On the Journey - Seth Godin (Fri 02 May 2014)

Pacific Dragons - 2014 AusDBF Dragon Boat Nationals - Kawana (Fri 18 Apr 2014)
Seth Godin (*) writes On Giving (*):

In the infinite game (*), though, something completely different is going on. In the infinite game, the point is to keep playing, not to win (*). In the infinite game, the journey (*) is all there is. And so, players in an infinite game never stop giving so they can take. [..]

You certainly know people who play this game, you may well have been touched (*) by them, inspired (*) by them and taught (*) by them. The wrong question to ask is, "but how do they win?" The right way to understand it is, "but is it worth playing?"

via The short game, the long game and the infinite game (*) by Seth Godin (*).

I see people like this in my club (*) and as is always the case, Seth is ever so right in his observations on life. And I know, by these experiences in my club (*), exactly what he means.

"she had it" - Finding Vivian Maier (2014)

Paris is Calling - Newtown (Mon 07 May 2018)

Finding Vivian Maier on Having It:

She didn't have these measures of status that people aspire to but she didn't have to compromise with it. She did what she wanted. That's what she taught me. She got the life she wanted. She had it.

via Finding Vivian Maier by Finding Vivian Maier.

On Colour Photography - William Eggleston - Eric Kim (Tue 02 Apr 2013)

Early morning light - Erskineville Road / Erskineville (*) (Tue 02 Apr 2013)
William Eggleston (*) talks about Colour (*) in his photography:

I wanted to see a lot of things in color because the world is in color. I was affected by it all the time, particularly certain times of the day when the sun made things really starkly stand out.

via 10 Lessons William Eggleston Has Taught Me About Street Photography (*) by Eric Kim (*).

We have another week of daylight saving and the sun is now rising very late. I noticed this when walking to my local coffee shop on the way to work this morning. The light was so soft and even and I guess it is like this every day, just that I am not up early enough to this golden light. I just took this photo to see how it would turn out - I like it. A few minutes later over a coffee and a muffin I read this quote in Eric's wonderful article.

I am now reminded that I have a draft post on my iPad that links to a William Eggleston YouTube video on the red ceiling room that can be seen in Eric's article. I must finish it and post It here at some stage.

On Fame - Eric Kim (Mon 16 Sep 2013)

Untitled - Barcelona (Tue 06 Aug 2013)
Eric Kim (*) writes On Fame (*):

I personally feel that spending one’s life in search of fame and recognition is a waste of time. Rather, I feel the most important thing is to create work that is relevant and meaningful to you. After all, fame (*) and recognition is dependent on the opinion of others – something you can’t control.

via 10 Lessons Andre Kertesz Has Taught Me About Street Photography (*) by Eric Kim (*).

Whenever someone mentions the word Fame (*), I now think of Alanis Morissette and her own experiences (*) with Fame (*):

And what I have come to see is that fame (*) only amplified that which was there already.

So if I was depressed or I if I was insecure or if I was angry or whatever it was it just amplified it.

It made everything bigger and it did not sort of give, give me what it had been sort of purported to be able to give.

And so there was this great disillusionment.

She then discussed her own way forward:

At this point in my life I am clearer that I share music because it is part of my life purpose.

To write it is, the act of writing it is for me and the act of sharing it is so that other people can make it their own - they can derive comfort, inspiration or whatever they want to derive from it.

So it becomes an offering of some kind and because of that I can do it and I can work really hard.

If I were singularly doing it to just be in the public eye for gratuitous reasons, than I would probably last about an hour.

For me, my main aim in life is not to be noticed too much. I am happy to be just engaged with the world (*) and contributing in my own little way, whatever that might be.

Learning to Fly - Patrick Overton / Cassandra Kelly (Tue 29 Nov 2017)

On the Edge - Fremantle (Mon 27 Nov 2017)

Patrick Overton on Learning to Fly:

When you walk to the edge of all the light you have and take that first step into the darkness of the unknown, you must believe that one of two things will happen. There will be something solid for you to stand upon or you will be taught to fly.

via tweet by Cassandra Kelly.

Kamini Jain talking about Paddling Stroke Technique

Kamini Jain talking about Paddling Stroke Technique (Vancouver Outrigger Conference -Nov 2010)
Following on from the In the Same Boat video where we have a great view of the FCRCC paddling technique. We get an in depth discussion and display of the technique. Lots to pick up on here. I like the sitting up as an after thought comment.

Kamini has held a number of workshops in Australia (Jun and Oct 2010). Lots of people have seen, listened and are now trying to adopt many aspects of what she has taught. My Club had the pleasure of her company for a training session in Jun 2010. I will talk about the session in another post. Learnt so much from the one hour session and helped me find the feeling I needed to take to Macau.

