Living Realty’s official dragon boat race team got their training regimen underway this weekend, starting early to prepare for a big 2019.
The team got together at Toronto’s outer harbour and were put through their paces by our very own Living Realty agent Stephen Kwok, a veteran of Dragonboat racing and former Team Canada Head Coach! It started with some on-land tuition; Coach Kwok showing the team how to hold their paddles correctly and the best form for their strokes. Once confidence was up the team then took to the water and headed out into the harbour.
![Living Realty’s official dragon boat race team learn how to paddle](https://news.livingrealty.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IMG_20180923_174343.jpg)
For some of the team it was the first time they had been in a dragon boat or done any paddling but they all did fantastically well. After negotiating out of a narrow channel, they hit open water and began to paddle in unison. In fact, things went so well that they almost paddled out of the range of the Living Realty cameraman who was on hand to document the first training session!
With the first session successfully completed the team can now start working towards their goal of a competitive performance in the 2019 Living Realty Toronto International Dragon Boat Festival. The festival takes place at Toronto Islands each summer and is one of the biggest of its kind in North America. Hundreds of athletes – both local and international – come to take part in the dragon boat races and tens of thousands of people congregate on the islands to watch them. It’s a truly magnificent spectacle and one that Living Realty is proud to be a part of.
![Living Realty’s official dragon boat race team enter their boat for the first time](https://news.livingrealty.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IMG_20180923_174944.jpg)
In 2018, Living Realty was the title sponsor for the special 30th edition of the festival and next year we will once again be taking that role. It was truly an honour to be a part of such a prestigious event and we are thrilled to be involved once again when the 31st Toronto International Dragon Boat Festival takes place on June 15th and 16th.
One thing is for certain, after a busy time training during the fall, winter and spring, the Living Realty team will be ready for a great performance when the festival comes around.