Kimberly Watanabe – Paddler Bio

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Kimberly Watanabe  

Kimberly started dragon boat racing in 2023 after being recruited by Deborah Boyd during Deborah’s CardioYoga class that she instructs at the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center. Being land locked in Colorado and spending most of her life within miles of the Pacific Ocean, Kimberly enjoys being on the water again – exercising, competing and being a part of a great community.  She typically sits directly behind Capt. Bligh trying to keep everyone in sync with the stroke rate and taking on any tidal waves coming off Capt.’s paddle from his powerful stroke.

She has traveled with the team to competitive events and dragon boat camps in Arizona, Montana, Kansas and Ontario, Canada.

 

Phantoms Win Silver at CDBF 2K25

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Great Phantoms Performance  – Silver at 400-Meters and 200-Meters at CDBF 2K25!!!  

In another stellar performance, the Phantoms crew captured Silver Medals and the Second Place Trophy in the 400-Meter Premier Division and Silver Medals in the 200-Meter Sport Division at the 2025 Colorado Dragon Boat Festival.  This was an outstanding team performance – our best ever (we narrowly missed First Place in the 400-Meter Premier Division by 0.09 seconds)!  Great Job Phantoms – Congrats!!!

Photos / Video

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Additional photos and video clips of the Phantoms in action are posted here:

Phantoms – CDBF 2K25

A 360° Video of our 400-Meter Championship Final Race is at this link:

400-Meter Premier Championship Final

Dragon Boat on Display at CLC Race 4 Research

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Dragon Boat on Display for National Cancer Survivors Day

As part of its effort to promote its Colorado Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat Program, DRACO had a dragon boat on display at this year’s Race 4 Research on Sunday, August 17, 2K25.  The annual event was hosted by the Cancer League of Colorado, and is a major fund-raiser for that organization. This year, two of our cancer survivor paddlers also entered the event!

Photos

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Additional photos taken at the event can be seen at this link:

CLC Race 4 Research 2K25

Dragon Boat on Display in Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival Parade

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Dragon Boat on Display in Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival Parade

The Dragonboat Racing Association of Colorado (DRACO) displayed a dragon boat in the Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival Parade on August 9, 2K25.  It was a great opportunity to increase public awareness of the sport of dragon boating and promote our dragon boat program for cancer survivors. 

Photos

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Additional photos taken at the event can be seen at this link:

Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival Parade 2K25

Phantoms Compete in 2K25 Montana Dragon Boat Festival

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Women win Silver in Montana!!!  

The Phantoms placed second in the 500-Meter Mixed Division at the 2025 Montana Dragon Boat Festival, and also took away the award for “Most Beautiful Tent”.  Many thanks to all the cancer survivor paddlers from Montana and Kansas City who helped fill out our crew!  Awesome Job Phantoms! 

Photos

This was our first trip to Montana, and it proved to be a very fun event in a gorgeous location.  

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Phantoms Race Crew – Portland 2K22

Additional photos of the event are posted here:

Phantoms – Montana 2K25

A 360° Video of our Championship Final Race can be seen at this link:

MT Championship Final 2K25

Phantoms Attend Bow Wave Race Camp in Ontario

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Members of our coaching staff attended the Bow Wave Race Camp in Pickering, Ontario. This intensive week-long camp taught by world class coaches covered a broad range of subject pertaining to dragon boating technique, coaching, race strategy, etc.  It also afforded an opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with paddlers and coaches from all over the United States, Canada and other parts of the world.  

On the last day of camp, attendees compete in the highly competitive Pickering Dragon Boat Challenge.  Note that the camp is entirely at the expense of the participants. 

Photos

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Additional photos of the event are posted here:

Bow Wave Dragon Boat Camp 2K25

Karla Gudino – Paddler Bio (Phantom Dragons)

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Karla Gudino  (Karlis)

Karla started training with the Phantom Dragons in February of 2020, and has been a core member of our crew since that time. She trains with us year-around, and has raced with us in numerous competitive events including the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, the Riverdale Regatta, and the Kansas City Dragon Boat Festival.

Prior to joining the Phantoms, Karla was already an accomplished paddler with an impressive resume of achievement, including:

• Sprint Canoe athlete for 25 years, including two Olympic cycles

• Serving as Captain and athlete on the Venzuelan National Women’s Rafting Team

• Captain and athlete on National Women’s Rafting Team, representing Venezuela in World, South American, and Pan-American Championships for five years.

Karla holds a Bachelor of Applied Sports Science degree, was a swimming athlete and Junior National Champion in Venezuela, and has served as a coach of youth canoeing teams and Sports Planner for recording time trials.

Phantoms Compete in 2K25 Arizona Dragon Boat Festival

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Congratulations to the Phantoms crew for another strong showing at this year’s Arizona Dragon Boat Festival, held March 29-30, 2K25.  Many thanks to paddlers from other crews who teamed up w/ us to compete in this extremely competitive event!  

Also, special recognition for our Pink Phantoms paddlers who assisted crews in other divisions.  A generous grant from the Cancer League of Colorado helped make participation in this event possible for our BCS paddlers. 

Results and Photos

As always, this year’s Arizona Festival was a very competitive event.  Check out the full Race Results

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Additional photos of the event are posted here:

Phantoms – Arizona 2K25

DRACO Awarded Cancer League of Colorado Service Grant!

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DRACO is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $7,500 Service Grant by the Cancer League of Colorado, in support of its cancer survivor dragon boat program and activities it provides that benefit Colorado’s cancer survivor community.

Many thanks to the Cancer League of Colorado for its continued support!!!

 

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Phantoms Compete in 2K24 Kansas City Dragon Boat Festival

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Women win Gold in 500-Meter Premiere Division!!!  

The Phantom crew placed fourth in the 500-Meter Premiere Mixed Division at the 2024 Kansas City Dragon Boat Festival.  Several of our female/survivor paddlers also had the opportunity to race in the Premiere 500-Meter Women’s Division, winning gold medals for their efforts.  Congrats to all on an outstanding performance! 

Photos

This was our first trip to Kansas City, and it proved to be a very fun and competitive event.  

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Phantoms Race Crew – Portland 2K22

Additional photos of the event are posted here:

Phantoms – Kansas City 2K24