragonboat community, and each year the selected team becomes stronger and more fit. For this campaign, there has been 25 men and 24 women selected to be apart of the team, going through a series of benchmarks and trainings to prove their strength and ability to be apart of the team.
This blog will focus mainly on three out of the 49, just to share their story and journey along the way.

Adrian Andrews, Adrian Liszczynsky and  myself, Marcelo Cabezas, are just only three members but will be sharing the journey towards as we reach closer to our competition. more post will follow giving a bio on each of us, and the pathways we have come to get to where we are now.