Welcome New Paddlers


Who are the Golden Dragons?

We are a senior, 50 and older, group of active men and women who paddle dragon boats. Many of us enter dragon boat races during the summer and fall, such as at the Rose Festival, in San Francisco, and Victoria, B.C., sometimes against teams of younger paddlers. We paddle for fun, fitness and friendship the year round on the Willamette River and we have lots of social get-together's.

The first 3 practices are Free

Practice times are 9:00 am, Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays:

• The Annual Membership Dues for the Golden Dragons is $20. Golden Dragons manages the practice time from 9 to 10 AM and there is a sign up form

• Lifetime membership to DragonSports USA (DSUSA) is $40.00. DragonSports owns the boats we practice in. (You can make out a check to Golden Dragons with DragonSports USA Lifetime Membership written in the memo and give to Carol Matthews or any officer)

• There is a fee of $2 per practice, or $10/month or quarterly fee of $25.00 to DSUSA for unlimited practices. This pays DSUSA for boat usage. The $2 practice fee is to be put in the slotted metal box in the locker at the top of the dock.

• Your first trial practice is free after you sign the DragonSports waiver; any officer can show you where the waiver form is and where to put the completed waiver.

• All fees and dues are given to Bob Taylor, the treasurer. Bob can be reached at bomatay5@msn.com If he is absent, any officer can take the money or check.

• The 9 - 10 AM practice times are open DSUSA practices, meaning anyone who is a member of DragonSports USA over the age of 13 may participate.

• DSUSA furnishes the paddles, life preservers and boat use.

•As safety is always an important concern for Golden Dragons, new paddlers should sit in boat 2, (in the first set of boats as you come down from the ramp, boat 2 is the boat closest to the dock) while you develop your sea legs and practice getting in and out safely. Ask the caller where you should sit in the boat for the first few times you paddle.

We paddle on holidays, birthdays and most days all year round except as follows:

• When DragonSports USA deems that it is not safe to go out due to high wind, swift current, or floating debris;
• When the Portland Public Schools close (usually due to ice or snow);
• If we have less than ten paddlers, or if the tiller determines that conditions are not safe to proceed.

All fitness levels are welcome. You will build muscles, body tone, and energy, and feel great! This is an awesome way to make new friends! Come on down to the river and join us.

Water Safety Warnings

* Any order or communication from Dragon Sports USA not to use the boats shall be final. Said to Stop Order will stay in effect until released by DSUSA.

* Any time the Portland City traffic department or the Portland School system suspends service by news announcements, there will be no paddling. Most commonly these announcements are weather related.

* Paddling also may be terminated at the dock due to unsafe weather and water conditions.

Parking can be found at the 2 red circles below: