Hello Dragon Boat Paddling Enthusiasts!
While it may seem like dragon boat season is over, it continues on for the dedicated paddlers at Dragon Boat Barrie!
We are pleased to host Open Paddles Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 7:30pm starting this Wednesday September 14th. These will continue throughout the month of September, with October dates to be confirmed depending on the weather outlook.
Free to paid up members of Dragon Boat Barrie, and just $5 for everyone else.
Paddles Up!
Hello Dragon Boat Barrie Members!
With the season set to begin, now is the time to order paddles and team jerseys!
Details can be found on our website here: http://dragonboatbarrie.com/dbb/swag/
Some notes to keep in mind:
Open Paddle – Wednesday May 18, 6:30 pm – Heritage Park
The Barrie Public Library, organizers of the Barrie Dragon Boat Festival, are hosting an open paddle on Wednesday May 18 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm in order to train some new steers. This is free for everyone. Come join us out on the water! You can RSVP to the Facebook event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1741289892784030/
6 – Week Training Program
There are still spots open for our 6 – Week Training Program which begins June 1st. Know anyone who would like to try dragon boating, but isn’t ready to commit to a team? Or perhaps someone who just wants to get in some extra training? Get them to sign up! Details here: http://dragonboatbarrie.com/programs/6-week-training-program/
Paddles Up!
Hello Dragon Boat Paddlers!
The ice is starting to melt off of the bay, and it won’t be long until we are back out on the water! Please see below for the latest updates from Dragon Boat Barrie!
We will be putting together a club order for paddles and life jackets shortly. Stay tuned for details!
Not ready to commit to a team? Brand new to dragon boat paddling? Why not sign up for our 6-Week Training program! More details available here!
Save the date! Our 2016 Season Launch Party will be held during the evening of Thursday May 5, 2016. Please RSVP to our Facebook event page for the most up-to-date details.
We are now accepting registrations for the 2016 season. Below are some brief outlines of the various teams that are available.
Designed for recreational paddlers, we will paddle together for several weeks over the course of the summer, culminating in two different festivals. The ultimate goal of the team is to have fun both on and off the water!
Designed for intermediate paddlers, we will paddle together for several weeks over the course of the summer, culminating in the Barrie Dragon Boat Festival in Barrie, along with two other competitive festivals.
PaddleStrong is Dragon Boat Barrie’s most competitive team, traveling to regattas all over the province and training year round.
That’s What She Said (TWSS) is a group of fantastic women that are committed to giving it their all. Paddlers with all levels of experiences paddle together for several weeks over the course of the spring and summer and compete in 3 events 2016.
The Barrie Northmen is our new men’s team for 2016.
Mark your calendars! Our End of Season Party is taking place on Thursday October 8th. For more information and details on how to get your ticket, please click here!
This year we had four club teams competing at the Barrie Dragon Boat Festival: PaddleAvengers, PowerStrokes, Busch Buccaneers – Paddles of Fury, and the Water Warriors!
The teams rasied funds totaling more than $6,000, for Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, Hospice Simcoe, Gilda’s Club Simcoe Muskoka, Furry Friends, and the Dekpor School Development Organization.
It was another successful year for 5K Around the Bay, as devoted paddlers went for a casual, 5km paddle around the shores of beautiful Kempenfelt Bay, raising more than $2,000 for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario.
This year PaddleAvengers competed in two regattas – one in Port Perry as well as the 
Barrie Festival. They placed 1st in D Division at Port Perry, and 3rd place in the Silver Consolation Division in Barrie. On top of that, they raised just over $500 for Crohn’s and Colitis Canada through a very unique Murder Mystery Party, Murder on the Lake!
This year PowerStrokes is competing at three different regattas – the Barrie Dragon Boat Festival, as well as the GWN Sport Regatta and GWN Challenge, both in Toronto.
They placed 4th overall in both the Mixed Community 200m and 500m A Consolation Finals at the GWN Sport Regatta, and at the Barrie festival 2nd in Platinum Consolation Finals moving up three spots from last season!
PaddleStrong is competing at four different regattas this year – Parry Sound, Woodstock, and the GWN Sport Regatta and GWN Challenge in Toronto.
PaddleStrong narrowly missed out winning the entire Parry Sound Festival, capsizing their boat just meters away from the finish line!
They had a strong showing at the Woodstock Festival, taking 1st place in the Silver Division. They also took a very respectable 7th place overall finish at the GWN Sport Regatta.
The Paddles of Fury competed in King City and Barrie, and have one more regatta left in Stratford this month. 
They have had an amazing season, making it all the way into A Division in King City, and placing 2nd overall at the Barrie Dragon Boat Festival – including having the fastest times of any Barrie-based team! Way to go guys!
