Top 22 Holiday Gifts for Dragon Boaters

A Few of My Favorite Things

If your family exchanges gifts for the holidays, your loved ones may be struggling with finding great paddling-oriented gifts. With the help of some paddling friends, I compiled a list of favorite gifts for dragon boaters. Hint: share this list with your family so they know exactly what you’d like this season. Happy Holidays!

1) A lightweight, carbon fiber paddle with tons of designs to choose from, Hornet Paddle designs are printed directly on the carbon fiber and you can even create your own design!

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2) The Dragon Saddle is not only the most comfortable way to protect your posterior, it also comes in tons of groovy colors to help express your personality.

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3) A pair of Hydroskin paddling pants* from NRS for cold weather are the most amazing pants made of Terraprene (a neoprene material) that will keep your legs warm and happy while paddling.

paddlechica-nrs-hydroskin-pants

4) What paddler doesn’t want amazing footage of that victorious moment when you crossed the finish line ahead of all the other teams? Bob Mina, Team USA paddler and film-maker extraordinaire, always has his Go Pro camera* and accessories* with him and makes the most amazing movies we all treasure. Those who already own a GoPro will still be quite happy with any of the multitude of mounts and accessories available for the camera.

paddlechica-go-pro

5) A lightweight, portable chair is a great way to rest in between heats at races. There can be a lot of downtime on race day, but who wants to lug around a heavy chair? This fantastic chair is sturdy enough to hold you, but light enough to make that gold medal seem heavy.

paddlechica-chair

6) I love the Volcom brand long-sleeved,  UV protection jersey*. They are lightweight, yet they offer 50+ SPF in the fabric. I wore mine while paddling three days through the Panama Canal and it kept me cool and sunburn-free.

paddlechica-volcom-rashguard

7) A paddle bag is a great way to protect your blade. Full paddle bags and basic blade covers are available, each with their own benefits. Some prefer the full bag as it comes with a strap to free up your hands when carrying all your gear to a race site. Others prefer the minimalist approach to a simple blade cover and, as one paddler suggested, you can stuff it with a light jacket and use it as a pillow for power naps between heats. Contact Hornet Watersports to order yours.

paddlechica-hornet-paddle-bag-2 paddlechica-hornet-paddle-bag

8) With polarized lenses, a built-in headstrap you can adjust with one hand, and lightweight frames that float, you really can’t go wrong with a pair of Sea Specs* sunglasses.  I’ve been wearing Sea Specs for over 4 years and I love them.

paddlechica-sea-specs

 

9) It’s important to keep those feet warm while paddling with a pair of neoprene booties* for that cold weather. Water inevitably ends up in the bottom of the boat and when it’s cold, that can be really uncomfortable. These boots keep your feet nice and toasty.

paddlechica-neoprene-booties

10) And why not add a pair of paddling gloves* for cold spring mornings? NRS makes a pair of gloves that have excellent insulation and flexibility with their own HydroCuff to keep water out and warmth in.

paddlechica-nrs-paddling-gloves

11) While you’re considering keeping out the wet and cold, a paddling jacket* will keep you warm and dry at the beginning of the season.

paddlechica-drysuit-paddle-jacket

12) What dragon boater couldn’t use an excellent sports massage? All those knots and kinks need to be worked out and now is the perfect time to do it. There are so many benefits to massage!

paddlechica-massage

13) Most races that do require PFDs now allow the inflatable PFDs* (personal floatation devices), so many paddlers are abandoning their old, heavy lifevests in favor of the lightweight belt packs that don’t get in your way when you paddle.

paddlechica-inflatable-pfd

14) Team membership fees. Having your team membership fees covered for the year is a wonderful treat.

Photo: Aixa Ramos

Photo: Aixa Ramos

Stocking Stuffers

15) A teammate of mine introduced me to these Nuun electrolyte tabs* a few months ago when I was dehydrated at the San Francisco race. I had flown across the country and was already dehydrated from the flight, then a day in the hot California sun and dry climate didn’t help. Thankfully, these tablets certainly did their job and I was back to feeling strong in no time.

paddlechica-nuun-electrolyte-tablets1

16) When all the paddles start to look alike, it’s nice to easily know which one is yours with a custom name decal* for your paddle. Have your name made into a decal in the font you choose and slap that onto your paddle so your teammates don’t run home with it.

