Category Archives: Dragon Boat News

Boyd selected for Team USA Crew

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Dragon Boat 2015 BannerMichael J. Boyd (Captain Bligh), DRACO President and Captain/Head Coach of the Phantom Dragons, has been formally selected to compete on the Team USA Senior C Mixed crew that will compete in the World Championships in Welland, Ontario in August!

MB DB ShotThe selections were made based on initial physical testing, followed by two separate three-day Tryout Camps that included two-a-day practices, weigh-ins, and a variety of performance tests, both on and off the water.

Now, the only remaining hurdle that he must overcome in order to compete is financial. To help, a RallyMe crowd-funding site set up at this link:

Go Team USA!!!

PrintPlease help if you can. Even if you can’t contribute financially, you can still be of great assistance by spreading the word about this campaign to all your contacts via EMail, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social media.

Many thanks for your support!

 

Crowdfunding Support for Team USA

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MB DB ShotMichael Boyd (a/k/a Captain Bligh!), Captain and Head Coach of the Phantom Dragons, just launched a RallyMe crowdfunding campaign to further his efforts to race with Team USA in the IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Welland, Ontario this August.  Please check out the site, and the attached video, at this link:

Captain Bligh / Dragon Boat Team USA

Any support you can provide would be greatly appreciated, either financially, or by spreading the word about this campaign via EMail and social media sites.  Thank You!

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Boyd Trying Out for Team USA Crew

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MB DB ShotMichael Boyd (a/k/a Captain Bligh!), Captain and Head Coach of the Phantom Dragons dragon boat race team, is vying for a position on the Senior C Team USA Crew that will race in the IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Welland, Ontario this coming August.

Boyd has successfully completed initial physical testing and an the first of two Three-Day Tryout Camps in Florida.  He is scheduled to compete in the second camp in early March.  Stay tuned for more information concerning his quest, and a crowd-funding campaign that is being organized to help defray a portion of the associated expenses.

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Prototype Pool Paddling Simulator Sold

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PD Winter Pool2The Phantom Dragons’ prototype pool paddling simulator, designed and constructed by Michael Boyd (Captain Bligh) in 2010, has been sold to the FYP Island Warriors team in Houston, Texas.  A group of Island Warrior paddlers made a quick road trip to Colorado over Thanksgiving weekend to pick up the training device.

IMG_0471 SmPlans for an improved, second-generation simulator are in the works – stay tuned for further updates!

 

New Record for Kamikaze at Punkin Chunkin CO 2K14

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Punkin Chunkin’ was a blast (literally) again this year. Many thanks to those of you who were able to make it out to support us.

Although the weather on Sunday didn’t cooperate, and the event had to be shortened, the Phantom Dragons team managed one awesome launches with our compressed air cannon, Kamikaze (Divine Wind).  Our longest shot was 2,884.9 feet, a personal best!  Check out some of the action in the linked video, and our photo collage below.  A special Thank You to Automation Direct for their equipment donation/support this year!

Kamikaze at Punkin Chunkin 2K14

Kamikaze Punkin Chunkin 2K14Sm

Phantoms win Bronze at Treasure Island!

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The Phantom Dragons (bolstered by some great paddlers from a broad mix of US and Canadian crews) competed in the recent San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival 2K14, bringing home bronze medals/trophy in the Mixed Rec C Championship Division. Several Phantom paddlers also had the honor of joining forces with the AZ Dragon Riders to race in the Open, Womens and Masters Divisions.  Congrats to the Phantom Dragons!!!

Race Video

PDs SF 2K14

Dragon Boats Race on Grand Lake!

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Ten-man LPds SoTHR 2K14ao Buddhist and Phantom Dragons teams went head to head on Grand Lake in this year’s Spirit of the Lake Regatta, held August 23rd.  This was the first year for a dragon boat division to be included in the event (in addition to rowing shells, kayaks, and stand-up paddle boards), the result of a joint effort of Infinite West and the Dragonboat Racing Association of Colorado (DRACO).

The Lao Buddhist team emerged victorious, narrowly edging the Phantom Dragons in a close, best-two-out-of-three series of 250-meter races.  Congrats LBT!

Race Video

LBT SoTHR 2K14

 

Dragon Boats to Race in the Spirit of the Lake Regatta!

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The DRACO Mini-Dragon Series has officially begun!

The Dragonboat Racing Association of Colorado (DRACO) has teamed up with Infinite West to help raise funds for Colorado River Headwaters Conservation Education by including a dragon boat division in this year’s Spirit of the Lake Regatta, to be held August 23rd on Grand Lake.

This will mark the first time a dragon boat division has been included in this event (and, the first-ever organized dragon boat racing event in Colorado, apart from the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival).  Both the Lao Buddhist and Phantom Dragons teams, coming off very successful performances in this year’s CDBF, are expected to compete.  Additional information is included in the downloadable Spirit of the Lake DB Challenge Flyer.

There’s still time to register!  Come on out and join in the fun!