We are all about
Community
VI Paddling was created to provide Vancouver Islanders a place to be supported, inspired, and developed as athletes, and as members of our sporting community. We welcome people of all backgrounds, ages, and abilities, and are proud to offer the most experienced coaches on Vancouver Island who work with individuals and teams to become the best they can be. We offer training in both recreational and high-performance dragon boat, as well as outrigger canoe and surf-ski (racing style kayaks). We are always thrilled to welcome more people to our club and this incredible community. At the 2022 Club Crew World Championships (CCWC), VI Paddling earned the distinction of being the 10th top club in the world after our most successful CCWC performance to date.
VI Paddling acknowledges and respects the Coast Salish, Nuu-chah-nulth, and Kwakwaka’wakw peoples on whose traditional territories we are located. We are grateful for their continued stewardship of the land and water on which we live, work, and play.
Dragon boating is considered one of the world’s fastest growing team sports, with more than 50 million participants worldwide, and more than 25,000 in Western Canada alone. And Canada is a dominating force on the world stage, consistently competing with podium finishes. Despite massive interest in the sport on Vancouver Island, however, access to quality coaching, training programs and equipment has been extremely limited for many Island paddlers.
In response to this need, five members of the Gorging Dragons – athletes who had experienced the opportunities available to paddlers elsewhere in North America and around the world – came together in 2010 to begin creating a new club for Vancouver Island: VI Paddling (VIP).
VIP officially launched February 26, 2012 with the purchase of four international-class racing dragon boats. Already the organization serves more than 200 members ranging in age from teens to octogenarians for a range of paddling activities where we strive to offer the best coaching the island has to offer.
Mission
To deliver high quality dragon boat programs for athletes of all ages, skills, and abilities.
Vision
VI Paddling (VIP) is a non-profit, member-driven paddling club dedicated to providing coaching, guidance, and support to nurture and develop paddlers at all levels of recreational and competitive paddle sports on Vancouver Island.
Club Policies
For more information on the operation of the club, and our policies and procedures, please see the following documents:
