The Nanaimo Dragonboat Festival featured fast-paced paddling 91裸聊视频� the only time the action slowed down was to let a pod of killer whales pass.
The visit from the orcas on Saturday, right in front of Maffeo Sutton Park, was one of numerous highlights of the Save-On-Foods Nanaimo Dragonboat Festival this past weekend, July 5-7.
91裸聊视频淭hat was a first, and it was a very exciting first,91裸聊视频� said Leslie Sutton, Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival Society spokeswoman, about the visit from the killer whales.
Arlene Witham, one of the Quality Foods Blu By U paddlers, said she couldn91裸聊视频檛 believe it when the orcas surfaced so close. Later, she joked to one of the directors, 91裸聊视频淗ow did you pull that one off?91裸聊视频� she said.
91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 never happened before. It was just incredible, and they had a baby with them, so that was just awesome,91裸聊视频� Witham said. 91裸聊视频淓veryone was completely enthralled by it.91裸聊视频�
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Other than the short orca delay, things pretty much went to plan over the festival weekend.
91裸聊视频淭he weather, unfortunately, was not our friend, so we had fewer spectators down there, but for the paddlers, it91裸聊视频檚 just water 91裸聊视频� the races went well,91裸聊视频� Sutton said.
Witham said despite the rain, the seas were calm, and said practices in the channel are often held on much choppier water.
91裸聊视频淵es, we did get wet, but it is a water sport, right? And it wasn91裸聊视频檛 cold rain. Yes, you91裸聊视频檙e wet, but c91裸聊视频檈st la vie91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� Witham said. 91裸聊视频淧eople were still laughing and having fun in the [park]. It91裸聊视频檚 not the first time that people have been rained on in festivals.91裸聊视频�
As far as race results, paddlers set a fast pace out on the water. This year91裸聊视频檚 event saw a new addition to the itinerary, the Guts and Glory challenge, with paddlers taking on a 1,500-metre course.
The first Guts and Glory champions are the Nanaimo Paddling Centre91裸聊视频檚 Nusa91裸聊视频橪on Dragons, who won the women91裸聊视频檚 race Saturday in a time of nine minutes, 51.66 seconds. The FCRCC Saggin91裸聊视频� Dragons were second and the Snapping Dragons came third. Sunday saw the mixed Guts and Glory race, won by the Navy Dragon Anchors in 8:14.35. The Fairway Gorge Paddling Club Rebel Alliance placed second with the Save-On-Foods Dragonslayers third.
In the women91裸聊视频檚 platinum A final, Chix With Stix won in 2:21.73, ahead of the Nusa91裸聊视频橪on Dragons and Stroke the Dragon.
The festival91裸聊视频檚 fastest final was in the mixed platinum A division, where the FGPC91裸聊视频檚 Rebel Alliance crossed the finish line in 1:59.98. The Navy Dragon Anchors were runners-up and the Dragonslayers placed third.
In the breast cancer survivors91裸聊视频� A final, Abreast in a Boat Fortitude won a close race in 2:30.50, edging out Sistership Dragon Boat Association and Abreast in a Boat Deas Divas.
For more results, .
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