Kamloops Interior Dragon boat Club
Where men and women 55 or older train and compete on the Thompson River.
Glossary of Terms
festivals
FAQS
practice schedules
Club News
Can’t get into Give it a Try?
We offer 3 free paddling sessions at the beginning of the season. You are welcome to join us and check out our Club at our regular practices.
KIDS 2023 GM, March 28 6:00 pm
We will be hosting our spring General Meeting at the Kamloops Curling Club on Tuesday, March 28, starting at 6:00 pm. Come down, have a drink (you will have to supply your own food if you want anything to eat as the concession will be closed), and find out all the...
KIDS is part of Give It A Try this year!
Have you seen the dragon boats out on the Thompson River? Did you know that our KIDS team is only open to ages 55+? Would you like to give Dragon boating a try, make some new friends and have a lot of fun? Check out Give It a Try for all the details on two free...
Check out the KIDS ad in the City 2023 Spring and Summer Activity Guide
Our ad is on page 71. Spread the word to your friends in the 55+ age category!
A Successful Season! Kamloops This Week Oct. 5, 2022
Become a Member
Think you are ready to start paddling? Learn more about our fees, schedule and policies.
The Kamloops Interior Dragon Boat CLUB was started in 2016 and incorporated as the Kamloops Interior Dragons Society (KIDS) in 2017.
KIDS is a recreational team of men and women 55 years old or better, with a focus on developing paddling skills, fitness, friendships, and becoming race ready (for those who are interested in racing). We practice on the South and North Thompson rivers, launching from the Pioneer Park boat launch three times a week.
Our club generally participates in 3 festivals in the Shuswap, Okanagan or Lower Mainland as well as the Kamloops festival in early August and the BC 55+ Games in August or September.
KIDS is volunteer-run with experienced coaches and paddlers of all levels. New paddlers are encouraged to try dragon boating early in the season, no experience is necessary. All equipment is supplied, and you can attend three practices for free before deciding if you are ready to join KIDS and make dragon boating a regular part of your life.
Dragon Boat History
Dragon Boat racing has its roots in ancient myths and legends. It began more than 2,000 years ago in the valleys of southern China as a fertility rite held during the summer solstice to ensure plentiful crops and to avert misfortune. Early dragon boat races were mock battles to awaken the hibernating Heavenly Dragon.
Dragon boat racing in Canada started during Expo 1986 in Vancouver, when the government of Hong Kong gifted six teak dragon boats to compete in the spirit of sport, cultural understanding, and friendship.
Dragon boating has become the world’s fastest growing water sport, especially among women and men aged 55+, with approximately 50 million paddlers participating in every continent.
Kamloops first dragon boat club started in 1994 with members paddling in 10-man voyageur canoes on the South Thompson River. The city currently has three dragon boat clubs – KIDS, which is for men and women aged 55 years and older, Kamloops Dragon Boat Club, which is for women and men of any age, and Spirit Warriors, which is a breast cancer survivor team.
Upcoming Events
Paddling will start on Saturday, April 22, 2023!
Our last paddle of the season will be Setember 16, 2023.
other ACTIVITIES
Dragon boat season wraps up around the middle of September and until we’re back on the water in April we must somehow entertain ourselves and stay in shape without the benefit of regular practices! The great advantage to belonging to our dragon boat club is that you can always find someone with whom to get active.
Although nobody is going to check up on you, it is a very good idea to exercise regularly during the off season. Some KIDS participate in dedicated dryland training classes that concentrate on fitness for paddlers. Others organize themselves to go biking, hiking, snowshoeing or skiing. Many others renew their gym memberships and enjoy yoga, weight lifting, spinning, or whatever makes them happy and keeps them fit. You’ll be surprised at how many other paddlers you will run into!