Going Out: Dragon boating free trials in Dubai

Denzil Pinto 17:27 31/03/2017
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  • The weather might well be getting warmer but this hasn’t stopped Dubai Dawn Patrol (DP) from offering free trials for their dragon boating team.

    Having established in China almost 2,000 years ago, dragon boating has become hugely popular around the world and the UAE has certainly caught the fever with a number of teams across the country including Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

    Since starting in 2008, DP has become one of the popular competitive and social teams in the

    nation and despite their success, they are on the lookout for new faces to join them.

    “When we set up years ago, it was our intention of creating a fun loving team which would add to competitive paddling in the UAE,” said head coach Michael Wong.

    “Since then our team has continued to grow and new paddlers are sharing the dreams of the founding members.

    “We are made up of lots of nationalities and professions but we all have a common desire to be competitive within a team, a common love of outdoor activity and we bring these together to enjoy the thrill of racing.

    “We want to encourage the competitive spirit and have fun on the water but we strive to be the best dragon boat team that we can be with professional training aimed at improving our health, fitness and willpower.”

    How to get involved

    • WHAT: Dragon boating free trials with Dubai Dawn Patrol
    • WHERE: Barasti Beach, Dubai
    • WHEN: Sun, Tue, Thu 05:40 to 06:45
    • CONTACT: email [email protected] or DubaiDawnPatrol on Facebook.

    The team practises between  05.40 and 06.45 on Sunday, Tuesdays and Thursdays at Barasti beach, Le Meridien, Mina Seyahi hotel in Dubai. Trials are also held at the same time with Tuesday sessions open to newcomers.

    The first six trials, spread over two weeks, are free and if you feel it’s an activity you want to continue doing, then annual membership for the season which runs from September to August is Dh1,200 or pro-rate if joining mid-way.

    “Dubai Dawn Patrol welcomes anyone who enjoys a team vibe and is willing to pour vast amounts of energy and commitment into paddling,” said Wong.

    “The beginning period is often the most back breaking as muscles unused to exercise and stretching are put to work. As a sprint paddling sport, expect a good cardio work and and improvement to your core strength. We all want to take our team as far as it can go, and commitment to training is vital.”

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