Now that the Island and Ottawa are over again, it seems like the momentum is shifting back towards the Island, as per top teams, do you think this will continue or will both festivals still draw the same teams??

the gta as always had more (numerically) competitive crews. in spite of the difference in costs for entrance fees, you still have to spend a night in ottawa. that negates all of the $ savings. this would be a pure financial justification. I guess lots of teams have just not gone to the island on prniciple alone, though.

I live in the GTA so I'd just like to see the best come to the island.

Ottawa will continue to be the stronger festival in terms of what it has to offer overall however Toronto will be more competitive. If you want pure racing and little else go to the Island. If you want a true festival with incredible organization and activities go to Ottawa. Funny though that the fastest time this year seems to still come from Ottawa. I wonder if this is true about Events Alive time.

Both festival are very well organised. GWN did a great job at the Island and looks like Ottawa did it again.

Well done!

Forgot to say,
2 races per day sucks big time.

Thanks, just wanted to get a gauge of what is to come, truly appreciate the comments, just a paddler. I have been to Ottawa, and was back on the Island for the first time in years, the Island has to some degree clean up it's act,(there are still some aspects to improve) but I think they are heading in the right direction. Ottawa was great and run very well, seem like neither organizer is going to back down and change weekends.

Island over Ottawa: Character, spectator viewing, activities, medals/bling, champ. prizes($$$)
Ottawa over Island: Course, beer tent, no lane 1
tie: organization, spectacular venues, expense

Lucky to have both. stupid for both to be on the same weekend. Island's gotten way better, more responsive to wants/needs of teams.

I was lucky enough to do both events last year since for some reason the festivals were a week apart. The TIDBRF has certainly cleaned up its act and regained its lost prestige and most Toronto top level teams are back. Ottawa runs a fabulous event so I am sorry I missed it this year. Two great festivals plus add in Pickering which was excellent this year..5 races in one day...loved it. We are spoiled!

Toronto may suck in that you get two races on Sunday spread about 7 hours apart (UGH!) but Ottawa has so many meaningless races that you wonder "what's the point"?

Okay, for THIS race, let's have all the rights paddle left, and all the lefts paddle right.

What's that? Another race? Okay then, strokes to the back and back to the front.

Huh? We race again? With who? The same 7 teams as the last three races!?!? Ah jeezus, can we just toss a coin?

fewer meaningless races in ottawa this weekend.

Two shots for a best time on Saturday, and then straight into a combined 500m and 200m finals on sunday.

It is absolutely impossible that Events Alive ran a 152. They were 3-4 seats ahead of Sudbury which ran a 157. Open water equates to 4-5 seconds. There was definitely a typo in someones biased calculations.

You cannot compare the times from Island and Ottawa. Two completely different bodies of water.

Ottawa solved the spectator problem this year. Brilliant idea John. He moved everything up the beach, closed it off to the "General" public and placed a grandstand on the beach. The viewing was amazing. Rumour has it he is going to expand it even further next year. You should have seen the new site design. It was amazing. Even Tim Hortons was onsite selling thier JAVA. They also provided a space with every team number so if you arrived lat from the GTA you had a guaranteed spot to camp. It was a little wet from the week of rain before but excellent o not have to worry about finding a camping space. We are going back for sure becasue it just keeps getting better.

As always John did a great job actually listening to feedback from participants and again improving the festival year after year. Quite refreshing in comparison to the island which despite finally changing the boats still has a ways to go. Looking forward to heading west to Alcan next year!

With the Island going with GWN, what does the future hold for NDC?

Didn't they just buy all of the TCBA's boats?