I first met Kamini at the 2007 IDBF World Dragon Boat Championships in Sydney and then in 2009 Championships in Prague. She is very modest and always very obliging for a photo opportunity ..

Geoff, Kamini and Joanne - All Smiles - All three of us were 500m World Champions that afternoon - Hotel Duo, Prague - 29 Aug 2009 (picasa)

On Photography - Mark Cohen / Eric Kim Blog (Mon 17 Feb 2014)

Street Portrait - Harris Street / Haymarket (Tue 25 Feb 2014)
Untitled - Dibbs Street / Alexandria (Jan 2014)
Abstract - Pitt Street / Redfern (Fri 21 Feb 2014)
Mark Cohen (*) on Photography (*):

When you feel like you’re making pictures - the most important is to make new pictures. The pictures you already took - you already took those pictures. My main drive is to do something new - to make some new kind of picture.

via 14 Lessons Mark Cohen Has Taught Me About Street Photography (*) by Eric Kim (*).

Coaching Observations - Physiology4Performance (Sun 01 Jun 2014)

Untitled - Langelinie promenade / Copenhagen (Fri 23 Aug 2013)
Physiology4Performance (*) writes On Coaching Observations (*):

After meeting and talking with some 700 DB coaches around the country, here are some common truths that keep cropping up:

• Every club struggles with numbers. Recruitment is key for every club. Recruit smart and relentlessly.


• People fall out and clubs split and create new clubs. It's painful but good for the sport. Most clubs I can think of started that way.


• The most effective coaches do it because they get great satisfaction from helping people develop, learn, achieve and become part of a club/family - not because they get their ego stroked. Most effective because they make decisions based on performance rather than their ego.


• Good coaches educate themselves and maximise the the time/effort that their team invests, by training their clubs smart and hard.


• The best clubs have two or more coaches that work together synergistically (i.e. their strengths and weaknesses compliment each other). It takes coaches with their ego's in check to work this way as they have to understand their own weaknesses and take a back seat to the other coaches in this area.


• Performance comes from the club culture as much as anything else. Culture is based on a set of values and ideals that is put in place and shaped by key members and taught to new members implicitly. Not everyone will fit in with it and that's OK.


• Some people see 'having fun' and 'being competitive' as two opposing concepts. The best clubs know that these things go hand in hand.

via Physiology4Performance Facebook (*) by Physiology4Performance (*).

The best part about our sport - Adam van Koeverden (Tue 24 Aug 2010)

Adam van Koeverden - K1 500m - 2010 ICF World Championships - Poznan/Poland - (Sun 22 Aug 2010)
Anders Gustafsson - K1 500m - 2010 ICF World Championships - Poznan/Poland - (Sun 22 Aug 2010)
1st: Anders Gustafsson (SWE) 1:38.457
2nd: Peter Gelle (SVK) 1:38.961
3rd: Adam van Koeverden (CAN) 1:39
K1 500m - 2010 ICF World Championships - Poznan/Poland - (Sun 22 Aug 2010)
Anders Gustafsson and Adam van Koeverden - K1 500m - 2010 ICF World Championships - Poznan/Poland - (Sun 22 Aug 2010)
Following on from Anders Gustafsson great video of the K1 500m Final, Adam van Koeverden (who placed 3rd) wrote the following post race report on Tue 24 Aug 2010:

The best part about our sport, from my seat at least, is the camaraderie. Pictured above in the foregound is my great friend Anders Gustafsson moments after he became Weltmeister in the K1 500m, I finished 3rd about 0.5seconds back. I'm smiling not because I snagged a medal, I'm smilling because after 12 years on the international kayak scene, Anders gets to say he is the best in the world, and I'm proud of him. I didn't have my best races this past week (though the 500m final was really good) yet I walk away from the event satisfied in a sense beyond the scope of my own accomplishments and missteps.

[..]

Anders showed us all how to finish a 500, and Kenny Wallace taught the 5k field a thing or two on the long distance course... It's a privilege to just be on the water with guys like these.

Their kindness, grace and sportsmanship shone when I got off the water feeling like crap after failing to qualify for the 1000m final. It was remarkable how a few words of kindness, a few genuine handshakes and hugs, and a couple reminders that it happens to the best of us from guys who have been there and know what it's like helped me bounce back a bit.

We sit in these skinny boats all by ourselves in a selfish pursuit of glory and triumph, but we're all cut from the same cloth, united in our quest for perfect strokes, fast times and the chance to hear our National Anthems on the loudspeaker.

