Vancouver Lake Dragon Boating: Catch-22

What a day at the Tacoma Dragon Boat Race on May 13! 🌦️⚡🌪️🐉

This year’s races brought everything — sunshine, strong competition, friendships, medals, thunder, lightning, heavy rain, and even a developing baby tornado/storm system rolling across the water. Through every weather change, the Catch-22 teams showed resilience, teamwork, and heart.

Final race highlights:
🏅 Catch-22 Hurricane — 1st Place, Mixed A Final — 1:27.11
🏅 Catch-22 Tsunami — 2nd Place, Women A Final — 1:39.17
🏅 Catch-22 Monsoon — 3rd Place, Women A Final — 1:43.44
🏅 Catch-22 Osprey — 2nd Place, Survivor Final — 1:46.16
🏅 Catch-22 Storm — 4th Place, Women D Final — 1:53.13

No matter the conditions on the water, our teams kept paddling hard, cheering each other on, and making unforgettable memories together. Dragon boating is about more than medals — it’s about friendship, perseverance, community, and showing up for one another through sunshine and storms.

Huge thanks to our teammates, volunteers, supporters, and race organizers for an unforgettable event. Already counting down to the next race! 💙

🏆 Gold for CATCH-22 PNW (like they called us there) – and an Unforgettable Austin Adventure!

This win was about so much more than race day. Our journey to the Austin Dragon Boat Festival on April 25, 2026, was filled with heart, hustle, and a whole lot of Texas heat. ☀️

Coming into the competition, we knew we were a bit unconventional—just 2 men in our 22-person boat, competing against teams that were evenly split. But what we may have lacked in traditional composition, we made up for in reach, catch, and press. And it showed when we crossed that finish line in 2:22.74, claiming a gold medal in Division B.

And the conditions? No joke. The boats were incredibly reactive—so much so that three boats hulied within the first 11 heats, keeping everyone on edge and reminding us just how important balance, timing, and trust really are.

Off the water, Austin gave us an experience to remember:
🚴‍♀️ Cruising through the city on bike tours
🦇 Watching the iconic bats take flight at sunset
🌿 Wandering through beautiful botanical gardens
🍖 Eating our way through legendary Texas barbecue
💃 Dancing the night away with some classic two-step
🥵 And yes—surviving the heat and humidity like champs

This trip was about connection, resilience, and joy—on and off the water. We came as a team and left as something even stronger.

Austin, you brought the challenge. CATCH-22 brought the gold.

Hello, Texas!! Catch-22 is here for the Austin Dragon Boat Festival!

🌊 Huli Drill 🌊
Hosted by Kikaha O Ke Kai

Join us on April 12, 2026 from 3–5PM for a huli drill session at Pacific Lutheran University (12180 Park Ave S, Tacoma, WA).
This is a great opportunity to practice safety skills, build confidence on the water, and connect with the paddling community 🤙

✅ Free for all PNWORCA members

👉 Please complete your waiver prior to attending:
www.kikaha.com/waivers⁠

Come ready to learn, get wet, and support each other out there! 💙

Catch-22 has two upcoming events for prospective paddlers:

February 1 - Meetup event at Vancouver Lake. Come try dragonboating!! 2:00 PM

February 8 - Kickoff meeting at Prairie Tavern. 10:00 AM

Find out more and RSVP on our Meetup page.

Join me at Catch-22 Dragon Boat Team- New Paddler Recruitment Event https://meetu.ps/e/PMMSp/mfTdH/i

Join me at Catch-22 Season Kickoff Meeting https://meetu.ps/e/PJNNj/mfTdH/i

meetu.ps

Sunday afternoon practice.

Catch-22 @ the Fadin by 9 concert, featuring our team member Ben Shafton on bass!

Surprisingly dry practice tonight. Beautiful fall afternoon.

What an incredible Portland Dragon Boat Race! 🐉🚣‍♀️ The energy, the teamwork, the splashes, and the finish-line thrills were off the charts. To everyone who paddled, cheered, volunteered, and made this event happen — YOU are what made this 2025 race unforgettable.

Huge shout-out and thanks to Steven Martine Photography Inc. for capturing all the excitement so beautifully.

🚨 We Need Your Help 🚨

Over the summer, Vancouver Lake Rowing Club — home to so many of us in the dragon boating community — has been hit by multiple break-ins and theft of critical operating equipment. These losses impact every team that rows and paddles on the lake.

A Givebutter campaign has been set up to help us:
✅ Replace stolen equipment
✅ Rent a trailer with lights and cameras to better monitor our facility
✅ Reinforce perimeter fencing and upgrade entrances to our boathouses and storage

👉 Please consider making a donation if you are able, or help us by sharing this campaign with friends and family. Every bit of support makes a difference.

📲 You can even text to donate: Text EQUIPVLC to 53-555
💻 Donate here: https://givebutter.com/PhDHmi

Together, we can come back stronger than ever. 💙 Thank you for being part of this community.

2025 VLRC Equipment Replacement Fundraiser In spite of setbacks, our commitment to youth rowers, dragon boaters, and master athletes remains strong!