Blog Posts - DragonSports USA

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 class 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.

USDBF Fundamentals of Dragon Boat Coaching Course

9/28/2016

The United States Dragon Boat Federation is offering a Fundamentals of Dragon Boat Coaching Course in November, right here in Portland, led by Connie Flesuras, founder of Dragon Boat Training.

Where: Wasabi Paddling Club, 1515 SE Water Avenue, Portland, Oregon
When: November 18-20, 2016 (Friday 6-9pm, Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 9am-5pm)
Cost: $300

Course highlights include:

Team safety – injury prevention
Basic stroke mechanics – coaching strategies
Identification of your coaching style
Ability to create & utilize team mission and goal statements
Design team season and practice plans
Learn to capture and use video as a coaching tool
Develop “critical eye”
Develop a race day plan

Click here for more information and to download the registration form.

Algae Bloom in Ross Island Lagoon

8/23/2016

Late last week, the Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division issued an advisory due to visual confirmation of a blue-green algae bloom in the Ross Island Lagoon. Lab results to confirm the toxin are still pending, but given the low water and warm temperatures, it is probably safe to assume that there is a bloom in that area.

In the past couple of years, the alert relating to the Ross Island Lagoon has preceded a broader warning to the Willamette River and we wanted to first caution everyone who paddles in the Holgate Channel to avoid the lagoon (or the shallow and slow-moving water of the channel altogether) and to wash with fresh water as soon as you are able, particularly if you have sensitive skin.

DragonSports does not plan to cancel practices or the Portland Dragon Boat Festival if a bloom does occur in the broader Willamette River. Consulting a number of experts and online sources last year, we learned that unless you are ingesting significant quantities of water, there is little risk of harm. The Oregon Health Authority only cautions against swimming or certain activities where there is a risk of ingestion; paddling is not one of them. The biggest risk may be for small children and especially pets who may immerse themselves in and/or drink the water if left unsupervised.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact board@dragonsports.org.

Stop and Rescue Points Along the Willamette River

8/10/2016

In the typical DragonSports practice areas, see the chart for emergency stops and rescue points. Always know where you can go in an emergency – and how to describe where you are! In the winter, the current moves fast, and you may need to go downstream to get the crew and boat to safety.

It’s important to have a plan!