On September 17, 2022 DRACO hosted the fifth annual dragon boat day on Sloan’s Lake for the Shining Stars Foundation. It was a great event for all the children and their families, and again proved to be such a success that next year’s event is already in the planning stages. This is always one of the high points of the year for our BCS / cancer survivor paddlers.
More photos can be seen here: Shining Stars Dragon Boat Day 2K22
In another great performance, the Phantoms took first place in the 250-Meter B Division at the 2022 Riverdale Regatta. Awesome Job, Phantoms!
Additional photos and video clips of the event are posted here:
On July 16, 2022 the Dragonboat Racing Association of Colorado (DRACO) provided boats, equipment and technical assistance to put on a charity dragon boat regatta on Grand Lake. The event served as a fund-raiser to benefit seven local non-profit organizations, along with DRACO’s breast cancer survivor (BCS) dragon boat program. These organizations put together 10-man teams, all without any prior dragon boat experience. It proved to be a challenging, but very successful and popular event!
In a stellar performance, the Phantoms crew captured Silver Medals in the 400-Meter Premier Division and Bronze Medals in the 200-Meter Premier Division at the 2022 Colorado Dragon Boat Festival. Outstanding Job, Phantoms!
Race Results for the two days of racing can be found at these links: Saturday Sunday
Additional photos and video clips of the Phantoms in action are posted here:
Phantoms Coach/Captain Michael J Boyd is the subject of a feature article in the latest edition of Wheat Ridge Living magazine. Check it out!
On March 14 and March 28, 2022 we hosted dragon boat pool simulator practices for Adaptive Adventures, an adaptive sports provider that has several athletes training for an upcoming Paralympic competition. How awesome to be able to make our simulator accessible to this great group!
Additional photos taken at the event can be seen at this link:
Adaptive Adventures Dragon Boat Pool Practices
DRACO is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $1,500 Service Grant by the Cancer League of Colorado, in support of its BCS dragon boat program and activities that benefit Colorado’s cancer survivor community.
Many thanks to the Cancer League of Colorado for its continued support!!!
Several months ago we were approached by a 9News correspondent, inquiring about the possibility of doing a profile featuring one of our BCS paddlers. The project was approved, and work has been ongoing throughout the summer. The program was initially scheduled to be broadcast the evening of December 30, but was pre-empted at the last minute due to more critical coverage of the Marshall Fire, and finally aired on January 7, 2022.
Check it out at this link:
This season’s dragon boat events were all canceled again due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, that didn’t stop us from practicing, initially by holding “socially-distanced” training sessions in outrigger canoes. After we determined (via anonymous polling of our paddlers) that we could address COVID-19 concerns by requiring that everyone be fully vaccinated, we resumed our training in dragon boats. At the conclusion of the summer practice season, we moved back inside, holding dragon boat pool simulator practices.
Miscellaneous photos and video clips of our practices can be found at the following links:
Outrigger Canoe Practices 2K21
Dragon Boat Pool Simulator Practices 2K21
As part of its effort to promote Colorado Cancer Survivor (BCS) Dragon Boat Program, DRACO had a pair of dragon boats on display at this year’s Race 4 Research on Sunday, August 15, 2K21. The annual event was hosted by the Cancer League of Colorado, and is a major fund-raiser for that organization.
Additional photos taken at the event can be seen at this link: