Meet some of the Maverick Paddlers:
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Gavyn – Over the years I have been involved in a lot of competitive sport, and I was looking for a physical challenge without the strain on my body. Dragon boating is a great way for me to stay in shape without the aches and pains. Watching the Grand Masters (>50 years) compete is an inspiration and proof that the sport can be for anyone. The best part is the friendships that I have made in the sport as well as the social side to our club. As they say, Train Hard, Play Hard… and we do both very well.
The 2011 AusDBF Australian Dragon Boat Championships when we won silver in the Premier Mixed division has been my most memorable moment. We are a relatively small club, with a strong focus on giving everone a go, so for the club to enjoy this level of success was, for me, awesome! |
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Stretch
A friend said to me a few years back: “let’s do dragonboat racing!” and I replied “OK!” – and that was it! From the first time I tried it I knew I was going to love it. It’s a great exercise hit, works your whole body like nothing else. With the training during the week, there’s nothing better to leave a stuffy office and to get out on to the harbour and forget all about work, it’s magical.And then there’s the team spirit, the comeradery.. This was something I had not experienced before, it being my first team sport. It’s amazing.. and the Mavericks are a great bunch: incredibly friendly, there’s alway a smile and a laugh to be had. Yet we’re still serious about competing and winning!! The Mavs have the PH balance just right, paddle hard, party hard |
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Jen |
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Nicola
I started paddling to keep fit and have fun at the same time, that’s why I like the ‘Paddle Hard, Party Hard’ motto of the Mavericks.I have gone to three Australian Club Championships with the Mavericks and have an awesome time racing and celebrating our club victories, it a great feeling to know all our training has paid off. |
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James |
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Warren
I started paddling back in winter 2006. A colleague from Work was part of the Mavericks. A few of us from work went down to try out this Dragon Boating thing, that we knew very little about. I was nervous about being able to commit the time to a sport, or about being locked into the commitment of a team sport. But I thought I’d give it a go for the 3 week intro course. I liked it so much that I figured I’d stick with it for the rest of winter until the competitive season started. Well, 5 years later I’m loving it even more and am president of the Club. My colleague from work who talked me into trying it out is now treasurer of the Club. Both our partners also joined us and are active members of the club. Who knows where this sport can lead you.The things I like best about the sport is being able to exercise outdoors, while meeting up with great friends and giving myself opportunity to physically push myself is ways I never dreamed I was capable of. I love the inclusiveness of the sport. It’s one sport where people can succeed at regardless of their exercise background, shape, size or gender.Be best moment in my time Dragon Boating was at the National Titles in Queensland. We were racing to the finish line, the coach was screaming at us “DO YOU WANT THIS?!!”. We did. We dug deeper and deeper and moved through the field crossing over the finish line to get a Silver medal. We’ve won gold since then, but the adrenaline in the boat that day was very special. A memory I’ll always have with me |
My proudest Mavs moment was winning Silver at the Nationals in Canberra 2011. We worked hard for that race, and to us, we had won it! Jubilation and celebration all round, not to be forgotten This year there’ll be less silver though. IT’s ALL GOLD!!!
