Friendly ~ Competitive ~ Inclusive

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Marni na budni, Kaurna meyunna yertangga
​Greetings to the Country of the Kaurna people
​We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Kaurna people, the traditional custodians whose ancestral lands we gather on. We acknowledge the deep feelings of attachment and relationship of the Kaurna people to country and we respect and value their past, present and ongoing connection to the land and cultural beliefs.

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Dragon boating is a fantastic low-impact, all-ages sport and one of the fastest growing team sports in the world.  Its origins go back to China more than 3,000 years ago. Today Dragon Boating remains an invigorating sport that is embraced by enthusiasts of all ages.  
SA Dragons Abreast (SADA) is proud of our history, we love a good win but it's also about having fun, being  'good sport' and creating lasting friendships.  Age is no barrier!  SADA is proud (and inspired) by the age group who continue to show interest and commitment to our Club.  We get to travel all around Australia, and the world. We've competed at the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Festival, Italy, Indonesia and more locally.  It’s a brilliant way to see the world.
We’re very competitive on the water, but always enjoy our social gatherings, the lasting friendships and especially the Happy Hours after a great day on the water!

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​FACTS ABOUT DRAGON BOATING

• The standard dragon boat consists of 20 paddlers (in pairs), and a sweep (steerer) and a cox drummer.
• Small boats consist of 10 paddlers.
• Race lengths vary with 200m, 500m and 2km being the most commonly contested.
• Team categories range from Open (strongest paddlers regardless of gender or age),  Mixed (50/50 split of men & women) and Women, plus various age categories.
• DBSA (Dragon Boat South Australia) is our state body managing the SA Clubs
• AusDBF is our national body governing the sport of dragon boat racing in Australia

The fantastic thing about dragon boating is that you can be competitive at any age, regardless of previous experience in sports. No special skills are required and the technique is easy to master. ​

Ready to sign up? Click here

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Dotting of the Eye Ceremony

​'Eye Dotting' or 'Awakening the Dragon' traditionally involves a Taoist priest dotting the protruding eyes of the dragon head carved on the boats, thus ending its slumber.  The ceremony is practiced at many Dragon Boat events throughout the world today, often with event dignitaries performing the 'dotting of the eye'. 

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Dragon boating offers different levels of competition, from Juniors to
Social, Masters, Grand Masters, and Great Grand Dragons. There is something for everyone.
 
We welcome new members of all ages and fitness levels and we have sports teams for all categories, a 'Social Membership' for those who want stay in shape without the pressure of competing and a 'Friends of SADA' membership for those who are unable to paddle but want to stay in touch with social activities .

The team travels throughout Australia and the world for competitions and competes locally during the racing season which runs from September to April each year.
The Club Crew World Championships 'Dragons Down Under' was held here in Adelaide in 2016.   

SADA competes in local, State and National Championships and Internationally in places like Italy, Hong Kong and Indonesia.

We are always on the lookout for new members. If you would like to find out more or 'Come and Try', simply register your interest here and we will be in contact to arrange a suitable time for you to join us on the water!