The Rusty Dragons club is all about accessibility and fair play, with a variety of non-profit teams to fit your interest and schedule. We especially welcome new paddlers to any team. We have several teams, each with a different practice day or time, and also different number of practices or regattas (race events). Ignore the team names - just look at each team's program details.
Our focus is for all members to:
> See that they are an equal and valued member of a team, no matter their fitness level, age, gender, size, or abilities.
> Have fun in a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment. We train on scenic Outer Harbour, between Cherry Beach and Tommy Thompson Park.
> Meet new people - the camaraderie of this sport is amazing. What other sport brings people together from all walks of life?
> Learn some new skills - participate in a sport over 2,300 years old.
You can then register with a team (when registration is open) if their program suits your interest, schedule, and budget. See the Teams menu at the top of the page for details on each team. New paddlers are welcome on ALL teams (you don't have to start with a specific team). The Barracudas are the only team with a twice-a-week program that runs 11 months of the year for those motivated for a more competitive experience and race results. Below is a short summary of each team...
Flying Dragons (formerly called Guns n Roses) - This long-time team fills to capacity quickly every year. Their long-time coach Natalie Wong retired in 2023 and the team is now excited to have Terence Yu as their coach for 2024. Their co-captains Shalini and Ayesha look after the team very well. This team trains Thursdays from 7:15 to 8:45 PM all summer, and races in three regattas (Peterborough in June, Canada Day on Toronto Island, and Stratford in September.
We Will Rock You is a newer team created in 2022 as a sister team to the Flying Dragons (Guns n Roses) team. Several of it's members had previous experience with the Drag'n Angels team. They practice Tuesdays at 6:00 to 7:30 PM all summer, and their coach is Catherine MacInnis. The team races on Canada Day on Toronto Island, and other regattas (yet to be identified when this edit was made). Check their team page for full and current details.
Liberty Waves - This team is comprised of members of the LGBTQ community and allies, and are one of a few teams that practices on the weekend (Sundays, from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM. Their coach for 2024 is Jonathan Navarro (Tim MacFarlane coached then in 2023). Their team captains in 2023 were Susan and Hamza, and the captains for 2024 had not yet been identified as of this edit. The team races on Canada Day on Toronto Island, then Welland in August, and finally Stratford in September.
Strokes of Luck (formerly called Library of Conquest) - This team is our second "weekend" practicing team as they practice Saturdays all summer, from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM. Their team co-captains are Anwesha and Nathan. They will race on Canada Day at Toronto Island, and the Woodstock Regatta in August. THis program is a little shorter than some other teams (ending August 10th).
Barracudas - The club's competitive team for paddlers who want MORE! They have a 21 week winter training program (November through April) and a comprehensive racing program this summer. They practice twice-weekly on Monday and Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 8:45 PM). They have 9 race days in 2024, including racing at the first ever Canadian American Club Crew Championships taking place in in late July in Welland. They are just the 2nd Rusty Dragons team to go to the Nationals/Club Crews (after our visually impaired team in 2014 & 2015). Their coaches are world champions paddlers Bethany Yam and Jamie Gleason. Their captains are Graeme Kondruss and Hamza Shahzad.
Water Wizards - This new team was formed in 2023 with coach Catherine MacInnis. This team was partly formed by former Miracle Dragons paddlers whose team was disbanded after the pandemic. CHeck out their team page for more current details on their program. They train Tuesdays from 6:15 to 7:30 PM.
Beach Dragons - This NEW team is half-season and focussed on new paddlers or those wanting a shorter season with less time and cost. They train May and June on Thursdays from 6:15-7:30 PM and race at the Canada Day Regatta on Toronto Island.
If you have any questions or have any registration issues, please feel free to contact team captains as details on the team pages, or to club owner Tim MacFarlane as detailed in the contact info at the bottom of this (and every) page.