NBP Dragons
Community and competitive dragon boat team
A home for recreational paddlers and athletes ready to train hard, race locally, and compete beyond Sarasota.
Dragon Boat, OC & SUP
Find Strength and Camaraderie on the Water
NBP Paddling brings adults into dragon boat racing, outrigger canoeing, and stand-up paddle events through beginner courses, coached practices, survivor teams, veteran programs, and competitive crews.
OC6
Outrigger access
All levels
Beginner to elite
Program Overview
A Real Team Pathway, Not Just a Rental Counter
The live NBP program centers on coached dragon boat practices, OC paddling, and community teams. New paddlers start with instruction, experienced dragon boaters can ask Coach Angela about joining practice, and members can train regularly on the park's protected 400-acre lake.
Dragon Boat 101
Begin with stroke basics, safety, team rhythm, and on-water practice before moving into membership or team paddling.
Dragon Boat Racing League
An eight-week, beginner-friendly league for individuals, friends, corporate groups, and community teams.
Paddling Memberships
Membership options include coached practices, access to OC6 equipment, launch access, and storage add-ons.
Outrigger Canoeing
OC paddling adds balance, technique, and open-water tradition to the park program, including Hoku-Hele style training.
Paddling Teams
Choose the Crew That Fits Your Story
NBP Paddling includes community athletes, competitive racers, breast cancer survivors, all-cancer survivors, and military veterans. Each crew shares the same core: fitness, rhythm, trust, and time on the water.
Survivors In Sync
Breast cancer survivor team
A sisterhood of paddlers moving from surviving to thriving through fitness, advocacy, and international competition.
Warriors
All-cancer survivor team
A resilient crew that races nationally while showing there is life, strength, and community after cancer.
Veterans
Military veteran team
Wounded, injured, disabled, and able veterans build connection, fitness, and confidence together on the water.
Outrigger & Hoku-Hele
A Broader Paddling Home for OC, SUP, K1 and K2
The local scrape includes Hoku-Hele, NBP's paddle-sports context for outrigger canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, meetups, training, and racing. The live page also explains the role of the outrigger: added stability, balance, and confidence when paddling quickly or in rougher water.
For members, OC access is tied to the paddling program and can be paired with coached practice, storage options, and progression from introductory classes into regular team training.
Watch OC on the waterMembership & Practice
Train Regularly with Equipment, Coaching, and Lake Access
The membership page positions paddling membership as access to premium equipment, coaching, and easy lake launch. Paddling memberships include three coached practices per week, OC6 access, and options for volunteer or non-volunteer plans.
100+
Paddling members
3x
Coached practices weekly
18+
Adult dragon boat teams
400
Acres of lake water
What to Know Before Joining
Dragon Boat 101 is required before paddling membership sign-up.
Experienced dragon boaters can email Coach Angela to request a practice.
Volunteer membership asks for 20 NBP-approved volunteer hours per year.
Storage add-ons are available for personal watercraft.
Events & Partners
Paddling Shows Up Across the Park Calendar
NBP hosts and supports dragon boat festivals, SUP competitions, beginner courses, and partner programs that bring racers, spectators, volunteers, and families to the lake.
Ready to Put a Paddle in the Water?
Start with Dragon Boat 101, explore membership, or contact the paddling team if you are already an experienced dragon boater.