Dragon Divas

08/03/2026

What the Divas share with teams around the world.

08/02/2026

Meet Baiba who has been a Dragon Diva team member since 2011. She will attend this year’s 2026 IBCPC Participatory Dragon Boat Festival, France in less than one month!

She’s attended two previous international festivals: Sarasota in 2014 and Florence, Italy in 2018.

“Since I have not been to an international festival in 8 years, it feels very important to participate once again. It is so inspiring to see so many women from all around the world participating in a sport they love. Then throw in the cancer diagnosis that they have all had—amazing! It is remarkable to realize what a large community this is, to see how resilient and strong they all are, to feel the joy and enthusiasm this sport has brought to their lives. We all understand each other without a word being said—we are a sisterhood.

My husband Glad will come with me to France. After the festival we will take our first cruise ever up the Rhine from Basel to Amsterdam where we will visit good friends for a week. We are making it a major 25 day trip!

I really hope that other women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer find this sport. It has been such a blessing in my life. As a pre-Title 9 young woman, I never really had a chance to compete on a sports team other than summer softball league. Although I was always fairly fit, I was never an athlete. To now be able to call myself an athlete at age 74 is amazing.”

We can’t wait to see our team members on the water in the French Alps soon.

Paddles out!

08/02/2026

Watch one of our Dragon Divas’ teams in Bemidji race in the Bronze Cup Division. The Divas are in Lane 4 on the far right during the first 12 minutes of this video. Coach Michael in the comments. . .

08/02/2026

See Dragon Divas Teams 1 and 2 at the Bemidji Festival. Most of the paddlers were newbies and Team 1 earned a gold medal in the Bronze Cup Division. Newbies no more and such a great festival experience.

08/02/2026

08/02/2026

On Saturday afternoon, the Dragon Divas participated in the 50th Little Canada Days Boat Parade on Lake Gervais, our practice lake. What a fun experience and way to give back to Mare and Dan’s neighbors who see Nessie and Blue paddling by their homes four or five times a week all summer long. A pontoon boat of Parade Judges pulled up to the dock at the end of the parade and awarded us 2nd Place!

08/02/2026

Congratulations to the Dragon Divas on their victory in the Bronze Cup Race!! Thanks for traveling all the way from St. Paul to race with us!🐉

08/01/2026

Divas in Bemidji

08/01/2026

We needed a day to recover from the amazing turnout at A Bar of Their Own for our sendoff and fundraiser for the 2026 IBCPC Participatory Dragon Boat Festival, France!

We are incredibly grateful for the support we felt and for those who showed up in person and in spirit as we prepare for our international festival. We are so grateful for the opportunity to feel supported by a venue who not only supports our women's sports team, but all womens sports teams. Their mission to represent is essential.

We presented Jillian a signed paddle and a jersey we are excited to see adorn the walls of an establishment whose mission means so much to us.

Thank you again to the vendors who generously donated items for our drawing:

Yum! Kitchen and Bakery
Paddle North
DQ
Angela Josephs Personal Training
Aveda
Smitten Kitten
Pizza Luce

Paddles Out!!