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Race Teams

Here you will find everything you need to know about organizing a team: registration, requirements, soliciting pledges, and much more.

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2012 Team Resources

2012 TEAM RESOURCES WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON. 

Team FAQ Package
Click here to download a package of frequently asked questions

Paddler Waiver
Click here to download the 2012 waiver

Rules & Regulations
Click here to download the 2012 Rules & Regulations

Team Captain's Manual
The 2012 Team Captain's Manual will be available soon  

Calendar of Events
The 2012 Team Calendar of Events will be available soon 

Order your team T-shirts
Click here to order your team shirts from Brymark Promotions

General Info
As we get closer to the festival please check out our Festival Event Schedule for more info about entertainment schedules (Royal Oak Pubs Main Tent & Beer Garden & Tim Hortons Children's Area), festival location, parking, bus shuttles and much more! 

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About Registration

Registration for the 2012 Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival (June 22-24) will begin at 12:00am (midnight) on November 1st.

Early Bird Rate: $1,250 + HST ($1,412.50) - available to the first 75 teams to register and pay by January 31st, 2012

Regular Rate:  $1,350 + HST ($1,525.50) - after early bird spots have been filled and/or after January 31st, 2012

Register early to ensure you get the Early Bird Rate!

2012 Race Format: 

OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE IN FIVE RACES: Saturday's race schedule will include two 500m races.

The top 75 mixed community teams and top 16 women's community teams will advance to Sunday where they will compete in three additional races - one 500m and two 200m races. There will be a declared winner in both the 500m and 200m races. Sport teams will also be advancing to the Sunday finals.

All team registrations can be completed online. Entry fee includes 2 team practices and all necessary equipment.

Teams may also pay "offline" and deliver payment directly to our office. Please make cheques payable to "Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival" and send to:

Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival

Unit 4 - 180 Kent Street, Ground Floor

Ottawa, ON     K1P 0B6

A team is not registered with the festival until registration is paid in full. The Executive Committee reserves the right to accept or reject late entries, at its discretion. Please note the registration fee is not a charitable donation and is not eligible for a tax receipt.

We are pleased to announce affiliations with the following associations:

             

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Create a Team

Step 1: Filling the Boat
Filling a boat requires 20 paddlers, a steersperson, a drummer or caller, and a few spares. Mixed teams must have a minimum of 8 females and 8 males. This does not include the drummer or the steersperson.

A paddler on a Mixed team may also paddle for a Women’s team and a paddler from a Women’s team may also paddle for a Mixed team.

A steersperson may steer for more than one team, however if there is a scheduling conflict, it is the team’s responsibility to provide an alternate steersperson or risk the chance of not racing.

If you are finding it difficult to find a steersperson or drummer you are able to purchase a steersperson or drummer from the RCC for $20 per practice or $25 per race. If you feel that you are going to need a steersperson or drummer for the race please contact the RCC in advance at dragon@rideaucanoeclub.ca 

Step 2: Defining Roles
Every dragon boat team that registers with the festival has three roles to fill - we recommend assigning these roles to different individuals to help in the success of your team. These people will be designated on your roster.

• Team Organizer - Responsible for registering the team and liaising with the festival office.
• Team Captain - Responsible for the team as a whole and for conveying all pertinent information to the team (practice times, race times, conduct of the team, attend team captain's meeting, explain rules).
• Pledge Captain - Each team participating in the festival’s Pledge Challenge should assign a Pledge Captain. For more information please visit dragonboatfoundation.net.

Step 3: Team Roster and Waivers
All team organizers/captains must fill out the online roster in the Team Administration area. Once a team member’s name and email have been entered they will receive an email with their login info which they can use to sign the online waiver. If a team member does not have an email address they must submit a manual waiver to the festival office. Manual waivers can be downloaded here.

PLEASE NOTE: An email address may only be used for one person. All rosters and waivers must be completed by the designated deadline (see Rules & Regulations).  All team members who have signed a waiver will receive a wristband. Anyone without a wristband will not be allowed in a boat. Wristbands will be distributed at the Team Captain’s Meeting the Friday night before the festival.

