FEBRUARY 4, 2023: the New Zealand- bound paddlers gathered at Santa Fe Dam in Irwindale to practice for the first time as a team. 21 breast cancer survivors are getting ready for the International Breast Cancer Paddlers’ Commission (IBCPC) Dragon Boat Festival in New Zealand in April!
Paddlers from the San Diego Dragon Boat Team, NAC, and more traveled to Santa Fe Dam along with the Central Coast SurviveOars to practice. Coach Rose Marie Battaglia arranged the practice with TEAM USA Coach Nathan Salazar, who graciously gave us his time.
Blending the boat is tough when there are paddlers from multiple teams who all have different techniques, but Coach Nathan gave us some basics to think about and helped us work towards that goal.
New Zealand bound paddlers getting ready for their first practice!