JOIN US THIS SUMMER!
The Rusty Dragons are a community-focused non-profit dragon boat club located in Toronto. We practice on Lake Ontario in the scenic and protected Outer Harbour. Dragon boats differ in a big way from tippy canoes and kayaks as they are 40-foot long very stable boats. As a result, beginners and anyone of any ability or age can paddle in a dragon boat. Our paddler's ages have ranged from 8 to 84.
On-water training for all teams start in May. We have NINE main teams for you to choose from, just differing slightly in how many practices or races they attend, and the day of the week and time that they practice. Anyone can join any team - just pick the one that fits your schedule. See the "Teams" drop-down menu above to explore the details for each team. A summary of each team is also listed below.
A common question we get is "Is there space on the team for me?". The answer is YES! If you see the "Click Here to Register" button on a team page, then registration is open for you to join the team. We use the TeamSnap application for registration (buttons link to it). Payment is separate from registration and is done later (normally via Interac email transfer).
2026 Team Summary:
> Flying Dragons - They train on Thursdays at 7:10 PM and race in Hamilton (July 4), Welland (Aug 15), and Stratford (Sept 19).
> Barracudas - Training Mondays & Thursdays at 7:00 PM. Coaches Beth Yam and Sammi Wai. This team is a bridge between recreational and competitive teams. Both experienced and competitive minded new paddlers are welcome. They race at Toronto Island (June 13-14), Welland (Aug 15), and at GWN Challenge (Sept 12-13). They also have two Outrigger Canoe (OC) camps on May 30 and Aug 23.
> We Will Rock You - Training Tuesdays 5:50 PM, and racing in Mississauga (June 20) and Stratford (Sept 19). Coach Catherine MacInnes. This team has a unique earlier start time. > FULL!! Registration closed.
> Liberty Waves - Training Sundays at 10:30 AM. Coach Jonathan Navarro. Join our 2SLGBTQIA+ team for some fun Sunday practices! Racing in Hamilton (July 4), Woodstock (Aug 8), Stratford (Sept 19). This is a great crew for anyone wanting camaraderie and competitive racing. Welcoming new members and allies.
> Mixed Ability - They have expanded to a second location! We have two Outer Harbour based teams in the east end of Toronto, and now two teams in the west end in Mississauga at the Credit River. See the "Mixed Ability" team page for full details. Both teams then race at the Welland Hope Floats Challenge (Aug 15). Coach Tim MacFarlane, Sammi Wai, and Jess Bailey. Part of the international Mixed Ability Sport (iMAS) organization. While there is still space at the Outer Harbour location, note that the Credit River location team is now FULL with 40 registered members. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for status.
> Strokes of Luck - Training Saturdays 10:30 AM. Coach Sammi Wai. Our shortest program (at 7 weeks) and hence the lowest cost of all programs. Racing in Hamilton on July 4. > FULL!! Registration closed.
> Water Wizards - A NEW team created in early April as the Strokes of Luck team above reached capacity of 24 paddlers. It's the same program as Strokes of Luck and they will train together on the water. They train on Saturdays at 10:30 AM. Coach Tim MacFarlane. This program is our shortest (at 7 weeks) and hence the lowest cost of all programs. They race at Hamilton Waterfest on July 4.
> Motley Crew - composite team opportunities for anyone in North America to race at either Toronto International on Toronto Island (June 13-14) or the Christie Lake event in Hamilton (September 19).
*** See the SUNDAY CREW drop-in program on the main menu at the top of this page. All summer long we are offering 90-minute practices for anyone interested, whether paddlers on other teams who want an extra practice or a make-up practice, or for the public who want an open-house like practice opportunity. We also provide steering opportunities all summer long for anyone interested (no extra cost).
Beginners are most welcome at our club (it's our primary focus). We start with the basics and build on that week by week until we are ready to race after several practices. Anyone is welcome to join the club.
