TO BOOK NOW, click June 9 on the calendar and you will be taken to the registration page.

The 2012 Paddle the Dragon races are part of the NW Adventure Sports Festival and the Race for Your Life series. These fun, challenging races are open to all human-powered watercraft, including (but not limited to) outrigger canoes, standup paddle boards, surf skis, kayaks and canoes. 

Racers have two options: the long course or the short course.

Long course: 15K / 8 nautical miles / 9.2 miles, for intermediate to advanced paddlers. This takes racers from Port Gamble Bay, along the east shoreline, across the Hood Canal to Hood Head (to a giant driftwood dragon), along the west Hood Canal shoreline and back to the Port Gamble waterfront. Points from this race will go towards the Race for Your Life race series. See RaceForYourLife.net for details.

Short course: 5K / 3 nautical miles / 2.7 miles, for beginning to advanced paddlers who want to paddle competitively or just for fun. Short course racers start with the long course paddlers at the mouth of Port Gamble Bay and paddle along Hood Canal's east shoreline. A marked buoy will show where to turn around to head back to the finish line.

Course maps will posted and sent to registrants as soon as possible. 

Cost (pricing is the same for both races)

Early Bird (through April 9): Adults $40, (Youth 17 and under) $25

Registration April 10 - June2: Adults $45, Youth (17 and under) $30

Late Registration (June 2 - June 9): Adults $50, Youth (17 and under) $35

Additional Information

Safety is of utmost importance to us! There will be safety boaters equipped with VHF radios and rescue equipment on the water at all times in case of emergencies.  However, we expect racers to help others in need if they come upon a capsized racer.

More information will be e-mailed to you once you register, but you can always feel free to contact us with questions at programs@kayakproshop.com or (360) 297-4659.

8:00 am: registration opens

9:30 am: registration closes

10:00 am: mandatory racer meeting for ALL races

10:30 am: race starts

Awards: time to be announced.

All day: demos, clinics and vendors!

Things To Bring

• Boat
• Paddle
• Properly fitted personal flotation device
• Emergency whistle
• Friends and family to cheer you on and enjoy the Festival afterwards.

Inclusions

All racers who register before May 25 will receive: an event t-shirt, a raffle ticket for awesome outdoor equipment, a demo pass to try all the kayaks, standup paddleboards, Werner Paddles, Kokatat and other outdoor equipment at the Festival, free clinics and other goodies.

Exclusions

Registrations after May 25 are not guaranteed an event t-shirt.

Cancellation Policy

We run races rain or shine, but if we deem winds to make conditions too dangerous the day of the event we will give a 50% refund.

If you find you need to cancel:
*Cancellation more than a week in advance: 20% administration fee.
* Cancellation between a week and 24 hours prior to race: 50% administration fee.
* Cancellation within 24 hours of race or no-show: sorry, no refunds

Pickup/Departure

8:00 am: registration opens at the Port Gamble waterfront (see parking information below)

9:45 am: registration closes

10:00 am: mandatory racer meeting for ALL races

10:30 am: race starts

Awards: time to be announced.

There is a boat launch at the Festival waterfront. Please contact Spring if you have questions about the boat launch: programs@kayakproshop.com or (360) 265-2477.

Drop-Off

BOAT DROP: Please register before dropping your boat off--we will direct you as to where to take it.

PARKING: Parking is right next to the Festival site at the Port Gamble Waterfront. Go to the stop sign just past the Olympic Outdoor Center at 32379 Rainier Avenue, Port Gamble, WA 98364, turn right and you will be directed to the parking area.

Additional Locations

Availability: Sorry, there is no availability left for this option