FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
General FAQ | How to Get Involved | How to Join Our Team | Race FAQ for Paddlers | Women's Regatta FAQ
How to Join Our Team
I want to be a part of your team! How and when can I sign up?
You may sign up before the season begins between November and January. Contact any of our team members, or email our team address . We will have an orientation before the season starts, so give us a shout if you're interested. We'll save you a spot.
Your team is full? Oh no! What should I do?
You can still come for our Thursday XT practices to get training. Some of our paddlers may not be able to race during the festival and we may need spares, so talk to our coach and we'll work something out.
I have never paddled in my life! I'm afraid of drowning. Is dragon boat dangerous?
Not to worry. Dragon boats hardly flip. You would have to be doing really weird stuff on the boat in order for it to flip (for example, the steersperson doing the Macarena with his/her oar). The most important safety tip is to LISTEN and do what your coach and steersperson tell you to do. Also, every paddler is required to wear a PFD (aka lifejacket) so it's not as dangerous as you think. We'll work together to get back to the dock safely.
What are the qualifications required to be a paddler?
Everyone is welcome to paddle with us. The question is whether or not you want to participate in the races. We require that you attend 80% of our practices to be able to participate in a race. For those who want to paddle for leisure, we have a team just for that.
What are the qualifications required to be a steersperson?
All steerspersons must be certified in order to steer during the races. If you're interested, Dragon Hearts will be happy to train you. We'll get you all the info you need. Let us know your name and how you heard about us! Email !
What are the qualifications required to be a caller?
You have to be loud! A loud voice (properly use of voice would be a great asset) and a good concept of rhythm (music) will definitely help the team to keep in time. If you are an enthusiastic individual with lots of energy, you are exactly what we are looking for. :)
How much does it cost to join the team?
Details will be given during the orientation.
How many practices do you have per week?
From March to April, we practice once a week. In May, we increase our practices to two times a week. Each practice is about 1.5 hours to 1.75 hours long. Debriefing come after each practice. So ...it totals about 2 hours each practice.
What happens if the weather is not good on practice day? Should I still come to practice?
Practices are on RAIN OR SHINE unless our coach cancels it. Please check your e-mail; notification is usually sent by 3pm. Do not skip practice. Make the effort to find John or your team mates if you can't check your e-mail regularly.
For other practices (XT Team), you should also check your e-mail (and make sure we have your e-mail) around 3pm to make sure dragon boat is still on. Sometimes the coach will cancel the practice if the weather is really bad. You'll never know what will happen with the Vancouver weather, so keep your eyes and ears open for updates.
Who should I contact if I can't make it to the practice?
For practices on
Mondays, contact John
Tuesdays, contact Way (our Captain for Beat).
Wednesday, contact Fay
Thursdays, contact Diego.
Friday, contact Tiffany; For women's practice on Fridays, contact Sophia.
If you can't find them, call your team mates.
I work on the weekday, and I always have OT. What should I do? I really want to paddle but all your practices fall on the weekdays.
You can try our "Festival Practices". There are weekend practices for other teams, but you have to look for them. During this time (May and June) lots of teams are busy training for Alcan even on the weekend, so the practices will be pretty exciting!
Another option is, you can sign up for our membership and not race! You'll need to be very committed to the team, but not so if you only paddle for leisure. Just let us know what your commitment will be.
I've been on vacation for quite some time and I missed a lot of practices, will I be a spare then?
You have to speak to the manager and the coach directly about your reasons for not showing up. We won't know if we're spare or not until that week of the race. The more committed you are, the likelihood of you being a PERM is almost definite. Just come to the practices-- don't give up!!
What should I bring to the practice?
Sunny Day- bring a cap, wear sun screen. (not too much on your face or it will sting you if your face gets wet), and a bottle of water. You will have small breaks in between.
Rainy Days- make sure you wear something on top (a vest on top of a t-shirt would be a good idea). Keep yourself warm. We do have breaks in between and it's important that you can stay warm when you're not paddling. Bring a bottle of water.
Do I have to bring my own equipment to paddle?
No, you do not have to bring your own equipment. We're very thankful to have the Dragon Zone team and staff provide us with all equipment we need - PFD, four different size of paddles, the paddling machine, lockers (bring your own lock), and a place to change.
I'm interested in purchasing my own equipment, who should I contact?
Gloves! You can buy cycling gloves at your local sports store.
PFD/Life jackets ! Information is posted in Dragon Zone.
Paddles -- Contact Kevin Mark.
What kind of stretches should I do before going in the boat?
Hand stretches (credit to Sunny), upper arms, arms in general, calves, waist, neck, hips, buttock stretches. Others include jumping jacks, running, and dragon boat technique practice (very relaxing stuff).
Do you have any icebreaking/bonding/gathering events?
Team bonding events are usually organized by team members themselves through e-mail, facebook, and occasionally posted on this website. Past events include blueberry picking, movie nights, and eating out after practice, grouse grind hiking.
I just want to come for some dragon boat training, but I'm not interested in joining the team. What other options do you have for me?
We have a Monday and Thursday evening XT Practice (Extra Practice) for people who just want some training and learn how to paddle in a dragon boat. You will be given an intro on how to paddle, and you will be given some time to work on the technique you learn that day. So come on out! You just need to sign up with our coach and manager before coming to guarantee a seat. That goes to all interested paddlers, including the team paddlers. (Teams, if you missed a practice that week, you can consider coming to the Monday/Thursday practice to make up for the time you missed.)
Is there a fee for the XT Practices?
Yes, please ask our manager about fees.
Where can I look for teams who need an extra paddler?
Check ABDF official website. Eyes up for teams you wanna join. Ask around. Consider our team? haha
I want to paddle with my friends only (perhaps a company gathering). Can I rent a dragon boat one afternoon?
Yes you can rent it off the Dragon Zone yourself. They offer packages. You will need a steersperson to help you steer the boat. If you're not in the field, it's going be hard to steer without proper coaching.
If you want us to help you organize it. We'd love to! As long as you're interested! You'll just have to pay whatever Dragon Zone asks you to pay (One practice $120~ if off-dock at Dragon Zone, or $50~ if off-dock at Granville Island), and we'll bring in our coach to teach you the basics for free and steer for you. Awww!! (hiring a coach does cost $, but Dragon Hearts Club is very, very generous. The club can coach you for free)
What are your out-of-town races and how can I get involved?
We have races going to Victoria, Kelowna (<-- this is really cool!), Harrison Hot Springs, & we're still looking for more places to have fun. If there are out-of-town races, we might team up with other cool friends (from other teams) to race against other boats. During the Kelowna Dragon Boat Festival 2006, for example, we had a few paddlers from Team CCPC, Team Magnum, and from Concord Pacific Flying Dragons to form "Dragon Hearts Flying Dragons". We came back with a silver medal for the Emerald Division!
How much do your out-of-town races cost?
All out of town races are charged on a cost recovery basis.