2023 Arizona Paddling Camp and Festival

by Meredith, Member

There is only one significant drawback to being a dragon boat paddler from Minnesota, and that is frozen water for nearly six months of the year. Our team does an amazing effort around off-the-boat fitness opportunities but come February, I was eager to feel the water again.

I found a dragon boat training camp being run by Right Angle Performance in Tempe, Arizona, and luckily 3 other Dragon Divas were registered to go as well! The week-long camp was held in March and typically ends with participation in the 2-day Arizona Dragon Boat Festival. This festival is known as the largest dragon boat festival opener of the year in competitive dragon boat racing. 

The camp was so well attended that we had a full boat of breast cancer survivors, who were mostly Canadian team members, as they suffer the same frozen water we have. The camp was rigorous in focus on technique and endurance. The first practice was also a reminder to use a “butt pad!” We had two practice sessions scheduled every day. Sadly, the intense snow melt from up the river forced the closure of the “lake” (Tempe Town Lake is really a wide spot in the Salt River). Thus, we did not have our two final practice sessions and the Festival racing was canceled. If you’re interested in adding this training for next year, they are already taking registrations.

One of the key takeaways for me at this training camp effort was that I was one of the newest to the sport - most of these women had 10+ years of dragon boating experience and they were eager to be focused on their technique and renew their commitment. Just like in Minnesota, I continue to be inspired by this group of women carving survivorship through water together.