Our team members join the Wellness Warriors for many reasons. Some join us for the exercise or recreation only. Others thrill to that extra challenge of racing. Not everyone on our team races. We enter up to three boats in races. Dragon boat races are typically 250 or 500 meters, depending on the course, but can be as long as 2,000 meters.
String bags and medals for our special 10th anniversary celebration at the 2017 Boston Dragon Boat Festival
Who Do We Race Against?
There are over 85 cancer survivor teams here in the United States with about 30% being all cancer paddler (ACP) clubs. The Wellness Warriors currently race in a variety of festivals against teams from all parts of North America in the All Cancer Paddler (ACP) division, when available, or in other sport divisions. To learn more about the ACP Division, check out the United States Boat Federation ACP webpage.
Hong Kong and Taiwanese-Style Races
Most of the races we enter are in Hong Kong-style boats. One race – the Rhode Island Dragon Boat Race in Pawtucket, RI – uses Taiwanese-style boats and race rules. This style of racing includes an added element of excitement that is not included in other races. Here, a flag-catcher rides on the dragon head and must catch a flag at the finish line.
Race Festivals
Our race schedule varies each year, but we primarily select from the following race festivals. (Our current race schedule can be found here.)
- Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival (Boston, MA) – June
- Springfield Dragon Boat Festival (Springfield, MA) – June
- Gilda’s Club South Jersey Dragon Boat Festival (Mays Landing, NJ) – July
- Ithaca Finger Lakes Dragon Boat Festival (Ithaca, NY) – July
- Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival and Sisters at Heart Celebration (Burlington, VT) – August
- Riverfront Dragon Boat Festival (Hartford, CT) – August
- Rhode Island Dragon Boat Race and Taiwan Day Festival (Pawtucket, RI) – September
- Mercer County Dragon Boat Festival & ERDBA Regional Championships (West Windsor Twp, NJ) – September
- Worcester Dragon Boat Race (Worcester, MA) – September
- USDBF Club Crew National Championships (Sarasota, FL)
- IDBF Club Crew World Championships (international)
Cancer steals, paddling heals!