Paddling for the UPAAS Paraws I

When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Mine was this weekend.   I joined the UPAAS Paraws and competed for Isang Bangkang Malaya 2015.

20 June 2015 Training Day

That was the first time I've held a paddle and I think most of us were in the same boat.

Call time was 830 am and we arrived at the FDS cage at 845.  There was absolutely no one in there.  For a moment, I thought we were in the wrong place.  But with Maybelle in the team (she used to paddle for FDS),  we couldnt be wrong.  True enough, after a few minutes, people arrived.

They seemed to have come from another training.  Or at least they looked like they did.  They knew Maybelle so they said hi to her. No one asked who we were.

RA messaged me and apologized that she will be late.  It seemed like the group didnt know who's gonna handle us.

Eventually, someone volunteered to train us.

After some more minor setbacks, we managed to go to training area where we were taught the basic commands, how to hold the paddle, and how to paddle.

It's TOUGH but FUN.

Apparently, paddling isn't all about arm power.  It requires body movement and twisting of the torso.  And since it's a team sport, synchrony is mandatory.  And this was the most difficult to achieve.

Our trainer was kinda strict - the no nonsense kind.  I remember there was a point when we were laughing with the way we were paddling and then he quipped "Guys, nakakatawa pa kayo.  Yung pacers niyo pagod na pagod na".

Awkward silence after that.

And this was kinda helpful I guess.  Otherwise, we would have just rowed instead of paddled.

UPAAS Paraws