Wine and a good time with the Hot Flash dragon boat team

QUALICUM BEACH, British Columbia — Started in 2018 by coach Judie Coulter, Hot Flash’s team goals include getting out to paddle, having fun, enjoying the experience of being part of a team and drinking wine. They also enjoy being “somewhat competitive at festivals,” says their coach.

Judie has been coaching for 12 years. She began with a cancer survivor team and then moved on to paddle with and coach a recreational team. Through this, her own team was created. “I hand picked the rest of the crew from my fitness classes,” says Judie, adding that “you have to be in shape when you start the season.”

Judie’s husband Peter Coulter, who owns and operates Nurse Next Door here in Qualicum Beach, is their sponsor.

“We are a fun and happy bunch who love to be on the water. All of our personalities mix extremely well and we all enjoy the short but rather intense 10 week season,” says Judie. The team enjoys “wine when we win and wine when we don’t win”.

To add to their enjoyment, they’ve created some fantastic cheers and pride themselves on being one of the loudest crews, along with the best looking in their team gear.

On their first year out, Hot Flash won the spirit award at the Nanaimo Festival as well as the best decorated tent two years in a row. This honour earned the ladies a double tent for the event this year.

“We cheer on all others who participate in dragon boating events because that’s just what dragon boating is all about. The friendships and comradery are so special, it is just fantastic and like no other sport,” shares coach Judie.

The team sings during practice and rehearses their cheers, which improves the group’s rhythm. When blown off the water by wind during practice, the group of close-knit team members and friends can be found in the pub warming up. And yes, there is wine!

Hot Flash raises money for end-of-life care through the local hospice. Nurse Next Door sponsors a ladies night each summer at the Arrowsmith golf club, where they fundraise for their cause.

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