Our Competition Team:

The Dirigo Dragons

Our Focus

The Dirigo Dragons aren’t just Paddling; we’re driven to elevate our dragon boating prowess.

Secured at the dock at 61 Lake rd in Norway, our weekly Tuesday and Thursday Practices at 5:30pm are where dedication meets the water.

We’re building more than just muscle. With a keen eye on paddling technique and the endurance to match, we’re forging an unbreakable and a shared commitment to pushing our personal limits.

Through focused drills and an unwavering emphasis on technique and stamina, we harness the power of both individual skill and collective harmony on the water.

Dirigo Dragons logo with a red dragon and 2 paddles crossing. A star with Norway Maine

Reasons to Join a Dragon Boat Team

  • Low cost and easy to start

    We will supply a life jacket and paddle for practice. (Though you will need an IDBF approved paddle for competitions) The cost to participate is only $75 per person for the season (June through September). Cost is prorated for less than a full season. Anyone new to Dragon boating must have tried at least 3 community paddles before entering competition team.

  • Increase your overall fitness and Improve mental health

    You do not need to be fit or an elite athlete to join. All your body parts get a good workout including back, shoulders, lats, legs and core. It is a terrific cross fit training sport.

    Research studies show that regularly participating in a team sport lowers levels of stress and reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety.

  • Be part of a team and make friends

    You will meet new people and it’s a fun way to socialize and network with others.

    Being part of a team is much more than just training and competing together. It is about building harmony, sportsmanship, and a feeling of camaraderie.

Front view of the dragon boat team paddling on the lake at sunset.
Picture of a man in a blue shirt and woman in a pink shirt

Maine’s premier Dragon Boat Racing Team, the Dirigo Dragons, founded in 2024, represents the competitive racing arm of the Maine Dragon Boat Club in Norway, Maine.

  • The Dirigo Dragons team was established to provide dedicated paddlers an opportunity to develop advanced skills and proper technique in the dynamic sport of dragon boat racing. Our team members are committed to:

    • Regular Practice Sessions

    • Technical skill development

    • Building team unity and spirit

  • Our USDBF-certified coaches, Linda and Steve Bond, bring a decade of competitive racing experience from St. Augustine, Florida, where they compete during winter months. They are dedicated to:

    • Developing excellent paddlers

    • Promoting dragon boat racing in Maine

    • Fostering team camaraderie and sportsmanship

    Linda and Steve met at the University of Maine, Orono, where they both attended college - Linda having been born and raised in northern Maine, while Steve hailed from Long Island, NY. Their shared University of Maine experience formed the foundation of their relationship and later influenced their passion for community activities.

    After retiring and moving from New Jersey to Florida in 2013, the couple immersed themselves in volunteer activities. They discovered dragon boating in 2015, becoming charter members of the Salt Run Flyers, the competition team of the St. Augustine Yacht Club.

    The sport's combination of team spirit, camaraderie, and exercise inspired their continued involvement. Steve became the team manager in 2017 and earned his coaching certification in 2021, while Linda became a certified coach in 2023. Steve enjoys both paddling and steering, and both continue to coach.

    When Linda and Steve learned that Norway, Maine (where they spend their summers) was launching the state's first dragon boat, they were thrilled and quickly connected with Sherri Otterson, who had purchased the boat to promote community fun and exercise. In partnership with the Maine Dragonboat Club, they established Maine's first competitive dragon boat team in the summer of 2024. Today, they take great pleasure in coaching and developing the skills of the enthusiastic and dedicated members of the Dirigo Dragons, bringing their University of Maine spirit to a new generation of paddlers.

  • Our team is training to compete at Dragon Boat Festivals and to represent Norway, Maine and the Maine Dragon Boat Club on the competitive circuit.

  • We practice regularly on the beautiful waters of Norway Lake and welcome paddlers of all experience levels who share our commitment to growth and teamwork.

    Ready to grab a paddle? Email dirigodragons@gmail.com to inquire.

    Paddles Up!

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