GWN camp at Orlando

GWN FLORIDA TRAINING CAMP PRESENTED BY WALGREENS
SUNDAY APRIL 2 TO SUNDAY APRIL 9, 2017

While your competitors are still waiting for the water to warm up, you could be giving your dragon boat season a jump-start with a paddling vacation in Orlando, Florida. Spring camp is suitable for all ages and levels, perfect for those looking for a break from the ordinary (or cold) while enjoying the sport of dragon boat with like-minded people.

The 2017 GWN Florida Training Camp presented by Walgreens promises to be a week of fun and fitness on and off the water. Register as a team, small group or individual, with customizable add-ons for those looking to give an edge to their personal performance. 

The week will culminate with an opportunity to race with top Florida teams in the Walgreens Space Coast Dragon Boat Festival presented by PepsiCo in Cape Canaveral. Transportation to and from this event will be provided.

Opening festivities begin on the evening of Sunday April 2nd with camp check-in. Training begins on Monday April 3rd and ends on Friday April 7th. As part of the camp program, participants compete in the Walgreens Space Coast Dragon Boat Festival presented by PepsiCo on Saturday April 8th. Camp officially ends on Saturday evening after the races.

Was wondering if you could send an email to the team re: GWN camp (I'm not sure I have a full email list)?

Kathy, Brigette, my friend Doug, and maybe his teammate Justin (both from the Flathead Lake Brewery team) are going.  We were able to get in on a "group" from Barrie, ON to get the $25 discount.  We'd love to get more people going!   The more the merrier, and a fantastic team building experience.

Camp is 4/3 - 4/8 (race on 4/8).  Travel on 4/2 and 4/9.

A Budget Summary put together by my friend Doug:

Basics

• $370 - Early bird discount if we commit before Dec 15 and that becomes $345 if we have group of 10 or more going.  This is the basic class & does not include steering or High Performance Class.  I have us piggy-backed in with a large group from Barrie, Ontario.  They are excellent paddlers as a group and at least a third of them are as good or better than any of us.  They will be good to paddle with and push us hard & make us better.
• $100 to $110 - Food per person per week if we cook our meals at condo & shop at Walmart vs the higher priced Whole Foods.  The Walmart is exactly 1 mile from the resort & easy walk.  You need a back pack to shop & be fine.
• $375 to $450 - Lodging per person per week - depending on what type of condo arrangement we want & sharing space to sleep.
• $30 plus or minus - dinner out the last night, after our race at the Mexican Restaurant - it's tradition & Margarittas are amazing.
• Airfare - varies!  Currently ~$850 from Bozeman.  $360 from SLC.  I like this one!

Other costs that can vary

• $75 - High Performance Class - Lisa took it last time she went & I did it last year.  Highly recommended ! - You learn race strategies & pacing & transitions on starts & sprints, stroke rate keys, how to work with your other teammates, starts & finishes & set ups.  And you get in an extra session of paddling & it really improves your knowledge & skill a great deal.  I will be doing it again.
• $50 or whatever - cost of cab to get from Orlando Airport to Westlake Resort.  If we share a cab & make our flights come in about same time, it will be easier.  Uber may be another option.  Rental car is dumb & expensive.
• $175 - Coaching Class - I took it 3 years ago & it's very good.  I learned a lot ! - But unless your team really wants you to coach & respects you for that role, not recommended.  I'm glad I did it, but it sucks up a lot of time during the week and can impact your paddling skill improvement due to having too much going on.
• $100 - Steering Clinic - I have done it twice and don't recommend it.  It's another distraction on compromising improving paddling skills.  And I was frankly not any good at it at Camp.  I learned to steer this Summer several times when our head coach couldn't make practice & I filled in as Coach & Steersman.  When you HAVE to do something, you suck it up & do it.  That's how I learned ! - You just gotta do it & it's Ok if you get pitched in the water learning.  
• Booze & lunches / dinners out - up to the individual.  The more booze you drink the less able you are to paddle next session.  And lunches out in Orlando are not cheap.  Dinners out are a bad idea because during peak season in Spring the service is slow & you don't get out of the Restaurant until past bedtime.  And Orlando Restaurants as a rule have not yet discovered the healthy eating options.  The ones that have discovered healthy eating are too expensive.  The mexican place we do the last night is super cheap if you don't drink & food is awesome !

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