April 09, 2015

Try something new Join the ROBUSTERS CREW

The Kootenay Robusters Dragon Boat Team is beginning their 2015 season and inviting you to come and try it. We are recruiting more paddlers for fun, fitness and friendly competition. Last year the Robusters had a very successful year competing in two festivals. The first festival was held in Kelowna where the team won their first three races and posted times that resulted in the opportunity to take part in the women’s championship final, where they placed fourth. Penticton was their second festival which consisted of 73 teams. The highly competitive women’s division had 40 teams. The races were divided into levels with Platinum being the highest level. After winning their two Sat qualifying

heats, they were placed in the Platinum division. Sun morning semi-ﬁnal race placed them behind the top four teams and into the

Inspiration & Donation

Platinum B ﬁnal where they had a third place ﬁnish. Also on Sun was the Breast Cancer Survivor Cup Challenge race, open only to crews

The Kootenay Robusters donated $5000 to the KBRH Health Foundation’s Urology Campaign bringing the team’s donation total to over $55,000 to the KBRH Foundation. They, as much as anyone, know the value of investing in health care in the Kootenays. Funds were raised through Robuster calendar sales. If you would like to sponsor their calendars call Jeanie at 250-447-6169. Pictured are Debbie Martin (back left) and Lisa Pasin (back right) representing KBRH Health Foundation and Robusters back row l-r are Trudi Toews, Sue Geissler, Janice SissonPommier and Leanne Robson. Front row l-r are Jan Mickelwaite, Pat Tjader, Mary Hatlevik and Debbie LeRose.

For more information call: Joy 250-365-3794

Kathy 250-362-9644 Debbie 250-364-0993

of survivors. 14 Robusters combined with 7 paddlers from 4 other teams, including the Nelson Kootenay Rhythm Dragons, and was proud to place fourth out of a ﬁeld of 9 teams. The Survivor race was followed by the traditional Carnation Ceremony held after each Survivor race to honour all those who have died of breast cancer and to encourage all those ﬁghting this terrible disease. The introduction to the ceremony followed by the waving of hundreds of pink carnations in time to Garth Brooks’ song, “The River” is an emotional experience few ever forget.

Rae Jeanie

Dragon boating for breast cancer survivors started with Dr Don MacKenzie of the Sports Medicine Clinic at UBC in 1996. He recruited a dragon boat team of 25 breast cancer survivors to take part in research on breast cancer surgery and upper body exercise. At that time it was widely held that repetitive upper body movements led to lymphedema, an irreversible swelling of the arm and chest that is a common complication of breast cancer. The results of the research indicated that repetitive upper body exercise like paddling does not cause lymphedema, and the myth was laid to rest.

250-442-3333 250-447-6169

The Kootenay Robusters are planning to be on the water in April and the best news: no experience with breast cancer or paddling - is necessary. The crew requires 20 paddlers to race and a minimum of 14 to practice in addition to a steersperson and drummer. The team encourages all ages from teenagers to women in their eighties to come and try it out, the only requirements are a good attitude, the desire to join a great social group with exercise and enjoyment the top priorities. “We have ladies in their seventies out there doing it, so there’s a whole bunch of benefits - the health side, the friendships, and the support along

With the paddling season here, the Kootenay Robusters dragon boat team is stepping up their dry land training schedule in order to be ready for their first practice on Christina Lake. During the winter, team members work out in the gym and use the Kayakpro ergonomic trainers (also called the D1) purchased with a grant from Columbia Basin Trust to refine technique and build fitness. Thanks to the generosity

with a positive attitude and irconical team cheer ‘Bust or no bust, we are robust’” added Debbie LeRose.

people get out and try it, they realize they can do it... and you can be at any fitness level to start.”

Kathy Hanson, a veteran paddler The Robusters dragon boat team of 13 years, stresses that being a originally formed in 2001 as a breast cancer group of survivor is not breast cancer “We just want ladies a requirement survivors and to joining to come and try dragon associate and with an paddlers from boating, because once average age of Rossland, 62, the team people get out and try it, Trail, Grand Forks, races against they realize they can do it.” much younger Christina Lake paddlers so an and Castlegar. Kathy Hanson interjection of They excelled youth would early , placing be welcome. second in Kelowna’s Breast Cancer “We just want ladies to come and Challenge after just one month of try dragon boating, because once training.

of FortisBC, Trail and Rossland paddlers are able to use a spare office in the Fortis building on the Esplanade to house their machine. Castlegar and Grand Forks also have a Kayakpro trainer to practice on. The Kayakpros are used summer and winter. During the paddling season, if a member is unable to get to practice at Christina Lake, she can use the trainer to maintain and improve her fitness and technique.

Since then the team has competed in dozens of dragon boat festivals, culminating in a first place result in the Kelowna Festival in 2006 and a trip to the 17th Annual Kaiser Permanente International Dragon Boat Festival in San Francisco. But a team’s success is ultimately tied to good coaching. A serendipitous meeting in a Rossland coffee shop landed the Robusters their coach of 14 years and Trish Ostlund. In the 1990s Ostlund paddled with the world champion False Creek women’s team, and has brought her expertise, knowledge, and enthusiasm to the Robusters, transforming new and experienced paddlers into a coherent force.

Are we your neighbours? Trudi Toews Rossland, Associate 14-year paddler

Connie Miller Castlegar, survivor 9-year paddler

Gail Ross Rossland, survivor 4-year paddler

Debbie LeRose Trail, survivor 6-year paddler

Denise Maier Castlegar, survivor 2-year paddler

Patricia Logan Grand Forks, associate 8-year paddler

Lydia Sorenson Castlegar, survivor 14-year paddler

Lorraine Bell-Lebedoff Castlegar, survivor 12-year paddler

Maureen Corrado Rossland, survivor 9-year paddler

Pat Bruce Trail, survivor 14-year paddler

Rae Salkeld Grand Forks, associate 7-year paddler

Jan Mickelwaite Rossland, survivor 13-year paddler

Jeanie Tourcotte Christina Lake, associate 2-year paddler

Joy Anderson Castlegar, survivor 14-year paddler

Kathy Hanson Rossland, associate 13-year paddler

Mary Hatlevik Rossland, survivor 14-year paddler

Susan Sandner Christina Lake, survivor 14-year paddler

Kathryn Tremblay Trail, survivor 6-year paddler

Leanne Robson Trail, associate new paddler

Susan Grimm Trail, associate 1-year paddler

Susan Geissler Castlegar, survivor 2-year paddler

Barb Cornelius Grand Forks, associate 12-year paddler

Pat Tjader Trail, survivor 6-year paddler

Louisa Vachon Christina Lake, associate 7-year paddler

KOOTENAY ROBUSTERS Want to Try it? All women welcome

For more information call Joy 250-365-3794 Kathy 250-362-9644 Debbie 250-364-0993 Rae 250-442-3333 Jeanie 250-447-6169 www.kootenayrobusters.com

The Kootenay Robusters would like to thank

HOME GOODS FURNITURE Trish Ostlund Rossland coach for 14 years

for donating this space in their flyer