Alkame Dragon Boat Services

1st Annual Welland Hope Floats Challenge

Premier North American Racing, featuring the Hope Floats Challenge

Proudly hosted and provided by Alkame Dragon Boat Services
Benefiting the South Niagara Canoe Club, Hope Floats BCS

Saturday, August 26th, 2023

Event Details

Pricing

Category # of Races Before March 1, 2023 Before June 1, 2023 After June 1, 2023
BCS Division 4 800.00 900.00 1000.00
All Cancer/Supporter 4 800.00 900.00 1000.00
PARAdragons 3-4 400.00 500.00 600.00
Special Needs 3 FREE FREE FREE
Mixed Division 4 800.00 900.00 1000.00
Women’s Division 4 800.00 900.00 1000.00
*Out of Province 3-5 750.00 750.00 750.00

All prices are in CAD and do not include tax.

Important Division Information:

The BCS Division is for a team comprised of only Breast Cancer Survivors (including the drummer).

The Cancer Survivor/Supporter division includes ALL cancer survivors and their supporters, with crews made up of a minimum of 50% cancer survivors.

PARAdragon crews will be made up of 50% PARA athletes and 50% non-PARA athletes. PARAdragons is the term used by the IDBF to describe paddlers who have some form of physical, psychological, neurological, sensory, developmental or intellectual impairment. For more information regarding PARA racing, please see the IDBF website: IDBF PARA

Special Needs crews are made up of non-competitive athletes and will compete in their own division. These crews will be made up of 50% Special Needs athletes, and 50% non-Special Needs athletes.

Following Division III Rules of Racing, Mixed Division crews must have a minimum of 10 female paddlers and a maximum of 19 female paddlers. Women’s Division crews must be solely comprised of those who identify as female (including the drummer).

*Out of Province pricing applies to all teams that are travelling from outside of Ontario, or, more than 400kms to attend this festival.

Location

Welland International Flatwater Centre: 16 Townline Tunnel Road, Welland, On, L3C 2T4

Directions from Toronto
Directions from Niagara Falls

Niagara College Residences
110 Niagara College Boulevard, Welland, On, L3C 7L4
Approximate 10-minute drive to the race site.
$129.00 + tax per night. Available Thursday, August 24th through Sunday, August 27th, 2023.
2-bedroom residence suite with full washroom and partial kitchen

To book, please contact Laura Stoner and tell her you wish to book with the Hope Floats group.
By email to: lstoner@stayrcc.com
By phone: (905)641-4435 ext. 3904

Holiday Inn Express & Suites
224 Power Drive, Welland, Ontario, L3B 5N4
Approximate 15-minute drive to the race site.
$229.00 + tax per night - 2 Queens or 1 King, mini fridge/microwave, breakfast included
$249.00 + tax per night - 1 King + Sofa Bed, mini fridge/microwave, breakfast included

To book, please use this link: Holiday Inn Express - Welland Hope Floats Or, call the hotel directly at: 905-735-9999, and book under the Welland Hope Floats block.

Best Western Rose City Suites
300 Prince Charles Drive South, Welland, On, L3C 7B3
Approximate 4-minute drive or 20 minute walk to the race site.
$275.89 + tax per night. Available Friday, August 25th through Monday, August 28th, 2023.
2 Queen beds or 1 King + pull-out, with full washroom and kitchenette.

To book, please call the reservation desk and tell them that you are a part of the Survivor Festival. 
Direct: (905)732-0922 or 1-800-387-8186

Race Schedule

View the Race Format
View the full Race Progression

Race Format (Single Division Teams):

  • All teams will race a 500m heat by division, seeding into the 200m final
  • All teams will race a 200m final; the combination of the 500m heat and the 200m final seed into the 500m final and the 2000m final
  • PARAdragons will have the option of taking part in the 2000m final

Awards

Gold, Silver & Bronze medals will be awarded to the top 3 teams in each Division A final.

Gold, Silver & Bronze medals will be awarded to the top 3 teams in all other Division finals.

Gold, Silver & Bronze medals will be awarded to the top 3 teams in each 2000m final.

Awards will be handed out after the conclusion of each division final.

Each team will receive 25 medals, however if you need additional medals, you may purchase them for $10 each.

Vendors

Stay tuned for all of the exciting food, drink and merchandise vendors!

Are you interested in being a vendor at our event? We would love to have you!

Vendor fees are $50 +hst, or become a Vendor & Sponsor for $125 +hst. All vendors receive:

  • $125.00 (+HST), with the option of being a race sponsor for an additional $25.00
  • A 10x10 space in a prime area of the park
  • Website & logo promotion on our Festival page
  • Promotion through our team information bulletins
  • The option to add a business card, promotional item or coupon to our team swag bags

Vendors who select to be Race Sponsors will also receive logo/website promotion on our race schedule (printed and online) and company promotion/announcements over the loud speaker throughout the festival.

*Food/Drink Vendors, as well as Charities & Community Organizations can join this event for free. Please click the registration button for more information.

*Please note: In order to best serve our participants, we reserve the right to turn down vendor applications if we feel as though the market is already covered in this area.

Click here to register

Interested in being an Alkame Festival Series Sponsor? We are always looking for amazing partners to work with! Check out our Sponsorship Package today!

Questions?

Questions about this event? Need some help with registering? Send an email to katy.dunlop@alkame.ca


Registration

Register Now


Rules of Racing

Rules of Racing - All teams will follow Division III rules as outlined on Page 9.


Merchandise Vendors

Chinook Paddles
Bear Mountain Boats

Canal Dragons Festival Merchandise

 

Pink Crusaders

Food Vendors

El Pinche Tacos

Canal Dragons Coffee Station

 

Chef and Bub
The Lunch Lady

The Lunch Lady