17) You know that annoying sound on the boat when a water bottle goes rolling around? Or when it bounces back and forth with every stroke and surge of the boat? You can avoid ticking off your teammates with a Platypus water bottle* that won’t clank around in the boat, packs up small and is super lightweight.

paddlechica-platypus-wateer-bottle

18) I swear by Rock tape*. I’ve had multiple shoulder injuries and, more recently, a sprained wrist. Rock tape has been a lifesaver and has kept me paddling. I am actually known for wearing this tape. In fact, fellow Team USA paddler Kevin McFadden jokingly mocked me in a team skit in 2011 by wearing masking tape over nearly all of his body. What can I say? It helps!

Photo: Rachel Belino

Photo: Rachel Belino

19) We are out on the water in the hot sun most of the time. Obviously we need large quantities of sunscreen. I love Avasol. No toxic chemicals means it’s good for you AND the environment. And with a biodegradable tube, you really can’t go wrong.

paddlechica_sunscreen_avasol

20) A waterproof bag* for your smartphone. Not that you’d be accepting a business call during practice, but it’s nice to have your phone on board. Who knows when you want to snap a photo of that amazing sunrise or that leaping dolphin? It’s also a good idea to have a phone in case of an emergency.

This pouch is a great way to protect your precious smartphone from water. However, it is important to remember that although this pouch makes your phone waterproof, it is not sink-proof. It will still sink to the bottom of the ocean/river/lake faster than you can say “paddles up,” so consider buying a floaty* to attach to it.

paddlechica-waterproof-smartphone-pouchpaddlechica-floaty

21) Stonyboater Dragon Wax is made of mostly beeswax, has a high tolerance for heat and also works well in colder water. It’s a great way to keep a strong grip on your paddle.

paddlechica-stonyboater-wax

22) Another way to ensure a strong grip on your paddle, Gorilla Gold* is a sticky rag that golfers use with their clubs. Just rub the rag between your hands and/or on the shaft and handle of your paddle and you’ll have a solid, slip-free grip.

paddlechica-gorilla-gold

And, of course (shameless plug here!), if all else fails a paddlechica tank top, shirt or sweatshirt is always a fabulous gift!

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*In the spirit of full disclosure, some of the links on this website are affiliate links, which means that I may earn a referral commission if you make a purchase using the link. When you make a purchase, the price you pay will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website using a non-affiliate link. By using the affiliate links, you are helping support the paddlechica.com website, and I genuinely appreciate your support. I promise to only recommend products that I use and love myself, so I know you’ll be in good hands. Amazon affiliate disclosure: Kristin Stickels is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

A big thank you to all the paddlers who contributed ideas for this blog post: Suzi Cloutier, Julie Deters, Aimee Edwards, LiLin Gaab, Raquel Gonzalez Riano, Megan Kress, Margie Kron, Gary Langhans, Lis Leist, Laura Maxwell McGinnis, Bob McNamara, Bob Mina, Jim Morris, John Murillo, Aixa Ramos, Emilia Rastrick, Luz Ross, Sonali Singh, Leah Varga, Paul Verscheure, Wojtek Wasilewski, Susan Weinand, Thomas Yoo, Charisse Yudin, and Richard Yudin.

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6 Discussion to this post

  1. Gerri. Thank you for putting the list of items to put on my list for gifts from friends and families for the holidays or birthdays. Happy Holidays to you too! says:

    Thank you for putting the list of items to put on my list for gifts from friends and families for the holidays or birthdays. Happy Holidays to you too!

  2. Diana says:

    Great list!

    Sent from my iPhone

    >

  3. Jeff Hanson says:

    Does Bob Mina have an specialized mounts for dragon boat? We had a plan for 4 drones with GoPros that are sync’d to follow the boat but that seem technically challenging. I talked at the world championships with a coach from Canada about a a frame that is held by paddlers and can capture about 4 benches worth.

    • paddlechica says:

      Thanks for your question. I’ve sent Bob a message and will hopefully get a reply soon…

      • Bob Mina says:

        Kristin, Jeff,

        Hi there! Been crushed at work this week; to her defense, Kristin wrote to me on Wednesday, and I just haven’t had time to reply.

        I don’t use anything special for my GoPro setup beyond the Suction Cup mount (works best on the smooth, interior surfaces of the boat, and only above 50F), and the “Jaws” clamp – both available at GoPro’s Online Store.

        It’s remarkably vanilla. :)

  4. Jeff Hanson says:

    Thanks for the information. I guess what I’m really looking for is usage. I’ve put my camera on my head (at the stern) and on the drummer. I’ve seen examples with the camera on the hull ahead of the first row and pointed back. Kinda cool but not really that useful for coaching. So if you are on the interior where is the camera pointed?

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