Aoraki Dragon Boat
Association (Inc)
Christchurch, NZ

6023 0162

Training times

Regular season

The following are training times and slots for the season just finished (end of March 2010). A boat will be on the water most Saturday mornings - meet at Owles Terrace compound at 9:45 am, for on-the-water by 10am for an hour. Sorry, no paddling Saturday 29-May...

* tie the boat up to the pontoon till the next crew is ready

The first team out must take the rubber mats down and lay them on the edge of the concrete ramp (tie it to the railing please, so it doesn't float away).  And the last team out must take the mat back to the shed and give it a good hose down.

Likewise, all teams must hose down the boats when they are brought back into the compound.  There are two hoses available plus soft brushes and balers.  There’s a lot of silt in the Avon and it’s not so pleasant when you kneel on the grit, so let’s keep it clean (but not so green)!

Schools, corporates and open teams should email aoraki.dragons@gmail.com for any changes.

'Designated' training sessions start after Labour Weekend (ie late October). There will be about six weeks before the "Aoraki Ice Breaker" (approx 6-December) and another week or so training before the Christmas break. Training resumes about a week into the new year (maybe 12-Jan-10). This will allow about eight weeks training before the South Island Champs (early March), and another two or three before the Nationals. This gives about 19 weekly sessions...

Winter training

Note, teams may continue their training over winter if they wish. For example, Shirley Boys HS trained over the winter in preparation for the World Dragon Boat Champs in Prague at the end of August 2009. And St Bedes have taken rugby teams for team bonding. email aoraki.dragons@gmail.com for details.

New - Sweep training available

On the water training is at Owles Terrace (New Brighton) as shown (one hour slots). Remember 6023 12579...

Check water quality at Pleasant Point Yacht Club.

Coaches/managers, please ensure your crew are fully familiar with the safety protocol (esp 5.10 to 5.20).

Supervised training

NZDBA have lifted the restrictions on the number of training sessions that any team can have. In the past, Corporates have been limited to 10 sessions per season. NZ Dragon Boat season ends at the end of March, and starts again after Labour Weekend.

Aoraki will have 'designated' training sessions, where we will open up the compound, keep track of which teams are on the water and patrol a stretch of the Avon in an IRB or 'tinny'. These start immediately after Labour Weekend.

New RIB for supervising training

Aoraki Dragons have bought a new 4m inflatable boat so that we can patrol the river during the regular season. 'Scruff' Hewinson has kindly offered us the use of his outboard so the "Sup de Jour" can keep an eye on the teams on the water, offer training tips etc.

All teams now train from New Brighton. Two of the old boats have ‘gone south’ - one is now based in the maintenance compound at Lake Hood.  And another has gone to Dunedin to live, with a third at Kaiapoi.  Teams practice in the Champions in the shed. But note that three of Champions (sometimes stored outside the shed) belong to teams.  These (black) boats have been bought by Tu Meke, CPC and Abreast of Life, so unless you have an explicit agreement with them to borrow their boat, please use a red one (or an old boat).

Limited slots were available at Kerr's Reach (by special arrangement with Dave Sloss) in the "Linwood" Boat. But that boat is not available, so all training is now at Owles Terrace.