The Nothin’ Dragon paddlers hit the road for Penticton on September 5, arriving by different routes and navigating slow construction zones, detours, and smoke-filled traffic from fires burning in BC and Washington. Once settled at the Riverside Motel, the team quickly shook off the travel fatigue with good food, conversation, and even a refreshing swim.
Day 1: Sprints, Seconds, and Spirits
The festival opened on September 6 under challenging conditions. Due to poor air quality, the traditional 500m races were shortened to 250m sprints. At first, there was uncertainty about whether both the Mixed and Women’s crews would even get more than one race in. Fortunately, the winds cooperated and both teams enjoyed two solid heats.
It turned into a day of twos:
Always racing in Lane 2
Finishing 2nd place in every race
The paddlers wrapped up early, celebrated in the beer garden, and returned to the Riverside Motel for a relaxed team dinner before turning in for the semifinals ahead.
Women’s team receives high fives from super cheerleader, Joan!
Day 2: Finals and Fierce Racing
Fueled with energy, Sunday began with high expectations.
Nothin’ Dragon Gals: Battled into the Jade Semis, finishing 2nd to earn a coveted spot in the Jade A Final. Facing tough competition, they proudly secured 4th place in the final.
Mixed Team: In a nail-biting Diamond Semi, the top three boats finished within a second of each other. Nothin’ Dragon’s strong performance set them up for the Diamond Final B, where they raced their hearts out and brought home 2nd place.
After the racing concluded, teammates split between celebrating in the beer garden, heading home, or soaking up one more evening in beautiful Penticton.
Our mixed team heading out to the start line.
Team Spirit and Gratitude
Nothin’ Dragon Paddling Society president, Robbin Whachell summed it up:
“This Penticton festival has truly become one of our favourite events. It’s not just about racing—it’s about building camaraderie and enjoying a mini vacation together in such a stunning location. Staying at the Riverside Motel feels like a step back in time, and it’s the perfect spot for our team to relax and celebrate.”
A big thank you goes to Coach Denise for preparing the team, all our steers and drummers, and those who helped with the tent site and Saturday team dinner. Thanks also to Donna and Sue who joined us from two other teams to round out our women’s crew!
Special thanks to Laney and Bev for organizing, shopping, and delivering an amazing meal that powered us through Sunday’s races and even filled our bellies for a healthy lunch on day two.
While the journey to Penticton may have been arduous, the rewards of competition, laughter, and shared memories made it all worthwhile.
What’s Next?
Nothin’ Dragon’s final race of the season comes on September 27 at the Oddball Fall Classic in Vancouver, where we’ll be entering two mixed teams to close out our 2025 race season.
