With very little instruction and practice, the Penticton Vees are taking to Skaha Lake this weekend to compete against one of the city’s most experienced dragon boat teams.
The B.C. Hockey League squad has partnered with Penticton Dragon Boat for a pre-season team-building challenge, set to run this Sunday, Sept. 4.
Vees’ players and staff will race against Survivorship, an experienced dragon boat team of breast cancer survivors.
“This is a great test and team-building exercise for our group,” said Fred Harbinson, the Vees’ head coach and general manager. “We want to thank Don Mulhall and Penticton Dragon Boat for inviting us and being able to draw inspiration from Survivorship. We’re excited to be able to do this again.”
After the initial race, set for 10 a.m., the Vees will receive more guidance from Survivorship and challenge them in a rematch for “their toughest race of the season,” the team said.
The team-building challenge comes less than 24 hours after the Vees’ annual intrasquad Peaches Cup. Featuring returning players and new recruits, the split-squad game starts at 5:30 p.m. at the South Okanagan Events Centre, Sept. 3.
The Vees and Survivorship’s matchup has been on hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Survivorship is committed to raising awareness of breast cancer in our community, showing breast cancer survivors that life does not end with a cancer diagnosis, while participating in the sport of dragon boating,” representatives from Penticton Dragon Boat said.
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