The Dragon Divas

Training in the water and out

June 26, 2009

The Divas kicked off the 2009 season on March 22 with a very successful fundraiser in partnership with Great Harvest Bread Company in St. Paul. Under the coaching of Great Harvest owner, Bonnie Alton and her staff, we donned aprons and baked, packaged and sold more than $9,000 of bakery goods. To put frosting on the cake (or bread in this case) we had lots of fun doing it!

Our new member informational meeting, convened on April 6 at the Watson Center of St. John's Hospital, resulted in seventeen new Divas – another fantastic outcome. Welcome, Newbies.

On April 22 we began pre-season training in earnest with one goal in mind: "MOA." Translation: Michelle Obama Arms. Diva sisters met for six weeks on Mondays for Pump class (weight training, aerobics and stretching) and Wednesdays for Hi-Lo Core class (Pilates, kick boxing and stretching). We unabashedly report Dragon Divas do huff, puff and sweat!

Our dragon boat, Silver, arrived at the end of May. She is moored on White Bear Lake at Robin and Bob Nicholson's, terrific supporters who let us use dock space each year. Once again we rented a boat from the American Dragon Boat Association. Next year we have lofty hopes of having a boat of our own! Two sessions of on-the-water practice began June 3, and each Wednesday night we dug deep, reached out, and paddled hard through smooth and jagged waves. No matter how rough our journey on the boat, we remind one another we’ve met strong waves head-on before.

Our latest adventure was the Manitou Days Parade Friday, June 19. With the help of Mark Kron (a Diva spouse), we pulled Silver out of the water and several Divas rode, walked and proudly carried our banner in the parade. We were a bit chagrined when we first realized our place in the parade: behind an eight-foot tall camel. The dragon boat, as always, was an attention-getter and we were prepared for it.

We'd like to invite you to drop by the Dragon Diva tent and watch us race in the Lake Phalen Dragon Festival on July 12. The Phalen festival is our first competition of the year. We'll also compete in the Starbuck Minnesota festival the weekend of August 8-9; the Fort Dodge, Iowa, Badger Lake Bash August 15-16; and the Lake Superior festival August 22-23.

Thank you once again to St. John's Hospital for their support of our mission and team this season. We would not be on the water without sponsorship. We praise you loudly!