Seattle SAKE Paddling Club, Seattle’s oldest dragon boat organization, is proud to announce that two of its elite competitive crews—Survivor SAKE and SAKE Senior C—have earned highly coveted berths to represent the United States at the prestigious 2026 IDBF Club Crew World Championships (CCWC). The global event will take place on the pristine waters of Liyu Lake in Hualien, Taiwan.

Both crews punched their tickets to Taiwan following excellent performances at the U.S. National Championships in Florida. They will join thousands of elite athletes from roughly 30 countries at the biennial pinnacle event of club dragon boat racing.

Stories of Grit and Global Excellence

•Survivor SAKE (All-Survivor Crew): Survivor SAKE is composed entirely of athletes who have faced a cancer diagnosis. Embracing the mantra that an individual is a survivor from the exact moment a person gets diagnosed with cancer, the team leverages the rigorous full-body sport of dragon boating to promote physical healing, mental wellness, and deep-rooted camaraderie. Their transition from recreational paddlers to world championship contenders highlights an extraordinary journey of resilience.

•SAKE Senior C (60+ Mix Crew): Demonstrating that athletic excellence has no age limit, the Senior C division showcases SAKE’s premier master paddlers aged 60 and older. Known within the club community for their unmatched endurance, technique, and synchronized power, this crew secured their global berth by beating out top-tier regional and national programs.

Community Fundraising Mobilization

Because dragon boat racing is entirely self-funded, the athletes are currently organizing region-wide community campaigns to cover steep international travel, lodging, and logistics costs.

Supporters looking to aid the crews' journey can make a $50 donation and get a unique, custom artisan silk scarf hand-dyed by the paddlers themselves.  You can peruse the treasures by following this link, or in person at the following locations.  They make great gifts!

June 20th - 10am-4pm - Mount Baker Summer Festival

June 13th – 8am-6pm -  Seattle Dragon Boat Festival, where we'll also be racing!

May 9 - noon to 6pm - BluWater Bistro, at Leschi, just before Mothers' Day!

May 5 - 1pm to 3:30pm - Mount Baker Community Club, with Wider Horizon Artists

May 2 - 2pm to 6pm - Quarterdeck, Des Moines, WA

April 12th – 10am-5pm – Renton Municipal Arts Commission's Dragon’s Landing 

April 8th - 5pm-8:30pm – Trails End Taphouse & Restaurant in Snohomish –  Real Art Comes from Artists

Another way you can help the crew is by making a $12 donation, which will get you a carwash coupon!

Finally, you can ask us about corporate and community team-building paddles for a donation. These specialized sessions offer organizations a unique, hands-on opportunity to develop communication, trust, and synchronization while cutting through the water together. Participants will learn the fundamentals of paddling from experienced club members, transforming a standard group outing into an unforgettable, high-energy adventure. Ultimately, this will build stronger bonds within participating teams while ensuring SAKE Paddling Club continues to thrive and serve the community. Please, reach out to our head coach, Roula Bland about this.

We thank our community partners for their support of our fundraising efforts.