The Way Of The Dragon

The two-day, Red Paddle Co Dragon World Championships is an event like no other. It involves teams of four from across the world battling it out on a mighty 22-foot inflatable ‘Red Dragon’ board to be crowned the ultimate victors.

- George Shillito

Born out of the concept of bringing people together from across the world, the Dragon World Championships is no ordinary event and is perhaps most unique in that there is no qualification required. It has been designed as a celebration of SUP to enable paddlers of any ability or experience to form a team and take on the gauntlet in some fast, fun racing on a global stage.

This year was strongly supported with 30 teams representing 15 countries congregating on the mountain fringed shores of Talloires, Lake Annecy in what was to be the most spectacular, dedicated event in the competitions three-year history. In association with Nike Swim and the Alpine Lakes Tour the event welcomed new activities such as SUP Yoga, the beginner POP race on Red Paddle Co 10’6” Ride Boards, two long-distance races in the form of the 10km Mini-FAT race and 32km FAT race as well as a kids race and of course, adrenaline-fuelled Dragon racing.

A clap of thunder boomed across the sky and a flash of lightning exploded in the distant snow-capped peaks, an auspicious welcome to competitors at an event with ‘Dragon’ in the title. If it wasn’t for the numerous Titan pumps laying around the event site, you would have been forgiven for thinking someone had unleashed the beasts from a long-forgotten mountain cave rather than simply inflating them.

As teams new and old congregated at registration and peered hopefully out at the ominous scene, a single ray of the sun cut through the dark clouds like a warm knife, then another, and another. As practice sessions got underway, sunlight danced and refracted off the lake’s calm surface and the 10km stretch of water became sparkling emerald green. A gem that would soon become a battleground.