When are practices held? We practice twice a week, Wednesday evenings at 5:30 pm and Sunday mornings at 10:00 am. We recommend all new paddlers come to both practices so that they can ramp up fast and increase strength and stamina. Where are practices held? Practices are held at the Bair Island Aquatic Center (BIAC) in Redwood City, 5 minutes from the Woodside/Seaport area on highway 101. Click here to find directions and parking restrictions. How long does a practice session last? You should count on spending at least 2 hours 15 minutes. We start with a warm-up, paddle for 90 minutes and end with a cool down and team announcements. Practices start easy and progressively get more strenuous as the season progresses. Practice is followed by a team lunch/dinner at a nearby restaurant. What should I bring to practice? All equipment will be provided. Wear comfortable clothes and sandals that you dont mind getting wet. Bring sunglasses, a cap, sunscreen and drinking water. If it's a cold or windy day, bring a pullover. Leave valuables at home. We have a safe place to keep car keys and small items. What happens in my very first practice? How do I sign up for practice?First, you will sign the CDBA waiver. Then, one of our experienced paddlers will teach you the basic paddling stroke on land. You will be fitted with a PFD (personal flotation device) before we venture out onto the water. We will go over safety paddling commands on the water. Your coaching will continue in the boat with someone overseeing your stroke and form and providing helpful hints and tips. Please email jointeamlightwave@gmail.com to sign up for trial practices. Do I need to buy any equipment? No, CDBA provides personal flotation devices (PFDs) and paddles. Many people buy their own PFDs and/or paddles. How much does it cost? Your first 3 trial practices are free. After that we ask you to commit for the year. You pay $120 to the California Dragon Boat Association (CDBA) who provides the boats, personal flotation devices (PFDs) and paddles. The race fees are typically $30-70. Our optional team shirt costs around $35. How many races do we participate in? We typically participate in 4 races: Redwood Shores in May (1 day), Fremont in July (1 day), Long Beach in August (2 days), and San Francisco/Treasure Island in September (2 days). This year, we are also considering going to Vancouver for a two-day race in June. What happens on race day? Team members usually arrive at the race site at 8am. We race 2-4 times a day and wrap up around 4pm. Team members volunteer share responsibilities to shop for food and drinks for race day, set up the tents, organize race logistics as needed and help clean up. Sometimes we grill meats and veggies on a barbecue between races. Some team members help with race organization and boat loading/unloading and cleaning. Who's on the team? We are a diverse, co-ed group of young professionals with a common interest in paddling, good fun and good food. We hail from different states and countries and now live and work around the San Francisco Bay Area. Many of us are new or novice paddlers but there are also plenty of experienced veterans to help everyone paddle stronger and faster. Will I fit in? I don't normally work out. We are open to all genders, ages and fitness levels. You need to be energetic, fun-loving and have a healthy appetite :-) Do I need to know how to swim? What else does the team do?No. The coaches and steers-persons are trained and certified by CDBA and enforce safe paddling conditions. All team members are required to wear PFDs and learn safety commands. We have an active social committee that organizes events for members like semi-regular Ultimate Frisbee, hiking, broomball, and community service events. They also plan an annual welcome BBQ at the start of the season and an end-of-the-year holiday dinner party and gift exchange. |