Back on the water … with a few upgrades!

After a canceled 2020 season, the Prairie Dragon Paddlers are back on the water for 2021, thanks to a new Safety Plan of procedures and requirements implemented by the Board of Directors and vetted with local public health authorities.

The guidelines for participating in safe, outdoor sporting activities will continue to be monitored and communicated to the team. But after a group warmup and a review of paddling stroke and technique, team members enjoyed their first practice in the boat, named Hope, on a brisk Saturday morning, May 1, at Homer Lake.

One of Hope’s new updated features is a cox box electronic device, consisting of a microphone and speaker system for the steerer or caller to use for better sound amplification in the boat during training and races. Another upgrade is a wooden removable step down into the boat for extra paddler safety and autonomy.

Executive Director Kelly Bradham, Coach Debi Bliss and the Board of Directors had already welcomed the 2021 team a few weeks earlier at the annual Kickoff Breakfast on April 17, held outdoors this year near the boat dock at Homer Lake. Returning and new team members were briefed on the new safety protocols, received their 2021 team T-shirts (bright pink this year), and enjoyed visiting with each other while continuing to follow social distancing and masking guidelines.

After the breakfast, a few members of the Boat Committee visited Hope, which is stored nearby, to outfit the boat with a new protective cover.

Regional races for 2021 have not been confirmed yet, but the team hopes to participate in dragon boat festivals in Illinois, Kentucky and possibly Indiana later this summer.