Team Information, Officals, Directors of the Wasabi Organization

For general questions about the club, teams, concerns, critisism, advice, or problems using the web-site, please send an e-mail to info@wasabiusa.org. Your e-mail will be routed to the appropriate person; who will contact you shortly.

Wasabi Team HUGE

Premier Women's team. Coached by Kim Ketcham
Technical Coach Rachel Fredericks.
 
Team HUGE is Wasabi's premier women's team. The premier division is mainly women under 40 but we have a range of ages on our team. We are a crew of funny, powerful, strong, competitive women who love to race and train and have a passion for paddling together. We care about each other and have a blast paddling throughout the year. Our primary activity is dragon boat paddling but we also train and race in outrigger canoes. Although we are serious about our sport, the women on our team have rich personal and professional lives - this year our team had 6 babies, got two master's degrees, one PHD, and had several job promotions. In 2006 we took the silver medal at the US IDBF Nationals and we have won gold at the World Club Crew IDBF races. We are actively recruiting this year and warmly welcome anyone who wants to come out and give this a try with us! No paddling experience necessary, but athleticism and/or team sports experience are terrific assets and attitude means a lot! If our team isn't the right fit for you, our club is an incredible one and we're sure there is a home for you here - we'll help you find it.

Wasabi Grand Masters Mixed

WASABI Grand Masters Mixed. Coached by Sue Fischer.
The Wasabi Grand Masters Mixed (GMMxd) Dragon Boat team was formed in 2007 and had a very successful season. The team is composed of paddlers 50 years of age and older who enjoy the competition of dragon boating at the highest levels and camaraderie team sports provide. The team competes locally, regionally, and internationally. Team members also share other interests off the water such as hikes, concerts, snowshoeing and other varied activities.
In 2008 the GMMXd team will compete in numerous races including a defense of the Senior Division title at Kent and the 'Senior Cup' at ALCAN. These were titles won in the maiden season of 2007. The highlight of the racing season will be a trip to Penang, Malaysia in August for the Club Crew World Championships. The GMMxd will be representing the Wasabi Paddling Club & the Pacific Dragon Boat Association and compete with teams from across the globe.
The success of the team has generated a great deal of interest in the Senior Division which has resulted in a steady growth in team membership since inception. The team is looking forward to continued success this year and to many years of racing excitement, good health, and friendship in the future. If you are 50 + and looking for a great outdoor TEAM sport, come give us a try!!

Wasabi Mixed Team

Mixed team. Coached by Polly Luthro
Technical Coach, Peg Dibello. Team Captian Skinner.
 
Wasabi Mixed Team is made up of a very diverse crew of energetic competitive paddlers ranging from those just starting their second season to seasoned paddlers with more than 10 years of paddling experience.
 
The Mixed team was the founding team of the Wasabi Paddling Club that was established in 1993. Since that time, the Mixed team has served as a launching pad to accelerate Wasabi into one of the premier paddling clubs in the U.S. with over 160 active members.
 
We are a tight knit group of friends that enjoy participating in many more activities outside of dragon boating. Our crew trains hard and plays hard!

Wasabi Team Power Surge

Masters Women team. Coached by Connie Flesuras
Assistant Coach, Carol Hoekstra.

Wasabi Power Surge Dragon Boat team is composed of women over 40 who love the sport of dragon boating and compete nationally and internationally in the masters women’s division. The team was formed in 2002 by Connie Flesuras under the auspices of the Wasabi Paddling Club.
 
She recognized the need for competitive paddling opportunities for women over 40 in the Portland paddling community. The Portland masters women paddlers are a strong, committed group deserving of national and international recognition.
 
The team represented the United States in World Dragon Boat Championships in Shanghai, China and Schwerin, Germany. Power Surge has also competed at the Club Crew World Championships in Cape Town, South Africa. Their next Club Crew World Championship Races will be in Toronto, BC, August, 2006.

Wasabi Special dragons

Coach: Gwen Foley
Assistant Coach: Gretchen Yost
 
Special Dragons is a team made up of developmentally and physically disabled athletes who compete in the Portland Rose Festival dragon boat Races. The team was founded in 1997 and have been racing in the Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Dragon Boat Races for the past 10 years. They joined the Wasabi Paddling Club in 2006 and are involved in the social and community activities of the club. The teams primary mission is to help build individual fitness and confidence, develop teamwork skills and improve self-esteem in themselves and their teammates. They are interested in being included in Portland activities through dragon boating. Many of these athletes also participate throughout the year in Special Olympic sports as well. Wasabi Paddling Club is honored to have these athletes as part of out club.
 
