Every team that participates in the sport of dragon boat racing is unique. Each team has its own reason for paddling. There are the top tier, highly competitive teams that are constructed of highly fit paddlers that train on the water 3 or 4 days a week and hit the gym once or twice a week as well. The other side of the field will see teams that practice for 6 or 8 weeks just to enter one regatta and then they are done for the year. The majority of the teams, however, are made up of recreational paddlers that enjoy the balance of a great social sport and the fun and adrenalin that the racing provides. The Pirates fall into that category.
We are a wonderful blend of people from all different backgrounds, walks of life and paddling experience. We have some seasoned vets, others with a handful of years under their belts and a whole bunch of brand new paddlers. We all have one thing in common and that is a new or continued love for paddling and the fun and comradery that follows this great sport.
If you were to use one word to describe the Pirates, Family comes to mind. The team is built around the mantra that you need to paddle for each other to truly paddle as a team. The Pirates Dragon Boat Team tries very hard to create a safe space on the water for people of all walks of life to be themselves and to enjoy the company of other paddlers in a sport that promotes inclusivity.
A testament to this is the number of paddlers that have been with us for 5, 10, 15 years and longer. Some of our paddlers have found solace within the team and as a result have cultivated strong, meaningful friendships. We have had paddlers find their soulmates and wed. We have had paddlers take time off to start families and jump right back into the boat as soon as they could because they miss that team dynamic.
If any of this resonates with you then you might want to give our sport and our team a try. Check out the Contact Info page for more information on how to contact our team.