YOUR chance to PADDLE is coming- Saturday Oct. 12

 

Come Paddle a Dragon Boat-

SATURDAY OCTOBER 12, in POUGHKEEPSIE

Finally, the opportunity to GET READY FOR NEXT YEARS' DUTCHESS DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL is available, with a newly forming Dragon Boat club in Poughkeepsie.

Saturday October 12 at 9 am at the Community Boathouse, the HRRA (Hudson River Rowing Association) and local organizer Bob Creedon are making available a boat, paddles, and life preservers (mandatory wearing) for anyone who wants to try this out- no experience needed, and no expectations- just show up with an open mind and a willingness to follow the safety rules and have fun. You will see how simple the paddling stroke is at the beginning level, and how you can enjoy being out on the water and have a shared experience with other beginners!

As you see from the previous posts, a Dragon Boat has 20 paddlers, a drummer, and a Steersperson. If you have other friends who want to participate, let them know! If you have prior experience- great, then I hope you can help this new program! Dragon Boat races happen all over the world and the US- and next year, the first ever Dragon Boat race is coming to Poughkeepsie!

EMAIL: bob.creedon@gmail.com....include your name, address, and phone number- or leave a comment in this Post and I will pass along your questions to Bob Creedon. I have not listed a link to directions to the Community Boathouse- I will send you directions, or you can request directions from Bob Creedon. There should be other opportunities to participate in the next few weeks, in case you can't attend on Saturday October 12, so stay in touch with this Blog or the Facebook page:  

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paddle-in-Poughkeepsie/679270218755986 

   

Royal Dragon Boating before parenthood

Back when they were royal newlyweds, (July 4, 2011), KATE M. and PRINCE WILLIAM paddled in separate Dragon Boats during a short "race" while on a Canadian tour (Dalvay Lake, Prince Edward Island). Kate had some prior experience back in 2007 as a steersperson; intending to be included in an all-women boat seeking to cross the English Channel for a charity race, but eventually she pulled out because of safety and publicity concerns.
 

   
(Photo credit: Big Pictures/Bauer-Griffin)

unedited video of the 2011 "race" between Kate's boat and William's boat:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUSPy6WOhvw&noredirect=1

Livestreaming of the 2013 World Championships!

SEE THE BEST!

If you are interested in watching elite, well trained and powerful men and womens Dragon Boat teams, representing 30 countries around the world, the 11th annual IDBF World Championship is taking place from July 23 to July 28 in Szeged, Hungary, and is available on the internet at: www.livestream.com/idbfdragon.

Commentary, actual world championship racing, technical conferences- a chance to experience the best in the world, in a sport that is coming to POUGHKEEPSIE...at a somewhat more relaxed, recreational level of participation...in 2014!

Let me know if you tried out this coverage, and what did you think! After this, the next World Championships is going to be in the summer of 2015 in Welland Canada, which is right next to Niagara Falls--- close enough to take a road trip to watch in person! 

See an actual Dragon Boat on a trailer!

GO LOOK AT THE OUTSIDE OF A DRAGON BOAT!

until NOON on Thursday 7/18, four Dragon Boats up on a trailer are parked down by the Poughkeepsie waterfront. They are overnighting while the owners scout the area, and then they are being driven to Springfield MA for a race Saturday July 20.

SEND ME A MESSAGE to get the exact location and more details. Admittedly this is not as thrilling as seeing the Dragon Boat in the water, and actually getting the chance to paddle in one yourself, but the start of the process of bringing a Dragon Boat race to the Poughkeepsie area has begun!

AND THERE WILL BE A CHANCE TO PADDLE IN A BOAT, HERE IN POUGHKEEPSIE....a club is being formed by someone, possibly for City of Poughkeepsie school district....I am not able to say anything else at this time, but I certainly want to help and encourage opportunities to see and participate locally.

LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHEN THE RACE SHOULD TAKE PLACE- JULY OR SEPTEMBER.

a basic FAQ about Dragon Boat races

(The image above is from "Dragon Boat Charleston", South Carolina's first Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat racing team).

What is a DRAGON BOAT?

a 40 foot "canoe", with 20 paddlers sitting side by side ten rows deep, a drummer at the front facing the paddlers keeping a rhythm and shouting encouragement, and a steerer in the back. There is also a large colorful carved wooden head on the front, and a wooden tail attached to the back of the boat- very visual!

WHAT IS A DRAGON BOAT RACE?

(Besides FUN)- a Dragon Boat race is usually 500 meters long (barely over a quarter of a mile) on a body of water with 4-6 boats at a time, with an average finishing time of between 2-4 minutes, usually lasting enough time for the teams to have a couple of races per day, and spectators to see a good variety of action.

WHO CAN ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE?

anyone over the age of 14 who wants to smile and laugh and get a little exercise (check with your doctor before performing any new physical activity, that is just common sense).

EVERY PARTICIPANT WEARS A PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE. That is an absolute rule- so if you are not sure about your swimming ability- 1) The boats are 4 feet wide, 40 feet long, thick sides, sturdy, they do not tip over under normal conditions. 2) a motor launch follows and monitors every lane of the race course; there is help and rescue immediately next to the racers.

You must be older than 14. (Parent or guardian permission required if under 18).

Otherwise- no limits! Let's face it, most of us have never paddled an actual Dragon Boat before- the entire field of teams is probably inexperienced- there will be a practice session the week before the race, so you get a chance to have a coach and veteran experienced person give you a few instructions- but basically just dip your single-blade paddle in the water next to your side of the boat, keep in time and synchronized with the other paddlers, and listen to the drummer or the steerer when they give commands. The technique of paddling with the single blade paddle (supplied by the organizer, you do not need ANY equipment of your own) is simple for a beginner, and strength is NOT the key- timing and rhythm IS. YOU DON"T HAVE TO BE STRONG!!

I WANT TO DO THIS!
 
Can 20 of us from work (or our gym, or bar, or firehouse, or school) form a TEAM?

Teams can be ANYONE- Mixed Men and Women (minimum of 8 women) kids over 14, Breast Cancer Survivors, 60 and older, a Corporate team entirely from one business or company, women only, men only- find your friends or your neighbors- represent your favorite charity, find your bowling buddies.....everybody has fun, and anyone can participate!

HOW DO I FIND OUT MORE?

Watch this Blog page for updates, and leave a comment on this posting, and I will get back to you.

Making progress- join us!

Here are the two latest developments in my plan to organize the very first Dragon Boat race headquartered in Poughkeepsie, New York, next year:

I held my first exploratory meeting with 6 other local participants at the offices of the Dutchess County Tourism agency, where we started to conceptualize about organizing a race, what month, how much it would cost, what level of participation (Breast Cancer Survivors and Community divisions- start small, or expand to a cultural festival on land and add competitive divisions to the race schedule) and other issues. We will meet again in August- so come and join us! Contact me to get on board and let me know you are interested.

To increase my personal experience with paddling, I went to Schenectady, NY on June 8th to attend the Open House of the Dragons Alive! club, which formed in 2011, and got to again paddle in a Dragon Boat with a mix other first-timers and experienced club members. I also talked with the club President and other members, and the daughter of the President, who had participated in races in the past. A good experience- I learned a little more about technique and style, saw their facility (they are generously given a dock and storage space by Mohawk Valley Marina, along the Mohawk River) and got some ideas about club activities.

Any other clubs in the tri-state area hosting guests to try paddling in a Dragon Boat? Or having Open House activities? Leave a "comment" on this Blog, or contact me.

Announcing- the first ever meeting- JUNE 4, 2013.

If you can attend, and want to see a Dragon Boat race festival headquartered in the Poughkeepsie area, leave a message, and a way to get back to you, so I can let you know the time and location.

I have now actually paddled in a Dragon Boat- during the Ithaca N.Y. club Open House, held at Cass Park on an inlet to Lake Cayuga, on Saturday May 11th- it was fun- and I can do this! I got a lot of encouragement and motivation from the Ithaca festival organizers and President of the Eastern Region Dragon Boat Association, so I want to keep going to find a way to bring our very own festival to our part of the Hudson River.

CONTACT ME!

help me organize a Dragon Boat Festival

Welcome!

I would like to suggest the mid-Hudson Valley region in New York State, USA, centering around the Hudson River communities of Poughkeepsie, Kingston, Beacon and Newburgh, host and organize our very own annual DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL.

Does anyone have advise or want to volunteer for this? Officially this Dragon Boat festival does not yet exist- there is no committee, no date, no race course, no entry form. it is just an idea.

So, YOU CAN BE PART OF THE IDEA FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

Add a comment with contact information, tell me how you are involved with Dragon Boats already, or why you want to become involved.

I will not be posting much on this until there is more concrete plans, or the formation of an actual committee, so in order to generate more attention to this, I would again ask that you respond with a comment, including contact information, and then this can get started.