Dragon Boating

Taster Sessions

Come and try dragon boating! If you're part of a group, see our Groups page to see what you can achieve.

Courses

Be in control of your own boat, become a Dragon Boat Helm. Be creative with your qualification and run a District Dragonboat Race.

Taster Sessions

General information

A dragon boat is a human-powered boat, which originated in China over 2000 years ago.
For competition events, dragon boats are rigged with decorative Chinese dragon heads and tails.
Paddlers sit facing forwards, and use a specific type of paddle with one blade.

What will you learn?

Taster Session content

Sessions cover working together and effective paddling technique in order to propel your dragon boat as fast as possible.

As part of the session, we will do a timed race across the lake. Your time will be put on the ESSA Dragon Boat Dash leaderboard.

Session recommendations

Evening or part of a multi-activity day.
We have two Junior dragon boats, each seating 10 paddlers and a qualified helm.
If you have more than 20 paddlers, we can rotate paddlers in rowing boats or katakanus and they paddle a ‘mini’ dragon boat.
Sessions can be booked any time if you have your own qualified helm.

Courses

The British Dragon Boat Racing Association is the governing body of dragon boat racing in Great Britain.
The Basic Helm Course will allow you to lead a group. The course can be run with a minimum of 4, maximum of 8 people. Age 16+.

BDA Basic Helm (1 Day)

The Basic Helm award enables you to become the helm of a dragon boat, looking after the people on board and delivering briefings, learning new skills and playing games.

Course Content

Click here to find the syllabus

BDA Centre Coach (1 Day)

The Centre Coach Award qualifies you to coach crews under race conditions and supervise the training of helms.

Course Content

Click here to find the syllabus

Book Sessions

What our customers say

Good time for little ones and big ones, katakanuing, sailing, wobble boarding and dragon boating.

Sarah

Took 25 cubs and scouts dragon boating and had a great time.
I found the information before hand great and the staff on the day were very good.
Well worth it!

Taster Sessions

Taster Session content

Courses

BDA Basic Helm (1 Day)

Course Content

BDA Centre Coach (1 Day)

Course Content

What our customers say

Sarah

James

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