After just a couple of months of on-water training it is time for Nationals!
Again this year The Welland International Flatwater Center (WIFC) is hosting the competition. This is the same venue that will host flat water events for the up coming 2015 PanAm Games in July AND the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) World Nations Championships in August.
Rowbust arrived at the WIFC for a practice session on Thursday and paddled for an hour under the watchful eye of our Coach who was deciding on rosters for the next days 200 meter races.
Once everyone had arrived and checked in at the residence we met as a team for some words of wisdom from all of our Coaches and our Crew Captain.
This year is our first National competition without our Rowbust Sister Gail Hathaway who passed soon after returning from our World Championship win in Italy last summer. Gail is loved and missed by all of us, she was joy to be around, always laughing and living life to it's fullest. We know that she is here with us, in the boat with us, pushing us to do our best! Our Crew Captain, Linda Kuska, passed out this years team gift to each member, a button with Gail's smiling face! We are wearing them to ensure her presence in our boat!
Our meeting broke up and we headed to bed to get a good nights sleep to prepare for day one of racing on Friday.