Tacoma Dragon Boat Association

The Tacoma Dragon Boat Association is a year round paddling club. Our members paddle for recreation and competition.

Registration is Open!
Rainier Dragon Boat Festival
May 18, 2019 in Tacoma

Registration is now open for the 2019 Rainier Dragon Boat Festival.

Join us for a day of fun on the water at Thea’s Park in Tacoma. Corporate (no experience necessary!) and club teams are encouraged to participate.

Learn more about the festival
Download forms and pay online

Presented by:

Sponsored by:

Become a Member of the Tacoma Dragon Boat Association

Try dragon boating — the first three paddles with the Tacoma Dragon Boat Association are FREE! Drop by one of our practices or email us ahead of time. Membership dues are just $100 per year. It’s great exercise with a unique view of the beautiful Northwest! Learn more about joining the team here.

Photo of dragon boat practice — We practice on the beautiful Foss Waterway in downtown Tacoma.

Practice Schedule

During the winter months, we practice three times per week. Members can come to as many practices as you like. (We don’t go out on days below 38 degrees, lightning, or winds over 15 miles an hour; otherwise, we usually paddle on).

Mondays & Wednesdays: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Saturdays: 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.

We leave from Johnny’s Dock, 1900 East D. St. If you are new, please arrive 20 minutes early so you can sign your waiver and get your gear. See you there!

Power Paddle to Puyallup

What an incredible honor to paddle a dragon boat with Port of Tacoma officials and Tacoma leaders during the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Power Paddle to Puyallup! Find out more about this exciting event on our events page.

TDBA, Port of Tacoma and Tacoma leaders participated in a short paddle as part of the Puyallup Tribe’s landing day special ceremony in the Paddle to Puyallup. Photo: Sue L.

Club Crew World Championships in Hungary!

Congratulations to our Tacoma Dragon Boat Association paddlers competing with WAM in the 11th IDBF Club Crew World Championships Szeged, Hungary — and winning big! We are so proud of you!

Races

In addition to holding the Rainier Dragon Boat Festival, we also compete in dragon boat races in the Pacific Northwest and other locations. Last year, we competed in races in Olympia, Salem, Kent, and Portland. Some members joined other dragon boat clubs and competed in Canada and Puerto Rico! In 2016, we raced in Fuzhou, China. Dragon boat racing is a lot of fun!

Destiny Dragons won silver in the 10-person boat races in Salem. 2018 Team.

Thank you for a great 2018 Rainier Dragon Boat Festival!

Thank you for a great day of dragon boat racing at the Rainier Dragon Boat Festival! We appreciate all the dragon boat clubs and community teams who raced on the Foss Waterway! You did a terrific job! Thank you to the TDBA members who coached, raced and did all the things needed to put on this event — you rock! And thanks to the folks cheering on the paddlers — that makes a difference!

Thank you again to MultiCare Health System, CHI Franciscan Health, and Tacoma Environmental Services for sponsoring this event! See you next year!