Dragons on Darling, Sydney World Pride Regatta!

Published Sat 25 Feb 2023

The first ever Pride-themed regatta features corporate and community dragon boat clubs from all around Sydney and Australia.

The most colourful dragon boat racing comes to Sydney during World Pride Sydney 2023! Dragon boat racing will reach an exciting new level of fun and spectacle, hosted by Sydney’s own Different strokes dragon boat club. The Dragons on Darling regatta will explode on Saturday, 4 March 2023, Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Harbour. The day will include DJs, drag performances, fun race commentary and exciting festival races.

Spotlight on Different Strokes

Different strokes are a Sydney-based dragon boat club formed in 2008, with the aim of providing a social and fitness-focused sporting outlet for the LGBTQI+ community, as well as their friends, family, and supporters. Different Strokes is an inclusive sports club, training and competing in dragon boating, in a way that positively welcomes everyone regardless of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, race, and ability recognising that not all people identify as a man or a woman. Different strokes challenge stereotypes with their successes, showcase diversity by increasing their visibility, and spark positive change through their actions.

See you on the water!  

Happy Lunar New/ Tet year of the Rabbit/Cat

Published Thu 05 Jan 2022

Join us in celebrating Lunar new year of the rabbit/Cat 2023, with dragonboat racing and celebrations across the country. Catch us at Redcliffe Red Dragons Regatta, Lake Kawana, on  the Lunar New year, Sunday Jan 22nd, 2023. 

See you on the water!  

Lakers are going the distance to stop men dying too young! 

Published Wed 02 Nov 2022

Globally, one man takes his own life every minute, of every day. This Movember, we’re making a Move – for them, and paddling 60 kms over the month. That’s 60 kms for the 60 men we lose each hour, every hour – the men who should still be here today. Lakers will be raising funds and awareness, with a  few members even letting the 'stache loose.

Money raised for Movember goes to mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer awarness  and campaigns, 

Since 2003, Movember has funded more than 1,250 men’s health projects around the world, challenging the status quo, shaking up research and motivating men to take action for their health.

** UPDATE** Lakers  raised $410  and clocked 63km on the water in November!

See you on the water!  

October is mental health Month! 

Published Wed 05 Oct 2022

This year’s MH month theme is 'Tuning in', being present and mindful to yourself and the world around you.  Mindfulness plays a key role in dragon boating, by increasing your awareness of yourself, your teammates and being part of nature.

Research has shown amazing physical and mental health benefits of dragaonboating. A few ways to increase mindfulness in the boat are by:

1. Focusing on your breath (observing your breath, not controlling it)
2. Focusing on body sensations (the sun in your face, the pain in your back)
3. focusing on the sound of the water
4. by connecting with team members

Dragon boating also increases fitness and communication, creates a sense of connectedness, confidence, competition, and fun, but is also a great way to exercise for breast cancer survivors who may experience lymphedema after breast surgery.

Did you know,  during one session of dragon boating, your brain will reward you with  Oxytocin, sometimes called the sport hormone, for its ability to enhance team spirit and boost individual motivation. You’ll also receive healthy dose of serotonin ( the happy hormone), dopamine ( the reward hormone) and endorphins (the satisfaction/ relaxation hormone).

Click on this link for a great read on The benefits Of Mindfulness In dragon boating!

Look after yourself and each other! See you on the water!  

Spotlight on Dragons Abreast for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Published Wed 19 Oct 2022

With October being breast cancer awareness month, what better time to shine a light on the incredible pink paddlers of Dragons Abreast.

Founded over 20 years ago on the principles of participation, awareness and inclusiveness, Dragons Abreast Australia is a national charity with groups spread across the country and a membership of over 1200 individuals, the majority of whom are breast cancer survivors.

Dragons’ Abreast origins hark back to 1996, when Dr. Donald McKenzie, a Canadian sports medicine physician and exercise physiologist, recruited 25 women with breast cancer to take part in a controlled study to trial his theory physical exercise of an active, upper-body sport might actually help prevent lymphedema after breast cancer surgery.

The trial was a success!  No new cases of lymphedema were reported and none of the existing cases worsened. The women in the study reported better physical and mental health through this team-building exercise and a shared camaraderie with each other.

That first team – Abreast In A Boat was born and launched the formation of cancer survivor teams throughout the world. By December 2020 there were 236 teams in 29 countries including US, Canada, Fiji, Qatar, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, China, and across Europe.  That number is growing every day and while many of the teams are breast cancer survivors, some include men and women with all types of cancers.

Two years after McKenzie’s Canadian trial, in 1998, dragon boat racing for breast cancer survivors was introduced to Australia by Michelle Hanton OAM in Darwin, NT, and has taken off since, now with 28 member groups around Australia.

A very special part of the Dragons Abreast racing is the Flowers on the water ceremony, where pink rose, carnations, or any other seasonal flower, is tossed into the water, from the boat or from the shore after a race or sometimes at training. A beautiful tradition that takes a moment to remember and honour those women who have passed away from breast cancer and those who are still fighting. 

See you on the water!

October is mental health Month! 

Published Wed 05 Oct 2022

This year’s MH month theme is 'Tuning in', being present and mindful to yourself and the world around you.  Mindfulness plays a key role in dragon boating, by increasing your awareness of yourself, your teammates and being part of nature.

Research has shown amazing physical and mental health benefits of dragaonboating. A few ways to increase mindfulness in the boat are by:

1. Focusing on your breath (observing your breath, not controlling it)
2. Focusing on body sensations (the sun in your face, the pain in your back)
3. focusing on the sound of the water
4. by connecting with team members

Dragon boating also increases fitness and communication, creates a sense of connectedness, confidence, competition, and fun, but is also a great way to exercise for breast cancer survivors who may experience lymphedema after breast surgery.

Did you know,  during one session of dragon boating, your brain will reward you with  Oxytocin, sometimes called the sport hormone, for its ability to enhance team spirit and boost individual motivation. You’ll also receive healthy dose of serotonin ( the happy hormone), dopamine ( the reward hormone) and endorphins (the satisfaction/ relaxation hormone).

Click on this link for a great read on The benefits Of Mindfulness In dragon boating!

Look after yourself and each other! See you on the water!