HOME | Paradragons USA

Paradragons USA Apparel Store NOW OPEN!

PDUSA Logo printed on the front with our GRIT motto on the back of each item. Both Men’s and women’s styles. This fundraiser apparel is available for ANY Para Paddlers, Support, family and friends to represent Paradragons USA!

FREE Shipping on $75 or more! Place your orders on or before MON, MAR 11.

Order soon to Represent Paradragons USA wherever you paddle and play!

[VI description] All shirts are black with the Paradragons USA logo on the front. The United By GRIT logo is on the back with a small Paradragons USA logo on the lower back. The front logo is capital letters USA in blue. The inside of the letter U is the shape of a dragon boat paddle. The word "PARADRAGONS" runs across the USA letters with PARA in white, DRAGONS in red. The back logo is the words UNITED with the words BY GRIT underneath in a blocky grunge font. The words UNITED BY are in blue and GRIT is in red. The acronym words GOALS, RESPECT, INITIATIVE and TRAINING run across in between the 2 text lines in white. The logo is at a 20° angle.

All shirt and fabric descriptions and size charts are on the individual items in the web store.

Welcome to Paradragons USA!

This newly formed non-profit Para entity will offer and hold dragon boat camps, mini camps, and small group development weekends, as well as race with other dragon boat groups around the country. More from Head Coach Lonnie...

Join Us!

If you are interested in being a part of the Paradragons USA organization, please complete the online Interest Form so we know how you would like to participate and can keep you informed about upcoming camps and other activities.

https://forms.gle/PYdgtgpwcByPLJc6A

Join Our Slack!

Another way to stay in-the-know is to join our Slack group, a great way to chat with other interested paddlers and keep updated on the latest news and happenings.

https://join.slack.com/t/paradragonsusa/shared_invite/zt-1uugd502f-83b7M30UkJU1G207_xQUUA

Join Your Friends!

Please share this website with any other paddlers you know who might be interested! More info coming to this site soon.

Questions? Comments?

SARASOTA, FLORIDA

DRAGON BOAT CAMP & RACES

CAMP: WED, APR 17 - FRI, APR 19 2024

RACES: SUN, APR 21 2024

This 3-day camp, from Wed, April 17 to Fri, April 19 will be run by coaches Lonnie Homenuk and Anne Becker at Nathan Benderson Park, concurrently with a dragon boat camp headed by Ellen Law and Marc Applewhite. The Paradragon USA camp is limited to 20 paddlers and open to para and support paddlers. We will also be competing in the Paradragons Division at the Sarasota International Dragon Boat Festival on April 21.

Camp fee $285, Race fee $60.

REGISTRATION:

https://www.paradragonsusa.org/event-details-registration/sarasota-training-camp-and-race

OPTIONAL 500m OC-1 TIME TRIALS:

Add your name to the list for time trials on Tue, April 16 and/or Sat, April 20. $10 fee for use of facilities.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18Zf4A_v336eyzX8fTb_tn1wbs5qze3qTHmzBRAmbxmU/edit?usp=sharing

ACCOMODATIONS: Special group rate for Paradragon USA camp at Comfort Suites Sarasota-Siesta Key (15min from Nathan Benderson Park)

Group dates available: April 16-24, 2024

Daily rate: $139 including breakfast

Free cancellation 48 hours prior to arrival. Rooms must be booked before March 19, 2024. Booking Link: Rates & Available Rooms - Comfort Suites Sarasota-Siesta Key (choicehotels.com)

PARADRAGONS USA is coming to the following locations this Spring and looking to put on One Day Para Dragon Boating introductory Camps.

ALEXANDRIA, LA:

-> FRI, APR 29 - SAT, MAY 4

DECATUR, AL:

-> SUN, MAY 5 - SAT, MAY 11

DALLAS/FORT WORTH, TX:

-> FRI, MAY 17 - SAT, MAY 18

NORTH BEACH, MD:

-> TUE, JUN 4 - SAT, JUN 8

Are there Adaptive athletes in your area who would be interested in dragon boating? Para paddlers of all levels of ability have been joining in the fun from various organizations such as Challenged Athletes Foundation, Veterans Associations, Wounded Warriors, and other local organizations, along with family and friends of those with various challenges.

Dragon boat is a sport where just about anyone with physical, neurological, psychological, and/or sensory challenges can paddle! Paradragons USA is a grass roots endeavor to build the paradragon community by providing training and education for para-athletes, coaches who want to work with para-athletes, and able bodied paddles who want to learn how to support para-athletes. Ultimately providing opportunity and accessibility to those who want to get on the water!

Contact Head Coach Lonnie if interested in ANY area of participation!
Lonnie@ParadragonsUSA.org

PARADRAGON USA

TRAINING CAMPS

CHECK BACK OFTEN AS MANY OF OUR EVENTS ARE LIMITED REGISTRATION

We will be holding training camps and attending races throughout the country, in addition to local and regional training opportunities. Check back often as many of our events are limited registration. We will also post our Zoom Meeting dates here. Be sure to register and attend the meetings for the latest info and opportunity to ask questions.

ASL interpreters are available on the Zoom meetings.

"We all have choices. Grit is a choice.

Grit is the difference between a good athlete or a great athlete.

What’s your choice?"

— Mary Tran | Assistant Coach, West

GOALS

The purpose of the Paradragons USA organization is to inform and prepare dragon boat paddlers, both adaptive and support, for potential selection for Team USA Paradragons. Each Hopeful candidate is responsible for setting their personal goals to prepare for training and testing for the selection process.

RESPECT

With the diverse impairments and various adaptive needs for Para paddlers, all members will be sharing in the responsibility and privilege of supporting each other. Resources are available to help understand how to assist and communicate in different situations and build relationships. Paradragons USA follows the USDBF Code of Ethics and IDBF Disciplinary Code.

INITIATIVE

Team members comes from all over the United States. It’s imperative that each Hopeful candidate take responsibility for their own improvement and advancement by following their own training program, practice with their local teams, race in local and national events and attend camps.

TRAINING

Year 'round. The Paradragons USA coaches provide training plans and accountability programs that will help you achieve your goals in qualifying for Team USA Paradragons, supporting physical, mental, and nutritional needs. We will be holding Training Camps throughout the year in various locations for the purpose of consistent technique and team building. Regional Trainers will be available for local training and workshops.

Grateful to our Generous Sponsors!

A huge thank you to the generous sponsors who provided vital support to the first Team USA Paradragons crew to compete at the 2023 IDBF World Championships in Thailand.

SPONSOR US

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Paradragons USA promotes the sport of dragon boat within the para athlete community as a nonprofit, tax exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.

Paradragons USA is a separate entity from and not associated with the United States Dragon Boat Federation (USDBF) and Team USA.