A Chilliwack-based dragon boat team made up of breast cancer survivors can now practise through the off-season thanks to new poolside paddling equipment.
Spirit Abreast has been training at Cheam Leisure Centre during the cold winter months. But they're not paddling in a boat in the pool; they're seated along the edge of the pool on little, custom-made wooden seats.
They've been training like this for about two months as they gear up for their annual meet-and-greet in April where they recruit new members.
Nicole Lengert is fairly new to Spirit Abreast, having joined the team last season. She was diagnosed two years ago when she was 48 香蕉视频直播� it came as a shock to her.
"I had a mammogram six months prior that was clear," she said adding that she has no family history of breast cancer. She went through a total of five months of chemotherapy, plus 17 doses of immunotherapy and 20 shots of radiation.
Lengert was still finishing up treatment when she began paddling with the team last season.
"My strength has taken a bit to come back and I get really tired, really fast. A day takes a lot out of me, but I can do it."
She was one of nine Spirit Abreast members using the poolside seats on March 15 at the Cheam Leisure Centre in Chilliwack. The seats are about a foot high, and an angled foot rest is attached to it with adjustable straps mimicking the seated position in a dragon boat.
The idea for the seats came from coach Coco Contois who first saw them at the International Dragon Boat Federation's Club Crew World Championships in 2016 in Adelaide, Australia. She was living in Ottawa at the time and asked one of her teammate's husbands to build them for the team.
When she moved out here, Contois wanted a set of seats for the teams she coaches. She reached out to friend Andy Holota of Abbotsford who builds wood furniture and gunnels for boats.
"These are all breast cancer survivors. What a wonderful opportunity for me to give back," he said.
Holota donated his skill and time and built a dozen, solid-pine seats. After using them for several weeks, a few adjustment were made and now they're just right, according to the feedback he got from Contois.
"They love them, they're comfortable, and their form is much better," Holota said.
The purpose of the pool paddling is to work entirely on technique, Contois added.
Since they're paddling on "dead water," they use smaller paddles to prevent injuries, she said. Wider paddles are used on the boat, but since there's no boat to pull forward in the pool, those larger paddles are not needed.
"It is so easy to injure the shoulders if you have a big, normal paddle to use (in the pool)," Contois said.
The women only paddle for short intervals at the pool: 30 seconds, 45 seconds and 60 seconds.
The sport of dragon boating helps prevent lymphedema, which is swelling due to build-up of lymph fluid in the body that can be caused by cancer or cancer treatment.
"The minute I came on to this team, they were supportive. They are caring香蕉视频直播� this is an incredible group of women," Lengert said. "I can't say enough about them. They're amazing, very compassionate, very loving group."
They are currently recruiting fellow breast cancer survivors to join the dragon boat team for the 2025 paddling season. Spirit Abreast's meet-and-greet is Tuesday, April 8 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Bob Chan-Kent Family YMCA (45844 Hocking Ave.).
The team has members throughout the Fraser Valley and they practise twice a week at Cultus Lake from April to September.
For more, call Ingrid at 778-241-2920, or Debbie at 778-847-8199.
