All Categories - DragonSports USA

Another Steer Training Opportunity August 9th

7/31/2017

DragonSports is going to be conducting joint introductory steer training for the outrigger canoes and dragon boats. We'll be doing a classroom portion, which is the first step in learning to steer, at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, August 9th. The class should last about an hour and a half.

The classroom will be at PBS Environmental + Engineering, at 4343 SW Corbett, Portland, OR.

The materials for this class are available FREE online at our website; you will need to print them and bring them with you to the classroom.

Outrigger handbook is here.
Dragon Boat handbook is here.

Please email Burton at steering@dragonsports.org to RSVP your attendance and/or if you have any questions. Please include your team name and if you're interested in dragon boat steering, outrigger steering, or both.

We look forward to training you and getting everyone on the water!

USDBF Race Officials Training Class

7/31/2017

Last call to register! Pacific Dragon Boat Association is pleased to provide you with the following training opportunity:

USDBF Race Officials Training Class
Date: Saturday August 5th, 2017
Time: 9am-4pm
Location: Beaverton, OR
Cost: $50
Instructor: Dr. Joel Shilling

This is the first step towards becoming certified as a United States Dragon Boat Federation Race Official. Once you have completed the class you will need to log hours at each of four stations. See the USDBF website for more details.

To register for the class, please complete and email the Registration Form to Diane McCabe and forward payment to:

Diane McCabe
Treasurer, PDBAUSA
607 30th Street
Hermosa Beach
CA 90254-2212

If you have questions, please email president@pdbausa.org.

Note: it would be beneficial even if you aren't interested in becoming an official, but just becoming more familiar with the IDBF Rules and Regulations.

OWLS Dragonflies Fundraiser - 6/3/17

6/2/2017

Please join the OWLS (Oregon Women Lawyers) Dragonflies for their 7th Annual Fundraiser at the Lucky Labrador Quimby Beer Hall on Saturday, June 3, 2017 beginning at 4:00 p.m. Silent auction, wine ring-toss game, and more! Click here for more information or email info@owlsdragonflies.org.

DragonSports is happy to share your team's events on our website and Calendar. Please email our webmaster or post your event to the DSUSA listserve.

Learn to Steer Dragon Boats and Outrigger Canoes!

5/23/2017

Mark your calendars!

DragonSports is going to be conducting joint introductory steer training for the outrigger canoes and dragon boats. We'll be doing a classroom portion, which is the first step in learning to steer, at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, May 31st. The class should last about an hour and a half.

The classroom will be at PBS Environmental + Engineering, at 4343 SW Corbett, Portland, OR.

The materials for this class are available FREE online at our website; you will need to print them and bring them with you to the classroom.

Outrigger handbook is here.
Dragon Boat handbook is here.

Please email Burton at steering@dragonsports.org to RSVP your attendance and/or if you have any questions. Please include your team name and if you're interested in dragon boat steering, outrigger steering, or both.

We look forward to training you and getting everyone on the water!

Steer Clear of the Ross Island Bridge Construction

4/3/2017

The Ross Island Bridge Rehabilitation Project is underway and during the past week, crews have been installing a new work platform on the west side of the river. We have been asked to steer clear of this area, especially while workers are present. It may make the most sense for teams to cross the river and avoid this area altogether. Please use your best judgment!

We understand that, as the water level recedes, the contractor will be bringing in a barge to lift additional work platforms into place and there will be additional restrictions in this area. We will keep you posted or you may check the project webpage for details.

Updated Guidelines for River Current

3/23/2017

'At last nights meeting, the DragonSports Board voted to update our Safety Rules & Guidelines to give more specific guidance on the number of paddlers required at various stream velocities. The new guidelines read:

Current: If the river current is strong, as happens during heavy rains, the minimum number of paddlers in a dragon boat should be increased to correspond with the increased river flow. Consult the NWS River Forecast Data for the Willamette River at Portland for specific data and a link to the hydrologic predictions for water velocity measured in feet per second (fps). Generally, flows during the offseason (October through February) will warrant that the minimum number of experienced paddlers must be increased to at least 10 and preferably should be increased to 12. If flows are greater than 2.5 fps, the minimum number of experienced paddlers must be increased to at least 14 and preferably should be increased to 16. If flows are greater than 3 fps, all teams/crews must not go out. Please note that even if strong currents subside, practices may remain canceled if dangerous large debris is present.

Please contact board@dragonsports.org with any questions or concerns.

Get email alerts for stream velocity

3/13/2017

This past weekend, a number of teams had to cancel practice on the docks because of swift current and debris. While we can't always know what the debris situation is going to look like until we get down there, we can almost always look up the stream flow online.

Our informal guidelines are to cancel all practices when the Willamette is moving at more than 3 fps. The usual link we point you to hasn't been reporting data for the past few days for some reason, but there is another way to look up this information and even receive email alerts when the stream velocity exceeds a certain rate (we use 2.75 fps).

Go to USGS WaterAlert page and click on the station that looks like it's in downtown Portland (should read "WILLAMETTE RIVER AT PORTLAND, OR"). Click on "Subscribe to WaterAlert" and we recommend setting it for daily notifications the stream velocity exceeds 2.75 as pictured in this screen shot.

You'll get an email and from there you can check the current conditions and always be in the know

Interested in a Tour to China?

1/19/2017

A few DragonSports members are exploring the possibility of putting together a
tour to China (complete with participating in a dragon boat race or two) in the coming year.

Please complete the following form or contact Don Boje if you are interested.

Annual Meeting & Dinner - February 23

1/19/2017

Join DragonSports USA for our Annual Meeting & Dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory on Thursday, February 23 starting at 6:00 p.m.

We'll provide a brief but informative update on the status of our organization, but this is mainly a social event for our members. We will also be giving away lots of fabulous paddling-related DOOR PRIZES!

For only $10, you’ll have a choice of 3 pastas (with Marinara sauce, Red Meat sauce or Mizithra Cheese), salad, bread, and your choice of coffee, hot tea, ice tea or milk. Dinner is topped off by Old Spaghetti Factory’s classic spumoni ice cream. (Specialty drinks, wine, beer or cocktails are also available on a no-host basis.)

Space is limited to 90 people. Click here to sign up to reserve your spot. You may pay when you RSVP (preferred) or at the door.

Support Rip City Paddler Angel Crowe

9/28/2016

We wanted to help get the word out for DragonSports member and Rip City Paddler, Angel Crowe, who has been invited by the National Stroke Association to join their team to run the New York City Marathon. Angel experienced an ischemic stroke almost a year ago... here's her story:

We still don't know why it happened. I have no risk factors, pretty healthy (got my aches and pains and stuff:), active in the dragon boat community. My team is Rip City Paddlers but I have also shown up on many other boats paddling or flag catching, especially this year.

The scary part of this is that I was 40 when this happened and the association I am raising money for helps with education, support for stroke survivors and caregivers. I am getting close to my halfway mark ($3500 is my goal, and I would be happy to go past that goal).

The money raised goes directly to the National Stroke Association (Angel is paying her own entry, flight, and lodging). Click here to donate at her fundraising page.

DragonSports is happy to share your team's events and fundraisers our website. Please email our webmaster for details.