I don't think I've experienced washriding. Or if I have, I did not recognise it as such.

Most of the above. I would like to 'sit in' on video reviews of paddlers, to try to learn what other coaches are observing to improve my 'critical eye'. How to train and develop a drummer Tips on integrating novice paddlers with an experienced crew - pitfalls as well as wins. For strength training, creativity for home workouts with minimal equipment.

Rainier Festival in Tacoma, WA in May - 3x300m, good season opener; mixed crew and will also help with community teams; one day event. Seattle Festival in May - for regular crews, 1x250, 3x500; registered mixed, women. Also special category divisions - open (10 paddlers in a standard boat) 1x250, 2x500; masters (40+) 1x500m. Most of our paddlers will be on more than one crew, so will be pooped by the end of the day. Olympia, WA in July - 250m, good introductory race for less experienced paddlers; not registered yet; one day event. CanAm Montreal in July - first time attending; working on getting people to sign up; multi-day event. Portland, OR September - 4x500m, plus 'Around the Bridges' if we qualify; will register mixed, women, open (combine with another crew), 'Legends Cup' special category (40+, mixed, women). This is one of my favourite race events - tents are set up in a park that is a little like an amphitheatre, so just about everyone can see the second half of each race.

I've not been in a collision in a race as a steersperson, but at least three times when I've been the drummer. No capsizes during a race as a steersperson. Collision - ideally, prior to actually making contact, call 'let it run' and 'hold'. If we make contact, just a 'hold hard', then check that everyone on my boat, and the other boat are OK. Follow any instructions from on water race officials. Retrieve dragon head unless instructed otherwise. Then do what's needed to get the boat back on course get across the finish line. Capsize - head count and check if everyone's OK. Look under the boat if number is short. Stay with the boat and keep everyone quiet. Follow any instructions from on water race officials. Inform them of any injuries. We do a capsize drill every year so our crew will know what to do, but it's not uncommon to have guest paddlers who might not, so need to keep a closer eye on them.

Adding : in the race collisions, it was me, as drummer, who yelled 'hold', not the steerspersons. One of those races it was the steer's first race as a steersperson, so not unreasonable she did not yell hold. But the other two were experienced. While I don't know for sure, I am assuming the two experienced steers were so completely focussed on the steering that yelling a command was 'out of range' at that moment. It does make me wonder if I would have the wherewithal in the same situation to yell hold.

Stop paddling - let it run. Sideways hold - hold for drift. When paddlers are executing a non-paddling command, such as hold or brace, we now say 'release' when it is no longer needed.