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WATER VIPERS

DRAGON BOAT CREW

Based in Toronto, Canada

LET THE JOURNEY BEGIN

MEET THE TEAM

GOAL
The Water Vipers DBC aims to be the highest performing ‘twice-per-week’ dragon boat team in Toronto. We aspire to be the best dragon boat crew without having to sacrifice other commitments in life.
VISION

We are committed at doing more with less, by striving for efficient training with effective methods to deliver consistently high performing results. We train with a mindset guided by focused training that screams quality over quantity.

VALUES

Everything we do is inspired by our core values:

Fitness. Inclusiveness. Growth. Development. Passion.

Like a compass, these values guide us and help determine what we do and who we are.

2019 Team photo at Woodstock Dragon Boat Festival

About
Community

WE ARE A CREW BUT A CREW WITHIN
A COMMUNITY OF THE PAST AND PRESENT 

The Water Vipers Dragon Boat Team was founded in 2008 by alumnus from University of Toronto. Over the years, we have grown into a multicultural and diverse team with community members mixed with young graduates from schools across Ontario. Our lives are hectic as anyone of you will experience, but we always find the time and resources to improve as athletes. With a great balance between being competitive and having fun, Water Vipers has outperformed expectations year after year without having to sacrifice the biggest moments of our lives.

Since 2008, Water Vipers has helped to grow plenty of enduring paddlers with many went on to accomplish bigger things. As a crew we are also a community because we can't be where we are today without the past and we can't move forward without the present. We value each and everyone's contribution to the team over the years in creating a lasting legacy within our community. 

COACHES
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LAND COACH

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LESS IS MORE

Training
Location1
OFF-SEASON INDOOR TRAINING (OCT 2023-APRIL 2024)
LAND & POOL TRAINING AT AFTERBURN FITNESS 1 x PER WEEK
SATURDAY 7:30am to 9:50am

AFTERBURN

Water Vipers are proudly sponsored by Afterburn, a one-of-kind facility that’s redefining the dragon boat experience in Toronto. The gym boasts of GTA’s only indoor dragon boat pool and a 4500 sq. ft. strength and conditioning space.


Water Vipers and Afterburn share similar values, in that both entities work effectively, efficiently and sustainably. 

ADDRESS

Location2
ON-SEASON WATER TRAINING (APRIL 2024-SEPT 2024)
DRAGONBOAT AT SUNNYSIDE PADDLING CLUB 2 x PER WEEK

WEDNESDAY
6:30-7:30pm 

SATURDAY
TBD but it will be in the morning before noon 
OC-1 GROUP SESSION AT CHERRY BEACH 1 x PER WEEK

MONDAY
1st session: 5:00-6:15pm 
2nd session: 6:00-7:15pm 
3rd session: 7:15-8:30pm 
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SUNNYSIDE

In 2022, Water Vipers made the move to hold water practices at Sunnyside. As a Toronto community-based non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and facilitation of paddle sports, Sunnyside Paddling Club is North America’s largest paddling club with 1,300 active members.

ADDRESS

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INTRODUCING SMALL BOAT OUTRIGGER CANOE PADDLING

As an initiative in 2021, Water Vipers supplemented dragonboating with outrigger canoe training using our colorful collection of volkboots OC-1 to enhance our athletes experience in the sport of paddling. 

In 2023, we held three OC-1 group sessions every Monday at Cherry Beach Toronto which we will continue to offer for the 2024 season.

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Travel

PADDLE TRAVEL

So you like to paddle, but you also enjoy travelling.. maybe? As a fun way to experience both (no pressure), Water Vipers has been competing nationally/abroad since 2016.. we are not just talking about Montreal.

Check out below! 

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In 2022, Water Vipers competed in the Concord Pacific Dragonboat Festival at Vancouver BC, North America's largest and most competitive dragon boat festival with +100 teams in attendance. We finished 5th overall in the Grand A Final and were humbled by the experience. 

In 2019, Water Vipers partook in the Hong Kong International Dragonboat Festival sponsored by the HK Tourism Board and the HK China Dragon Boat Association. Although it was untimely, we still competed, paddled, OC6 with the Lantau Boat Club, and had a blast with all the international teams. Did I mention about the Taiwan trip?

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In 2018, Water Vipers travelled to Chicago, Illinois and competed in the GWN Chicago International Dragonboat Festival. As the grand champion of GWN Chicago, this is where we discovered deep-dish pizza and never looked back. 

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2 BOATS

ARE YOU A NEW OR RETURNING PADDLER?

We understand.. trying out a new sport or getting back to it again after many years off is tough! It is why in 2023, on top of our competitive, more experienced crew, we expanded to include a second boat for the purpose of developing athletes in the sport of paddling.

 

For the first time in Vipers history, we hosted two boats for all the regional regattas and achieved great success in continuing to grow the dragonboat community and introducing what paddling is all about.

Our Program

Our Program

For the 2024 season, we are currently offering 3 programs for all the recruits depending on your goals, drive, & how much you are willing to commit 

Master

Competitive Crew

The Master program is for both new & experienced paddlers wanting to continue to improve their fitness & paddling technique, continue to learn/grow (be the best at what you can be), & to compete at a higher level.

The self-commitment & accountability level will be higher but you'll be supported with the right resources, knowledge, & expertise to achieve your goals.  

Off-season commitment:

Mandatory off-season training from

October 2023 to April 2024

On-water commitment:

2 x a week dragonboat from 

April to September

 

Optional outrigger canoe program 

Learn to Train

The Club

The Learn to Train program is for both new & experienced paddlers seeking to improve their fitness & paddling technique but wanting to compete at a lighter pace & with less time commitment. 

 

If you need a team to hone your skill, develop your technique, or just want to be part of a great community because you enjoy paddling, this program is suitable for you.

Off-season commitment:

Optional (recommended) off-season training from October 2023 to April 2024 

Early season pool training starts in

March 2024

On-water commitment:

2 or 1 x a week dragonboat from

April to September 

Optional outrigger canoe program

Learn to Paddle

Dragonboat Introduction

The Learn to Paddle program offers a great introduction to dragonboat and is intended for brand new paddlers wanting to experience what dragonboat racing is all about!

This program will start in June and run for 5 water practices before the 1st regatta. Absolutely no experience is require & open to anyone!

On-water commitment:

1 x a week dragonboat (June - July) 

For any questions regarding the training, schedule, & the cost, please email wvipers@gmail.com 

and we are happy to address

Winnings

2024
READY READY

1

ONCE A WEEK LAND & POOL OFF-SEASON TRAINING 

2

2 TIMES A WEEK DB PRACTICE WITH

OC SESSION (RECOMMENDED)

4

4 REGATTAS FOR MASTER & LTT IN 2024

TBD, possibly Pickering, Center Island

Hong Kong!?, Nationals, Montreal, or GWN Sport & Challenge 

10

10 MONTHS OF SOLID ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT

Recruit
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