We will continue our supplemental kayaking program for those who cannot safely dragon boat and for those who just want more time on the water and more time with our team mates!
We will continue our supplemental kayaking program for those who cannot safely dragon boat and for those who just want more time on the water and more time with our team mates! Kayaking starts May 7, launching from Charles River Canoe & Kayak in Newton.
June 28
Dragon boat practices start on June 28! Our 2021 practice location will be the Fort Point pier/Gillette dock, using boats generously provided by Ohana. Also, Kayaks/canoes/SUPs will still be available through our contract with Charles River Canoe & Kayak in Newton.
May 24
Covid-related restrictions have delayed the opening of our dragon boat season, but we can still kayak/canoe/paddleboard on the Charles River! Wellness Warriors has reserved 20 spots at Charles River Canoe & Kayak in Newton for Monday and Wednesday nights. All participants must be fully vaccinated (>2 weeks post final dose) and maintain safe distances between and off the boats.
Practice Schedule
Our practice season is from late April / early-May to late September. We practice Monday and Wednesday evenings at 6 PM, and some Saturday mornings. For most of the season, we paddle on the Charles River, out of the MIT Resch (previously Pierce) Boathouse at 409 Memorial Drive, in Cambridge. The boathouse is near the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge that spans the Charles River. Directions to the MIT Pierce Boathouse and parking tips. We start and end the season, however, practicing on Fort Point Channel, near the Boston Tea Party ship.
We practice rain or shine. We will not practice if there is lightning or if it is very windy. Because the weather can be different in Boston than in the outlying communities, please plan to attend practice unless you are notified that practice has been canceled. In that event, we will notify the team on the #practice Slack channel.
A Typical Practice
- Sign in at the start of practice
- Guided warm-up to prevent injury
- Paddling instruction and coaching in the boathouse area or on the dock
- Gear up (we provide the paddles and personal flotation devices)
- Load the boat in the assigned seating arrangement
- Practice on the Charles River for about 1.5 hours. Practice includes endurance paddling to build stamina, drills to practice technique and synchronization, and race strategies such as starts and power paddling.
- Return to the dock
- Guided cool-down to prevent injury.
What to Wear
Please remember, this is a water sport. You may get splashed unintentionally by fellow paddlers, and your paddling arm will certainly get wet. We advise that you wear:
- Quick-dry shorts or long pants. (We advise against cotton, which retains water, dries slowly and does not keep you warm when wet.)
- Quick-dry top
- Sandals with a heel strap (no flip-flops), boat shoes, or old sneakers that will give you a solid footing when loading and unloading the boat. These will probably get wet since there is usually a small amount of water in the bottom of the boat.
- Jacket, sweater, rain jacket and/or long pants if it is cold and raining (preferably breathable, e.g., Gore-Tex).
- Gloves. Some people wear biking or other gloves to get a better grip on the paddle. In choosing your gloves, be aware that they will get wet.
Suggested Items to Bring
- Drinking water (It is very important to stay hydrated!)
- Sunblock
- Eyeglass cord to prevent losing your glasses overboard
- Sunglasses with a securing strap
- Secure hat or visor
- Boating “butt” pad or a gardener’s kneeling pad. The seats on the dragon boats are wooden and somewhat hard. A pad will make your practice more comfortable. These are usually available for purchase through Wellness Warriors.
- Change of clothes, including dry shoes or sandals, especially if it is raining. These are stored in our cars (not in the boathouse).
