Rocky Valley Foreshore came alive for the 5th Annual Victorian Mile High Dragon Boat Championships on January 24th and 25th, 2009.
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What a great day for everyone involved in the 2009 Victorian Mile High Dragon Boat Championships!!
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January 25 2009
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2009 Victorian Mile High Dragon Boat Results
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 Today's dragon boat races, reputedly the highest in Australia, possibly the world, is an annual event at Victoria's largest alpine resort.
Whilst Melbourne-based teams such as the Flames and the Chinese Youth Society of Melbourne team are the hardest to beat it is the friendly rivalry between the 'pink ladies' (Dragons Abreast teams) which is a crowd-pleaser.
They all wear attractive uniforms proudly stating they are recovering from one of our most potent diseases.
Deni Schimana the coordinator of the Geelong-based Dragons Abreast Geelong Juggernauts (who had an unplanned roll over in training) said:
"The paddling motion the women carry out in a dragon boat has been found by Canadian Dr Don McKenzie to be very beneficial, particularly for the upper body.
Schimina and her counterparts in the Geelong Juggernauts team also gained enormous spectator approval with their pre race warm up carried out to the appropriate Annie Lennox track “Sisters are doing it for themselves”.
It was just one a number of activities they and their Dragons Abreast counterparts from Melbourne, regional Victoria and the NSW city of Albury, carried out whilst they were competing in this year’s Mile High Victorian Dragon Boat Championships held each Australia Day weekend at Falls Creek.
The finale by all the 'pink ladies' on the 'beach' alongside Rocky Valley Lake, after the final of the Pink Ribbon Challenge, was a hit with every
participant and the large spectator crowd. Every Dragons Abreast team member took part in a dance routine that was once again done to apt Annie Lennox track “Sisters are doing it for
themselves”.
Albury Ski Club Captain Gordon Douglas said, after his team had performed a copybook recovery from an unscheduled swim in Rocky Valley Lake, I'm very proud of my team - they are asked by the boat's sweep to number off which is standard procedure when a dragon boat rolls over.
"We won the ski club challenge for a second year in a row and we'll be back next year to defend our title."
The eagerly-awaited Mountain Challenge was a tight contest between five teams and the 'new paddlers' in this event from Mt Buller gave the Falls Creek-based team a stiff contest finishing in second place. The Jindabyne team was third.
Albury Bravehearts Pink were once again narrowly beaten by the Geelong Juggernauts in the annual Pink Ribbon Challenge.
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2009 Victorian Mile High Dragon Boat Championships
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January 22 2009
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 As the highest dragon boat event in Australia, approximately 1600m above sea level, the altitude will challenge your fitness, the locals will befriend you and win, lose or spectate, you will have a great weekend!
Hundreds of paddlers and spectators alike converge on the Rocky Valley foreshore for the Mile High Dragon Boat Championships. It is a very social weekend with lots of friendly rivalry and some fierce competition as the teams battle it out dragon head to dragon head. On the foreshore food and drinks, including a bar will be available. Saturday night the action continues with pre-race dinners and parties.
Sunday is race day, and the titles up for grabs include “The Victorian Mile High Champions”, “The Pink Ribbon”, “The Mountain Challenge”, “City Champions” “Club Lodge Champions”, ”Corporate Cup”, just to name a few. The winning team in each category is awarded the perpetual trophy, and medals go to each member of the top three teams in each category. After the trophies and medals are awarded on the foreshore, it’s time to head back to the village for the official Dragon Boat after Party!
Now in our 5th year running the Victorian Mile High Championship attracts teams from right across Victoria, Melbourne, interstate, and the surrounding regions.
Haven’t paddled a dragon boat before? Don’t worry on Saturday we provide all the necessary safety and skills training. Dragon Boats Victoria provide experienced helms and instructors, we have paddles, boats and buoyancy vests. All you need to do is get yourself a team together. A full boat will take 20 paddlers and one drummer, who will keep you all paddling in time. (BIG hint: Make sure you get all your team members weights so you can balance the boat).
Dragon Boating originated in China over 2,500 years ago and is now one of the fastest growing team water sports. So get your social, sporting or work group together and join the high life in Falls Creek for a sun-drenched, fun filled weekend of dragon boating, Australia Day celebrations and parties.
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