what's available

The cdba provides members with a range of information related to:

• dragon boating activities in and around the ACT
• listing of accredited sweeps and officials
• handy hints and tips for dragon boating
• anything else that seems to be interesting, funny or simply amusing

For latest offerings, check out the news below

Inaugural CDBA 15km Challenge

A great day of racing and some outstanding times recorded by all crews.

The best weather we've had for a regatta this year means some very close results were scored, and as these times will live within the CDBA's 'Wall of Fame' - a new section coming to the CDBA website - the records could stand for some time.

The winning time was 1.06.17, which works out at around 4m 40s per kilometre. A great time when you consider a 1000m Opens crew winning time at the Australian Championships is just under 4m/km.

Some suggestions for next year's 15km Challenge have already been taken on board, such as having the safety boats take the sweeps out around the course before the race.

Special mention of:

• the Orphans crew consisting of ADFA, Uni Dragons, one Grammar, one DA and one Nowra paddler
• Diamond Phoenix who competed with an all-female crew, and had to recover a paddle
• The Nowra and Merimbula crews who journeyed from the coast to participate, with the Merimbla crew completing the course with just 16 paddlers
• all volunteers and the Canberra Yacht Club who made the day possible

This was a non-point scoring regatta for CDBA clubs.

Chinese New Year Regatta

The Chinese New Year celebrations, this coming February, will be the biggest and best ever held in Canberra.

Crews for the 2010 Chinese New Year Dragon Boat Regatta - held as part of the Festival and in conjunction with the ACT Government and Canberra Multicultural Community Forum (CMCF) Inc - will be off and racing again on Sunday 7th February. Training will commence in January, and that is just around the corner...

Entry numbers to this fun event are strictly limited, but to ensure the race draw is full, a 20% discount on entry fees will be offered to crews who have participated in past corporate regattas, as well as any team organised by a CDBA member.

That means your corporate team will gain entry into the Chinese New Year regatta plus the colour and action of festivities for just $920 if you get your entry in early - or as little as $35 a person for two training sessions and a full day of racing, plus lion dancers, and traditional Chinese music, singing and dancing, as well as martial arts displays.

That's great value for a wonderful team building and team bonding event, and you will also be helping raise money for cancer support groups.

The Entry Form and a promotional poster are available for download. Simply complete the details and secure your entry with its return and payment. Once you have finalised your entry, we will work with you to organise coaching and training times.

We look forward to your participation in the Chinese New Year regatta and another memorable day of racing.

For more information please contact:

Kel Watt President
Canberra Dragon Boats Association
president@cdba.com.au
0411 707 489

Fred Lehmann
Chinese New Year Regatta Manager
fred@adrenalineedge.com
0406 496 580

Or go to the
Canberra Dragon Boats Association website - www.cdba.com.au
Canberra Multicultural Forum website - www.cmcf.org.au
National Multicultural Festival website - www.multiculturalfestival.com.au

CDBA Year in Review - The Movie

Can't be bothered to read the book, well see the movie.

If you can't view the above, try YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfPQn3bhfOA

photo id cards for cdba

The CDBA is now required to issue photo id cards for its members, to meet new AusDBF requirements for regattas. All competitors at the Nationals will need to have photo id cards issued by the CDBA, as well as for NSW regattas. As of the 2008-09 season, the CDBA will be issuing the cards.

Due to size and other restrictions for the production of the id cards, the photo's have to fit within a set format, as shown on the left. Generally the photo's have to be the same as passport photographs in terms of size, background and that we can see your face.

If you have a digital camera, after you take your shot crop the image down to fit the 350 pixels by 460 pixels size. The distance from the top of your head to your chin should be around 400 pixels.

For those who have to scan an existing photograph, the distance from top of your head to your chin should be 35 mm. Set the scanner to full colour and to scan at 300 dpi (dots per inch). If you can, crop the photo down in the scanner so you end up with a small file size. Save the photo as a JPEG (.jpg) file, using normal or medium compression.

The CDBA's membership system has been updated to allow you to store your photo, and change that photo or delete once it's there. You can do this through the Members' Only area.

Alternatively you can email photo's (after they've been set up to the above dimensions) to the CDBA Membership Officer (membership@cdba.com.au).

The special printer for the cards has arrived, and further details of when the cards will be available will be sent out shortly.

Any questions or you need further information, contact the CDBA Membership Officer (membership@cdba.com.au)