Training information
Official training kicks off in January (see calendar for dates). Training is important but if you cannot make a specific training session for your team please let your captain or coach know. There are opportunities to train prior to this – just contact us for more information.
Where to go
All training is held in Wellington Harbour or in Whairepo Lagoon on rough days. The boats are launched near the fountain at the Te Papa end of Frank Kitts Park.
When to go
Team training sessions for 2025
Training season for the Wellington Dragon Boat Festival usually starts mid-January and goes to Festival Day, usually in March.
- Force: Mondays from 5:30–7pm
- Heat: Tuesdays from 5:30–7pm
- Kākāriki: Wednesdays from 5:30–7pm
- Silver Dragons: Thursdays from 5:30–7pm
- Ika Moana: Thursdays from 5:30–7pm
What to wear
- Clothing that dries quickly / wicks moisture away is ideal. Thermals or polypropylene are great. Short sleeved wetsuits are also good, especially if it is cold.
- Light wind jacket if it is cold or windy or rainy
- Wear shorts. Some paddlers prefer cycling shorts or exercise leggings
- Footwear with some grip help to get in and out of the boat without incident. These can be old running shoes or water shoes. Remember they will get wet.
- Sunglasses – the kind you don’t mind losing in the water ($2 shop is a great choice). You need sunglasses even if there is no sun as the salt water stings when it gets in your eyes.
- Paddling gloves if you want but they are not essential or needed by everyone.
What NOT to wear
- No jewellery, especially rings or earrings as they could cause injuries or you could lose them.
- No track pants or jeans are not allowed
What to bring
- Bring a towel and a change of clothes, especially if you are getting a ride in someone else’s car.
- A great attitude, our sweeps coaches and helpers are all volunteering their time.
- An awesome team spirit, at the end of the day Dragonboating is a team sport and training with your team is a great way to get to know them.
Nutrition and fitness
Training is once a week so it does not require a special diet, but it’s important to eat healthily and keep fit. The race lasts for about 90 seconds and you will be absolutely heaving by the end of it. So fitness, strength and stamina is key to success… and medal wins!
To ensure you will perform at your peak on race days, please consider:
- There will be around 5 races throughout race days, so in between, you will need time to recover, hydrate and eat good food.
- Drink water, water and more water! It’s important you are hydrated.
- Carbo loading is not advised the night before, just a normal meal is fine.
- No drinking the night before!
- To keep fit, interval training is good as it uses short bursts of intense energy, just like a race. Try doing burpees (even though most of us hate these!) for the length of a race.
- It’s important that you get plenty of sleep the night before race days.
- Stretching and warming up before training and races are important. The teams do this together.
