Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival

Neither wild rainstorms, wind, flight cancellations, car crashes, horrible hotels or really bad hotel pillows stopped the intrepid SD-21 (plus one incredible SD daughter) from fearlessly tangling with the hometown Vermont team. Yes, team members jumped in their cars when they found out at 4am that their flights had been cancelled. Yes, they worked all day so didn’t get in their car until evening and drove through horrific storms arriving late into the night. Yes, she paddled after getting her car totaled and had to visit Urgent Care to get the OK to paddle. Yes, had supportive SD partners, SD family members and SD dogs with us.

On to our competition… Yes, they were younger. Yes, they may have had a few more muscles. Yes, they were used to the wild wind and water of their home course. BUT do the SD’s know how to face adversity, give it all and totally support each other in the process? HELL YES!!

The 500m left us 3-4 seconds behind the Vermont team on Saturday after two rounds. The race schedule needed to be changed due to impending fierce storms and the final 500m was cancelled. We had the foresight to pack up our tent after day one, as many teams found theirs blown and crushed when they went back the following day. On Sunday, after some wild card games Saturday night that got our competitive juices flowing, we pulled ourselves up, dug deeper in that crazy water and finished just .028 seconds behind the Vermont team in the 200m final bringing home a beautiful Silver medal.

Your Coaches could not be more proud of how our team bands together in times of adversity! Supports each other and truly loves each other as chosen family. To quote Que, our mighty Race Leader,”It was the most proud I felt of our team despite all the gold medals we’ve won in the past”

Another example of why we love this team and its members so much!

On to Mercer in September!