Congratulations all, and thanks for the inspiration! See you on the water...

Adam, thanks for these great words from a true champion. They are inspirational for anyone who reads them.

On Museums - Kirk Tuck (Fri 30 May 2014)

Jenny's (in pink top) moment in front of the Mona Lisa - Louvre / Paris (Aug 2005)
Kirk Tuck (*) writes:

The past (*) is interesting in some regard because it is littered with treasures (*). Those who have never taken time to savor those treasures (*) are condemned to working without good boundaries and, to a certain extent, without inspiration (*).

via A visit to the museum is rejuvenating for the eyes and the mind. Also, how art taught me to stop caring about sharpness. (*) by Kirk Tuck (*).

Pacific Dragons Fundraising Cheque Presentation to the SSCSG - Miranda / Sutherland Shire (Tue 13 Dec 2011)

Today, Jo and I attended the Sutherland Shire Cancer Support Group's (*) - SSCSG - Christmas Party. It was the 16th time we have attended the Party, and it is the 3rd time since Jenny's passing

We were honoured to present to Liz Swanbury, a Social Worker from Calvary Hospital (*) and Group Co-ordinator, a cheque to the value of $1,113, on behalf of Pacific Dragon's Dragon and Outrigging Canoe Club (*).

The SSCSG was formed in 1993 to help people whose lives have been touched by cancer. For the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 paddling seasons, the SSCSG was Pacific Dragon's Fundraising Charity.

Jo, Debra, Liz and Geoff (R to L) - Pacific Dragon's Fundraising Cheque Presentation to the SSCSG - Miranda / Sutherland Shire (Tue 13 Dec 2011)
Jenny (Jo's Identical Twin Sister and my Wife) was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in March 1996 and she lived a full and active life with the disease up until shortly before her passing on Tue 30 Jun 2009.

Jo and Jenny - Glebe Point Road / Glebe (Sun 04 Feb 2001)
Jenny found the SSCSG early on in her shared life with cancer and it became a constant in her life, just as the paddling would when she found it in January 2001. Jenny looked forward to and attended the weekly Tuesday morning meetings of the Group.

Petria King Workshop (*) and the SSCSG - Quest for Life (*) - Bundanoon (Tue 23 Mar 2005)
Pacific Dragons Women's Team (Jenny with her blue head scarf front right) - Penang / Malaysia (Sun 04 Aug 2008)
Jenny met many amazing people at the Group and she (as well as Jo and I) learnt much about cancer, it's treatment and progression. It showed her and us how to live and ultimately, about how to die.

A few months after Jenny's passing Lisa asked me to write a few words about the SSCSG and what it meant to Jenny. At the time I struggled to find the words. They were there, I just could not write them down coherently. So Lisa kindly and gently quizzed and probed me at the Shed after an OC6 session one night. From my ramblings she was able to write the following which was used in support of the SSCSG being Pacific Dragon's Charity for the 2009/2010, and as it would turn out, the 2010/2011, paddling seasons ..

Geoff tells me that this group was important to Jenny because it taught her about the cancer she was living with, including providing opportunities to attend programs to learn about the importance of good food, positive attitudes, meditation and loving support.

She got to spend time and form friendships with people going through the same thing, volunteered with the group to raise a huge amount of money for cancer research and support through Daffodil Day and Relay for Life, and it also helped her prepare herself for the time when the disease would take her from us.

Jenny also became an important role model for the group, inspiring them through her support and the way she chose to live her own life.

Each year at this celebration, the Group remembers those members who lost their lives to their cancers, and related illnesses, during the year. This is done by Liz reading the name of the lost member and then Debra (one of the leaders of the Group) striking a bell. This year four names were read and the Bell struck after each name.

Jo, Jenny and Geoff - SSCSG Christmas Party - Miranda (Tue 16 Dec 2008)
Over the years when Jenny was with us, when the Bell rung, I always felt lucky that we had another year together. Today, as always, Jo and I would remember how we heard Liz read Jenny's name and Debra's Bell ring at the December 2009 Christmas Party. We miss her dearly and she is remembered fondly by many.

Jo and I thank Pacific Dragons for their generosity and support of the SSCSG. Jenny would be touched by your kindness.

Jenny - St George Private Hospital (11:48am Tue 23 Jun 2009)

On Dreams and Passion - Eric Kim (Mon 16 Sep 2013)

Joy - Madrid (Fri 09 Aug 2013)
Eric Kim (*) writes on Dreams (*) and Passion (*):

regardless of your position in life, you always have the option of pursuing your dreams (*) and passions (*).

