October 4 Update: Congrats to all our teams, coaches, and athletes for a great season! We are now planning for 2025, but not before planning an end-of-season celebration event for the whole club in November. Stay tuned here for those details. As winter events are planned and registration opens, they will be announced both here and on their event pages.
The following is the status of upcoming events...
> Club winter training: 15-weeks at Afterburn Fitness on Saturdays. Registration now OPEN.
> Puerto Rico Dragon Boat Festival: Registration is now OPEN. Event is Feb 7-9.
> Ottawa Ice Dragon Boat: Registration open by Oct 11. Event date TBD.
> Florida Training Camp: Registration open by Oct 11. Camp is mid-April (dates chosen soon).
> Pickering Race Camp: Registration opens by Oct 11. Last week May and racing at Pickering Challenge.
> Barracudas Winter Training: Registration is now open for team members, and a limited number of guests (space permitting). Includes 18 weeks at Afterburn Fitness and 15 weeks at Higher Ground.
Important Note: We will have two new teams next year:
> All Cancer Paddlers team, for men and women who have been diagnosed with any type of cancer. This will be a new team with no prior paddling experience required. Their goal to to be competitive.
> Indigenous team, for anyone indigenous and supporters. Jerseys will be designed by Anishinaabe artist Rhonda Snow, who is world renowned for helping save the native pony breed.
Our existing 8 teams will continue to grow in 2025, and we look forward to the biggest and best yet Canada Day regatta on Toronto Island. A new twist for next year, is the formation of up to 4 Canada Day Corporate teams. These teams will have 3-6 practices in June and race at our Canada Day event. We already have two interested parties. If you are interested, please contact the club!
Beginners are most welcome at our club. We start with the basics and build on that week by week until we are ready to race after several practices. Dragon boats are 40 foot long stable boats, and the use of paddles and life jackets is included. Anyone is welcome to join the club.
The summer 2024 team practices are summarized as follows...
Barracudas [competitive] - Mondays & Thursdays 7:00 PM.
Liberty Waves [LGBTQ2SA] - Sundays 10:30 AM.
Strokes of Luck - Saturdays 10:30 AM.
Water Wizards - Tuesdays 7:10 PM.
Flying Dragons - Thursdays 7:10 PM.
We Will Rock You - Tuesdays at 5:50 PM.
Mixed Ability Dragons - (Saturdays at 12:30 PM)
For paddlers of all abilities, skill levels, and experiences. Members include paddlers with Down Syndrome, autism spectrum, and anyone of any ability. We are supporting the formation of a multi-city league of Mixed Ability dragon boat teams. There is a Spring session (racing on Canada Day after 4 practices) and a Summer session (racing in Welland after 4 practices).
Want an extra regatta on the side this summer?
Motley Crew mixed gender (Canada Day or Christie Lake).
