Here there be dragons
By Lethbridge Herald on May 21, 2025.
Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative
After a 10-month selection cycle, six local dragon boat athletes have paddled their way to top spots on the 18U and 24U National Dragon Boat teams.
They will compete at the 17th International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany, from July 16-20.
The Dragonboat Association of Southern Alberta (DASA) announced that Ella Veilleux, Sierra Smith, Bobby Zhao, Kylie Marshall and Madison Kisinger will represent DASA and Canada on the world stage as a part of the 18U National Team. For Kylie Marshall, this will be her first time representing Team Canada.
“Honestly this is the most exciting thing that has happened to me,” says Marshall. “My teammates and I have been working really hard for the last year and it feels great to see all our hard work pay off. It’s been hard to stay motivated throughout the year but with my team and coaches support I pushed through. Honestly I don’t think I would have made it without them.
Thank you for the continued support and love. It has truly helped all of us stay motivated throughout this process.”
Sierra Smith, who participated in the 2023 Championships in Thailand, says she’s excited to go back.
“I’m sure it will be amazing to represent Team Canada again. I’ve put in a lot of effort to make it. It’s not any easier the second time. The second time around you have a more solid understanding of the intensity that needs to be upheld to perform well.”
Joining them on Team Canada with the 24U National Team will be their home teammate and DASA Youth Director Mia Chalmet. Athletes are eligible for 18U if they are between ages 12-18, inclusive and for 24U if they are between ages 12-24, inclusive, in 2025.
“Being able to represent your country more than once is truly such an honour and a privilege,” says Chalmet. “You get to compete on the biggest stage doing the sport that you love all while making lifelong friends. Going into the upcoming competition, I look forward to reconnecting with previous teammates and coaches that have helped along my dragon boating journey”
According to their coach, Karen Johnson, each of the athletes has put in countless hours of training and effort. During the National Team camp in Lethbridge over Thanksgiving weekend last year, the Junior paddlers demonstrated incredible commitment during initial testing.
Following the national team fitness program, training twice a week on the paddle ergometer (PERG), a specialized rowing machine used to simulate the movements and resistance of paddling, particularly in sports like dragon boating; they also spent many training sessions on the poolside and in the gym. Johnson says they’ve shown remarkable growth and confidence.
“As their coach, I couldn’t be more proud. Remember, it’s not about building the perfect athlete – .it’s about building a confident, resilient human who happens to paddle,” said Johnson. “I know that they will keep striving, stay confident, and never forget the power of perseverance.”
The 18U and 24U paddlers will compete in 200 meter, 500 meter, 1000 meter and 2000 meter races over the seven days of competition. For Veilleux, Smith, and Chalmet, this is their second time representing Canada, as they paddled with Team Canada in the 2023 Championships in Thailand.
Dragon boat racing, an ancient Chinese tradition, made its debut in Canada at Expo 86 in Vancouver in 1986. It gained popularity and spread across the country, particularly in Alberta, where dragon boat festivals and races became established events. Lethbridge hosts an annual dragon boat festival.
The 2025 Lethbridge ATB Rotary Dragon Boat Festival runs from June 27-29 at Henderson Lake Park.
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