Steel City Dragons

10/11/2026

Congratulations to our Pittsburgh Unity all cancer paddler (ACP) team! They just won GOLD at their first ever competition.

Pittsburgh Unity was formed in 2024 to welcome and support men and women who have had a diagnosis of any type of cancer. Since then, they have been growing and welcoming new paddlers while receiving support from all other paddlers at the Steel City Dragons club.

Pittsburgh Unity became the first ACP team to compete at the Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival this year and won GOLD their first time out.

We love the joy and energy they have brought to our growing organization. They truly make us STONGER TOGETHER!

10/10/2026

We are ready to race at the Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival! The Steel City Dragons, Pittsburgh's premier dragon-boat-only organization has two teams entered: Pittsburgh Unity all cancer paddlers and Steel City Mixed Dragons of adult men and women. Come up to Iron City Brewing and check us out!

10/02/2026

Join us for our next Science, Chilled & Distilled, where groundbreaking cancer research meets thoughtful conversation at Cancer Bridges.

We’ll hear from Marija Balic, MD, PhD, breast cancer clinician and researcher at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Balic will discuss the groundbreaking innovations that originated in Pittsburgh that have helped shape today’s standard of care in breast cancer treatment and highlight some of the discoveries and advances, including her own, that continue to transform patient care.

🗓️ October 7th | 🕒 5:00 PM 📍 Cancer Bridges

🔗Learn more and RSVP at: https://www.facebook.com/share/17zGPHPEup/t

Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project (PUMP)

09/12/2026

Today we got to share our love of dragon boating with our families.

Their support for our breast cancer and all-cancer paddlers is yet another thing that makes us STRONGER TOGETHER.

09/10/2026

Check our our coach Mary Radacosky telling "Her Story" of dragon boating with our Pink Steel and Unity cancer programs in this WTAE profile!

Her Story: The Steel City DragonsPittsburgh’s Action News 4 is yo...

08/30/2026

We're so proud of all the USA teams that participated in the 2026 IBCPC Participatory Dragon Boat Festival, France. They got together today for a group photo and burst out with "God Bless America"!

Three athletes from Steel City Dragons' Pink Steel team participated. Sonia Rogers and Debi Moon paddled with Phoenix Desert Dragons Breast Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat Team. Alexis Gursky Sebastian paddled with the Sunshine Dragons team. Coach Bob Randolph served the Sunshine Dragons as an assistant and supporter.

We're looking forward to the 2030 IBCPC festival in Singapore

08/10/2026

Our teams keep growing! We got together most of our paddlers for team photos this weekend and it was our biggest crowd yet. A few couldn't make it, but they are just as precious to us.

If you're a Pittsburgher, check our our casual, competitive, and cancer support programs. If you're a traveling dragon boater, visit us for a session on our beautiful Allegheny River.

Three teams. One club. Stronger TOGETHER!

07/19/2026

The amazingly special thing about the Steel City Dragons club is how our teams pull for each other - Our Steel City Mixed Dragons cheered on our Pink Steel breast cancer paddlers (and vice versa) at the Dragons on the Lake Dragon Boat Festival.

Our cancer programs and our community programs give freely to each other, making our teams STRONGER TOGETHER!

06/30/2026

We’re excited to be returning to Dragons on the Lake Dragon Boat Festival!

⭐️Meet the Team: Steel City Dragons⭐️

We’re excited to welcome Steel City Dragons back to Dragons on the Lake!

Based in Pittsburgh, Steel City Dragons has been promoting dragon boating through fitness, teamwork, and community since 2002. Their club welcomes paddlers of all experience levels and has helped grow the sport throughout the region for more than two decades.

We can’t wait to see them back on the water at Portage Lakes on July 18!

06/23/2026

Then and now: The Steel City Dragons returned to Toronto!

Our first out-of-town race as a club was at the 2003 Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival. The top photo shows the club's women's team celebrating their final race, led by drummer Tom Schall (wearing a comely pink boa) and steerer "Sweet" Mary Scanlon (second row left).

After competing again in 2004, the club did not return to this event until 2026 (bottom photo). Sweet Mary (front row, second from right) steered again as the only team member on both crews. Drummer Colleen Carr (front row, second from left) sported her hand-knit dragon headwear and the team's mascot, "Chuckie". Head Coach Sonia "Crash" Rogers (front row center) led the team to a silver medal finish in their mixed division.