The Central Coast SurviveOars, who are headed to an international competition in Italy, will have a team practice for public viewing on August 10. Photo submitted
A local team of 23 cancer survivors is training to compete at the International Dragon Boat Federation Club Crew World Championships in Ravenna, Italy September 3-8, 2024.
The public is invited to watch a special Central Coast SurviveOars team racing practice on Saturday, August 10, from 8:30 to 10 a.m., starting at the Sub Sea Tours dock, 699 Embarcadero, in Morro Bay.
Dragon boats are 40-foot-long canoes, powered by a team of up to 20 paddlers, a steersperson and a drummer. Dragon boat racing originated in China 2,000 plus years ago. It is now a popular water sport with teams in 89 countries and is a demonstration sport in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
The Central Coast SurviveOars team qualified for the international competition with a second-place finish in the All Cancer Survivors division at the United States Dragon Boat Federation (USDBF) National Club Crew Championships, held in Sarasota, Florida in July 2023.
The team of dragon boat paddlers consists of both men and women, who have survived breast cancer, prostate cancer, lymphoma, or other types of cancer. Some paddlers on the team are still undergoing treatment. Three paddlers have competed at the international level for Team USA.
For months, the team has been working out together, planning together, and fundraising together.
“We are thrilled to compete on the world stage, proudly representing our beloved town of Morro Bay,” said Rose Marie Battaglia, team manager and co-coach.
“Dragon boating, a fiercely competitive sport, has profoundly impacted our lives, fostering fitness, community, and lasting friendships. It is a true honor to showcase our personal and collective transformations to the global dragon boat community.”
Central Coast SurviveOars is a team of 148 dragon boat paddlers, both cancer survivors and supporters, and is the founding team of the nonprofit organization Central Coast Dragon Boat Association (CCDBA). This is the second time since 2007 that a SurviveOars crew has qualified for the Club Crew World Championships.
For more information about dragon boating on the Central Coast, or to support the SurviveOars team, visit CCDBA.org.
