By Joanne Licari - Galley Girls Captain

April - June 2011

Training continued throughout April with a buzz in the air.  The anticipation of FINALLY getting that paddle in the Ottawa River as opposed to an Ottawa pool was becoming a reality.  The winter months are long when you don’t get that feeling of gliding through the water…but April is always the end of the tunnel…where you start to see the light…and the river.  

Once May arrived the girls waited for those famous 5 words… “THE WATER LEVELS ARE UP!” 

As tradition has it…The GALLEY GIRLS were the first crew to get out on the water...and feel the glide of that boat again!  Granted she felt a little rough…it had been 6 months…but a wonderful feeling none the less.  It didn’t matter that it was cloudy, cold and windy out…the girls had tuques and sweaters and long johns….but most importantly…they had BIG smiles.

A few weeks on the water and we were off to our yearly Dragon Boat Training Camp at Mont Tremblant.  4 days...20 girls...1 chalet...2 bathrooms and a million laughs...  There’s a reason we always go back for more!  What a great combination...gruelling practice sessions which had the girls sharing “ice packs, heating pads, A5-35 and aspirin!”  This of course was balanced by team breakfast, dinners, great wine and late night games including a very memorable game of charades.  All part of what creates the synergy that is so often mentioned as part of what makes us so successful.

We attended our first Festival at the end of May with eagerness…the OHDBC Women’s Festival where we dominated and took home GOLD in the 400M, 200M and 2K!  What a fabulous way to start off the season!

The girls sported their new purple jersey’s…and our new name… “The Ottawa Premier GALLEY GIRLS Dragon Boat Crew”.  Why the change?  We felt it was important to represent our City...people know the GALLEY GIRLS....and know they know where we come from. 

June came and went as fast as you could blink an eye…

Attending the Lachine knock out for the first time had the girls wondering...but not for long.  With our coach at the stern, steering us down the race course, he got to see the girls at their best...in race conditions.  We did him proud making it to the semi final knock out...and although it was a nail bitter...we were proud to take home the bronze against some of the top teams in the country.

The Ottawa Festival followed...and so did the jitters. Our home town...our turf...our fans...

The support, the cheers, the encouraging comments and high fives were incredible.

The girls held their own once again...beating our nemesis in both the 500M and 200M races.  When it came time for the final...a rough start in the 500M gave us the silver.  Our 200M race was picture perfect...just happened to be we were one stroke behind and we lost the gold by 8 one hundreds of a second.  Add the fact that we were the only female crew to qualify and race the 2K... (in which we took 3rd!)...as well as the only female crew to qualify for the 100M sprint and well...I’d say the girls did a damn fine job!  Finishing 9th out of 200 is something to be proud of...and making the Ottawa Citizen both Saturday and Sunday was a bonus!

SO...we leave the past few months behind as we take with us the hard work...commitment...discipline and yes...the lessons....as we head towards Nationals in July....and we say:

We are Ready-Ready.

 

Feb - March 2011
Both February and March brought more snow than expected but the girls still have water on the brain...so the snow can't melt soon enough for us!
 
The pool paddling sessions, fitness testing and daily work outs have continued....these are the things that make all the difference come race day.
 
With Nationals being the 1st weekend in July...we have had to adjust and "beef up" the usual training and preparation to accommodate the earlier than usual time frame.
 
It's Nationals...you do what you have to...with the time you have...and you do whatever the coach says.
 
Just writing about it gives me goose bumps.
 
The focus right now is nailing down the official race schedule for 2011, getting the 2011 team shirts ordered....and as always...managing injuries while continuing to train hard.
 
With this being a rebuilding year, the girls have been given a bit more leeway in terms of spring training. A handful are going back to Tampa at the end of March for a week on the water, while others will continue pool paddling here at home.
 
The main goal for Feb-March this year is practice....practice....practice and as always support...support...support...because some times life does get in the way...and often when you least expect it.
 
One thing is for sure...whether it's practising or supporting...the Galley Girls are experts...and quite phenomenal at doing both!

 

 

 
   

 

January 2011

…And so a new year begins…or as we say in the Dragon Boat World…let the season continue!

Worlds may be behind us…but it will always be an accomplishment that we will all carry with us as we work towards new goals. Finishing 4th in the 500M has propelled us forward…in to training harder…smarter…and better…if that’s possible!

One of two things happens when your training has been that intense as you prepare for World Competition. Once it’s over…

1. Your team disbands

2. Your team is stronger than ever…and wanting more

I am happy to report the Galley Girls are as strong as ever…and ready to put it in to high gear!

We have lost a few crew members along the way…work and family commitments…but we have not lost the friendships…which in the end…is worth more than anything.

As we continue to re-build the crew…the focus for 2011 is Nationals… July 1st in Welland, Ontario.

SO… the “rest” after Worlds was somewhat short lived…. and if the coaches’ email to the crew in which he stated “Merry Christmas …here’s this week’s work out” is any indication…I don’t know what is!?

The girls are hard at work at the gym…team testing has continued…and pool paddling is on the horizon for January…

Bring it on 2011…the girls are hungry!
   

A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

 

 
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