Frequently Asked Questions

What is Dragon Boat Racing?

Dragon boat racing is the fastest growing sport in the world! You will find races and festivals in almost every major city in the world from Saskatoon to London, England. Over 50,000 people participate in the sport in Canada alone. In fact dragon boat racing, which yearly has a world championship, is being heavily considered as an Olympic sport. Standard dragon boat races pit 18 metre long boats, with 14-20 paddlers, a steersperson, and a drummer, against each other in a straight-line race of approximately 500 metres. The paddlers paddle as fast and as hard as they can, but synchronization of the strokes of the paddlers is the key to overall speed. The drummer sets the rythem and pace of the strokes, while the steersperson guides the direction of the boat and shouts the orders. The boats, approximately the length of a transit bus, are colourfully decorated as dragons, with the front of the boat being adorned with a dragon's head and the back end of the boat having a dragon's tail. Dragon boats are extremely stable water vessels, thus Dragon Boat racing is a great sport for everyone to enjoy and participate in safely

Do I need experience to participate?

Absolutely not!!! Dragon Boat Racing is the perfect sport to pick up as a beginner. All training by certified coaches and state of the art equipment is provided and the initial expectation is that you get in the boat and have fun!

Is dragon boat racing safe?

Every participant is required to wear a personal flotation device (PFD) and all practices are hosted by certified Manitoba Paddling Association coaches. There is a safety boat present at all practices and competitions. Dragon boats are extremely stable water vessels and practices and races will be cancelled at the discretion of the Manitoba Paddling Association due to weather or other hazards.

 Do participants need to know how to swim?

No. Each participant will be wearing a PFD so the ability to swim is not mandatory. However, it is important that coaches be aware of any participant who is not considered a competent swimmer. The non-swimmer should identify themselves to both their team captain and the MPA Coach.

How do teams sign up for practice times?

Practices run on a first come first serve basis so the sooner you register the better. Come up with the best suited times for your team and when the MPA contacts you to book your practices we will do the best to meet your needs. The Manitoba Paddling Association will start booking practices no later than 2 months prior to the event.

Where are practices held?

Practices for the Manitoba School Dragon Boat Challenge and the The River City Dragon Boat Festival, unless special arrangements are made, are held at 80 Churchill Drive. For directions click HERE! For the Wheat City Dragon Boat Races all practices for Brandon Teams are held at Dinsdale Park. For directions click HERE! All Winnipeg practices are located at 80 Churchill Drive.

 How do the events raise money for the Charities?

Each participant will receive an individual pledge form and raise money for children's charities. The money raised will directed in its entirety to the events corresponding charity partner. The 2006 charity partners are CancerCare Manitoba Foundation for the River City Dragon Boat Festival and KidSport for the Wheat City Dragon Boat Races and the Manitoba School Dragon Boat Challenge. The team that raises the most money will receive prizes. The individual participant who raise the most money will also receive prizes. At specific levels of pledge collection the collector can earn valuable incentive merchandise and gift certificates.

What does my registration fee cover?

First and foremost it covers the costs of running the event, including coaching, staffing, facility, equipment, marketing and administrative costs. If a surplus arises from the operation of the events, the MPA will use it to improve equipment, improve coaching, and for fundraising initiatives for our athletes in Canoe, Kayak and Yes Dragon Boat!  

Will there be food and drink available at the site?

Yes, what would a festival be without food or beverages. At all events, their will be food and beverages availabe.

What equipment do I need?

None, all boats, paddles and PFD's will be supplied by the MPA. It is recommended that participants bring a towel and wear clothing and footwear that they are not afraid to get wet. They should also bring extra clothes to change into after practices and races. Remember to leave all valuables and electronics (cell phones, etc.) behind there is lots of splashing and they could get wet!

Is there two Dragon Boat events in Winnipeg?

Yes. Ours is the River City Dragon Boat Festival, July 28-30, 2006. The Manitoba Paddling Association is the Province of Manitoba sanctioned sport governing body for all competitive paddling. We are a registered non-profit organization and have been for over 15 years.

All of the pledges raised from our event go to the partner charities. The chosen charities are CancerCare Manitoba and KidSport. The charities were chosen specifically so the money raised would stay in the Province and benefit children.

Our event includes 4 practices, coached by MPA certified coaches, and a minimum of 3 races during the festival weekend. We offer many other times and opportunities to practice, train and compete in Dragon Boat in the province, and are present in the province year round.

The other event is the Manitoba Dragon Boat Festival which is run by a private company called Facility Marketing. The Manitoba Paddling Association has no affiliation with that event, but encourages the people of our province to explore all opportunities to paddle.