Conference Times:

Saturday, April 10:   7:30 am - 5:15 pm

Sunday, April 11:  8:30 am - 5:00 pm

Comparative Dragon Boat Technique

Presenter: Kamini Jain.   Anyone who has closely watched a dragon boat regatta will notice that there are many effective ways to move the boat. At the World Championships this is even more apparent. Kamini will use video footage from the 2009 World’s to examine different technical styles and the rationale, strengths and potential pitfalls behind each. Kamini aims to provide participants with a broad understanding of technical components from which they can develop their own style.

The Heart of Coaching

Presenter: Kamini Jain.   The success Kamini has had coaching high performance dragon boat paddling at False Creek Racing Canoe Club has come with many lessons, tests and breakthroughs. In this interactive seminar, Kamini will share the challenges and rewards she has experienced in these last five years in the context of the universal coaching experience.

Video Analysis as a Coaching Tool

Presenter: Andrea Dillon.   Video analysis is a primary training tool for coaches. In this interactive session, participants will learn to use video effectively and efficiently to have their athletes better understand the technical message they are trying to convey. Andrea will examine technical concepts visible on video highlighting the key to success: what is a cause of a motion and what is just a symptom.

Drumming and Steering: Art and Athleticism

Presenter: Andrea Dillon.   A strong steersperson and drummer can instantly raise the level of a team. This classroom session will discuss what makes a good steersperson and how to build the relationship between the coach, steersperson, drummer and paddlers. In addition, Andrea will discuss the different strategies needed for 500, 200, 1000 and 2000 meter races and how to evaluate the race course, identifying such factors as the effects of wind, course depth, tide, current and lane differences.

Putting Quality into Strength Training for Paddling Sports

Presenter: Tim LeBas.   Strength training has come a long way over the last few years, yet, what has become increasingly more common, is less attention to detail and more attention to the latest craze in workout routines. From an athletic dead lift to packing the shoulder, Tim will show you how to put quality into strength workouts to increase performance, add sport-specificity and minimize the risk of injury.

Building Commitment and Motivation

Presenter: Dan Hebert.   Goal-setting is a powerful tool that builds commitment and improves motivation and performance. Dan will share why goal-setting is such a useful motivational technique and will provide a 'how-to' that you can use to help increase your team morale, confidence and focus.

On-Water Session 1: Coaching Technique

Presenter: Erica McArthur.   In this on-water session, participants will paddle in the dragon boat. The instructor will explore different approaches to common technical problems interacting with the participants as model paddlers and coaches.

On-Water Session 2: Coaching Drills

Presenter: Erica McArthur.   In this on-water session, participants will paddle in the dragon boat. Participants will be taken through several valuable technical drills, learning the suite of technical skills each drill can address and the best ways to carry them out. This on-water session will solidify the learnings in the seminar Drills: On and Off-Water Tools to Build Technique.

Drills: On and Off-Water Tools to Build Technique

Presenter: Jackie Webber.