Teams advancing to Sunday are NOT permitted to submit any roster changes after 6:00pm on Saturday, June 23rd, 2012.

Step 4: Practicing
Info about your two included pracices can be found here.

If you have registered your team and have not received instructions - or for any team related questions - please contact us.

Step 5: Participating on Race Weekend

Team Captain’s Meeting
Team Captains and Steerspeople MUST attend the Team Captain's Meeting to review the rules and regulations and pick up team wristbands.

Race Schedule
The Saturday morning race schedule will be available online approximately one week before the event.

Race Weekend
Your team entry fee guarantees you two 500m races on Saturday, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. You may advance to the finals on Sunday depending on your qualifying time. 

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Join a Team/Find a Paddler

The festival office staff will attempt to place any paddlers who are without a team by referring them to teams in need. If you are a paddler interested in joining a team please contact us by E-mail with the following information:

• Name
• Gender (interest in paddling with a mixed and/or women’s team)
• Phone number and e-mail address
• Skill level (beginner, experienced)
• Age range of team

In addition to contacting our office you can also connect with paddlers/teams by visiting the following websites: 

Facebook

Rideau Canoe Club's Find a Team/Paddler

 

 

 

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Team Practices

IMPORTANT: WAIVERS MUST BE COMPLETED BEFORE ATTENDING PRACTICES.

If you have any questions regarding the clinics or practices please contact Scott at dragon@rideaucanoeclub.ca.

Who runs the practices? A group of certified coaches from the Rideau Canoe Club (RCC) organize and run all practices.

How many practices are included with the festival registration? Your registration fee includes two complimentary practices with a regular coach. Practice dates for 2012 must take place between June 1-22nd.

How much do extra practices cost? Practice Fees for 2011 can be found on the RCC Dragon Boat practice fees page.  Please note that if you book practices outside of the festival training period then an insurance fee will be charged to each person in the boat.

What is the RCC's practice cancellation policy? A team may cancel a practice without charge if 24 hours notice is given. If less than 24 hours notice is given then the cancellation is subject to a charge. The only situation where a practice may be cancelled by the RCC is in the case of lightning.

Is there a clinic for steerspersons? The Rideau Canoe Club will be hosting steering clinics where steerspeople can receive one on one attention from experienced coaches. The RCC will also need paddlers to help out during the clinics (free work-out anyone?) Dates to be announced.

Is there a clinic for drummers? The Rideau Canoe Club will host two drummers clinics where drummers can come out and get tips about calling the race. Topics discussed will include commands, race strategy, etc. The clinic will take 45 minutes and will cost $5 to participate. Registration is not required, simply show up at the RCC. Dates to be announced.

When should my team arrive at the practice site? Teams should arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start time of their practice (practice lasts about 55 minutes). In order to determine which boat you are practicing in please talk to one of the staff members (identified with festival T-shirts) or check the signs which indicate your corresponding boat number. Once you determine your boat number proceed to the number indicated by signs on the dock. Your coach will meet you there.

Are there changing facilities on-site? Yes, but access is limited with so many teams practicing at the same time. Please change before arriving, if possible.

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Tim Hortons Team Area

Click on the link below to view the 2011 team area site map:

2011 Tim Hortons Team Area Site Map*

*Please note that some adjustments were made to site locations and are subject to change. 

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Breast Cancer Survivor Teams & Flower Ceremony

The breast cancer flower ceremony is a tradition that has become a major part of dragon boat festivals. In 1997, a breast cancer survivor team in Vancouver carried pink carnations with them as a sign of hope for a fellow teammate who had recurrence of the disease. Following their last race, the team spontaneously threw their carnations into the water, and the flower ceremony was born.

The breast cancer flower ceremony is a must see event at dragon boat festivals. While the color and type of flower may vary, the reason for holding the event never changes. The flower ceremony honors those who have passed away, gives hope to those who are battling, and celebrates those who have survived.

When the music starts, paddlers raise their pink flowers above their heads and join hands with the paddlers in the next boat. With the flowers raised, the paddlers and audience alike reflect on the lives that have been touched by breast cancer. When the music stops, the paddlers and the audience toss their flowers into the water.  

The Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival is proud to hold the Nepean Masters Swim Club Breast Cancer Challenge Cup for BCS teams. In order to participate in this Cup, all members of the team must be breast cancer survivors. This Challenge Cup is held on Sunday morning, followed by a traditional flower ceremony on the beachfront. The ceremony includes the scattering of pink colored flowers on the water at the end of the final breast cancer race. This is a tradition that has long been a part of the Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival. The tradition honours those women who have passed away from breast cancer, those who are still fighting, and those who have overcome.

 

 

                         

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Challenge Cups

Challenge Cup races are designed to increase competition among teams from industry or community groups. If there are more than 8 teams in a Challenge Cup your afternoon race will serve as the Challenge Cup Final.

Challenge Cup Teams must have a minimum of 9 people racing from the designated cup category.

The Challenge Cups listed below are existing Challenge Races.

Breast Cancer Survivors* – teams whose members are breast cancer survivors.

Building & Development - teams representing companies whose major business involves construction, project development, engineering consultants, building materials, etc.

Education – teams whose members attend or work for educational institutions, administration, or associated parent advisory associations.

Embassies & Foreign Missions – teams whose members work for embassies or foreign missions, or immigrant services or associated community associations.

Emergency Services & Canadian Forces – teams whose members work for police forces, services or associations, or fire fighters, services or associations, or the Canadian Army, Air Force, or Navy.

Financial Services - teams representing companies or institutions providing financial services (Banks, Trust Companies, Investment, Insurance, Mortgage Brokers, etc.)

Friends & Family* – teams made up of men and/or women who have made a team of friends and family members.

Girls n' Women and Sport* – Recreational women’s teams only.

Government – teams whose members work for federal, provincial or municipal governments.

High Tech - teams representing companies whose major business is the production of computer software and hardware, system interfaces, etc.

Health Care & Ambulance Services – teams whose members work for hospitals, medical clinics, ambulance services, or medical or dental offices.

Hospitality & Tourism - teams representing companies whose major business is providing hospitality or tourism services, accommodation or meals.

Legal - teams representing companies whose employees include lawyers, para-legals, etc.

Media - teams representing companies whose major business is television, radio or print (i.e. newspapers, magazines) production.

Professional Services - teams representing companies or businesses providing services in accounting, law, or associations.

Sport – teams who consider themselves sport teams and/or engage in 10 or more practices throughout the year and are members of Dragon Boat Canada.

Charity Challenge Cup A & B - The top 16 fundraising teams as of Friday evening are automatically entered into this cup. 

PLEASE NOTE: A team may only select ONE challenge cup category.

*These cups require that the entire crew meet the criteria.

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Special Races & Awards

Special Races (TBC): 

• 2k Exhibition Race (top 8 fastest teams after Saturday morning races)
• The Footeworks World Championship 100m Sprint Cup (top 10 fastest teams from Saturday’s final standings)
• The Ottawa Dragon Boat Foundation Charity Challenge Cup Races (top sixteen fundraising teams)

Special Awards:

• The Jubilee Fine Jewellers-Rolex Fastest Race Time of the Event cup - awarded to the team with the fastest 500m race time
• Best Team Site Design - awarded to the team with the most colourful & creatively decorated team site
• Chairperson's Spirit Award Cup - awarded to the team with the best team spirit
• Best T-shirt Design - awarded to the team with the most creative t-shirt
  Team T-shirts can be ordered at a discounted price from Brymark Promotions

                                                      

 

                          

 

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Other Dragon Boat Festivals

Interested in attending other Dragon Boat Festivals across Canada? Here are just a few that are coming up this season:

• Great St Lawrence Dragon Boat Race - Brockville, ON
• Rideau Canoe Club Youth Dragon Boat Festival - Ottawa, ON
• Summer Splash - Montreal, QC
• Kingston Dragon Boat Festival - Kingston, ON 
• Battle in the Bay- Marathon, Florida Keys
• Great White North events throughout North America 

For a more detailed list of events please visit www.dragonboatcanada.org  

 

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2011 Team Bios

Below are team biographies listed from A-Z. If your team would like to be included on this page, please submit a short team bio Jessica at team@dragonboat.net.

