Urgent - What date for NZDBA Nationals 2018? Tell us your thoughts

[NZDBA]

Fellow paddlers (especially those who have not been on our Facebook discussion).

 

We have been working on dates etc for New Zealand National Champs for the coming summer. Before we finalise it we need to consider some "issues".

 

Some paddlers have pointed out that tickets to Ed Sheeran's concerts go on sale very soon. In fact from 1 pm today (3.5 hours from now).

 

Please respond urgently if you have a strong view.

 

For the South Island, he will be at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin on Thu Mar 29. And at Mt Smart, Auckland on Saturday Mar 24. So that Auckland date could be a problem for northern paddlers.

 

• Easter is the weekend after (Good Friday is 30-March, Easter Monday 2-April) but our feeling is that we will not have very good attendance over a holiday weekend. Plus flights and accommodation will probably be expensive and hard to get. 
• After that, we are getting into April and the weather is cooler and unpredictable, and days are shorter. Daylight Saving will have started by then
• If we go earlier (the weekend of 17-March) this significantly shortens the season, esp. for the regions. And critically, the School season is too short.

So how about this: if you want to see Ed Sheeran, why not opt for the March 29th show in Dunedin - it's an awesome town, and lots to do on a road trip in the south!

(PS, apologies for those who have already commented via social media etc) 

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Regards

Noel Anderton (Chair)

New Zealand Dragon Boat Association