Supermasters are coming

Paddlers aged 60+ demonstrate their skill and power

The world's first dragon boat race for paddlers aged 60+ was held at the 2008 Pan Pacific Masters Games in November. The event was a great success with five boat loads of Supermasters putting on an awesome display of grey power and skill as they raced over the 200m distance.

The concept of 60+ racing was proposed and discussed at the AusDBF Nationals held in Perth in April of this year. A grass roots organisation was formed to promote and develop dragon boat racing for the 60+ age group, locally and nationally with the ultimate aim of persuading the IDBF (International Dragon Boat Federation) to include this age category in world championships.

The initial project was to persuade the Pan Pac organisers to include GGD racing in the race program (GGD = Great Grand Dragons which is the official terminology for paddlers aged 60+). This was achieved with the help of a number of people, including the state GGD coordinators (Kaye Hart QLD, Cynthia Kuiper NSW, Jenny Gibson Victoria, Rick Salisbury WA), and the race organisers from the Gold Coast Dragon Boat Club.

As a result these efforts, the world's first GGD race took place at Pan Pac with five boat loads of GGDs (approximately 100 people) demonstrating their skill and fitness. Two races within one were held - three teams of women and two teams of men competed over the 200m distance. The men's times were very competitive, being 53:03 and 53:07 - only four one hundredth of a second separated them. The women's times were also good - 58:47, 59:12 and 1:02:19 respectively. These times are very respectable, especially so since the teams were made up on the day at the time of marshalling with paddlers randomly assigned to a team based on their gender.

The number of people participating in the GGD race shows that the demand for 60+ racing is here. Of the 900 participants at the Pan Pac dragon boat regatta, more than 10 percent of the paddlers were aged 60+. It is now time to add GGD racing to the Nationals at state level and that is the next project.

There are two reasons for developing the 60+ age category of dragon boat racing. The first is to bring in new non-sporting people from the retired age group for the health benefits of intensive exercise. The second is to provide a competitive category for those in this age group who want to compete at the highest level - national and world championships.

A community and nation where the older adults are physically active and involved in a social sport, is a healthy community and a healthy nation. Dragon Boating is very social and very special. There is no other sport that has more individuals working together for an outcome, then the 22 people on board a dragon boat racing to win. The psychological benefit of belonging to a group in which a large number of individuals work together is highly beneficial. From a health promotion aspect Dragon Boat racing is the ideal community sport.

The health benefits of regular intensive exercise are clearly shown by the race times of the GGD participants. People who engage in regular intensive exercise are fitter, healthier and psychologically better adjusted than non-participants. The benefits of intensive exercise are especially evident in our older paddlers.

Dragon boat racing is a sport for life - well suited to all age groups from teens to supermasters aged 60+. Anyone interested in being a GGD dragon boat paddler is asked to contact Jenny Gibson the state coordinator for Victoria GGDs. Her email address is jenegee@tpg.com.au


One of the female Supermasters teams with some of our paddlers, Tess Janine and Marg from Perth.

One of mens team with a non Super Master Sweeping, I think we won this.	It was neck and neck to the finish line.

Sitting at the start line in rough conditions.	Around 70 paddlers 60 and over took part in the GGD exhibition race.

Supermasters coming in at the finish.	A bit of a haphazard group shot.
Supermasters are coming Paddlers aged 60+ demonstrate their skill and power The world's first dragon boat race for paddlers aged 60+ was held at the 2008 Pan Pacific Masters Games in November. The event was a great success with five boat loads of Supermasters putting on an awesome display of grey power and skill as they raced over the 200m distance. The concept of 60+ racing was proposed and discussed at the AusDBF Nationals held in Perth in April of this year. A grass roots organisation was formed to promote and develop dragon boat racing for the 60+ age group, locally and nationally with the ultimate aim of persuading the IDBF (International Dragon Boat Federation) to include this age category in world championships. The initial project was to persuade the Pan Pac organisers to include GGD racing in the race program (GGD = Great Grand Dragons which is the official terminology for paddlers aged 60+). This was achieved with the help of a number of people, including the state GGD coordinators (Kaye Hart QLD, Cynthia Kuiper NSW, Jenny Gibson Victoria, Rick Salisbury WA), and the race organisers from the Gold Coast Dragon Boat Club. As a result these efforts, the world's first GGD race took place at Pan Pac with five boat loads of GGDs (approximately 100 people) demonstrating their skill and fitness. Two races within one were held - three teams of women and two teams of men competed over the 200m distance. The men's times were very competitive, being 53:03 and 53:07 - only four one hundredth of a second separated them. The women's times were also good - 58:47, 59:12 and 1:02:19 respectively. These times are very respectable, especially so since the teams were made up on the day at the time of marshalling with paddlers randomly assigned to a team based on their gender. The number of people participating in the GGD race shows that the demand for 60+ racing is here. Of the 900 participants at the Pan Pac dragon boat regatta, more than 10 percent of the paddlers were aged 60+. It is now time to add GGD racing to the Nationals at state level and that is the next project. There are two reasons for developing the 60+ age category of dragon boat racing. The first is to bring in new non-sporting people from the retired age group for the health benefits of intensive exercise. The second is to provide a competitive category for those in this age group who want to compete at the highest level - national and world championships. A community and nation where the older adults are physically active and involved in a social sport, is a healthy community and a healthy nation. Dragon Boating is very social and very special. There is no other sport that has more individuals working together for an outcome, then the 22 people on board a dragon boat racing to win. The psychological benefit of belonging to a group in which a large number of individuals work together is highly beneficial. From a health promotion aspect Dragon Boat racing is the ideal community sport. The health benefits of regular intensive exercise are clearly shown by the race times of the GGD participants. People who engage in regular intensive exercise are fitter, healthier and psychologically better adjusted than non-participants. The benefits of intensive exercise are especially evident in our older paddlers. Dragon boat racing is a sport for life - well suited to all age groups from teens to supermasters aged 60+. Anyone interested in being a GGD dragon boat paddler is asked to contact Jenny Gibson the state coordinator for Victoria GGDs. Her email address is jenegee@tpg.com.au