Follow your dreams (*), and they will take you where you want to be.

via 10 Lessons Andre Kertesz Has Taught Me About Street Photography (*) by Eric Kim (*).

Crossing - George Street / Sydney (Thu 28 Mar 2013)

Crossing - George Street / Sydney (Thu 28 Mar 2013)
Eric Kim (*) writes On Street Photography (*):

Know that in street photography (*) we have little to no control of how a photograph turns out.

via 10 Lessons Lee Friedlander Has Taught Me About Street Photography (*) by Eric Kim (*).

Thank You: RPM ..

I started RPM (an interval based stationary bike programme with 7 cherographed training tracks) at Sydney University's Aquatic Centre's RPM Studio on Fri 11 May 2007. I was so "pumped" and I can still remember calling Jenny almost straight after the session to say that it was everything (plus more) that I hoped it would be. Jenny and Jo had told me about their "Spinning Classes" and how much they enjoyed it. I had finally found the same thing - thanks Jenny and Joanne.

RPM Studio - Sydney Unit Aquatic Centre (Mon 30 Nov 2009)
I had been toying with the idea of doing some Group Fitness at the Sydney Uni Gym. My membership at the time allowed me to use the Gym equipment only. The previous weekend I had successfully trialled for the Australian Senior Open's Dragon Boat team to participate at the 2007 IDBF World Dragon Boat Championships. I was looking for something new and thought I needed to try something different, to compliment the running I was doing for my cardio.

I was a little nervous about the joining the Group Fitness Programmes and in my normal way, I put it off until I read a blog post by Drew Ginn titled:

• Ridden into the ground and loving it

I had been following Drew's Blog for a few months. I had really connected to his writing style (particularly the grammatical and spelling errors :-) and found all his articles to be very motivating. Being a Rower, his articles could easily be translated and related to my world of dragon boating [in actual fact, I have felt that I have almost lived a parrallel life, though not quite at the same level :-) ]

Vincent and Geoff - RPM Sydney Uni Aquatic Centre (Fri 27 Nov 2009)

Heart Rate - First RPM Class - Fri 11 May 2007 (Vincent)

The Ridden into the ground and loving it post was a motivating story, but it was the following quotes that really caught my eye:

[..] The remarkable thing is each time I go into this place, into this zone I find something special, something new. [..]

[..] The pleasure is in the relationship the lies within the range and scope of extremes. The vastness of feelings marks a cycle. Not just the one we ride but the one that is ever present inside us. [..]

These were the feelings I wanted to explore more. Maybe RPM could accelerate what I had already learnt in the boat.

RPM has turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made regarding my development. It has been everything I hoped it would be, plus more.

What have I found in RPM? I have found many things: discipline, the cherography for each track requires a mental discipline. A sense of timing and feeling: the music and tracks require a feeling for the beat and rythym - much like the feeling you need to find when paddling. The interval based workout requires a measured approach to your effort. On top of all of this you become very fit.

Ali and Geoff - RPM Sydney Uni Aquatic Centre (Mon 30 Nov 2009)

When I first started I would hide in the middle of the class and try not to be noticed as I do with most things. As my confidence and understanding grew, I bought a pair of bike shoes with clips (the 2007 Tour de France really motivated me there). With the new shoes, I had to move upto the front row where the bikes with toe clips were. It was a great move. It helped me with my dragon boating (even more), where I had just started to stroke (i.e. sit in the front seat). I started to develop a sense of feeling the energy, and timing behind and around me - it is very similiar to stroking a boat.

Loulou and Geoff - RPM Sydney Uni Aquatic Centre (Tue 01 Dec 2009)

One of the bests parts of RPM for me has been the people. Vincent is the head instructor at the Gym and has worked (and still teaches instructors across Australia) for Les Mills (an Auckland based company) who run and develop the RPM Programme worldwide. James has been an instructor for years and is probably one of the best instructors in Australia - he brings his mountain bike experiences to the class. I have seen both Ali (she started the same time as me) and Loulou go from participants to intructors who run amazing classes and bring their own personalites to each session. Vincent has taught them well, it has been a delight for me to watch their progress and development. As I said, this has been one of the best parts of RPM for me and they have inspired me in my own endeavours.

James and Geoff - RPM Sydney Uni Aquatic Centre (Wed 02 Dec 2009)

These people have contributed significantly to make me the person and athlete I am and I can't thank them enough. Just recently I personally thanked each person and gave them a copy of Jenny's Gold Medal story with a big thank you for their part in my development. Also took the chance to get a photo.

Thank you Vincent, Ali, Loulou and James and all the RPM team at Sydney University Aquatic Centre.

Geoff