Arizona Dragon Boat Festival - Arizona

What is the Arizona Dragon Boat Festival?

On March 24-25 our team will compete for 2 days of exciting dragon boat competition with teams from all over the United States and beyond. The Arizona Dragon Boat Festival welcomes teams from all over the world, looking to get out of the cold and enjoy some competitive races on the beautiful Tempe Town Lake. There are 10 Divisions: Mixed | Women | Open | Collegiate | Corporate | Masters | BCS | Adaptive or Disabled Athletes | Youth | High School.  The standard races are 500m.

Dragon boating provides the ultimate team building platform to boost morale while promoting key abilities essential in a group environment. Dragon boat racing is an exhilarating and addictive sport that requires communication and team work to be successful. Rhythm, discipline and focus are just a few characteristics important to this awesome sport.

The annual Arizona Dragon Boat Festival offers an opportunity for local and regional businesses and organizations to join in the fun!

Event Website

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 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