Iloilo Paddlers Club Highlights Free Dragon Boat Clinic. The Iloilo Paddlers Club, a group of Dragon Boat Sporting enthusiasts and athletes, highlights its upcoming event – Level Up! Paddle Up! A Free Dragon Boat Clinic. The event is in partnership with the Iloilo City Government and Iloilo City Sports Development Division and is supported by local companies and brands.
The event aspires to teach interested individuals, out-of-school youth, potential players, and sporting enthusiasts the basics of the dragon boat sport. Activities of the two-day event include group dynamic warm-up and exercises, lecture and demonstration on the rudiments of dragon boat, and actual paddling.
“This event aims to encourage awareness for the sport, foster camaraderie among the different dragon boat teams in the region, and promote tourism and health and wellness. This is also a way for IPAD to give back to its home and playground which is the Iloilo River as the latter will be its beneficiary. Proceeds of the event will fund river clean-up drives and other eco-activities.” – Iloilo Paddlers Club
The Iloilo Paddlers Club pioneered the dragon boat sport in Iloilo City and aims to promote the tradition of dragon boating in the city and the region, solidifying its presence in mainstream sports. The group also aspires to encourage community participation through river clean-ups, free clinics, training, boat races, and other health and fitness activities.
Dragon boating is a team paddling sport composed of 20 paddlers, a drummer, and a steersperson. A dragon boat is a human-powered water vehicle that is similar to an elongated canoe. Dragon boat racing originated in China, and has been around for 2000 years.
“The Iloilo River is the home and playground of Team IPAD. Through the sport of Dragon Boating, we aim to highlight the Iloilo River, not only as a tourism destination, but also a venue for sports and wellness. And because it is our home and playground, one of our advocacies is to help protect it, and enjoin the Ilonggo community to do the same.” – Iloilo Paddlers Club
