Malia Racing

Dragon boat racing originated in China over 2,000 years ago, and has risen to become one of the most popular water sports in the world. Every two years nations meet on the water to see who is best in the world. No World Championship event is ever the same. There are always surprises, upsets, and lots of incredible paddling to awe and inspire spectators.

Races are typically held in four distances. 200m, 500m and 1000m events are on a straight course, with 4-8 boat heats in individual lanes. The longest race, 2000m, is typically on an oval 500m course with turns, and boats jostle for right of way in a single lane.

Vermont may be a long way from China, but conditions for dragon boat racing here are superb. There is a huge paddling community just north of Burlington, where we practice, particularly in Montreal. In the USA, we have plenty of competition in the Northeast — teams from Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington DC keep us on our toes. And we get to meet teams from further afield every year at US National Championships.

Group circuit training runs on Wednesdays at the Edge in Williston, 6:45-7:45 pm.

Winter Membership $165
November thru mid-May
Price includes weekly group circuit training, an off-water fitness/gym program, plus paddling tank sessions in Montreal in early 2019.

Summer Membership $250
Mid-May thru mid-September
You get two practices a week, an off-water fitness/gym program, entry to two races, 2 scrimmages, and more. No equipment? No worries, we’ve got you covered. Dive right in, you won’t regret it.

Two Crew Levels

Sport: competitive crews who aspire to race their way to the regional and national championships, with an ultimate goal of vying for a berth to the World Championships.

Community: newer crews who aspire to become sport crews, but don’t have sufficient experience to do so just yet.

We currently have openings for our premier (open age) mixed gender crew and our 50+ women’s crew.

Three Ways to Join

#1. Get Your Feet Wet – FREE
Join us for an indoor (Nov-May) or on-water (May-Sept) session or two. Learn about the sport and meet the crew before you commit.

#2. 4-Week Trial – $30
November-May: Learn the basics, gain strength and muscle, and experience the indoor paddling tank (Jan-April only).
May-September: Learn how to paddle a dragon boat, experience the thrill of head-to-head racing, and get a great workout.

#3. Jump Right In – $165 (Nov-May)/$250 (May 20-Sep 16)
November-May: Includes weekly group circuit training, gym program, paddling tank sessions, and access to a dragon boat paddling ergonometer.
May-September: Includes 2 on-water practices per week, an on-land (gym) training program, local scrimmages, and 2 races at the Olympic Basin in Montreal.

What to Do Next

Email us at info@maliaracing.com, or reach out to us on Facebook to let us know which of the three levels you’d like to join us at. We’ll let you know when and where the next practice will be. You’ll also need to complete our online waiver/release of liability before your first session.

 What to Wear/Bring to Practice

Circuit training: wear gym clothes and sneakers; bring a water bottle.

Indoor paddling tank: wear gym clothes and flip-flops; bring a water bottle. Bring snacks and a change of clothes for the ride home.

On-water practice: Wear plenty of sunscreen, and lycra/wicking pants/shorts and shirt. (No cotton shirts or jeans please.) Flip-flops on your feet. Have a water bottle, hat and/or sunglasses (with strap) to bring on the boat. Bring a change of clothes or towel to sit on for the ride home. We’ll provide the life-vest and paddle.

We practice rain or shine—unless there is extreme wind, a torrential downpour, thunder, or lightning. In that case, we will send notification that practice is canceled via email and Facebook. Please make sure we have your correct contact information in case we do need to cancel.

Malia (mahl-yuh) is an inclusive community of competitive Vermont dragon boat paddlers—passionate about our sport, our environment, and one another. A culture of teamwork, accountability, and healthy competition is at our core. We believe in being true to yourself and your crew.