Category Archives: Paddlers

Rhonda Magee – Paddler Bio (Phantom Dragons)

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Rhonda Magee (Rho)SF Photo Rho

I began Dragon boating in the summer of 2012, and have been truly addicted to the sport ever since.  I enjoy being on such a wonderful and committed team.  We have traveled together to AZ and CA, and always have the best time (and usually bring home some bling to boot).  I have always loved being on the water, and this is a way to make sure I never forget that.  Yay Phantom Dragons!!

Tom Ging – Paddler Bio (Phantom Dragons)

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Tom Ging (Hide-Beater)

Hide-BeaterWhen Colorado Dragon Boat Festival (CDBF) started in 2001, Tom was captain of a racing team sponsored by the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) of Colorado, one of the founding CDBF organizations.  His team took the Silver Medal in their division. He switched to land duty during the years 2002 – 2007, when he helped, then directed the racing event, expanding the participation from 32 adult teams (2002) to 48 adult teams and eight youth team (2006), racing over a two day period.

Tom retired from directing the races in 2007 and turned his attention to taking dragon boat racing in Colorado to the next level, desiring to form competitive teams capable of racing against teams in other cities.  In 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012 he attended dragon boat training camps in Melbourne FL, offered by Great White North, and later by Jim Farintosh, of Toronto Canada.  While learning and practicing paddling and racing techniques three hours a day in camp, he also participated in training sessions which lead to Dragon Boat Racing Coach certification.

In order to establish an advanced racing program, he is working with other people with similar aspirations by forming the Dragonboat Racing Association of Colorado (DRACO).  He is eager to convey his acquired knowledge to racers who want to paddle more than one weekend a year, enjoy the camaraderie of other racers, and enjoy the excitement of competing with some of the premier racing teams in North America.  Tom was able to return to the water in 2008 when he coached the Maestas TKD Dungeonless Dragons, and now the Phantom Dragons, racing with them as their drummer.

Deborah J. Boyd – Paddler Bio (Phantom Dragons)

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Deborah Boyd (Princess)

Princess PaddlerDeborah got her start in dragon boating in 2004, when she was reluctantly recruited to race in the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival on a team led by Michael Boyd (later to become her husband).

Deb has attended week-long dragon boat camps taught by world champion level coaches / paddlers in Florida for the past five years, and completed a Dragon Boat Canada Level I Recreational Coaching Certification course in 2012.

Now Co-Captain and Assistant Coach of the Phantom Dragons, Deb (a/k/a Princess) has helped her team to successfully compete in out-of-state festivals in Las Vegas, San Diego, San Francisco and Tempe, Arizona.

Ellen Lee – Paddler Bio (Phantom Dragons)

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Ellen Lee (Nuts)

Ellen Lee (a/k/a Nuts) joined Phantom Dragons in June 2012 as a first time paddler to race in the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival.

Ellen Paddler

She had heard about dragon boat racing from friends in San Francisco, so when she moved to Colorado, she wanted to participate in an activity to remind her of home. After her first time debuting in CDBF, she was hooked on the sport! Ellen proceeded to travel with the team to out-of-state races including San Francisco in 2012, trained with the team through the winter season in a very cool indoor pool simulator, and competed with the Phantoms in another race in Arizona in 2013.

As a runner and a yogi, the level of conditioning and technique required of dragon boating was an eye-opener, but Ellen is dedicated to, and excited about, the opportunity for continual improvement!