180° Fitness

180° Fitness is more than a training centre, more than a one hour exercise interval in a daily schedule; 180° Fitness is a vision.  It is a concept and a promise to take health and fitness in a new direction.  Healthier living habits boost energy, confidence and maximize the fitness results.

Our mixed team is comprised of 26 members who are all committed to a healthy lifestyle, motivated by the charitable component of the Festival and inspired by 180° Fitness.  We have come together for the physical challenge and the friendship.

50 in a Row
50 in a Row is thrilled to be back for its second Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival and will be paddling in celebration of CUSO-VSO’s 50^th anniversary! CUSO-VSO is an international development non-profit organization that sends Canadians and Americans to work on collaborative development projects in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. CUSO-VSO staff, family and friends will be paddling hard for CUSO-VSO’s 50 years, 15,000 volunteers and 35 million hours of service to overcome global poverty.

Apple’s Dental Devils
The Apple’s Dental Clinics team consists of a motivated team of dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, managers, and receptionists who will be victorious at this year’s dragon boat races! We began in 1995 and have now grown to four successful clinics that take pride in being a friendly and caring family environment who cater to children of all ages in Ottawa east. In the past, our passionate team has done dental missions to cater to those less fortunate in Bolivia, Cuba and Haiti and we look forward to donating to wonderful local charities in the 2011 Ottawa Dragon Boat Races. 

Art Bank
The Art Bank has sponsored the team for the last 11 years. The Art Bank is part of the Canada Council for the Arts; it supports contemporary Canadian artists by purchasing their work for its art rental program. The Canada Council Art Bank has 17500 artworks in its collection and rents to the government and private sector across Canada.

How do the arts and sports relate to each other? The goals and challenges of business are the same goals and challenges that people face in the competitive world of sports.

The Art Bank dragon boat team has become more competitive each year, winning medals on the water and flexing our fundraising muscles on land. In 2009 we raised $10 513 and in 2010 we raised $11 536, making us 7th out of 190 teams supporting local charitable agencies through the Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival. For sheer strength on the water, we were 7th over all women's teams last year.
 
The women on the team have returned year after year for the friendships made and the shared joy in paddling.

  

At Least We Look Good
This outgoing group of individuals from Ottawa were drawn together by stretchy black pants. Other than hanging out at lululemon athletica, we also stay fit by going to yoga and InSide Out Studio Barre. Having minimal experience in a dragon boat, this being the entire crews first time in a dragon boat, we are ready to make some waves! 

Bruyère Champions
This is the second year of participation for the Bruyère Champions with new and returning paddlers, however, what we may lack in skill we definitely make up for in enthusiasm, positivism and energy.  Bruyère Continuing Care is the champion of well-being for aging Canadians and those requiring continuing care. Les soins continus représentent un volet essentiel du continuum des soins de santé dans notre communauté. Dans un milieu bilingue, Soins continus Bruyère fournit des soins holistiques axés sur les valeurs fondamentales de respect et de compassion.  We are proudly supporting Bruyère Continuing Care as a recipient charity of the Dragon Boat Foundation.

 

Busting Out  Ottawa 
The Busting Out Dragon Boat Team is over 70 members strong – all breast cancer survivors. We are proud to offer our teammates an opportunity to be part of an athletic team and to improve their overall physical fitness, a key in the fight against breast cancer. Friendship and peer support power all our races. We aim to raise awareness of breast cancer and all its implications in our community and beyond.  Busting Out is a program of Breast Cancer Action Ottawa. In the Ottawa festival, our team is represented by two boats: Busting Out and Busting Out Again.

Catch Us if You Can! 
We represent University of Ottawa Health Services. We are a mix of physicians, nurses, allied health professionals and support personnel. We have been dragonboating since 2004.

CMA Transformers
We are an enthusiastic and vibrant mixed team made up of employees from the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and MD Physician Services Incorporated (MDPSI) in Ottawa.  This is our first race as a team.  We have a couple of paddlers with experience, but for the majority of us this is the first time we have ever participated in a dragon boat race.  We decided to put together a team to have some fun and gather pledges to give back to our community.  Health Care Transformation is an important undertaking at the CMA, hence our name “CMA Transformers.”