The Water Warriors competed at the Barrie Dragon Boat Festival, rocketing from Gold 
Division last year, all the way up into the Plantinum Division Finals! The team placed 4th overall, out of nearly 50 teams. Not only that, but they raised over $5,000 for Hospice Simcoe in the process. Awesome job guys!
TWSS competed in Brampton early on in the season back in May, and will also be looking to reclaim the gold medal at the GWN Challenge. Best of luck ladies!
Best of luck to PowerStrokes, PaddleStrong and That’s What She Said at the GWN Challenge, and to the Paddles of Fury competing in Stratford this month!
Every Dragon Boat Barrie member is requested to perform at least 2 hours of volunteer work for the club each year. Have you completed yours yet? There are many ways to accumulate hours! Check out the details here!
Hello Paddlers!
Here are just a few reminders for you.
2015 Season Launch Party – Tuesday May 5th
Our 2015 Season Launch Party is fast approaching!
Join in on an evening of fun and find out about training opportunities, practices, upcoming races, and upcoming events.
Get together with old friends and make new ones!
There will also be delicious appetizers!!!
There will be a prize for the best Cinco de Mayo costume, raffle prizes, a trivia contest and much more!
Please pass this message along to your fellow paddlers.
Date: Tuesday May 5, 2015
Location: The Stone Grille, 7975 Yonge Street (Stroud)
Time: 7:30 – 10:00 p.m.
Cost: $15.00 per person (may be purchased at the door, or at our website: http://dragonboatbarrie.com/events/2015-season-launch-party/ )
Theme: Cinco de Mayo
Please RSVP to Bev Booth at beverley.booth@dragonboatbarrie.com
Yoga – Mondays at 6:30pm
We are pleased to offer yoga classes to all of our members.
It will take place every Monday from 6:30pm to 7:30pm, running until the end of May. Please arrive 10 minutes early.
It will take place in the basement of Burton Avenue United Church, located at 37 Burton Avenue in Barrie (just off Essa Road).
The cost is a suggested minimum donation of $5 per session, which will be split between the church for the use of their facilities and the club.
Team Sign Up and Fees – Due May 1
We still have a few spaces left on our beginner and competitive teams. Registration and fees are due May 1st!
Team Jersey Orders – PaddleAvengers, PowerStrokes, and PaddleStrong – Due May 8
For anyone requiring or interested in receiving a new team jersey, please note your orders are due May 8th. Please let your team captain know your desired size, and/or order via our website at http://dragonboatbarrie.com/swag/ . Cost is $35.
Paddles Up!
Happy New Year Dragon Boat enthusiasts!
We are now recruiting for the 2015 season. Details on all of our teams can be found here: http://dragonboatbarrie.com/teams/
If you are interested in any of the teams, please let us know in order to get your name added to the team lists for future updates.
Please note – PaddleStrong is having a meeting on Thursday January 8, 2015 at 7pm.
PaddleStrong is our most competitive mixed team in the club. At this meeting we will discuss the plan for 2015 including regattas, practices, coaching, fundraising and fees.
What: PaddleStrong 2015 Team Meeting
When: January 8th at 7pm
Where: Derek & Carrie’s Home @ 136 Oren Blvd (West of Bayfield St, off of Heather St) https://www.google.ca/maps/place/136+Oren+Blvd,+Barrie,+ON+L4N+4M4/@44.406393,-79.7117999,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x882aa2e98a2f2a39:0xbe86b5296fd78afc
Please contact Team Captain Amber at amber.sperling@dragonboatbarrie.com if you are interested in joining PaddleStrong but unable to attend.
Paddles Up!
Sean Levison
President
Dragon Boat Barrie
Hello Dragon Boat Enthusiasts!
Happy Holidays from all of us at Dragon Boat Barrie! We are pleased to announce preliminary plans for the 2015 Season. Please see details below!
In this issue:
2015 Season Plans
We are pleased to announce the 2015 Season Plans for PaddleAvengers, PowerStrokes, and PaddleStrong (subject to change):
PaddleAvengers: Our novice paddling team will be practicing once a week with races in Port Perry and Barrie. Details available here: http://dragonboatbarrie.com/teams/paddleavengers/2015-season/
PowerStrokes: Our intermediate paddling team will also be practicing once a week, with three races including GWN Sport, Barrie, and GWN Challenge. Details available here: http://dragonboatbarrie.com/teams/powerstrokes/2015-season/
PaddleStrong: Our competitive paddling team will be practicing twice per week and will be attending the following four races: St. Catharines, GWN Sport, Belleville, and GWN Challenge. Details available here: http://dragonboatbarrie.com/teams/paddlestrong/2015-season/
Please note that there will also be a PaddleStrong team meeting on Thursday January 8 to discuss the team’s season, as well as some additional paddling opportunities. To ensure you are on the PaddleStrong e-mail list, please reply back to this e-mail and request to be added if you are interested.
That’s What She Said: The 2015 season plan for our women’s team is still in the works, and will be announced sometime in the new year.
PaddleStrong Fit Testing – Respond by Dec 30th
As PaddleStrong moves toward the 2015 season, the energy is high for making this upcoming season the best ever! With the commitment we have had towards pool paddling and the sport specific workout after, this winter has seen everyone really committing to preparing for a spring of preparation and improvement.
With everyone belonging to different gyms, studios etc and everyone has their own program that they follow, we thought that as a team moving forward it would be a great idea to have a “bench mark” fitness test to help everyone see where they are now and then repeat the test at the start of the season.
A baseline testing date has been set for Tuesday January 13, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Alexacise Studio located at 361 King Street, Unit 5 (upstairs) in Barrie’s south end.
Fit Testing is strongly recommended for all PaddleStrong members, as well as all those interested in joining PaddleStrong in 2015.
For more details, please click here: http://dragonboatbarrie.com/events/fittest/
Please confirm your attendance with Kathleen by December 30th at paddletheworld@sympatico.ca
Gift Certificates
Looking for some last minute Christmas gift ideas? Why not pick up some Dragon Boat Barrie gift certificates! Good for use towards any DBB team fee, training activity, or DBB swag! Order yours by December 19 to ensure delivery by Christmas: http://dragonboatbarrie.com/swag/
Share Your Photos!
Dragon Boat Barrie is looking for your 2014 dragon boat related photos to share in an upcoming 2015 calendar. Please send photos to amber.sperling@dragonboatbarrie.com and indicate the photographer, date photo was taken (if known) and location (if known).
Annual General Meeting – Call for Nominations
We are still accepting nominations for President and Director of Special Events. To submit your nomination, please e-mail info@dragonboatbarrie.com .
As a reminder, the Annual General Meeting will be taking place on Thursday January 22, 2014. More details available here: http://dragonboatbarrie.com/events/agm/
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Paddles Up!
Hello Dragon Boat Enthusiasts!
We have lots of exciting news to bring you! Please see below for more.
Paddlers Needed – GWN Challenge in Toronto, September 6 and 7
PaddleStrong, PowerStrokes, and That’s What She Said are looking for a few extra paddlers to help out at the GWN Challenge in Toronto on September 6 and 7. Do you think you can help out? Please let us know! E-mail us at info@dragonboatbarrie.com . Transportation will be provided (details including cost to follow).
DBB Paddlers at the Barrie Festival Opening Ceremonies
A number of our devoted paddlers got together and surprised the crowds at the opening ceremonies of the Barrie Dragon Boat Festival with a flash mob!
Team Updates
That’s What She Said
TWSS is a go for GWN Challenge on September 6th and 7th!
We will have two practices:
The cost for each paddler will be $25, which will cover the cost of the race, coaching, and practices. The $25 is due by the first practice, August 27.
Please contact Katie at k_grudzinkski@hotmail.com to get your name on the official roster!
We would kindly ask that paddlers not already on a DBB team to also add $15 for a DBB Membership to participate.
PaddleAvengers
PaddleAvengers raced to victory at their very first dragon boat festival in King City on August 16, winning first place in their division.
They then went on to earn a 3rd place spot in the Silver Championship division at the Barrie race on August 23. Way to go guys!
Looking forward to seeing what you can accomplish next season!
PowerStrokes
After a tricky few first races, PowerStrokes cruised to a Gold medal finish in the Gold Championship Finals at the Barrie Dragon Boat Festival.
They will be off to the GWN Challenge in Toronto in September to grab some more hardware!
They are still short a few paddlers, so if you think you can help out, please let us know!
PaddleStrong
After being shut out of the medal standings all season, PaddleStrong brought home the Bronze medal from the Alkame Sprints in Belleville on August 16.
Let’s keep up that momentum and go for a win at the GWN Challenge!
End of Season Party – October 16, 2014
Save the Date! We will be holding our 2014 DBB End of Season Party and Team Awards Ceremony on Thursday October 16, 2014. More details to follow. Everyone is welcome! Paddlers, please watch your e-mail in the coming weeks for surveys pertaining to your team!
5K Around the Bay
On July 27, Dragon Boat Barrie held their inaugural 5K Around the Bay in support of the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario. Two teams took the long 5K journey around the bay, raising awareness and needed funds for this worthy organization all while promoting the health benefits of dragon boating!
Annual General Meeting – January 22, 2015
Our Annual General Meeting will be taking place on Thursday January 22, 2015. There will be a number of board positions coming up for election or renewal. It may be a few months away, but now’s the time to start thinking about how you can get involved and make the most out of your Dragon Boat Barrie experience!
Sean Levison
President
Dragon Boat Barrie