National Team Dragon Boat Trials

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Ready to move up to the next Level in Dragon boats?

For the first time, Houston, Texas has been added to the Dragon Boat USA Locations for 2014. The Texas Dragon Boat Association is looking forward to teaching paddlers how to paddle better, people who are interested in steering the boats, and people who think they are ready to be on the USA team and compete in Poznan, Poland during August 28-30, 2104!

f you are interested in more information, email the Texas Dragon Boat President, Eve Marie Ruhlman, at texasdragonboat@yahoo.com

Phantoms Win Punkin Chunkin’ CO 2K13

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Punkin Chunkin AwardsPunkin Chunkin’ this past weekend was a blast (literally). Thanks to those of you who were able to make it out to support us.

The Phantom Dragons team managed five launches of around 2300-2500 feet (and one “dud”) with our compressed air cannon, Kamikaze (Divine Wind).  Our longest shot was 2,491 feet, good for First Place in the Air Cannon Division.  We also won First Place in the Theatrical Division for our rendition of the Ka Mate Haka! YeeHaaaaa!!!

Punkin Chunkin 2K13Sm

Phantoms win Bronze in San Francisco!

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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 2K13.  The team moved up a division this year, bringing home bronze medals/trophy in the Mixed Rec B Championship Division. Several Phantom paddlers also had the honor of racing with the Space Dragons Masters, helping that team place 3rd in that division.  Congrats to the Phantom Dragons!!!

PDs in SF

SF Photo Rho

 

Space Masters SF 2K13

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!

White-Eagle Perry – Paddler Bio (Phantom Dragons)

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White-Eagle Perry (Medicine Man)

White-Eagle was first introduced to paddling on a Dragon Boat in 2008 for the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which only participated that year.

White-Eagle Paddler

When he found out that the Phantom Dragons were looking for paddlers for the 2013 Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, he jumped in with both feet. Between practices he runs his own acupuncture clinic, studies for his doctorate in acupuncture and oriental medicine, teaches traditional Japanese martial arts, tai ji, qi gong, and when he can he enjoys a nice round of golf.


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Dragon Boats on Grand Lake!!!

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Dragon boating made its debut on Grand Lake on August 17, as the Phantom Dragons  participated as a demonstration entry in this year’s Spirit of the Lake Regatta, part of Grand Lake’s “Crews and Brews” weekend events.  Among other things, their dragon boat served as an escort for the kayak race between the Mayors of Grand Lake and Estes Park.  Based on the response, dragon boats will most likely be back again next year – possibly with their own competitive division!

Boyd GL Dragon Boat Collage