Teams & Training
We field multiple crews on Lake Champlain every season — organized by gender, age, experience, and competition class. Whether you're a first-time paddler or a seasoned racer, there's a crew that fits how you want to paddle.
Our Crews
Our crews are structured to align with the competition classes of the U.S. Dragon Boat Federation (USDBF) and the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF). The crews we enter in competition vary each year based on paddler age, interest, and experience.
By Gender and Competition Class
Women's crews — Fire (Premier, 18+), Green Mountain Girls (Senior B, 50+), Blazing Comets (Senior C, 60+). Women's teams are the most frequently fielded crews and compete at regional, national, and international events.
Mixed crews — Dragonflyers (Premier, 18+), Forty North (Senior A, 40+), Fifty Force (Senior B, 50+), Quicksilver (Senior C, 60+). Paddlers of all genders, competing and practicing together.
Open crews — Green Mountain Men race in various age classes. Fielded when participation allows, and a regular part of weeknight practice.
Breast cancer survivor crews — Sisters and Sisters Together. Sisters is the club's most competitive BCS team, with multiple national championships and World Championship medals. Sisters Together is the BCS crew that includes veteran paddlers, newbie paddlers, and all those in between. This is the heart of Dragonheart Vermont's founding mission.
Recreational and Developmental
Catch 22 — Mixed gender, mixed ability. Where every new paddler starts. Currently Practices Thursday nights. Designed for people building their skills, finding their rhythm, and figuring out where they fit. Many Catch 22 paddlers move on to competitive crews within a season or two.
Practice Schedule
We practice on Lake Champlain from late May through September, launching from Dyer Docks at the Community Boat Launch (20 Lake Street, Burlington). Practices run weeknights from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. Our current practice schedule is listed below, but subject to change.
Monday: Women's and men's crews practice separately, generally grouped by age division. Crews may be combined when needed to fill a boat.
Wednesday: Gender specific teams practice together. When necessary, groups are combined to fill boats.
Monday & Thursday: Coed teams
Early morning sessions are also available for paddlers who want additional, and intense, time on the water.
What to bring: Clothes and shoes you don't mind getting wet, a water bottle, and sunscreen. The club provides paddles, personal flotation devices, and seat pads. You can lock your valuables in the shed at the docks while you're on the water.
Cancellations: If practice is cancelled due to weather, members will get an email and/or text message before 3:00 PM that day.
How You Get Matched to a Crew
Every new member starts on Catch 22. From there, the coaching staff watches you paddle and matches you to the crew that fits your goals and ability. Some paddlers move to a competitive crew within their first season. Others stay with Catch 22 because they like the pace and the people. Both are fine — there's no pressure to move faster than you want to.
The coaches are looking at technique, fitness, commitment, and what you want out of the sport. If you want to race at nationals, they'll build a path to get you there. If you want to paddle twice a week and enjoy the water, they'll make sure you have a seat.
Off-Season Training
The paddling doesn't stop when the boats come out of the water. Our off-season training program runs November through April — six months of fitness classes designed specifically for dragon boat paddlers.
The program is run by Vermont Paddle Fitness, led by Head Coach, Brett Haug. Classes include Strength, Circuit, and High Intensity Training sessions, offered five days a week at Faith United Methodist Church in South Burlington. Individuals can sign up for two or three classes per week, plus some virtual training sessions. Brett also provides guidance on lifestyle choices that affect physical and mental performance.
Off-season training is exclusive to members and is purchased separately from membership dues. Sessions are broken into three two-month blocks, so you can join at any point during the off-season.
Competition and Racing
Our crews compete at the regional, national, and international level. Here's a snapshot of what they've accomplished:
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Sisters (BCS) — 5x U.S. National Champions
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Fifty Force (Sr B Mixed) — 5x U.S. National Champions
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Green Mountain Girls (Sr B Women's) — 4x U.S. National Champions
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Quicksilver (Sr C Mixed) — 4x U.S. National Champions
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Blazing Comets (Sr C Women's) — 3x U.S. National Champions
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Fire (Premier Women's) — 2019 U.S. National Champions
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Green Mountain Men (Open) — 2017 U.S. National Champions (Sr B)
The 2026 race schedule is being finalized — coaches are currently surveying teams to determine interest and commitment for specific events. The full schedule will be set before May 2026.
Races require:
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Official Dragonheart Vermont race jersey (red with logo) and black bottoms
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USDBF membership for some races
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Passport or enhanced driver's license for Canada and international events
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Essentials: chair, food, water, sunscreen, layers
Race fees, travel, and mini-camps are at additional cost beyond membership dues. Carpooling and room-sharing are common and encouraged.