OUR MANDATE

The Grandragons are committed to promoting and assisting the development of seniors dragon boat racing across Canada as an excellent activity to enable seniors to continue living healthy, independent lives. We believe that, following retirement, too many formerly active men and women slip into inactive, unhealthy lifestyles and end up prematurely in hospitals and health care facilities. Many, after the death of a partner, also become socially isolated. We believe that participating in dragon boating is an excellent way to retain good health and a zest for living.
More precisely, the purposes of the Grandragons Team, as stated in our constitution are:

• to promote dragon boat racing for seniors (men and women aged 55 and up) across Canada as an activity to enable them to continue living healthy, mobile, independent lives
• to demonstrate that seniors are physically capable of participating in this demanding sport by competing strongly in dragon boat festivals throughout Canada and elsewhere
• to disseminate information about the benefits of seniors dragon boat racing through representations, publications, videotape productions and news media exposure
• to assist groups of seniors to organize new teams and to work with other existing senior’s teams in programs aimed at advancing senior’s dragon boat racing in Canada.

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION:

The Grandragons are open to seniors, men and women aged 55 and older. They’re looking for seniors who are reasonably fit – and eager to become fitter – willing to learn, and who enjoy socializing. Grandragons have fun on land as well as on the water.
Reasonably fit means able to climb a flight of stairs without heavy gasping, and of course, without any medical problem that precludes vigorous physical activity. At the start you don’t need to be super-fit; that comes gradually with regular training. Grandragons are also expected to cross-train with activities of their choice. They recommend that first-timers take the recreational dragon boat program offered each spring at the False Creek Community Centre before joining, but if that isn’t possible, they do accept beginners who are willing to pay attention to their world-class coaches and make serious efforts to master the technique of dragon boat paddling.
The Grandragons are also actively recruiting seniors to learn drumming and steering, both essential although less demanding subsets of a racing team. Drumming calls for a good sense of balance, the ability to project loudly and clearly (essential during the heat of a race) and to work closely with strokes, coaches and team members. Steering calls for a good sense of balance, the ability to maneuver a dragon boat in close quarters under race conditions. Like paddling, these skills are acquired through training and practice.
The Grandragons train twice weekly, Monday and Thursday mornings, in False Creek. Practice is followed by coffee at one of Granville Island’s many specialty coffee shops, and often includes a gnosh from one of the numerous bakeries on the Island.
Dues are currently $200 a year, payable at the beginning of February. Much of the fee goes to support their membership in the False Creek Racing Canoe Club. FCRCC membership gives the team free use of dragon boats, life jackets and paddles, insurance and specialized coaching clinics. The fees also provide an honorarium to their own qualified coaches.
Click on Contact us to receive more information or arrange an introductory paddle.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

In addition to working with seniors, the Grandragons have become involved in a program that works with such varied groups as school students, business organizations and tour groups, introducing them to dragon boating by means of hands-on dragon boat paddling experiences. These are normally held on weekdays, when marine traffic at Granville Island is at its lowest, and the groups can enjoy Vancouver’s magnificent scenery during daylight hours.