Congratulations to the Phantom Dragons / Pink Phantoms, who raced in the 2016 Arizona Dragon Boat Festival held October 1-2, 2K16. Always short-handed for the event, the Phantoms crew received some greatly appreciated help from a wide variety of paddlers from other parts of the US and Canada. Many thanks to everyone who made it possible for us to race in this event!
The Arizona Festival is always a very competitive event. Check out the full Race Results
Congratulations to the Phantom Dragons / Pink Phantoms crew for their outstanding performance in the 2K16 GWN/Colorado Springs International Dragon Boat Festival. This was a great event, very professionally organized and run, and featuring a higher level of competition than the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival. A highlight of the day was the Cancer Survivor Ceremony. It was great to see the two cancer survivor groups, including our own Pink Phantoms, get some well-deserved recognition.
Additional photos and video clips shot at the event are posted here:
Phantom Dragons / Pink Phantoms – Colorado Springs 2K16
On August 13, 2016 the Dragonboat Racing Association of Colorado (DRACO) put on a dragon boat demonstration as part of the Spirit of the Lake Regatta on Grand Lake. The event served as a fund-raiser to benefit Infinite West and its Colorado River Headwaters Conservation efforts, along with promoting DRACO’s breast cancer survivor (BCS) dragon boat program. Phantom Dragons and Pink Phantoms paddlers showed off their racing skills, and also provided a dragon boat paddling experience for interested spectators.
More photos can be seen here: Spirit of the Lake Regatta 2K16
Phantoms Win CDBF Bling!!! The Phantom Dragons / Pink Phantoms crew raced to a strong finish at the 2K16 Colorado Dragon Boat Festival. The crew performed well in every division, capturing 3rd Place in the 120-Meter Competitive Division, 2nd Place in the 500-Meter Recreational Division, and 1st Place in the 250-Meter Recreational Division. Congratulations Phantoms!
Additional photos and video clips shot at the event are posted here:
Phantom Dragons / Pink Phantoms – CDBF 2K16
On May 14, DRACO provided boats, equipment and technical assistance to help a group of East Grand Middle School students put on the Knight in Shining Armor Dragon Boat Race on Grand Lake, a fund-raiser to benefit the Shining Stars Foundation. The event was this year’s effort by a Middle School class that does a service project each year to raise funds for a worthwhile cause. In spite of “iffy” weather, the event was a great success, and everyone had a wonderful time. Here’s an article in the local paper describing the event: Dragon Boat Races on Grand Lake
More photos can be seen here: Knight in Shining Armor Dragon Boat Races
Here’s a link to the Championship Race.
Finally, a wonderful “Thank You” from the EGMS Students
Michael J. Boyd, Captain and Head Coach of the local Phantom Dragons team, raced in the coveted right stroke position on Team USA’s Senior C Mixed crew in the 12th IDBF Dragon Boat World Championships, held in Welland, Ontario this August. For dragon boaters, this is the pinnacle event – the equivalent of what the Olympic Games represents for more conventional sports. Notably, Boyd is the first paddler from Colorado to try out for and be selected to race on a World Championship level dragon boat team. Needless to say, he considered this experience to be the event of a lifetime!
Michael J. Boyd / Team USA Senior C Mixed 2015
The Team USA Senior C crew paddled with determination and heart in the 2000-meter, 500-meter and 200-meter divisions, setting a National Record for their time in the 200 meter races. However, the combined time for their two fastest (of three) heats in that division left them a scant 0.22 seconds behind Germany in the race for third place – heartbreakingly close, but just off the podium and out of the medals.
Here is a video of their Final Race in the 200-Meter Division.
Senior C Mixed 200-Meter Finals
Also check out Mike’s interview with Richard Smith of Belief Sport TV that provided live online coverage of the event . . .
Michael J. Boyd Interview – IDBF World Dragon Boat Championships
Additional Photos are posted here:
2015 IDBF Dragon Boat World Championships
Team Scorch (a combined Phantom Dragons / Florida crew) brought home some bling from this year’s Colorado Dragon Boat Festival.
The team received Gold medals and a 1st Place Certificate for the 250m Rec A Division. The team also placed 4th in the 500-meter Competitive Division, and posted the fastest time in the 1,000-Meter “Guts & Glory” race (but were forced inside by another boat, missing a buoy in that race, which was for “bragging rights only”).
Due to an improperly called start (which was protested), the crew was allowed to re-run the 125m Final (with some awesome help from their LBT friends, who ran alongside to help push them along). Even though the PD/Scorch crew had to run that race back-to-back, immediately after one of its 250-meter heats, they posted a faster time than any other team in the final heat.
It was a great weekend of racing and camaraderie. Congrats to all!