WHAT WE DO:
Don't see your question here? Please don't hesitate to ask us.
ABOUT JOINING THE TEAM
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QUESTION: How fit do I need to be to join the team?
ANSWER: This is a somewhat demanding sport and you will need to be able to go all out for
2-15 minutes during a race. Practices will be one hour where we may paddle 5 km plus. It's great to be on a team with like-minded people where we can reach our goals together with support and encouragement. As with any physical activity, it is recommended that you have permission from your doctor before you start. You get one practice FREE to see if you like it.
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QUESTION: Do I need my own lifejacket and paddle?
ANSWER: No, all main equipment is provided, boat, paddles and lifejackets. However it is nice to have your own lifejacket. If you are keen to have your own paddle, there are opportunities to buy it at some race events from vendors or online (ask coach what type of paddle will be best for you). It is nice to have neoprene gloves with good grip feature for the start of the season. Shelf liner to seat on is nice, ask your coach, she may have some on hand.
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QUESTION: Do you have to buy a uniform?
ANSWER: No, you could just wear a shirt of a similar colour and black shorts. However it is nice that we look like a team and if you are on the Titans MIXED team it is encouraged to buy a dye sublimation race shirts for approx $54. Extra optional items include; off water shirt, jacket and hat. Titans WOMEN will have one simple shirt for race day at a cost of approx. $20. We need to get our shirt order in by mid/end of April to have them in time for our first race. We use iTeam app so you will be able place your order yourself. We hope to have some shirts for sizing available to try on at the start of the season.
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QUESTION: Do I need to be able to swim?
ANSWER: You will need to be able to tread water and swim at least one Dragonboat length.
We practice the "buddy system" to partner you up with a seat mate. Please let us know at the start of the season if you are a weak, medium or strong swimmer.
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QUESTION: What age group is the team?
ANSWER: We are a community team and usually have a wide range of ages on the team. You need to be at least 18 years old to participate as a paddler.
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QUESTION: How many people on the team?
ANSWER: There are 22 positions on a Dragonboat. 20 paddles (10 left and 10 right) and one drummer and a steersperson. The team aims to have 25 committed team members on the team though we will sometimes have a few more until we get settled in. There is also a sublist that we sometimes use to fill the occasional empty seat.
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QUESTION: Do I need to have paddling experience?
ANSWER: No, you do not need to have any paddling experience, we will train you. However if you have been in a canoe, kayak or other self propelled water vessel that is helpful too.
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ABOUT POOL PRACTICES
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QUESTION: Do we bring our boat to the pool?
ANSWER: No, we just sit at the edge of the pool on a bum pad and paddle with special narrower pool paddles.
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QUESTION: Why do we do pool practice?
ANSWER: Pool practice is the best place to learn the stroke technique that we will need in the boat. The coach can assist you the best from the pools edge. We learn how to get insync. Pool practice is important to get off right at the start of the season. Also you get to have fun meeting your team mates after a long winter off-season.
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QUESTION: ​What should I wear when paddling in the pool?
ANSWER: Shorts and t-shirt or a bathing suit underneath, water-friendly neoprene shoes or flip flops. Clothes that can get wet. Bring a plastic water bottle.
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QUESTION: What equipment is used for pool practice?
ANSWER: We will provide everyone with a narrower pool paddle and a bum pad.
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QUESTION: What do we do in Fitness Room 2 the hour before the pool practice?
ANSWER: There will be sign up night the first meeting on April 6, 2023 at 7:00 pm. Payment will be accepted, waivers will need to be signed, welcome each person, talk about the season ahead and answer any questions. April 13 / 20 / 27, 2023 we will talk about the goals for the pool practice, do some demos, watch some videos, do some warm ups exercises... to make the pool practice more focused as we have a lot of work to do in those 4 weeks. It is a time of team bonding and building our team core values. It is appreciated if all Titans can attend. Please wear comfortable clothing and running shoes. At 8:00 pm we can head over to the change room and pool practice starts at 8:15 pm SHARP.
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ABOUT BOAT PRACTICES
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QUESTION: Where are the practices located? How long do we practice?
ANSWER: Titans MIXED and WOMENS teams meet at Bayfront Park at 200 Harbour Front Dr. Hamilton, ON L8L 1C8. We can be found to the left of the public boat launch, at the picnic table lined up with the pavilion building. Practices are one hour on the water, but we meet up half hour BEFORE to do team lineup, warm up stretches and other team functions. Also good to arrive early to allow for some time to chat with team mates. Some people like to arrive even earlier go for a run or walk before the practice too, but that's optional.
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QUESTION: What happens if it rains, do we still practice?
ANSWER: If there is just some light rain, we still go out and do our practice... going to get wet anyways. The only time we do not go on the boat is if there is lightning or thunder, high winds.
On the days that are looking bad, please check on the website home page for any cancelations.
However, over the past 25 years it has happened often that the weather looks bad but then at our practice time, it clears up and we have some of the best practices. So it is best to still come out... worst thing, we all go over to Fishers Pub for refreshments and food instead.
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QUESTION: Do I need to be able to attend ALL the practices?
ANSWER: It is best if you can attend all the practices, as this makes us a strong team. The paddling program is set up that the season will start off slow and will gradually get more difficult. You will not want to miss the stroke technique information. You will not want to miss any practices. However we all have lives and it is understandable to miss a few. We like for the team to feel a sense of commitment to the other team mates. New this year, we will have a booking system using this website, (find Calendar>Booking on the top navigation bar). Please let us know as soon as you know you cannot attend so that we can still fill your seat with someone on the sublist.
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ABOUT RACE EVENTS
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QUESTION: Where are the races located? How do we get there?
ANSWER: The races that WE do are located in Ontario, mostly within an hour or two drive.
This year we choose to do four races with TITANS MIXED team and one race with TITANS WOMENS team. We choose which races with want to do, with a team survey. We typically do some carpooling.
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QUESTION: How much of the day is needed for race events?
ANSWER: It's a full day from an early morning start, usually to get to the race site by 8:00 or 9:00 am (every race is different) to the last race of the day which is usually 4:00, 5:00 or 6:00 pm. (every race is different).
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QUESTION: What do I bring to the race event?
ANSWER: Bring your own paddle and lifejacket if you have them, but the event will have equipment for you to use. Bring race shirt / black shorts, hat, sunglasses, change of clothes, towel, chair and sun screen. We usually plan to do a potluck meal but bring personal food / beverage as you need. We have canopy tent(s) to sit under.