Join A Dragon Boat Team
Ever thought about joining a dragon boat team but didn't know where to start?
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We'd recommend trying it out, joining our learn to paddle program and/or checking out one of our community teams below. Community teams are just that! Check out our list of team postings that are currently recruiting.
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Is your team currently recruiting? Send an email to customerservice@sunnysidepc.ca with the following information to join our posting site:
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Team Name:
Contact Person:
Contact/ team email:
Social/Website:
Team in brief: ex. (Affiliation, Team Goals, Demographics if applicable, years of existence)
Start and End date:
Practice times:
Team Photo:
SPC Thunder
Contact Person: SPC Staff Team
Contact/ team email: customerservice@sunnysidepc.ca
Instagram: @sunnysidepc
Team in brief:
By popular demand and new for 2026, SPC Thunder is our club managed Dragon Boat Team.
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As a new team, it’s an exciting opportunity for the paddlers in coordination with SPC staff and volunteers to build a new community focused on crafting the best version of yourself and your teammates both on and off the water.
This team is geared towards paddlers with some experience in a dragon boat. Brand new paddlers may also join but additional time will be required before and after the first few practices to get up to speed.​
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Full-sublimated racing jerseys included
It is required that attendance is at least 60% to not significantly impact other paddlers. Makeups can be done on other days.
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Participants do not need to attend all regatta dates
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Pre-season meet and greet: April 22nd at 625pm. Food, Fun, Safety and Technical Talk! Almost mandatory but more highly recommended.
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Start and End date: Wednesdays starting April 29th ending September 13th
Regatta Dates:
Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival June 13 and 14
Great White North Sport July 18
GWN Challenge September 12 and 13
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Windburn
Contact Person: Rodney MacLean
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Contact/ team email: windburn.dbc@gmail.com
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Social/Website: N/A
Team in brief: Our team have been paddling for over 15 years now. We are an experienced community team that welcomes paddlers of all skill levels from rookies to experienced vets. With a track record of success in numerous regattas, including clinching the Gold in the B division at the GWN Challenge in 2022, we're more than just a team – we're a force to be reckoned with on the water. We are all ages from 25 and up. We are competitive and have fun. While we thrive on competition, through intense paddling sessions, we enjoy just chilling via socials, after practice drinks or potlucks. We are competing in 3 regattas this season: Hamilton in July; Welland Hope Floats in August; and the GWN Challenge Toronto in September.
Start and End date: May until Mid September
Practice times: Tuesday nights 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm at SPC
Contact Person: Andrew Liew
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Contact/ team email: wvipers@gmail.com
Social/Website: www.watervipers.com
Team in brief: Our team has over 15 years of history in the dragon boat community, we paddle from Sunnyside Paddling Club and have 3 teams that vary in goals and number of practices required. Starting from once a week Saturdays, to twice (Wednesday and Saturday) and twice a week with a recommended single person canoe session. Our paddlers range across a multitude of life stages, ages, goals, abilities and cultural backgrounds. We differentiate ourselves from other teams due to our focus on efficiency and getting the most out of what our athletes put in, our mantra is “less is more”
Start and End date: Indoor training (optional depending on team): October to September, On-Water Mid-April to September (recruitment throughout the season)
Practice times: Wednesday at 740pm and Saturday at 815am
Water Vipers
Smoke On The Water
Contact Person: Brock Johnston
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Contact/ team email: brockjohnston@rogers.com
Social/Website: smokeonthewater.ca / Smoke On The Water Dragon Boating (Toronto, ON) | Meetup
Team in brief: Community team, around since 1998, open to anyone interested in dragon boating and willing to commit to weekly practices. Our times are currently 2:25 – 2:30 for 500m but looking to improve back under 2:20. We do 4 regattas a year (Milton, Toronto Island, GWN Sport and GWN Challenge). Note Smoke is full for the rest of 2023, but every year there is turnover and look for new paddlers. If you are interested, please reach out on meetup and respond to my welcome saying looking to find a new team for 2024, will add to the list and communicate our 2024 plans when available.
Start and End date: Pool practices start late March, paddling at Sunnyside late Apr to early Sept
Practice times: Thursday nights – 7:30-8:30
The Dragonators
Contact Person: Amanda
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Contact/ team email: thedragonators@gmail.com
Social/Website: https://instagram.com/thedragonators?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Team in brief:
We are an all ages intermediate community team. Our main goal this year is to have fun, improve our paddling as a team and see how well we can do in our races. Each year we have some veteran paddlers as well as some newbies and by the time the races start we are ready to bring it!
We train once a week and have three regattas planned this season: Invasion of the Dragon June 22, GWN Sport July 12, Hope Floats August 9th
Start and End date: May 7th to August 9th
Practice times: Wednesdays 6:30-7:30 PM
Toronto Running Club (TRC)
Contact Person: Andy Watson
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Contact/ team email: andynwatson201@gmail.com
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Social/Website: N/A
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Team in brief: We are an adjuct of the Toronto Running Club. About half the DB team are runners, with the other half being friends, relatives of the first group.
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Start and End date: Practices once a week from July 1 to mid Sept. We compete in GWN ( mid Sept ), and that concludes our season.
Practice times: Thursday evenings at 6:15 pm.
Wild Chicks
Contact Person:
Captains Marianne and Rosemary
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Contact/ team email:
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Team in brief:
Our team consists of enthusiastic women who enjoy the camaraderie, fitness and excitement of this sport. Our skillful, experienced coach guides us through technique development and racing strategies necessary for success on the water. We welcome paddlers of all skill levels, and ask for your commitment to weekly practices in order to confidently participate in three regattas during the season. We like to gather at the Sunnyside Café after practices, and when we’re racing we like to win medals!
Start and End date: Mondays April 27- June 29, August 10-Sept 13 (no July events)
Practice times: Mondays at 6:30 pm, Sunnyside Paddling Club
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Regattas:
Toronto Women’s Dragon Boat Festival
Heart Lake, Brampton, May 24
Mississauga Dragon Boat Festival
Port Credit, June 20
GWN Challenge
Marilyn Bell Park, Toronto, September 12-13