Let´s go back in time again… There was an article on the first edition of the “dream team” Go Europe Pink Dragons following the regatta in Barcelona in May – as our European composite team started as a dream of paddlers who were only able to meet online since COVID didn´t allow meeting in person to paddle. Following a warm-up in our Wednesday night Zoom meetings led by Wendy and Teresa, everyone found a broomstick or feather duster, anything usable as a paddle, and we started practicing together, each of us sitting in her own living-room.
Friendships were formed online across borders and the dream of sitting in one dragon boat was born. We made it come true in Spain when meeting and competing at the Barcelona Dragonboat Festival. The biggest success was bringing the spirit of a composite European team to life and we started planning our next regatta, so the second edition of Go Europe Pink Dragons started in October when some members of the Barcelona team met again in Castel Gandolfo near Rome – welcoming some new friends to the dream team!
Our team was formed of 18 paddlers with 8 nationalities – Austria, Denmark, England, Germany, Ireland, Italy, even New Zealand & USA - including a helm and drummer from Italy (thank you so much for helping out and translating, Cecilia!).
Without practicing before and struggling with the Italian calls, we connected instantly and grew together from race to race – but winning was not our number one goal! We came to Italy to celebrate life and friendship and the pink paddling family, dancing together for the 20th anniversary of Pagaie Rosa - Pink Butterfly – Rome! In the end everyone could go home with a medal for participating and happy memories of a weekend with amazing women - we are anxiously looking forward to our next adventures in 2024!
