Edinburgh's Dragonboat Race Team
Auld Reekie Dragons
Everyone starts somewhere. As a regular Dragonboater you’ll get a low impact, full-body intensive workout.. And it’s so much more fun than the gym or pounding pavement. If you are fit and mobile enough to get in and out of the boat, then you’re fit enough to paddle with us. Attend practice regularly and your fitness and strength level will increase rapidly no matter what it is now. And dragonboating is a great addition to any exercise program or sport you’re currently doing. With 10 paddlers in the boat of all levels, we always support and encourage each other. So stronger paddlers happily carry some of the load for the newer paddlers who are getting up to speed. You’ll soon be doing the same as even newer paddlers join the team.
Get Fitter
All the evidence shows spending time outdoors, enjoying nature and filling your lungs with fresh air brings numerous physical and emotional benefits. Especially time aspent with team mates. We paddle on the Union Canal, a gem of a resource for all types of water recreation. Maybe the water isn’t Perrier, but you’ll see plant and animal life change with the seasons. You’ll paddle across aqueducts. You’ll compromise with aggressive swans. Some days we get to Ratho and the Bridge Inn( with its excellent outdoor canal side terrace).
Get Outside
Whoever you are, whatever your background or experience, be nice and come to paddle and you’ll get an enthusiastic welcome and find a place in the team. That’s a promise. Dragonboat crews are among the most diverse anywhere. All ages, outlooks, shapes and baclgrounds come together for a common purpose. It’s a great sport, but it’s the camaraderie, laughs and the sense of community that keeps us coming back every week. And of course, there’s plenty of social spin-off activities. (And strictly no political talk in the boat!)
Get Social
Get out, get active and have more fun paddling with Edinburgh’s newest Dragonboat club.
Whoever you are, wherever you're from, dragonboating makes life better.
No experience?… we have high level coaches to train you.
Gear?– we have everything you need.
Out of shape? - you’ll be surprised how much fun it is getting up to speed.
Dragonboats are designed to race. Our goal is to compete in and win regional and national events. We practice hard but always stay focused having fun.
Practice is Tuesday evenings at 6pm till 7.30 @ Bridge 8 Hub in Wester Hailes. Come and give it a go - no commitment. See you at the Canal.
So...how do You Dragonboat?
Let us turn YOUR community group into a Dragonboat team!
Make dragonboating the team building and bonding tool that boosts your group’s objectives.
As a spin off team from the mighty Port Edgar Dragons, Scotland’s breast cancer survivor team, we’ve seen the good things that happen to physical and mental health when you paddle together as one in a dragonboat.
We welcome communities of every sort. If you are a charity, a community group, a social program or an existing sports team we want to get you paddling.
We won’t run your program. But bring your members and we'll provide a helmsman, equipment and the on-going coaching you need.
We'll help you set up your own distinct dragonboat team.
There’s almost no other activity that delivers so many benefits to so many people so efficiently. We’ll even help find sponsorship to offset our already minimal costs.
Let’s talk.
Our Coaches
Coach Flad has been dragonboating over
15 yrs and is a British Dragon Boat Association Coach level 1. He is lead coach for Port Edgar Dragons and has raced with Windy Pandas and Typhoon DBC.
Coach Petra raced canoes and kayaks at top level events across Europe for many years. She switch to Dragonboat about 12 years ago and has paddled with leading London clubs.
contact: auldreekiedragons@gmail.com