Are you willing to give dragon boating a shot? Look no further, there are plenty of ways for you to give it a go!
Introductory Sessions:
If you are an individual who would like to try out dragon boat, and have never tried dragon boating before, CYL run transition sessions for new and experienced paddlers to try out the sport. Please contact the CYLDB Team Manager here: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., post a message on our facebook wall, or check out our latest training sessions on our training event calendar!
Open Days:
Be on the look out for our Open Days which usually run in September of each year. Our Open Days are the perfect time to try out the sport as you will be having fun and getting wet with many other beginner paddlers. A typical Open Day would run something like this:
9:30am: You’ll arrive at Bank St, just under Anzac Bridge with views of the Fish Markets and Glebe Island. Look out for the gigantic yellow CYL sign and register your attendance to get your hands on a dragon boat paddle.
9.45am: Coaching team will go through the safety drills on land as well as introduce you to the technique required to get that boat moving on the water.
10.00am: Coaches will give you a spot on the boat where you’ll get a chance to sit with fellow newbies and CYL paddlers who raced at the recent National Titles and came 1st in Australia for 200m.
10.15am: Splash! And the dragon boat has glided onto the Sydney waterways on a beautiful Saturday morning. Start with a warm up and begin moving those arms to paddle!
10.30am: You’ll go through some simple paddling drills to get that perfect timing and get all your muscles working.
11.00am: With several dragon boats moving across the water together, it’s time to race each other with the calls and strategies used on race days.
11.30am: Finish off the paddling session with a scenic paddle around Blackwattle Bay to return to the ramp at Bank St.
11.40am: Sadly, you’ll now have to disembark the boat and return to dry land. As a whole crew, new and old paddlers, you’ll participate in warming down, knowing that you’ve worked your whole body and been a part of an amazing experience that has been around for hundreds of years.
12.00pm: Your beginners’ session has come to a conclusion but this may just be the beginning of something beautiful...
Corporate Dragon Boating:
If you would like to get a bunch of colleagues at work to try out the sport, then look no further. Please refer to our Corporate Dragon Boating section for ways to try out the sport.