For more information, contact Gwen Foley.

Wasabi Team SOAR

Team SOAR. Coached by Corky Lai

 
Team SOAR is made up entirely of breast cancer survivors ranging in age from early thirties to mid-seventies. Breast cancer knows no boundaries in regard to race, ethnic background, or age. Team SOAR reflects that fact in the diversity of our membership.
 
Team SOAR's mission is two-fold. The first is to support our breast cancer sisters in their rehabilitation after fighting the disease and to promote dragon boating as a mechanism for getting into shape and improving their overall fitness level. Our second goal is to maintain our standing as national champions in the Breast Cancer Division and to maintain our strong international presence in the sport.
 
You do not have to be an athlete to join Team SOAR. You only need to love the water and have a willingness to learn. You will find our team to be very welcoming of new members as well as providing a very safe place to pursue your personal fitness goals.
 
For further information, see www.teamsoar.org, Co-Capt.Sharon Cresalia and Gretchen Brown

The Wasabi Warriors

Recreational Mixed team. Coached by Jeremy Shattuck
 
The Warriors are Wasabi's only "recreational" team but don't let that fool you! We are no less dedicated or committed to this sport - we just don't require a time trial. We have a fun mix of people - all ages & competitive levels. No experience needed. We compete in all of the local races and even take a trip or two to Canada each year. Come out and give us a try...we promise you'll have a good time.

Wasabi Team Kraken

Juniors Division Team. Coached by Randy Stokes.
Team Captain: Coner Eflier. Team manager: Josh Miner
 
Wasabi Kraken - Is junior aged team (less than 19 years of age) formed in the summer of 2006 from a core group of Cleveland High School students from Portland, Oregon. Cleveland has had a long history of teams that have competed in the Portland Rose Festival races. However, the team of 2006 wanted to continue to paddle as a team and partnered with the Wasabi Paddling Club to form Wasabi Kraken. Kraken is open to kids from all area schools and currently has members that proudly represent 8 different high schools across the Portland, OR metropolitan area. Schools represented include Cleveland, Riverdale, Sunset, Spring Water Trail, Liberty, Milwaukee, Lincoln, and Beaverton.
 
Kraken members are fierce yet gracious competitors that pride themselves on teamwork and individual respect. What is a Kraken?
 
Kraken - No legendary sea monster was as horrifying as the Kraken! According to stories this huge, many armed creature looked like an island when motionless and could reach as high as the top of a sailing ship's main mast with its arms deployed. When the Kraken attacked a ship, it wrapped its arms around the hull and cap-sized it. The crew would drown or be eaten by the monster. Kraken where mostly noticed in the seas of Scandinavia. Fishermen said that huge amounts of fish gravitate around Kraken and the boat that succeeds to fish around the monster without awaking it will take more than possible to carry aboard.

Wasabi Officials

President	Larry LaMarsh
Vice President	Mary Richardson
Secretary	Laurie Hansen
Treasurer	Susi Shiach
Assistant Treasurers	Gretchen Brown, Jen McCollister

Board of Directors

Char Cook	Gwen Foley
Fran Halpin	Kim Ketcham
Jeremy Shattuck	Jean Quinsy
Dennis Hoyer	Tracey Miller
Gretchen Yost

Wasabi Administrative Officers

Immediate Past President	Ann Malkasian
Coach Coordinator	Kelvin Wong
OC Coordinator	Corky Lai

Wasabi Committees and Committe Chairs

Election Committee	Larry LaMarsh
Fundraising/Sponsorship Committee	Mary Richardson
Boat Maintenance	Jack Fischer
Website	Adina Fryer
Newsletter	Carolyn Stewart
Public Relations	Rachel Bell
Volunteer	Gwen Foley
Social	Aimee Edwards
Recruitment	Jeremy Shattuck
Membership	Laurie Hansen
Wasabi Wear	Lori Walters
Wasabi Uniforms	Elena Ardantz

Organizational Representatives

United States Dragon Boat Federation	Connie Flesuras
Pacific Dragon Boat Association	Fran Halpin
IPDBF	Gretchen Yost
PNW-ORCA	Corky Lai & Jeremy Shattuck
Portland Boathouse	Chris Burkheart

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