Dragonboat Racing Association of Colorado (DRACO)

A Testimonial for DRACO’s Dragon Boat Training:

Hi Cap’n Bligh, Princess and Hide Beater Coach,

You probably already know, but Fed Force took the silver in the Corporate Division at the 2010 Dragon Boat Festival. This was the team’s FIRST time medaling in the entire time we’ve been participating in this event! I believe we owe our success to all of the tips, techniques, training and race strategies I learned as a DRACO member and all of the coaching we received from you all at DRACO and our on water practices!

I want to personally thank DRACO for all of the help and personal coaching you gave to our team. In addition to having fun, we also won quite a few races and Tom’s prediction (of participating in up to 6 races) came true! Two races (the double elimination) has been our standard. In fact, we’ve NEVER left the festival so late (we’re usually done by noon). Lastly, I’ve never seen the team so "pumped and motivated" to win races in my four years on the team!

I’m a believer in the DRACO paddling technique and only hope to get better from here on!

–Kim
Kimetha King

For those of you who love the thrill of competition, consider racing competitively with the Dragonboat Racing Association of Colorado!

DRACO was formed in 2007 (originally established as CDBRA), a non-profit organization whose goal is to increase awareness and excitement for this fast-growing sport, and to train competitive dragon boat paddlers and teams so that they’re ready to compete at national and international races.

Practices during warm weather take place at Standley Lake, using Hong Kong-style boats* which are lighter, narrower and sit lower in the water than Taiwan-style boats. This enables them (and you!) to go much faster!

We also now have a Dragon Boat Simulator that DRACO members can use to practice all year ’round, in the pool at the Wheat Ridge Rec Center (see the cool video below!).

Membership benefits include paddling and coaching clinics, gym workout sessions, steer and coxswain training, use of DRACO dragon boats and equipment for practices, and more. Individual and Group/Corporate memberships are available. Short-term memberships are also available. (Members must be 21 years of age.)

For additional information, contact:
Michael J. Boyd
303-917-3113
MJB@MJBoyd.biz

*Thanks to MillerCoors for their sponsorship of one of these boats for use during practices and also at the Festival.

Read the Final Standings of the 2010 Dragon Boat Races!

2 Responses to DRACO

Karyn Estela says:

August 7, 2011 at 3:14 pm

I would like to know how to become part of dragon boat racing. I have several people interested in making a team. Does DRACO provide the boats for practice and competition? Do we need to find our own sponsors? I would appreciate any information you can provide me with so we may participate next year 2012 in Colorado’s Dragon Boat Festival.

Thank you

Reply
- cdbforg says:
  
  August 7, 2011 at 3:27 pm
  
  Hi Karyn,
  
  The festival provides the boats for the races and for practices. DRACO manages the practices year-round; when the summer’s over DRACO members practices on a simulator that’s placed in the pool at the Wheat Ridge Rec Center on Kipling. You can join DRACO anytime. For a Race Team for next year’s festival, you’ll need to submit an application but we won’t start taking those applications until February of 2012 — just keep an eye on this website and we’ll announce the team signups then. Thanks for your interest in CDBF, and in dragon boat racing!
  
  Reply