On Saturday, June 26, the Ritchie Bros. Auctionauts dragon boat team paddled one of their own and his lovely bride [understatement] to their reception at the UBC Boathouse. More after the jump.
There was no way we could out-do the bride, but we dressed in our best whites with black construction paper bow ties. After a brief paddle upstream and some bubbly, it was time to deliver them to the waiting throngs of paparazzi and eager cheek-pinchers.
Below the pix is the tribute we read you in the boat.
We wish Dino and Jennifer well from the bottom of our blades. May the race course rise up to meet you.
Marriage is Like a Never-Ending Dragon Boat Festival
Like marriage, a dragon boat festival is a series of challenges that will reward you and test you as individual paddlers and as a team.
Like marriage, dragon boat takes a lot of commitment, teamwork, rhythm, and concentration to get to the start line. The good thing is, sometimes you get to practice on the way to the start line.
Like marriage, there is a lot of jockeying, noise and details to cover on race day. At the start line, officials will often try to tell you what’s good for you.
Like marriage, once you hear the horn that shouts, “Go”, the race-day thrill takes over. Sometimes it’s frantic. Sometimes it’s controlled. Every time, you will have to get your boat up out of the water quickly and moving ahead on a straight course.
Like marriage, timing is everything. You will have to work together, synchronized over the entire course. If one of you falls behind, the other must bring them along. If one of you tires, the other must inspire them to keep going. When your timing clicks, your boat will surge cleanly through the water. That’s when medals are won.
Like marriage, there will be obstacles. There will be weather and waves. You will get swamped. You will get cut off. You will have good races and last places. You must paddle through.
Thankfully, there is always a beer garden between races.
Like marriage, no matter how you start, how you race, or where you place, know this: the rest of the team in your boat is there to give you strength. The team in your boat and your faith is there to keep you on a straight line. The team in your boat is there to work with you to get you to each finish line you face.
And, like marriage – like this marriage – the crowds along the shore go wild!
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