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<p>Welcome to the website of the NAVMAT Dragons, Dragon Boat Racing Club.</p>
<p>Note: You are viewing this no-frills summary because your browser is not frame capable.</p>
<p>email: navmat@hotmail.com</p>
<p>Our home waters are Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra, ACT. </p>
<p>Our normal training schedule includes a weekend session, plus two weeknights. This can vary depending on preparation for particular regattas (race meetings).</p>
<p>We have a strong beginners' programme, which includes a free trial offer. Our beginners' schedule includes a daytime paddle which (weather permitting) includes a stop for a coffee break (er, team meeting). While dragon boating is an active sport, it is like walking/running - anyone can do it, but you have to train to win races. At the sports level, dragon boat paddling is extremely energetic and the standards required to win even local races are quite high. However, it is great fun to learn, and quite addictive - the main requirement for improvement is practice and willingness to learn. You may not think such an energetic sport is suited to women, but we have a strong womens team.</p>
<p>We aim to race locally, nationally and internationally - in recent years, NAVMAT has sent teams to Penang every couple of years. Many of our members have joined Australian teams competing in China.</p>
<p>While we encourage members to develop their full sporting (ie, racing) potential, training 2-3 times per week for competition in local Regattas (and interstate Regattas), members are free to paddle on a social basis (ie, stay at beginner's level, with no hard training). Social paddling once per week enables you to help maintain a healthy fitness level and enjoy the particialrly attractive sights around the lake in the national capital.</p>
<p>Because dragon boating involves up to 22 people in a smallish boat, you have an instant social occasion every time you paddle. Of course, while training is in progress, it is important to stay focussed on the job in hand! But strong friendships develop while paddling together, and during warmup and warm-down activities - not to mention our social gatherings. We believe people give their best in a supportive, friendly atmosphere - which is easy in such a fun but energetic activity!</p>
<p>We cater for all adult age groups - whether you start young & fit, or not so young and/or not as fit as you would like, we can accomodate you. All you need is a desire to join in (a bit of a competitive spirit in a team atmosphere helps). In the past, a high proportion of NAVMATs (active) members have been included in ACT "state" teams. In national and internationall regattas, there are 4 age categories (and the ACT fields teams for the Australian Nationals in all 4): Premier (any age), Youth, Masters (over 40) and Grandmasters (over 50). In each age category, there are Womens events, Mixed events, and Open events.</p>
<p>Summary:</p>
<p>So you see there is no excuse - if you want to have a go, we want you to! costs nothing to try. If you are already fit - we can help you develop your skills as fast as you can take it! If you are not fit, we'll help you get there. There's also an age category to suit you. If you want to start easy - well, you can stay in our beginner's programme as long as you like - stay with our Saturday morning "outings". If you want competition - there are opportunities to compete locally, and to try out for the ACT teams, and if you want to travel, there are opportunities to join teams going to China (for example). In recent times, NAVMAT has sent it's own team to Penang every couple of years.</p>
<p>Dragon Boat Racing is an ideal sport for corporate events - Christmas Parties, team "bonding". Also a good cross training exercise for other sports. Contact us for more details.
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