DRACO Adapts Trailer to Haul Outrigger Canoes in Wake of COVID Outbreak
With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the cancellation of this season’s dragon boat events, and appropriate social-distancing making training in the close quarters of dragon boats inadvisable, DRACO is gearing up to train in OCs (one and two-man outrigger canoes) this season. To facilitate these practices, Head Coach / Team Captain Michael Boyd (Captain Bligh!) acquired a Yakima Trailer, and converted it to haul four boats, along w/ an inflatable dock. Coupled with the capacity of his rooftop rack, a maximum of six boats can now be staged for safe practices.
Phantoms are 500-Meter “C” Division Silver Medalists at Rose Regatta!!!
Congratulations to the Phantom Dragons / Pink Phantoms, 500-Meter “C” Division Silver Medalists at the Rose Regatta held October 12-13, 2K19 in Henderson (Las Vegas). Pink Phantoms paddlers also participated in the special BCS races and ceremony.
Michael Boyd, Head Coach and Captain of Colorado’s Phantom Dragons / Pink Phantoms dragon boat crew, recently returned from the IDBF Dragon Boat World Championships in Thailand with a handful of gold medals. Boyd raced as a member of the Team USA Senior C Open crew, an elite group of 60+ year old athletes who emerged victorious in every heat they raced in, capturing gold at each distance category (2000-meters, 1000-meters, 500-meters and 200-meters). The crew also set a World Record for Senior C competitors at 1000-meters. The Senior C Mixed and Women’s crews were similarly dominating; the Mixed paddlers won four gold medals, and the Women captured three golds and a bronze.
Team USA Senior C Crews in the 2019 IDBF Dragon Boat World Championships
For dragon boaters, the IDBF Dragon Boat World Championships is the pinnacle event – the equivalent of what the Olympic games represent to more conventional sports. Winning in Thailand was the culmination of a very extensive and competitive tryout and training process. The Senior C Crews’ formal training calendar began with well-attended tryout camps in California (October, 2018) and Florida (January, 2019), followed by a week-long training camp in April for those who were selected to the team. The final two months included “Train & Race” camps in Ottawa (June, 2019) and Long Beach, California (July, 2019) before departing for Thailand in mid-August for several more days of training/acclimation prior to the races.
The stellar performance of the Team USA Senior C crews at the 2019 IDBF World Championships took the international dragon boating community by surprise, as the senior divisions have historically been dominated by crews from Canada. Congratulations to Michael Boyd and the rest of the Team USA Senior C paddlers – IDBF Dragon Boat World Champions!
A video following the 2019 USA Senior C National Dragon Boat paddlers in their quest for gold at the 2019 IDBF World Dragon Boat Championships in Pattaya Thailand is at this link:
Jolane Fenner had the honor of racing as a member of the Team USA Senior B Women’s crew in the 2019 IDBF Dragon Boat World Championships in Thailand, bringing home two bronze medals. An article from the Montrose Press describing her quest to race w/ Team USA can be found at this link:
Phantoms Place Second in Mixed “A” Consolation Division Finals!!!
Congratulations to the Phantom Dragons / Pink Phantoms crew for their outstanding performance in the 2K19 Colorado Springs International Dragon Boat Festival. In spite of missing several of their top paddlers (who were at the IDBF Dragon Boat World Championships in Thailand), the crew put together a series of outstanding races, capturing second place in the Mixed “A” Consolation Finals. Great job, Phantoms!!!
Results
Additional photos and video clips shot at the event are posted here:
Great Phantoms Performance – Silver Medals at CDBF 2K19!!!
The Phantom Dragons / Pink Phantoms performed well at the 2K19 Colorado Dragon Boat Festival. The crew placed well in both divisions, capturing 2nd Place in the 250-Meter Recreational B Division, and winning Silver Medals in the 500-Meter Recreational Division. Outstanding Job, Phantoms!
Photos / Video
Additional photos and video clips of the Phantoms in action are posted here:
On June 29, 2019, DRACO hosted a dragon boat race on Lake Arbor for Epic Experience, a non-profit organization that provides outdoor adventures for cancer patients and survivors. The event was well-attended, and everyone had a wonderful time.
Congratulations to the Phantom Dragons / Pink Phantoms crew for another strong showing in their annual appearance at the Arizona Dragon Boat Festival, held March 30-31, 2K19. Several of our Pink Phantoms paddlers also competed on survivor crews in the BCS Division races and ceremony.
Results and Photos
As always, this year’s Arizona Festival was a very competitive event. Check out the full Race Results
Phantoms Win Division Championship at Rose Regatta!!!
Congratulations to the Phantom Dragons / Pink Phantoms, Consolation “B” Division Champions in the Rose Regatta held October 13, 2K18 in Henderson (Las Vegas). Pink Phantoms paddlers also participated in the special BCS races and ceremony.
This was a special event for the crew, who first raced in the Rose Regatta in 2009. That competition marked the first time for any Colorado crew to compete in an out-of-state dragon boat event.
Photos / Video
Additional photos and video clips shot at the event are posted here:
On September 22, 2018, DRACO hosted the second annual dragon boat race on Lake Arbor for the Shining Stars Foundation kids and their families. The event was a great success, and everyone had a wonderful time.
Shining Stars Dragon Boat Articles / Photos
Here’s a link to a Shining Stars newsletter, describing the event: Dragon Boat Races
