From Port Charlotte to Taiwan: Dragons headed to world cup

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, (WINK) — Dragon boat racing is gaining momentum in Southwest Florida, and in Charlotte County, a local team is paddling toward international competition.

The Charlotte Harbor Dragons, a Port Charlotte-based dragon boat club that has been around for more than a decade, trains year-round and includes paddlers ranging from fitness beginners to athletes competing on the world stage. 

This August, 10 members of the team will travel to Taiwan to compete in the Club Crew World Cup, an international event featuring top dragon boat clubs from around the globe.

Head coach Tracy Camp said the club includes athletes of all ages and skill levels.

“We have people that are here just for fitness. We have people here that compete at the festival levels, and then we have paddlers that are competing at the national level, the U.S. team, and going to the world,” Camp said.

Dragon boat racing, a paddling sport that features teams racing long boats in sync, demands endurance and full-body strength. During a Wednesday morning practice in Port Charlotte, paddlers ranging in age from 25 to 86 moved in rhythm through the water as coaches barked instructions from the back of the boat.

Camp said the sport is far more physically demanding than many people realize.

“It’s a total body workout,” Camp said. “You’re thinking, dragging back, thinking, ‘Oh, it’s just all arms.’ No, you have to incorporate all your legs, your core. Because if you don’t, if you’re just out there just paddling with your arms, you’re gonna wear out so quick.”

For paddlers like Kristi Fink, the competitive side of the sport quickly became addictive.

“Oh, gosh, it's the adrenaline of it all,” Fink said. “It's just, the first time you do it, you're hooked. It's just so much fun.”

Sonia Nelson, another Charlotte Harbor Dragons paddler headed to Taiwan, said the camaraderie and coaching keep competitors coming back.

“Especially if you have a good coach, you know, they coach you through the finish line,” Nelson said.

Camp, who got involved in dragon boating after retirement with her husband, said seeing athletes grow from beginners into world-level competitors has become one of the most rewarding parts of coaching.

“It’s an incredible honor to watch them grow and put more time in it,” Camp said. “They come to my house, they ask for extra training, and it’s just incredible watching that.”

The team’s next race is this weekend in Leesburg as members continue preparing for Taiwan and work toward a long-term goal of eventually qualifying an entire Charlotte Harbor Dragons crew for world competition.