Kelowna Dragon Boat Club 22 Hearts Beating As One since 1999

About Us

The Kelowna Dragon Boat Paddling Society (KDBC), commonly known as the Kelowna Dragon Boat Club, was formed in 1999 when Ivan Carothers brought the sport to Kelowna. In 2003 we became a registered Not for Profit Society completely run by volunteers.

We offer everything from introductory to advanced levels of paddling. where we help develop new skills, create and strengthen legacy teams, encourage sportsmanship and embrace healthy, fun competition. Our membership age ranges from 18 to 84 years old.

We believe in our community! 100% of the funds raised from our annual Try Dragon Boating Day are donated to the Central Okanagan Food Bank. We have become partners for life with Canadian blood services running a one-day blood drive annually. In honour of our sight impaired team, we developed a blindfold race where the entry fee from the participants is donated to BC Blind Sports.

We cherish our waterways! KDBC was an integral part of bringing the first ever paddle trail to the Okanagan and Okanagan Lake. It is a water trail open to all non-motorized water sports. The trail spans 27 km with 22 buoys installed from McKinley beach to Bertram Creek Park.

We like to compete! Our club hosts the Kelowna Dragon Boat Festival every year and in 2024 we have moved the date to the 1st Saturday of July at Tugboat Beach.

This one-day race festival is often the same weekend as the Kelowna Ribfest… so your team can enjoy a weekend adventure!

We are continually growing this event and invite teams to compete in one of the most beautiful venues in the world, in the heart of the Okanagan at Tugboat Bay beach.

We have spirit! The KDBC Spirit team is comprised of paddlers from our various teams and has competed around the world. We have been to Hong Kong, Dublin, Berlin and many cities throughout Canada and the US. Each year or two we gather our paddlers and prepare for new Spirit Team Adventures in Paddling!

Join us! We continue to grow our club and are always looking for new members. We understand the power of a strong community that promotes sportsmanship, friendship and healthy competition.

Support a club that believes in a positive and safe paddling environment for everyone. Dragon Boating is one of the fastest growing water sports in the world and we would love for you to be part of it.