Hi all!  Quick post…expensive internet service.  Our women’s team worked crazy hard and felt great about every race.  We did well enough to earn the right to compete in the semi-final and final races, adding 2 races to our schedule on Sunday (the bottom 3 teams were eliminated before that point).  We earned no medals, but feel very proud of our awesome performance!   Our big group (25 women and 4 guys) have now split into a few smaller groups to continue adventures in this part of the world, my group is now on the dreamy Perenthian Islands, tropical paradise!  Then we spend a night in Koto Bharu (a very traditional Muslim town in northeast Pennisular Malaysia) and head south to the jungle for 2 nights (Taman Negara) via the jungle train and a river boat, then onto Singapore for the last 2 nights where we’ll meet up with some others for our long flight home.  What a wonderful vacation!  We wish all of you devoted site-viewers a wonderful summer as well.      Jen

All 25 women plus 4 of our men made it to Penang safe and sound a few days ago.  None of us have been notably sick yet, nor sunburned, so we’re doing great!  It’s been very hot and humid every day, we’re drinking lots of bottle water to stay hydrated.  So many interesting things to see and do here!  The race site is in a reservoir surrounded by mountains, it’s truly breathtaking.  23 countries are represented, 200+ teams.  It’s interesting to see different styles of racing (some teams paddle standing up!!!) and uniforms from around the world (some women’s teams wear head scarfs ‘hajib’ even when racing).  The teams here are AMAZING, fierce competition!  We’re definitely the underdogs, but we’re all so excited and happy it doesn’t matter.  

Most of our team is traveling together, we’re now safe and sound in the Taipai airport waiting for our flight to Kuala Lampur, Malaysia, then a short flight further north to Penang.  It’s 7:10pm Malaysia time, 7:10am Pittsburgh time.  Woo-hoo we’re almost there!!!!!!

The article about our team going to Malaysia made it into today’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette paper!  Click here to read the article and see the picture(s)…

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08198/897135-114.stm

Hi Paddlefish supporters,

Representatives from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette came to visit our team during practice tonight, and photographed many of us women who are headed to Malaysia in less than 3 weeks now! We’ll be looking forward to seeing the article in the paper some time next week!

Hi All,
Just a quick thanks for your support at our Shadow Lounge Fundraiser last night! For links to the many local small businesses and corporations who donated items for our auction(s) and showed their support in other ways, please click on the “Small biz sponsor” page on this site!

Also, for a few pics from the event, click on our team blog: www.paddlesup.blogspot.com

Hi all,

Thank you for your participation in our Max and Erma’s FUNdraiser last week, we believe it was a success! We won’t have the final word on income generated for a little while yet.

Moving on to our next event…

The Shadow Lounge in East Liberty/Shadyside (5972 Baum Boulevard Pittsburgh, PA 15206) is hosting a fundraising night for us on Saturday evening, May 3rd, 6pm-9pm! Find a Paddlefish from whom you can buy a $15 ticket, or pay at the door for a fun evening of dancing, drinks, free food, and more! There will also be a chinese auction, and a silent auction with many great items to bid on…gift certificates, art work, sports paraphenalia, and services donated from local small businesses.

Here’s the direction page to the Shadow Lounge website…
http://www.7thmovement.net/shadow_lounge/shdwlng_directions.htm

And here is the official poster explaining more about this exciting evening!
May 3rd Shadow Lounge Fundraiser Poster

Hi friends!

We are planning several ways in the near future that you can help us raise funding for our trip, other than giving a flat donation (although that is always a good option!).

For example, do you like to eat at Max & Erma’s?

On THURSDAY APRIL 10TH the Max & Erma’s restaurant in Shadyside in Pittsburgh (5533 Walnut St., 412-681-5775) is sponsoring us. On this day only, 20% of sales from lunch and dinner food and beverages (YES, including alcohol!) from any checks with our flyer attached will benefit our Malaysia-bound team.

So, you don’t have to wonder where to have dinner Thursday night April 10th! Head to the Shadyside Max & Erma’s and help us raise some traveling funds!

You’ll need to bring this:

http://maxandermas.amedius.com/common/mb_pick-up.php?view_file=/userfiles/maxreg/proceed_flyer_1111541101011394141717142111016.pdf

Click on the above link and print out the flyer to give to your server.

Please bring your friends and pass the link on to others you think might be free to do lunch or dinner at Max & Erma’s next Thursday!

Thanks, everyone!

On September 20, 2007, the Pittsburgh Paddlefish women competed in the Great White North Dragon Boat Challenge in Princeton, NJ. At this race we secured our spot for the 2008 Club Crew World Dragon Boat Championships in Penang, Malaysia.

Doesn’t it seem like just yesterday that we received this email from Sophie Jan:
“So, I know this is last minute, but can any women come to the Princeton Races this Saturday? We may have enough points to go to Penang. In fact, I have taken the liberty to enter us in the race.”

Aren’t we glad she did?! Thanks Soph!