Dragon Boat Bootcamp
Join a free, 3-week bootcamp taking you from a motivated beginner to racing 3.5km in a competitive crew.
Training: Aug 29th, Sep 5th, 12th | Race Day: Sep 13th
This offer is only for non-members and people who have not previously signed up for Dragon Pass
Signup for our bootcamp is now closed!
If you would like you try dragon boating with us, you can join us for one of our monthly dragon pass trials:
Ready to go the distance?
CYSM Sea Dragons are a competitive, Melbourne-based dragon boat club looking for fit, strong, and motivated endurance athletes ready for their next big challenge: a high-intensity, 3-week Dragon Boat Bootcamp.
Dragon boat racing is intense, unconventional, and demands absolute synchronization from the entire crew. This bootcamp gives you a condensed version of our competitive season, culminating in the ultimate test of stamina: a 3.5km race that demands 20 to 30 minutes of continuous paddling.
By the end of the 3 weeks, you’ll push your cardio boundaries, build strength, and walk away with a heap of new friends and memories. We provide the coaching, structure, gear, and boat—you just need to bring the baseline endurance and mental grit.
Are you ready to unleash your inner dragon and go from absolute beginner to endurance racer in just 3 weeks?
What will you get out of the bootcamp?
A unique Achievement
a reason to train
a sense of Comradery
INSTANT COMMUNITY
Learn, sweat, and compete with a dedicated cohort of fellow beginners. Meet and paddle alongside the friendly and experienced members of our CYSM club crew.
The 3-week training plan
Bootcamp sessions (required to race)
Saturday Aug 29th - 9:00am - 12:00
KICKOFF & FUNDAMENTALS
Get in sync with the team, your crew and the basics of dragonboat. We will work up to a 1km continuous paddle (about 10 minutes).
Saturday Sep 5th - 9:30am - 12:00
REFINEMENT & DISTANCE
Refine your technique and work up to an approx 2km / 20 minute continuous paddle
Saturday Sep 12th - 9:30am - 12:00
LOCKING IN AS A CREW
Get to know the crew you will be racing with the next day in Geelong and work on being in sync over multiple 5- 10 minute efforts.
Race Day
Sunday Sep 13th - 7:30am - 4:00pm
Race with your crew, in a 3.5km test of endurance, at the “Battle of the Barwon” Dragon Boat Regatta on the Barwon river, Geelong. Put your training to the test against other clubs!
Optional Additional Sessions (highly recommended)
Tuesdays, Sep 1st & 8th - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Saturday Aug 29th - 9:30am - 12:00
If you want to improve your technique faster or you are enjoying the bootcamp sessions you are welcome to join our club’s weekday evening training sessions to gain a competitive edge before race day.
What it takes to race
Dragonboat Racing is the ultimate team sport – you’ll be on the water with 19 other paddlers moving as one, in sync. We want you to feel confident, capable, and ready when you line up at the start line on September 13th. To get there, here is what we ask of you…
The expectations
JOIN OUR SATURDAY SESSIONS
The Saturday morning sessions are where we focus on your technique, fitness, and timing as a unified crew. We ask that you commit to training on these dates. Not sure if you can make every single Saturday? Talk to us! Our coaches can chat with you about your fitness background and weeknight availability to see what’s possible.
NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED
You don’t need to have ever picked up a paddle before. All you need is a baseline of fitness, a positive attitude, and an appetite for a new challenge. We will teach you the rest. If you have tried Dragonboat before, let the coaches know, they will be impressed!
Questions? Answers!
Q: How much does the bootcamp cost?
Q: Do I need to have paddled or rowed before?
Q: Am I fit enough to do this?
If you currently do some form of regular physical activity or sport, you have the baseline fitness needed. The race you will be competing in has a distance of 3.5km, and typically takes 20 ~ 30 minutes of continuous paddling to complete. Experience with an endurance sport such as cycling or running would be helpful.
Q: What should I wear and bring to training?
Treat it like an outdoor gym session. Wear comfortable activewear that you don’t mind getting a bit wet, and bring a water bottle, and sunglasses/hat. If the weather is bad you may want to consider a spray jacket or wind breaker. Do not wear puffy or absorbent clothing as they will get wet!
Q: Where do we train?
All our training sessions launch from the Melbourne Docklands Boating Hub, located at 912 Collins St, Victoria Harbour, Docklands (next to the Library at the Dock). We are close to the last stop on the Route 42 and 11 Trams. Parking is limited in the area so plan ahead or arrive early.
Q: Where is the regatta?
The regatta will be held on Sunday 13th September, from 7:30am to 4:o0pm on the Barwon River, close to the Geelong Canoe Club, 11 Marnock Road, Newtown, Victora, Australia
Q: What if I can't make every single training session?
Consistency is key to successfully racing as a crew, but we know life happens. If you know you’ll miss a Saturday, let us know. We highly encourage attending our mid-week evening sessions. Our coaches are happy to chat about what’s possible with your schedule.
Q: Can I join the bootcamp once its begun? Can I race if I haven't been to training?
The boat is filling fast.
Are you in?
Training kicks off on Saturday, August 29th.
We have strictly limited spots for this intake.
once the boat is full, registrations will close.
Don’t spend another month wondering what you’re capable of.
join the crew, get ready to race!
Still have questions?
We’d love to hear from you! If you want to chat about your fitness background, schedule, or anything else before signing up, reach out to our team:
