Puerto Rico Dragon Boat Festival - Puerto Rico

01/22/2019 07:00 AM - 01/26/2019 06:00 PM ET

Location

Ponce and San juan
[No City], PR
United States of America
Room Number: Training camp location to be announced p

Summary

Register now for a seat in one of our competitive dragon boat teams in the Puerto Rico Boat Festival. Volunteers Still needed for event support roles found below.

Description

What is the Puerto Rico Dragon Boat Festival?

On January 26 our 2 new teams will compete against some finely tuned high performace race teams at Refugio De Vida Silvestre Embalse Cerrillos, in the heart of the Ponce region. 

The festival offers a unique racing experience with a beautiful scenic backdrop. Featuring the quintessential High energy and great community feel that is dragonboat. This event will give participants, new and experienced, a dragon boat experience with an island feel. Spend a fun-filled, summer day with us as we welcome paddlers, outdoor enthusiasts, and families. A celebration of ancient sport and nature await you. If you have friends or family members interested in helping support this event, there are several roles such as Dock Workers, Events results support, and crowd management for race staging area. Sign up for a position on team or supporting. 

To be a member of the newly formed teams YOU MUST attend training camp Tuesday and Wednesday 21-22 Jan to truly get in the pace of this amazing sport and get to know your team. More info to those who register. No fee for veterans as this is supported by the Veterans Administration Adaptive Sports Grant. 

SCHEDULE

  • Tuesday 22 January- 1600-1900 - Team Training and Classroom Setting  San Juan Bay Marina 
  • Wednesday 23 January- 1600-2000- Team Training and Dinner  San Juan Bay Marina 
  • Friday 25 Jan- 1730-1830 - Team Training in Ponce area at Lake Cerrillos Ponce, PR
  • Friday 25 Jan- 1900 Dinner near Hotel in Ponce Hotel Maila is hot Hotel for those staying in town
  • Saturday 26 Jan 0700-1500 Race at Lake Cerrillos Ponce, PR 

Book your lodging for Friday Night 25 January:    

Hotel Melia Century Ponce - https://meliacenturyhotel.com  or call Gladys at 787-547-2544 to book you’re 107.00 per night room 

Mention you are with the Adaptive Dragonboat Team for this special rate

What to bring:

  • Drink 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 and powerful recognized for the camaraderie, strength and endurance fostered amongst the team. 

The crew for the Hong Kong class dragon boat is typically 22, made up from 20 paddlers in pairs facing toward the bow (front) of the boat, 1 'drummer or caller' at the bow facing toward the paddlers 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 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 warriors and disabled veterans and their supporters.

Our team coach and mentors from our 2014 Adaptive Adventures Wounded Warrior team 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!

For questions contact Chris Wiegand

 

Highlights of the event:
10 paddlers Dragon Boats
Club Teams - Will have the opportunity to race 500m,2000m, and 200m.
Corporate/Community Teams- Will only be racing 200m. 

Small Boat - 12 Racers
We will follow IDBF COMPETITION REGULATIONS and RULES OF RACING for Mixed crew composition, read below corresponding regulation.

CR 2.1.3 Mixed Class Crews must contain a minimum of eight (8) and a maximum of ten (10) of each gender. There are no restrictions on age, except for the 12 years old rule shown in Reg 2.1.1. For Small Boat Races this shall be 4 to 6 of either gender.

The rule allows you to have any of the following compositions: 4females/6males, 5females/5males, or 6females/4males.

 

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