Q. Do I need to attend every practice?
A. I am requesting your attendance “up front”. Please look at your calendar now and notify me of any and all dates you anticipate missing for sure. Please try to avoid missing practices as much as possible.
PLEASE NOTE THAT IF NECESSARY, ATTENDANCE WILL BE CONSIDERED WHEN SORTING OUT WHO NEEDS TO SIT OUT OF RACES AT THE ISLAND.
Q. Where do WATER PRACTICES occur?
We will be practicing at the docks by Sunnyside Pavilion Cafe at 1755Lakeshore West. It is on Lakeshore Blvd., west of the Boulevard Club, next to the outdoor public pool. Basically, it is at the bottom of Parkside Drive.
Q. Do I need to sign a WAIVER?
Short answer is YES. There are actually two waivers, one for SPC and the other is a festival waiver that you will need to sign (on the beach) before mid-season. We will let you know.
Q. What if it rains on the day of the practice?
We will practice in the cold and rain. We will not practice if it is extremely windy or stormy. You can check the website for weather alerts if it is looking unpromising: http://sunnysidepc.ca/ or call the hotline at 647.874.4628. The call is usually made by 7a.m. on the weekends. I will be relying on this system too so I won’t know any more than you in inclement weather situations.
Q. Is there PARKING?
A. There are two parking lots. One, west of the pool and one east of thepool. Once you park, walk to the Sunnyside Pavilion Café. You will see lots of paddlers. It is always a toss-up on whether they are going to charge us each season – check the signs and for green P machines.
Q. Are there LOCKERS AND CHANGE ROOMS:
A. Usually, the Sunnyside pool change rooms are open and we can use them. There are lockers (they cost 25 cents).
Q. I've never done this before! What should I wear?
A. SUGGESTED DRESS: (It will be cold and wet!)Rain suit, gloves (I got mine at Mountain Co-op for $20.00 BUT, when it’s really cold (i.e.: potentially first 5 practices!), I wear wool gloves inside rubber kitchen gloves, …yes, the yellow kind!) and shoes (old running shoes or sports sandals once it’s warmer are good). Avoid cotton (which gets heavy and retains moisture – making you wetter and colder) and aim to wear wicking or dri-fit sports fabrics. Polyester and fleece are good to stay warm. You will need to bring a change of clothing and a towel as you will likely get wet. We can change in the dressing room at Sunnyside Pool.
Q. I don't have a paddle or life jacket. Can I still paddle?
A. EQUIPMENT:Paddles and life jackets are provided. If you have your own life jacket, Irecommend that you bring it (it must be D.o.T. or Canadian Coast Guard approved).
Q. Is there a place to get food at the practice site?
A. SUNNYSIDE CAFÉ is what you are looking for. Best pizza on lakeshore. One of the perks of being a dragon boater is the discounts we can enjoy at the café after practice.
Q. Do I need to buy an uniform?
You do not need to wear your team shirt for practices but you are welcome to do so if you like.
Furthermore, if you are uncertain about size, etc., they fit snugly so you may wish to go one size up. You can see our team shirt in the team pic on our gallery. If you do not wish to buy a shirt, there are a few to borrow on race day, but not many and not necessarily the size or gender you need! For both race days, everyone must wear the red and white team shirt.
Q. What happens after practice?
I would like to invite everybody, and family members with you, as well, to stay after each
practice to eat at the Sunnyside Café. We can meet each other, catch up, talk about anything that needs to be sorted out (i.e.: ferry tickets, concerns, etc.) and enjoy good food and beer on the patio. As already mentioned, they give us dragon boaters’ discounts there. I realize this makes for a longer morning 9:30 till after noon, but hopefully, since you’ll no doubt be hungry, you’ll want to join the fun anyway! Many team members enjoy staying regularly for lunch after practice
Q. Can I bring my kids to practice?
Children are very welcome to come and “cheer us on” at each practice but, at this point,
there is NO BABYSITTING on the beach. If you are bringing your child/ren please ensure
you have made arrangements with someone in advance to care for your child/ren while you are in the boat. Please do not assume someone will be there to do this and please do not put someone on the spot by asking them to do it at the last minute!
I hope that you enjoy your experience as a member of Open Arms Dragon Boat Team! I really look forward to seeing many of you again and meeting those of you who are joining us for the first time!