Registration is now open for Summer 2026!

 

Please READ the following descriptions of the programs below BEFORE completing the registration.  

 

Recreation Crews

The Recreation crew is for anyone who only wants to train once a week in a crew where the focus is fun, fitness, and learning a basic dragon boat stroke. The program starts in mid June and runs till end of August. There is one session on Thursday at noon and a second session on Saturday at 10AM. It’s a great place to start for someone with no paddling background or at the start of their fitness journey. You can move to another crew mid-season or next year if you’re looking for more or stay with this program if it’s meeting your needs. This crew typically does not race.

Costs: $136.50 plus HST for either Thursday or Saturday, $250 plus HST if you do both

 

Blue Crew

The Blue Crew has more focus on fitness, and the practices are somewhat more challenging than Recreation Crew. The program starts in mid May and continues till mid September with an optional extension until end of October. The sessions are Monday and Friday at noon, with an option to join a third session on Sunday 1030 AM in a blended crew. It’s a great place to start if you have a basic fitness level with maybe some water sport background, and like the idea of workouts during the daytime. Paddlers in this program are also invited to race in our three Race League events on Lake Banook (included in your registration) where participants are combined in balanced crews for some fun competitive races and coveted prizes!

Costs: $300 plus HST for 2/week; $150 plus HST for optional third practice

 

Green Crew

The Green Crew also focuses on fitness and technical training, but at a higher intensity level than the Blue crew. This year we are striving to have two crews training side by side. Nothing makes you push yourself more than another boat right beside you! This program starts in mid May and continues till mid September with an optional extension until the end of October. The sessions are Monday and Wednesday at 715PM, with an option to join a third session on Sunday 1030 AM in a blended crew. It’s a great crew to join if you are interested in more competitive paddling and higher intensity workouts. Paddlers in this program are also invited to race in our three Race League events on Lake Banook (included in your registration) where participants are combined in balanced crews for some fun competitive races and coveted prizes!

Costs: $300 plus HST for 2/week; $150 plus HST for optional third practice

 

Gold Crew

The Gold Crew is an established crew of paddlers. Practices are typically two boats side by side. This program starts in mid May and continues till mid September with an optional extension until the end of October. The sessions are Monday and Wednesday at 615 PM, with an option to join a third session on Sunday 9 AM. Paddlers in this program are also invited to race in our three Race League events on Lake Banook (included in your registration) where participants are combined in balanced crews for some fun competitive races and coveted prizes! This crew typically competes in one or more other race events such as the New Glasgow Race on the River. Preference will be given to current crew members. If there are any openings left, spots may be offered to others at the coach’s discretion. You must be the appropriate skill and fitness level.

Costs: $300 plus HST for 2/week; $150 plus HST for optional third practice

 

Black Crew

The Black Crew is an established crew of paddlers. Practices are typically two boats side by side. This program starts in mid May and continues till mid September with an optional extension until the end of October. The sessions are in two sessions, Tuesday and Thursday at 600 PM and 715 PM, with an option to join a third session on Sunday 1030 AM in a blended crew. Paddlers in this program are also invited to race in our three Race League events on Lake Banook (included in your registration) where participants are combined in balanced crews for some fun competitive races and coveted prizes! Preference will be given to current crew members. If there are any openings left, spots may be offered to others at the coach’s discretion. You must be the appropriate skill and fitness level.

Costs: $300 plus HST for 2/week; $150 plus HST for optional third practice

 

Can Am Club Crew Championships 2026

The Can Am Club Crew Championships is a premier dragon boat sport racing event that will take place this year in Montreal July 18th to 20th. It brings together top sport division teams from across North America and beyond. As with any competitive sport racing event of this level, we only want to send crews that can compete at a high level. As such, we will enter our best crew possible. While this sounds logical, from a practical perspective it means decisions may have to be made that are contrary to fair play. No one is guaranteed a race, or guaranteed to be in a specific event, or in a specific position. This is an important distinction as there are costs to travelling to a competition such as this. There are also expectations in terms of personal racing preparation which incudes Body Mass Index goals, fitness training goals above and beyond your regular dragon boat practices, as well as team training in advance of the competition. The racing at this level is in age groups. Based on past competitions, we expect to enter crews in Senior B (50+), Senior C (60+) and Senior D (70+). We can determine what crews we will enter based on the interest indicated through the registration, and a commitment of a $100 deposit. Interest does not guarantee a space on a roster.

