Press Release
The dragon boats will be hitting the water, and kick-starting a busy summer season for the local club, this Sunday (May 8) at 10 a.m.
This not only will mark the start of the International Boundary Waters Dragon Boat team boating season, but also community practices, its youth ParticipACTION initiative, and the return of the fifth-annual International Boundary Waters Dragon Boat Festival set for Saturday, June 25.
Regular weekly paddles will be starting this Monday (May 9) at the Sorting Gap Marina.
On Monday nights at 6 p.m.,the club will host general team practices for its members and 2016 season paddlers wishing to paddle up to 500 metres.
Anyone interested in trying out dragon boat paddling is welcome to come out Tuesdays at 6 p.m. for a free paddle.
Also on Tuesdays, with the support and partnership of the ParticipACTION Teen Challenge, sponsored by Coca-Cola Canada, the local club is encouraging youths aged 14-19 to come out, get active, and paddle free for the entire season.
New this year will be the team “endurance” paddle on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. for those wishing to paddle a distance of up to two km.
Paddlers wishing to join the team, or come out for the season, can join the club for $60 (Cdn.) by stopping by its team trailer at the marina or visiting www.boundarywatersdragonboat.com/membership
The club also is excited to host its first dragon boat clinic on Friday, May 20 and Saturday, May 21 with U.S. national team coach Megan Kress.
She has been involved with dragon boating for 16 years, and has raced with high-performance crews in the U.S., Canada, and China.
Kress has been the coach of Blue Water Paddling in Duluth, Mn. for 12 years and also coaches the St. Paul’s Dragon Divas, a BCS team with more than 60 members, for the last four years.
Most recently, Kress is spearheading the Great Lakes Dragon Boat Alliance, of which the IBWDB club and foundation is a member.
A limited number of available seats are left to attend this clinic with Kress. The cost is $25 per person, and those interested can secure their seat by e-mailing dragonboatff@gmail.com
To add to the thrill of paddling in—and cheering on—the 40-foot dragon boats during the festival on June 25, the IBWDB Foundation has partnered with “Relay for Life” to host their events jointly that day.
“This year there will be even more family-friendly entertainment, kids’ games, performers, fabulous food, fun, and fundraising” said IBWDB team coach and festival organizer Annely Thorstad, who also is secretary for the IBWDB Foundation.
“We can’t be more excited to be working with the ‘Relay’ committee to provide such a great day of family fun and fundraising for our local charities, on and off the water!” she enthused.
A “Survivor Tribute” also will be added to the festival’s opening ceremonies this year to honour all of those who are and who have battled cancer.
For a schedule of events, visit www.boundarywatersdragonboat.com
Those dragon boat teams of 16-20 paddlers that are planning to participate in the festival this year are encouraged to register on the club’s website as soon as possible to secure their spot—especially if they plan to fundraise at their team tent.
This year, we are excited to announce that FMG Manitoba has been hired to officiate and produce the event.
With more than 30 years of dragon boat experience, we look forward to welcoming their knowledge and experience to Borderland.
The IBWDB Foundation also is excited to announce the addition of some new prizes and events for participating dragon boat teams.
This year, the public will be able to vote on the “Best Team Look Award” while the IBWDB board will award the “Best Team Name” and “Best Team Tent” award.
There also will be a new “Duelling Dragons Tug-of-War” event that will see teams of eight paddlers facing off in a tug-of-war in the boat.
Teams for the tug can register the day of the festival for a cost of $5 per paddler.
