Are you 'ready ready' for another exciting dragon boating season?

Registration for both Paddlers Anonymous teams (daWave and daBoat) are now open for the 2013 season! If you are interested in paddling with us this summer, please view our registration and season details.

We hope to see you this year! Thanks for your interest.

Most Dedicated Paddler

• Wasan Jajou (daWave)
• Ivan Sacramento (daBoat)

Rookie of the Year

• Will Pun (daWave)

5-Year Awards

• Victor Lau (since 2006)
• Deborah Kuo (since 2008)
• Matt Tsung (since 2007)

It dawned on me one early spring day, as I was sitting on the rowing machine in my air-conditioned, fluorescent-lit gym. With my feet secured to footpads, my hands pulling the handlebar towards my abdomen, my body simultaneously sliding back and forth on a slab of metal and mechanics, I quietly droned, "I would rather be doing this outside - on a real boat."

After my revelation at the gym, I researched rowing clubs and stumbled across dragon boating. Contemporary dragon boating is a team paddling sport typically consisting of 20 paddlers who sit in a dragonheaded-adorned boat in pairs facing toward the bow of the boat, with a drummer or caller at the bow, and a sweep or steerer at the rear of the boat. Dragon boating has a rich ancient folk heritage in China and has steadily gained popularity around the world with dragon boat festivals and competitions in Canada, the United States, Australia, and all over Europe.

Out of curiosity, I searched on the Internet for a team that practised in Toronto. Among the many hits, one stood out: Paddlers Anonymous. "How appropriate," I thought, as no one knew of my outlandish plans. It wasn't long after that I found myself sitting on a makeshift wooden contraption suspended in a community pool. This wasn't exactly what I had in mind.... read more

This year, daBoat ended their season at the GWN Sport Regatta at Marilyn Bell Park on July 21st. This year was the first time PA has sent a team to the GWN Sport Regatta and what a day it was! The schedule for races was evenly paced and started with two 200m races, followed by two 500m races and then the infamous 2000m race. In between races, we got working on our surprise video complete with props, paddles and tutus (see below). With great weather, the event was a great experience where we were able to showcase all our season's worth of hard work, training and team spirit. We also wanted to thank the daWave-rs who came out to cheer us on and take part with our video. Way to go daBoat, great job this season!

200m race (qualifiying): 0.55.54 (5th)
200m race (final): 0.55.07 (4th)
500m race (qualifying): 2.20.72 (5th)
500m race (final): 2.29.15 (5th)
2000m race: 11.30.25 (8th)

What's up next? Various social activities and End of Seasons.

Tutus and tiaras, pranks, PA Day, a bird rescue, oh and dragon boating! daWave, daBoat and PA's ladies team, daChicks, spent an action packed day on Saturday, July 7th at Bayfront Park in Hamilton. Racing was not the only item on the agenda as PA Day in the late afternoon meant that daWave and daBoat would spend more time together for some good old fashioned family fun.

daWave finished 1st place in Division F with a time of 2:27.00 (31/42).
daBoat finished 3rd in Division C with a time of 2:25.27 (15/42).

But somehow, between the flurry of pink tutus, a gold medal win, a champagne spray down, a one-sided tug-of-war competition, relay races and pyramid building was possibly the highlight of the day - a collective and successful bird rescue effort by both teams. Sometimes, it's not all about dragon boating.

Up next: daBoat at GWN Sport Regatta on Saturday, July 21.

daWave represent! As PA's only team at the Toronto International Dragon Boat Festival (TIDBRF), daWave spent two beautiful days on Centre Island taking in dragon boat races and festival activities.

A large and loud group of cheering friends, family and daBoat team members motivated daWave all the way to a 1st and 2nd place finish in the community and premier mixed finals on Sunday...and as if the fantastic finish wasn't enough fun for the team, most of daWave managed to get soaked in an epic waterfight at the fountains.

daWave placed 1st in the Community Final G Division with a time of 2:30.27 and 2nd place in Premier Mixed Final Division O with a time of 2:29.23.

Up next, daWave and daBoat at the Hamilton Regatta on July 7.

Despite the unfortunate weather, daBoat and daWave managed keep their spirits high and had a great time at the Welland Festival. Thanks to those brave enough to venture out into the rain to cheer, particularly family and friends coming from out of town!

Both teams were also well fed - the food committees stepped up to the challenge and kept the standards high with the quality and variety of food. That large canopy and the tarps sure do come in handy for keeping 2 teams relatively dry under constant rain... Hopefully no one's come home sick!

daBoat placed 4th in the C division with a final time of 2:29.00 (12/32 overall) and daWave placed 1st in the G division with a final time of 2:44.20 (25/32 overall).

Up next: Centre Island for daWave on June 23-24 and Hamilton for both teams on July 7.