Frequenty Asked Questions

PRACTICES ARE ON - June 16, 2008

Q. When can practices be booked?

A. Practices for the 2008 season may be booked starting December 1st, 2007. When you are ready to book practices please send an email to: scott.seaby@gmail.com indicating your team name. If you are registered for the 2008 Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival please include your team number as well. Your information will be entered into our online registration system and you will be sent a password so that you can login to book all of your practices. The online booking system can be found at: http://www.eventsalive.com/dit/jsp/Login.jsp.

Q. When do practices take place and what are the standard days and times?

A. Practices for the season begin the first week of May (weather dependent) and end the last week of October. Practices for the Ottawa Festival take place between June 4th and June 20th, 2008. Our standard booking times are: Weekdays - 6am, 7am, 4:45pm, 6pm, 7:05pm, and 8:10pm Weekends - 8am, 9am, 10:10am, 11:15am, and 12:30pm. If you would like a time during the day on week-days or week-ends please send an email to: scott.seaby@gmail.com and we will see if this is possible.

Q. How much do practices cost?

A. Practices cost $95 each. This amount includes all equipment and a fully certified coach. If a team books a group of 10 practices or more (not including the 2 free ones provided with festival registration) the rate is $85 per practice.. Please note that if you book practices outside of the festival training period (June 4th - June 20th, 2008) then an insurance fee of either $2 or $7 will be charged to each person in the boat. For more information on insurance please click here.

Q. How do we pay for practices?

A. Payments can be made by cash or cheque. Cheque is the prefered method of payment but cash will be accepted. Cheques should be made out to 'Dragons In Training' and sent to the following address:

Dragons In Training
314 Parkin Circle
Ottawa, ON
K1T 4G6

After your practices are booked you will recieve an invoice by email within a few weeks. We ask that payment for any extra practices be made before your first practice. If you require a receipt for practices please send an email to scott.seaby@gmail.com and one will be provided.

Q. How long are practices?

A. Practices are approximately 55 minutes in length. We ask that you arrive about 15 minutes before your practice start time so that we are able to get on the water on time. In the case where members of the team are late, the practice will still end at the scheduled time.

Q. Is there a clinic where our steersperson can learn how to steer?

A. Yes. Last year Dragons In Training hosted a steering clinic where steerspeople for teams could come out and get one on one attention from experienced coaches. Due to the interest in last years clinic we have decided to offer 2 clinics this year. The cost to attend each clinic is $10/person. The clinics will take place at the Rideau Canoe Club. Dates of the clinics this year will be Sunday May 18th and June 8th. Times will be determined a month prior to the clinic

Q. Where do the practices take place?

A. The location of practices is at the Rideau Canoe Club. The Rideau Canoe Club's address is 804 Hogs Back Road close to Prince of Wales Drive. It is right beside the Hogs Back locks. You can see a white building as you are driving down Hogs Back Drive.

Q. When should my team arrive at the practice site?

A. Teams should arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start time of their practice. Make sure to allow yourself enough time to assemble your team. During the core festival training period from June 6th until June 22nd there will be a many dragonboats at the Rideau Canoe Club. In order to determine which boat you are practicing in please talk to one of the staff members (identified with festival T-shirts) or check the signs which indicate your corresponding boat number. Once you determine your boat number proceed to the number indicated by signs on the dock. Your coach will meet you there.

Q. What should I wear to practices?

A. When attending practices you should make sure to dress appropriately. You will get wet during these practices so try to choose clothes which are quick to dry. T-shifts and shorts typically work best.

Q. Do I need to bring anything to practices?

A. Paddles and life jackets are provided but you may bring your own life jacket if you prefer. Due to the nature of the sport we also recommend teams bring water with them to drink during the practice, particularly on very hot days.

Q. Where do I park for practices?

A. There is limited parking available at the Rideau Canoe Club. Due to the number of people the RCC will not be able to handle all vehicles. Other options for parking include:

Hogs Back Park
Mooneys Bay
Surrounding side roads.

Please pay attention to all markings on the field when parking and do not block exits for parked cars. Some lines will be drawn on the field to indicate where cars should be parked.

Please note that you should allow yourself enough time to get to the practice site after you park. If there has been an extended period of rain the field will be closed for parking so plan ahead to find alternate parking arrangement.

Q. If it is raining are practices cancelled?

A. No. Practices are not cancelled if there is rain. The only situation where a practice may be cancelled is in the case of lightning. Typically these decisions are made on site and in the history of the festival only about 5 practices in total have been re-scheduled due to weather. Please note that when there is an extended period of rain the field will be closed for parking.

Q. What are the insurance fees?

If you choose to book practices outside of the festival period (June 4th - June 20th, 2008) then there are insurance fees applicable to each member who is practicing. The fees are as follows:

3 practices or less = $2/person
4 practices or more = $7/person

The maximum amount you can pay for the season is $7/person. This is a one time fee so if you were to continue training throughout the summer there would be no additional fee.

OTTAWA DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL SPECIFIC QUESTIONS:

Q. Do we need a steersperson?

A. Every team must provide a steersperson for the race. Steering is not an easy task and we recommend that you appoint someone who has some canoeing or sailing experience (if possible). Steerspeople will be given instruction during the practice sessions but it is highly recommended that they attend at least one of the steering clinics.

Q. If we really can't find a steersperson what do we do?

A. There are very few volunteer steerspeople available. If you are finding it difficult to find a steersperson you are able to have the coach steer the boat for your practices (not ideal). On race day the Ottawa festival teams will have the option to pay for a steersperson $25 per race. If you feel that you are going to need a steersperson for the race please contact us in advance.

Q. How many practices are included with the festival registration?

A. When you register for the Ottawa Festival you receive 2 free practices. These practices must be taken during the period of June 4th, 2008 to June 20th , 2008.

If you have any other questions or concerns about the practices or the steering clinic please do not hesitate to contact me at: scott.seaby@gmail.com