Draggin Docs
This fun-loving group of female physicians was formed in 2008.  We're fervently committed to our pyramid of Dragonboat "F-words": 
------Fun------
----Fitness----
---Fashion---
--Friendship--
-Fundraising-
So put on your festive beads and come visit our flashy Mardi Gras-themed tent!  We're looking forward to a fantastic fete on both water and dry land and, most importantly, to flexing our fundraising muscles for local charities.

FAMILY MEDICINE WAVES AND FLAMES
The Department of Family Medicine at the University of Ottawa is a leader in Family Medicine education and strives to prepare the finest family physicians for practice. This year, the Department has put together two Dragon Boats for the 2011 Tim Horton's Dragon Boat Festival. Our team consists of Faculty members (family physicians, allied health), Residents and Administrators. This inter-professional powerhouse of a team is looking forward to hitting the waters and Driving the Future of Family Medicine all the way to the Education Challenge Cup! Go DFM Waves and Flames!

                         

Fetal Attraction
Fetal Attraction is an Ottawa based all women’s team. Created in 2006 by a group of ladies associated with Obstetrics and Gynecology, our team name reflects our area of expertise from nurses to clerks. We are sponsored by the Maternal Fetal Medicine group of the Ottawa Hospital, as well as Trophy Shop; located in Cornwall, Ont. In 2009 we captured the Donna Cona Women’s B Championship, and have been consistent in our efforts to re-capture the title. Fetal Attraction is proud to participate each year in this wonderful festival, and look forward to the events of race weekend.

La Furie (CMA) 
L'équipe La Furie (CMA) est composée de Comptables en Management Accrédités de l'outaouais. Nous en sommes à notre troisième participation au festival. Nos partenaires OR sont Desjardins et Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton.

Los Greengos
Los Greengos surround themselves with an air of mystery and power. They are strong, mostly silent, and fairly good-looking, which translates into speed on the water and great jingles on land. They have also been known to enhance their aura of intrigue by meeting for drinks after practice. Their name comes from the Latin “Las Greegitas”, meaning to win big at dragon boating. While many have heard of their wild successes and feats of strength Los Greengos reminds its fans that these are rumors, as the team has only formed this year and hasn’t won anything. Yet.

Malaysia Truly Asia
We represent The High Commission of Malaysia and our team is called 'Malaysia Truly Asia'.  Our crew is comprised of 28 members, Malaysian sponsored students and family staff members.  Since 2009,  'Malaysia Truly Asia' has participated in 'The Ottawa Dragon Boat Race' and we have enjoyed racing. This year,  our team members will race for the fun and experience, and we are ready to rock the boat !  Malaysia... Boleh ! ( Malaysia...can ! )      

MixStream
Mélangez dans un grand bateau aux allures de dragon : des francophones, des anglophones, des gars, des filles, des brutes, des princesses. Ajoutez-y une grande dose de plaisir.  Préparez le tout avec des entraînements rigoureux et des réchauffements absurdes. Regularly stir in Mooney’s Bay water and funny cheers. MixStream is a simple recipe that has largely proven its worth since its creation!

My Arms Hurt! 
Our tale begins back in 2006. It was a beautiful summer's day on a patio not far from Ottawa’s Rideau Canoe Club. We had completed our first festival together as ‘Steer Clear’ and, wanting more, decided to register for Carleton Place later that summer as a new team with a new identity.Our new found friendships and team spirit gave guidance to what our name would be. After many hours of inspired discussion and refreshments, a glass was raised in jubilation as a paddler yelled out "my arms hurt!" We have since grown from that fateful summer day to a three-team family with over 70 paddlers joining together in camaraderie. And back when it all started, yes, our arms really did hurt!