Costs: $100 non refundable deposit, balance of costs to be determined at a later date based on participation and on competition costs as well as practice costs

 

You are also responsible for registering with Dragon Boat Canada at Dragon Boat Canada Registration Portal before you can be included on a roster

 

Montreal International Dragon Boat Challenge 2026

The Montreal International Dragon Boat Challenge is a community festival that is being run concurrently with the Can Am Club Crew Championships in Montreal July 18th to 20th. Events are held for men, women and mixed crews, although not aged based. For crews we may enter in this event, you can expect fair play as much as possible. You can never foresee all events or guarantee a number of races, but attempts will be made to ensure everyone gets multiple races. You can also be there to watch and cheer on our competitive crews. Based on the interest indicated through the registration, we can determine what crews we can enter.

Costs: to be determined at a later date based on participation and on competition costs as well as practice costs

 

Canadian Dragon Boat Championships 2027

Club Crew World Championships 2028

The Canadian Dragon Boat Champions (also called Nationals) next year will be the event at which we can qualify crews to compete in the Club Crew World Championships the following year in Barcelona, Spain. We are beginning after the Can American Championships to look ahead to the next year. If there is an interest, we will offer once a week training sessions to prepare. There will be expectations in terms of personal preparation which incudes Body Mass Index goals, and fitness training goals above and beyond your regular dragon boat practices. These sessions will be appropriate for anyone that competes in Can Ams this year and wants to continue their training. It will also be appropriate for anyone who may not have been ready this year, or who may need guidance in how to train to be considered next year. Please indicate your interest through the registration process. Participation in this program does not guarantee a space on a roster next year.

Costs: to be determined at a later date

 

Dragon Boat Canada Safe Steering Course

This one-day course is for any person interested in learning how to steer boats for practices and races. This course is also for those that already know how to steer and need to be accredited. This is not a coaching course. This course gives you a Safe Steering certification upon completion of all course requirements including steering assessment, First Aid, Pleasure Craft Operators License, and Safe Sport online training.

Dates: May 10, 2026

Cost: $155 plus tax

 

Dragon Boat Canada Instructor Course

This two-day course is for any person interested in coaching team bonding activities, corporate events, school field trips, discover-dragon boat events, and fundraising events. Instructors introduce dragon boat to the greater public and are often the ones that will give the first dragon boat impression to potential future paddlers! This course gives you both an Instructor level certification and a Safe Steering certification upon completion of all course requirements including steering assessment, First Aid, Pleasure Craft Operators License, and Safe Sport online training.

Dates: May 9 and 10, 2026

Cost: $250 plus tax

 

Dragon Boat Canada Level 1 Coaching Course

This two-day course is for any person interested in coaching amateur or community level teams. Prerequisite is Dragon Boat Canada Safe Steering Accreditation. This course will give you a Level 1 certification upon completion of all requirements including First Aid, Pleasure Craft Operators License, and Safe Sport online training.

DDBA will schedule a course based on the interest indicated through registration.

Costs: $250 plus HST

 

Boat Storage

Dartmouth Dragon Boat has a limited amount of outdoor boat storage available in the cage attached to the building. Anyone storing a boat there must be a program participant in at a minimum a 2-day per week program. All persons storing a boat will be provided with their own access code to the cage, which is accessible 24/7 with the exception of winter conditions. DDBA is not responsible for damage or theft, and recommends you acquire your own insurance.

Preference will be given to those who currently have a boat stored.

Costs: $125 plus HST

 

Paddle Storage

Dartmouth Dragon Boat has a limited number of paddle hooks available to leave your paddle in the Training Center. In addition, you will be provided with a personal bin in the shed in the cage to store other items such as PFDs, gloves, shoes et cetera that are not to be left in the building.

Preference will be given to those who currently have a paddle hook.

Costs: $55 plus HST

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Please ensure you go all the way to the end to complete the registration, or you will not be registered.

Upon completion of your registration, you will receive an invoice with payment instructions. All fees are due by May 1 with the exception of fall training which is due September 1.

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If you have questions, please email info@dragonboateast.ca

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