How to Dragon Boat

Starting off Dragon Boat is simple and fun.

At your first session you'll be introduced to club members and the crew and shown around the facilities.

Your Sweep will lead the session managing the boat and the crew, you just follow his lead with the other paddlers. Initially we're helping you develop the level one foudation skills which are pretty straighforward and from there you just keep building at your own pace. Your first day will have 3 broad goals:

Behave safely in the boat and on the water.
Paddle in time with other paddlers as part of a team.
Experience a safe, enjoyable and low impact session.

From here, we'll work with you to establish the first phase of the foundation skills of Dragon Boating.

Foundation Phase 1

Physical /physiological

• Behave safely in the boat and on the water
• Engage in warm up exercises
• Engage in a safe, enjoyable and low impact introductory

Technique / tactical

• Correctly enter and exit the boat
• Use correct posture and seating
• Demonstrate correct connection to paddle
• Display an understanding of timing
• Demonstrate understanding of instructions for boat management eg slowing / stopping the boat
• Demonstrate understanding of and intention to execute correct paddling technique.
• Perform basic paddling drills

Psychological / behavioural

• Follow steerer’s directions
• Work with coaches to learn basic paddling skills
• Approach paddling with an emphasis on games and fun
• Operate successfully within a team environment to paddle a dragon boat
• Regular weekly attendance to training. (Optional- you're just checking it out)

We'll go through all of the requirements with you, but if you'd like to get a ahead on all the technical aspects of how we develop paddle as a crew, check out this video.

If you're curious to undestand the pathway to winning a World Championship with the Auroras, here it is.