Nolan Crew
In 1996, two sisters brought their young sons to participate in the festivities at the Ottawa Dragon Boat festival. The sisters and their husbands got hooked on dragon boating and over the years the sons tagged along to many festivals with their parents. The parents imagined that one day that they could jump into a dragon boat alongside their children. In 2010, that dream came true and the Nolan Crew was created. Ages 16-56, our team is a true family: six siblings, three spouses and their children make up the bulk of the team, while significant others round out the boat. Our parents, Pat and Bert Nolan, beam when all their children and grandchildren get together, and we all beam when we think of the new Nolan family tradition. Parents and kids all together in one boat – awesome. As the Nolan family motto says, “One heart, one way”.

Oarable Paddlers
The Oarable Paddlers are, for the most part, self-made and non-apologetic bureaucrats who decided not to run in circles, instead paddling straight ahead for almost a decade (or 7 years, rounded up).  They consistently make it to Pub Italia after practices, and consistently almost make it to the finals after Saturday’s races.  As for the choice of the team’s seminal name, it came about because Adorable was already taken.

OPS Civil Dragons
The OPS Civil Dragons are excited to participate in the Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival this year. The OPS Civil Dragons is a Toronto based team. We will be celebrating our 10^th season this year. As a team we share a common element - and that’s our passion for the sport. Our focus is to introduce dragon boating to anyone for fun, health and wellness. We are comprised of a diverse group of fun-loving paddlers, committed to training and racing together. Our enthusiasm, discipline and focus shape our motivation and determination to paddle with spirit. We build lasting memories everywhere we go.

Panaceaa
Panaceaa has been paddling strong since 1994, as one of the 3 teams taking part in every Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival. We're proud of our legacy -- and still excited every season to be on the water. Our team has public servants, a few "techies", an eminent curler, and one retiree, a mixed bag of wannabee athletes and those just along for the ride. We're fast off the start, and hope to be first at the finish -- see you there!

Psirens 
The Psirens dragon boat team was founded by Venissa de Castro and Nisha Kanwar in 2007. As an Ottawa-based women's recreational-gone-semi-competitive team, we train at the Rideau Canoe Club and have participated in the Tim Horton’s Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival since 2008. This year we aim to paddle better, raise more funds for charity and participate in more regattas, such as the Rideau Canoe Club dragon boat races in August. Most importantly, We lure! We devour! The Psirens have the power! We decided on “Psirens” which has history as a Greek legend of fatally beautiful women who sat on the rocks and distracted sailors, luring them to their watery graves with their enchanting music and voices. As for pronunciation, the “P” is silent, it’s the original spelling, derived from the Greek letter “psi”. Just like in psychology. 
 

P’sidens
Founded in 2010 by the newly expanded Psirens Steering Committee (PSC) now formed by Venissa de Castro, Laura Kealey and Naomi Garneau. After three years of placing 25th aka "at the cusp of day two" at THODBF (the top 24 women’s teams progress to a second series of races held on the festival's second day), the PSC wanted to take the Psirens up a notch. More practices, more dedication, more... money. Not sure that all of the existing Psirens would be interested, and having an increasing amount of males interested in dragon boating, the PSC did the only thing any sane person would do: establish a second team! The P'sidens, a co-ed recreational team is proud to take part in its first THODBF this June. With the Psirens' name originating in Greek legend, we figured the only suitable name for the new team would be in honour of Poseidon, the Greek god of water. The spelling, P'sidens, was a tongue-in-cheek reference to their sister team's finickiness regarding spelling. We own! We slaughter! The P'sidens rule the water!

The Ripple Adventure Seekers

The Ripple Adventure Seekers Team is new to the Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival, but we are going to paddle hard and have a great time doing it!  We are the type of people who love to have fun, meet new people and go on new adventures!  We'll see you on the water!

 

http://rippleadventure.ca/ is Ottawa's destination for adults who like meeting people and staying active through adventure sports, cultural events and unique experiences.  We run weekly seasonal programs, one-of events, weekend activities and more!  Come out and join the fun today!

SAPALL
This team is comprised of Independent SAP Consultants and as such is not aligned with any sponsors. Each Consultant holds their own company. The team name of "SAPALL" is part of a Security and Authorization profile in the SAP ERP Software that permits the user access to the entire environment. Intended as a homonym here, it also serves to recognize that the participants are ALL SAP Consultants.