Dragon Steel SE President Edit Tóth spoke about the recently held competition, who for the first time introduced us to their “behind the scenes”, that is, how they feel about such a competition, and how the competition works.
– The excitement and tension before the first time on the water is indisputable. On the first day, the short distance is organized, in our competition system the winner is announced based on the combined results of two races. Before the first race, there is still tension due to the unpredictability. Who will we compete with directly, what is the level of preparation of the teams, and what can we show during the race? Everyone tries to be mentally prepared and focused in the minutes leading up to the race. Then the race begins and you don’t think about anything else, it’s just you, your paddle, the water and the boat. Essentially, the latter, of which you are only a part, and like a jigsaw puzzle, you have to fit perfectly into unity. After assimilation, you need to dictate the same pace, make the same movements in order not to hinder each other, not to slow down the ship, but to push it forward as quickly as possible. Therefore, you need to concentrate, listen to the orders and instructions of the helmsman and drummer, and focus all your strength on the racket. He said you shovel, shovel, and shovel harder until the boat reaches its destination, and then you just try to breathe.
He said that the next day the long distance was two thousand meters. While a two-hundred-meter race primarily requires strength, a two-kilometer race tests one’s stamina.
– You give your strength to start the boat weighing 250 kilos and crew the competitors who weigh at least 600 kilos as soon as possible. In the long run, it pays to get off to a good start. But let’s go back to the boat: you rip through the water, you push the boat, and you listen to the drum. You watch to see if any competitors approach as you shovel and shovel, sometimes even harder in one accelerator, then sprint forward again and push, for long minutes. And before the finish line, your last reserves will be used up, and then you just have to wait for the bagpipes, the finish line!
As for the current competition, a record number of units came together for the tournament, which was also a qualifier for the European Championships in Ravenna. According to Edit Tóth, two classes fought for the right to start the shootout. At selection, their first mixed team placed second in the 200m and third in the 2000m, thus earning the right to start at the European Championships. The first open team finished fourth in the 200m event, thus disqualifying them in that race.
Dragon Steel results: 200m: U24 Mixed (Under 24) 3rd. Senior B Open (50+) 5th place. Fifth place for women (12-100). Great combination (over 40) 5th place. 2000m: U24 Mix (U24) 2nd place. Senior B Open (over 50), fourth place. Fifth place for women (12-100). Great combination (over 40) 5th place.
List of competitors: Bencs Botond, László Biró, Vivien Biró, Angéla Bőhm, Dr. Laszlo Rubix, Dr. Zoltán Katona, Nárcisz Fehér, Péter Fischer, Tünde Gál-Priey, Lívia GULD, János Hallas, Attila Horváth, Lujza Horváth, Kristóf Kállay, Ferenc Kótai, László Körmendi, Virenc kótai Atos, Matthew Mihali, Andrea Nair Brack, Peter Simon, Zoltan Simonidesz, Andras Szabo, Opel Telex, Mark Terenger, Edit Toth, Gergely Toth, Vili Toth, Petla Varga, Zavirassers.
