What would happen if every major paddle sport came together for one massive international event?

In this episode of Paddles Ready, Dougie and Hando dive into one of the most exciting developments in paddle sports, the proposed World Paddle Games and Australia's bid to host what could become one of the largest paddle events on the planet. 

From dragon boating and sprint canoeing to surf skis, outriggers, stand-up paddling, and more, the World Paddle Games could bring thousands of athletes together in a celebration of paddling unlike anything we've seen before.

The boys discuss the opportunities this event could create for dragon boating, the impact it could have on youth participation, and why collaboration across paddle sports may be one of the biggest opportunities for growth in the years ahead.

🔥 In this episode:

• What the proposed World Paddle Games could look like 
• Why Australia is in the running to host the event 
• How dragon boating fits into the future of paddle sports 
• The importance of youth development and school programs 
• Why collaboration between paddle disciplines could benefit everyone

👉 Dougie's Quick Dip covering Barcelona, Venice, Ireland, Hong Kong and major dragon boat events happening around the world

👉 60 Seconds with Dougie featuring Lilly from the German Dragon Boat Team

👉 Hando's Hot Take: Is technology helping dragon boating evolve or are we losing touch with the sport's traditions?

This episode explores where paddle sports are heading and why the next decade could be transformational for the global paddling community.

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Is it power? Technique? Timing? Or is it something else entirely?

In this episode of Paddles Ready, Dougie sits down with Hando to unpack one of the most important and most debated aspects of dragon boat racing: the start.

Drawing on more than 30 years of experience as a paddler, sweep, coach, and race strategist, Hando breaks down how starts have evolved over the years, the differences between Asian and Western approaches, and why a great start can set the tone for an entire race.

From 200m sprints to 2000m turns, this is a masterclass in race starts from one of the sport's most experienced voices.

🔥 In this episode:

• How dragon boat starts have evolved over the past 30 years 
• The difference between 200m, 500m, 1000m, and 2000m race starts 
• Why Chinese and Asian starts are influencing crews around the world 
• The importance of boat trim, timing, and synchronization 
• Technique versus power: which matters most? 

Plus:

👉 60 Seconds with Dougie featuring Leonard from Singapore's Dragon Boat Nursery

👉 Hando's Hot Take: Can Australia's dragon boating federations work together if the World Paddle Games come to Australia?

Whether you're a novice paddler or a seasoned veteran, this episode will make you think differently about the first few seconds of every race.

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That’s the question at the centre of this episode of Paddles Ready, as Dougie and Hando sit down with Tommy Leonardi for a deep dive into the rapid rise of USA dragon boating on the world stage.

With over 30 years in the sport, 52 world championship medals as both a paddler and coach, and leadership roles across some of America’s most respected dragon boat programs, Tommy shares what’s driving the USA’s growth and why the next era of the sport could be its most competitive yet.

From OC1 crossover athletes and evolving race strategies to youth development and club culture, this episode explores how dragon boating is becoming faster, more professional, and more globally competitive than ever before.

🔥 In this episode:

• Why USA dragon boating is improving so rapidly 
• The rise of OC1, outrigger, and crossover athletes entering the sport 
• How the USA structures club crews and national team pathways 
• Why Club Crew World Championships may be the best event in dragon boating 
• The evolving battle between China, Canada, USA, Australia, and emerging nations 

Plus:
👉 60 Seconds with Dougie featuring Mark Slater from Brisbane River Dragons
👉 Hot Take of the Week: Are there too many dragon boat world titles?

This episode is a fascinating look into the evolution of modern dragon boating and the nations trying to push the sport to the next level.

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In this episode of Paddles Ready, Dougie and Hando sit down with Julie Robitaille, President of Dragon Boat Canada, for a deep dive into the rise of Canadian dragon boating on the world stage.

From youth development and elite coaching systems to Olympic ambitions and international success, Julie shares what has helped Canada become one of the sport’s true powerhouses, all while balancing participation, inclusivity, and high performance.

🔥 In this episode:

• How paddling became part of Canada’s sporting DNA 
• The systems and coaching structures behind Canada’s international success 
• Why youth development is critical for the next generation of paddlers 
• Canada’s vision for the future of dragon boating and Olympic inclusion 
• The balance between elite racing and participation across 100,000+ paddlers nationwide 

Plus:
👉 60 Seconds with Dougie featuring Aiden from Brisbane Typhoon
👉 Hot Take of the Week: Are dragon boating teams starting to attract elite athletes from other paddle sports?

This episode is a fascinating look at how one nation built a world-class dragon boating program and where the sport could be heading next.

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It’s a question that comes up more often than you’d think and in this episode of Paddles Ready, Dougie and Hando dive straight into it.

From local regattas to global events, dragon boating is built on more than just racing. It’s culture, tradition, community and above all, club pride.

In this episode, the boys break down what makes club identity so powerful across the world, from team songs and uniforms to international festivals and long-standing traditions that bring paddlers together.

🔥 In this episode:

• What “club pride” really means across different countries and cultures 
• The traditions that define dragon boating from local festivals to global events 
• How teams build identity through uniforms, rituals, and shared history 
• The balance between competition, culture, and community in the sport 
• Why dragon boating continues to grow as one of the most inclusive global sports 

Plus:
👉 60 Seconds with Dougie featuring Tracey from Gold Coast Dragons
👉 Hot Take of the Week: Is dragon boating truly a sport or just a festival?

This episode explores the heart of the sport on and off the water.

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It’s a simple statement but it sits at the centre of one of the biggest conversations in dragon boating today.

In this episode of Paddles Ready, Dougie and Hando are joined by Claudio Schermi, President of the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF), for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of the sport.

Broadcast live from Macau, Claudio shares exclusive insight into the global growth of dragon boating, the recent milestone of establishing the IDBF headquarters in Hong Kong, and what it will take for the sport to reach the next level.

In this episode:

• The global expansion of dragon boating across 80+ member federations 
• Why dragon boating must be recognised as its own sport, not a discipline 
• The role of club crews and why they are the foundation of the sport 
• The pathway toward Olympic recognition and global legitimacy 
• The economic and cultural impact of major dragon boat events 

Plus:
👉 Hando’s Phantom Call returns with a fast-paced 100m race simulation
👉 60 Seconds with Dougie featuring rapid-fire insights from the paddling community
👉 Hot Take of the Week: Technique vs power; what actually wins races?

This episode goes beyond racing; it’s about identity, growth, and where dragon boating is heading on the global stage.

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For thousands of paddlers around the world, dragon boating is more than a sport, it’s community, recovery, purpose and in some cases, a final chapter lived to the fullest.

In this episode of Paddles Ready, Dougie and Hando are joined by Meri Gibson, President of the International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission Global, to share the story behind one of the most powerful movements in paddle sport.

From her personal journey into dragon boating to leading a global community across 40+ countries, Meri reveals how the sport has created opportunities, connection and meaning for tens of thousands of breast cancer paddlers worldwide.

🔥 In this episode:

• How dragon boating became a global movement for breast cancer paddlers 
• The growth from 19 countries to over 40 worldwide 
• Why participation and elite competition both matter 
• The emotional reality behind global festivals and events 
• The story behind “this could be their last adventure” 

Plus:
👉 Meri’s Hot Take on age divisions, inclusivity, and the future of the sport
👉 Why dragon boating might be one of the most powerful community sports in the world

This episode goes beyond racing, it’s about people, resilience, and the impact of paddle sport on lives across the globe.

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It’s one of the fastest-growing paddle sports in the world, with thousands of athletes, global competitions, and a history spanning over 2,000 years — so why hasn’t it made it to the Olympic stage?

In this episode of Paddles Ready, Dougie and Hando break it all down, straight off the back of the Australian National Championships at Kawana.

From race highlights and standout performances to what’s next for the sport globally, this episode connects the local scene to the international stage.

🔥 In this episode:

•  Aussie Nationals recap from the Sunshine Coast 
•  The pathway to Club Crew World Championships in Taiwan 
•  The scale and global growth of dragon boating 
•  Why the sport is pushing for Olympic recognition 
•  The reality behind federations, formats, and Olympic inclusion 

Plus:
 👉 The introduction of Hando’s Phantom Call — a new interactive segment where clubs can get involved and win.

This is more than just a recap, it’s a conversation about where paddle racing is heading next.

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In this first episode, Dougie and Hando kick things off by sharing how Paddles Ready went from a simple idea in Berlin to a global platform for paddle sports and dragon boating.

They break down their journey through the sport, what listeners can expect from the show, and why paddle racing needs a stronger international voice. From race commentary to athlete stories, this podcast is built for paddlers, fans, and anyone connected to the sport.

Plus, the first-ever Hot Take of the Week:
👉 Who actually owns dragon boating and does the sport have a problem?

In this episode:

•  The origin story of Paddles Ready and its global vision 
•  Why dragon boating is one of the most inclusive sports in the world 
•  Insights from international events like Berlin’s Nations Cup 
•  The growth of paddle racing across generations and continents 
•  The debate around governance in dragon boating (IDBF vs ICF)

If you’re part of the paddle racing world or want to be, this is where the conversation starts.

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