DragonBoatPaddlers.net

This just in from Tom Arnold, President of the Gorging Dragons:

Dear fellow paddler,

I have some exciting news to share with you.

You probably already know that, for many years now, the Gorging Dragons (GDs) have been privileged to represent Vancouver Island at dozens of races across Canada and around the world. And that, at these competitions, the GDs have learned a lot: discovering the amazing paddler development programs being created elsewhere across Canada, picking up ideas from the world’s leading coaches, and paddling in boats that are lighter, faster, and more maneuverable than those generally available on the Island.

But today I’m writing to tell you about how the GDs are working to ensure that you can have access to the same kinds of high-quality programs, coaching, equipment, and opportunities that other paddlers across the globe already enjoy.

In 2012, the Gorging Dragons will be launching a new paddling club, headquartered along the Gorge Waterway in Victoria.

This new club will offer:

 Comprehensive* high performance dragon boat programs for those wishing to compete in men’s, women’s, and mixed events at National and International levels

 A comprehensive* high performance dragon boat program for paddlers 55+ who wish to compete at the BC Senior’s Games, and other high-level races with senior divisions

 Access to international class racing boats (both full season rentals, and short term rentals for teams from other clubs looking to improve their skills)

 Access to coaching support, special clinics, and recruiting assistance for all member teams

 Pricing and programs designed to allow members of other paddling facilities a chance to try a high performance program without leaving their home club, and for paddlers living anywhere on Vancouver Island to participate

 A guaranteed voice for all club members in the governance of the club, and our promise that 100% of all revenues will be used to support and build paddling programs

Why start a new club?

It’s always been a part of the GD’s ethos to help grow the sport of dragon boating, and to give back to the Vancouver Island paddling community. Since the beginning, GD paddlers have always been strongly encouraged to coach local teams and, more recently, we’ve been able to offer a series of clinics and seminars (that have proven overwhelmingly popular).
I realize that launching a club is a big step, and that there are already several facilities on Vancouver Island with excellent coaches and solid recreational dragon boat programs (not to mention outrigger, marathon canoe, and even kayak programs). But there is simply no local equivalent of the high performance paddler development programs for dragon boat that we’ve seen in places like Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, etc.

I believe that you deserve the same choices and opportunities that exist in other parts of the country and, since no local clubs are creating such options, the GDs can offer services that are complementary to existing facilities. In doing so, we hope to attract more new people to the sport, and keep experienced paddlers participating longer by offering new ways to build skills and access to higher levels of competition.

Interested in learning more?

The history of the GDs has shown that, so long as you have the desire, there are few physical limits to competing in dragon boating. In the past year alone, two paddlers over 60 years of age have competed with the GDs, and several people who had never paddled before joined our program.

If you would like to learn more about joining a high performance program – or if your team would like to explore competitively priced rental opportunities – I encourage you to visit www.gorgingdragons.ca, and to sign up to receive more information.

How you can help

Eventually the GDs hope this new club will offer a suite of boats from quality manufacturers like BuK and Champion, as well as OC1s, paddles and PFDs. At present, however, we only have funding for a limited equipment purchase, and the number of boats that will be available in the first year of the club will depend on the number of paddlers who join in the coming months.
If you’re interested in learning more about how you can help this new club provide more top quality equipment to local paddlers by making a donation, sponsorship gift, or providing volunteer support, please contact me at gdpaddler@shaw.ca.

Thank you!

The many paddling opportunities that the GDs, past and present, have enjoyed were only possible because of the tremendous support provided by Vancouver Island’s paddling community – paddlers like you, and paddling organizations like the Victoria and Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festivals. On behalf of all GDs, please allow me to say thank you.

It is my sincere hope that, as we build this new club, we can repay some of those many kindnesses, by ensuring that more Vancouver Island paddlers have access to the same (and better) opportunities that I and other GDs have had.
Again, thank you.

Sincerely,
Tom Arnold
President, Gorging Dragons
www.gorgingdragons.ca