Chinese Cultural Society of Stockton
DELTA DRAGONS

This was the Delta Dragons' sophomore year competing in the Northern California Dragon Boat Racing Championships, which was held September 23-24 at Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay . As a new team, we didn't embarrass ourselves last year, coming in 18 th out of 36 teams. Comprised of an odd assortment of a couple of youngsters, a bunch of middle-aged folks, and several long past qualifying for senior discounts, we kept competitive with the likes of a boatload of US Marines, mostly male, and a whole lot younger than most of the Delta Dragons. How would we do in this, our second year? Read on.

We recruited enough paddlers to make up a team of 20. Unfortunately, that meant we had no substitutes so on race day EVERYONE would have participate in each and every race. Although our 2006 team ranged in age from 15 to 70, the average age was below last year's since we got more 20s and 30s involved. Yea for us!

Because we were able to practice only three times and some team members were absent from practices because of scheduling conflicts. The entire team was able paddle together only once before race day. But we surely made up with vigor and intensity what we didn't have in racing technique.

So how did we do? We were enthusiastic, energetic (age notwithstanding), and ready! But 17 other teams were readier than we were. Nevertheless, we got wet (a prerequisite for paddling fast in a low boat without much freeboard), bonded with each other, and had a great time. We're ready to do it again next year. One of our coaches, Chuck Chen, keeps reminding us that one of the paddlers on the championship team is an octogenarian, so we have a role model to emulate.

Delta Dragons was coached again this year by Chuck Chen and Sharon Beal; the captain was Francis Lau. Paddling on the team were Tracy Almarez, K.C. Biederman, Beverly Blum, Chang Cao, Lisa Cao, Julia Chapman, Ken Cheung, Dee Ann Dixon, Alex Gray, Andy Gray, Robert Hui, Gladys Ikeda, Pat Ikeda, Joseph Li, Carol McCandless, Monica Ng, Jeanette Rojo, Barbara Walker, Tom Walker, and Jeri Wong.

Come join us next year-we're going to do it again. Contact Francis Lau at 209/478-8754 or Gladys Ikeda at 209/931-2609, or drop CCSS a line at PO Box 692035 , Stockton CA 95269-2035 with your name & address/phone/e-mail address. PADDLES UP!

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