**CANCELED** Dragon Boat Training - Colorado

06/25/2019 06:30 PM - 08:30 PM MT

Location

Sloans Lake
1700 South Sheridan
Denver, CO 80204
United States of America
Building Number: Meets Near Ranger Station on NE Side

Summary

Dragon boat practice every Tuesday at Sloans Lake in Edgewater, CO. All abilities welcome. Come experience the power of dragon boating! Join the team and learn to paddle. *REGISTRATION REQUIRED* This event is very weather permitting - if you do not register in advance, you will not be notified of practice cancellations

Description

*REGISTRATION REQUIRED*

This event is very weather permitting - if you do not register in advance, you will not be notified of practice cancellations

Practices: Tuesdays 6:30pm-8:30pm at Sloans Lake Park

Adaptive Adventures Team Blue Dragon Boat is excited for the 2019 season! If you are interested in being part of the fastest growing watersport, enjoy being part of a team, and are willing to commit to training and competing- this may be the sport for you!

We will be practicing on Tuesday evenings from 6:30pm-8:30pm. We will continue running training sessions each Tuesday evening through August, as we train for our first local competition, the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival at Sloans Lake, in Denver (July 27-28th), and end the season with the GWN International Dragon Boat Festival in Colorado Springs (August 23-25th).

Prior Dragon Boat experience is not necessary, but a commitment to your team, training, fun, and adventure is. We invite you to register (again, for those who raced in 2017 and 2018) for the 2019 Dragon Boat family.

Expectations:

Must be able to self-transfer up or down by 12+ inches; swimming skills recommended; must be comfortable in close confines with other athletes in narrow seating; must be 18 years or older to participate.

Sign Our 2019 Waiver

What to bring:

  • Water bottle
  • Towel
  • Raingear
  • Change of clothes (just in case)

What is Dragon Boat Racing?

Dragon Boating- a sport founded in China over 2000 years ago, started as an international sport in 1976 in Hong Kong and has a worldwide participation of over 50 million competitors.  Dragon boats are fast, powerful, and recognized for the camaraderie, strength and endurance fostered amongst the team members. 

The crew for the Hong Kong class dragon boat is typically 22, made up of 20 paddlers in pairs facing toward the bow (front) of the boat; 1 'drummer' or 'caller' at the bow facing toward the paddlers who creates the heartbeat and rhythm of the boat; and 1 'sweep' (steerer) standing at the rear of the boat controlling its track.

Benefits of Dragon Boat Racing

Dragon Boat racing is a fun team-building activity and participating in a dragon boat event can benefit people with disabilities, warriors, family, caregivers, and others in numerous ways.

- Dragon Boating creates an inclusive environment.
- People of all ages and fitness levels can participate.
- The nature of the sport emphasizes unity and working together.
- Driving towards the finish line produces energy, enthusiasm and motivation.
- Paddlers communicate by cheering each other on.
- The sport encourages leaders to move to the forefront.
- Twenty paddlers in one boat = increased camaraderie. 

Dragon boat races feature an exhilarating combination of premier sport competition in concert with an entertainment showcase for corporations, community organizations, and families.  This is your opportunity to be at the forefront of representing people with disabilities and their supporters.

How will you train?

We will meet weekly, Tuesday nights 6:30 to 8:30pm, meeting near Sloans Lake Park Ranger Station. Our season kickoff practice will be April 16, 2019 (weather permitting). Expect to progress in your skills learning how to paddle efficiently and effectively with your new unit, into phases of endurance and taking this new fitness and family into your at-home life. Together, we will learn how to improve our fitness, canoe stroke, power, and ability to feel the hull of that dragon boat move with speed and stealth.  

You will need to sign a contract of commitment for the summer of 2019 that states you will be able to attend 90% of the sessions. If our team places well, we can qualify to continue on to further events out of state. 

Our team coach and mentors will provide the resources and skills necessary to reach to the highest levels. Our head coach has worked in China as a national team canoe instructor and has worked across the world helping veterans, those with disabilities, and many others find olympic development opportunities and to help identify a teams greatest potential.  We will also have multiple others assisting in the development of this team. We are a family! 

What is the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival?

On July 27-28, 2019 our team will compete against roughly 50 teams at Sloans Lake Park in Denver, Colorado. In 2003, when the Rocky Mountain News named us the Best City Festival, 50,000 spectators turned out. In 2005, the festival expanded to two full days, and for the past four years we’ve had over 100,000 people celebrating Asian culture and athletic competition with us.

For questions, contact Chris Wiegand at: wiegand@adaptiveadventures.org

 

 

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