Join us!
Interested in being a part of our family?
We would love to have you on board!
Joining any athletic program can be intimidating, but we strive to make joining our team as simple yet exciting as possible! We accept paddlers from all skill levels, whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned veteran. Outside of our many team-hosted socials and optional conditionings, we generally host our primary practices once a week on Sundays at Redwood City, California. But as we are students before paddlers, we do not require our paddlers to attend any practices in the event of schedule and accademic conflicts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I eligible to join SJDB

SJDB is affiliated with San Jose State University (SJSU), and as a result, we will primary cater our program towards members of the SJSU community. However, several of our members are alumni or are paddlers from other universities, so we may still be able to accomodate those looking to join that are not a part of SJSU. Feel free to contact any of our officers regarding the logistics of your eligibility.

I cant swim! Will I be safe during practice?

As dragon boat is a water sport, expect to get wet on occasion during practices. Being on a boat, there is a very rare posibility that the boat may capsize or flip over. However, all of our team members are required to wear personal floatation decices (PFDs), regardless of their swimming abilities. We take the safety and protection of our athletes very seriously, and not being able to swim will not endanger you.

How much experience is required?

None at all! The majority of our paddlers had zero prior experience before joining. We will teach you all that you need to know in order to be successful in the sport of dragon boat. However, if you do have experiece, we graciously welcome you to our team as well. We have several accomplished paddlers, with some of our paddlers being members of the US national collegiate team.

How competitive is SJDB

Historically, we reguarly have competed in several races throughout the year. However, with the covid-19 pandemic, we have had to take a step back from serious competition. However, we plan to transition back to being a very competitive team when it is safe to do so. In the meantime, we are enjoying hosting lots of social events that our paddlers enjoy taking part in.

How will we get to the practice site

As most of us are students living in SJSU or near surrounding areas, most of us rely on carpooling to get to the practice site. We are very thankful and appreciate for the student drivers that drive us to and from practice.

What is the required commitment level to join?

We host our primary practices on a weekly basis, which last 1-2 hours on average. We also encourage our paddlers to attend optional dryland practices throughout the week through our "workout pod" system. However, as we are students before paddlers, we do not hold paddlers accountable for meeting practices, as we want our paddlers to prioritze their accademic success. But during racing seasons, paddler attendence and performance may be accounted for when drafting members for our most compeititve boats.

Where do practices take place?

Our practice site is in redwood city, which is a 25-30 minute commute from SJSU. We are currently working to get a more local practice site for future practices.

I don't have my own paddle/PFD, can I still participate?

Though many of our paddlers have their own paddles and gear, SJDB will provide paddles/pfds to anyone who currently doesn't have access to them.

What should I bring to practice?

We recommend bringing sandals or flip-flops and clothing that you don't mind getting wet. Bring a water bottle, and sunscreen if you are prone to getting sunburnt