Youth paddling

Ages 14-19 | All Skill Levels

Overview

The Lotus Sports Club youth program offers opportunities to have fun and make new friends while developing paddling skills and competing in both dragon boat and outrigger canoe racing. Our spring program (April to June) focuses on dragon boat paddling, with teams competing in the Concord Pacific International Dragon Boat Festival at the end of June. From July to the end of August, paddlers train and race in Hawaiian outrigger canoes and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs).

Our experienced and certified coaches emphasize safety, positive sporting behaviour, and enjoyment of the marine environment. Youth from ages 14 and up train and compete throughout the paddling season. Youth paddlers can:

Learn paddling skills and develop confidence on the water
Train with experienced and certified coaches
Build teamwork, leadership, and communication skills
Experience the challenge and excitement of competition
Make new friends and become part of a supportive paddling community

Coach’s experience working with the junior teams (comment on their growth, etc.)

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I have been working with these guys for years now! With lots of hard work and timely communication, they made sure they delivered the best to me. Highly recommended!

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Programs

The Lotus Sports Club youth program offers opportunities to develop paddling skills and compete in both dragon boat and outrigger canoe racing. Our spring program (April to June) focuses on dragon boat paddling, with teams competing in the Concord Pacific International Dragon Boat Festival. From July to mid-October, paddlers train and race in Hawaiian outrigger canoes and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs).

Over the years, the youth program has earned many championships in both dragon boats and outrigger canoes, including the Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival. Lotus youth outrigger teams have also competed in national and international competitions, including the Queen Liliʻuokalani Race in Kona in Hawaii. Race participation varies year to year, at the discretion of the coach(es).

Youth Dragon Boat Program (April – June)

Ages 14-18

The spring dragon boat program introduces youth paddlers to the excitement of team racing, where they develop timing, technique, and teamwork while preparing for competition. Paddlers build confidence and experience through training and participation in the Concord Pacific International Dragon Boat Festival held in Vancouver.

When

Tuesdays @ 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM

View the full practice schedule

Leads

Ken Asano, Grace Morissette & Tyler Lee

Contact

Have questions? Email for program and registration details.

Youth Outrigger + SUP Program (July – August)

Ages 14-19

From July to the end of August, youth paddlers transition from training in dragon boats to paddling outrigger canoe and SUP for the summer months.

New paddlers are also welcome to begin outrigger training at the beginning of July. The summer paddling program focuses on the development of paddling skills, endurance, and race strategy. The program provides opportunities to challenge themselves, compete at local events (at the coach’s discretion), and experience the unique culture and tradition of outrigger canoeing. The youth outrigger program ends before the start of the school year.

When

Tuesdays @ 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM

View the full practice schedule

Leads

Tyler Lee & Ayden Mikita

Contact

Have questions? Email for program and registration details.

Safety

Safety is our top priority. Youth paddlers will be provided with a properly fitted, Coast Guard-approved PFD (life jacket) and must wear it whenever they are on the water. Our coaches will make sure each paddler knows how to put on and wear their PFD properly.

We maintain a higher-than-standard ratio of adults to youth paddlers. All youth coaches are certified through the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP), Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC), and/or the Recreational Canoeing Association of British Columbia (RCABC).

Outrigger paddlers must be confident swimmers. As part of our safety requirements, all youth paddlers must demonstrate that they can safely recover from a flipped canoe (huli) and successfully remount an SUP before paddling.

How to join

Registration

Our youth programs are very popular, and spaces are limited by the number of boats, coaches, and steerspeople available. Programs often fill up quickly:

Dragon boat: Registration closes before the end of March.
Youth outrigger: Registration closes by mid-June.

Email to inquire or register. If the paddler has previous experience, please include a brief summary of their training and paddling background.

Fees

Visit our Fees page for program costs.

Prepare for your first session

Once your registration is confirmed, complete the steps outlined on the Membership page.

Bring a signed copy of the Junior Informed Consent Form to your first practice.
Outrigger paddlers must have Canadian Outrigger Racing Association (CORA) membership for insurance before getting on the water.

Please refer to the FAQ section for more.

Join today

Lotus offers affordable youth paddling programs for all experience levels. Email to register or inquire.

Email us

FAQ

If this is your first time paddling with Lotus, please read our frequently asked questions:

What should I wear / bring?

Clothing: Dress for the weather and wear light layers. You will get wet; synthetics work well and avoid cotton. Absolutely no denim/jeans is allowed in the boat. A water-resistant outer layer is recommended when it’s raining.
Footwear: Water shoes, sandals or old runners (or any footwear you are willing to get wet). You’ll need to walk down to the beach where there are barnacles, broken shells, and rocks. Wear shoes that have a heel strap that will stay on or take off your shoes once you are on the watercraft (boat / SUP).
Change of clothes and a towel: Thre are changerooms at the clubhouse but no showers.
Water bottle: There is a water dispenser at the clubhouse. For OC6, you can bring the water bottle aboard. For SUP, you won’t be able to carry your water bottle on the SUP unless you have a waist pack for it or attach it to your PFD with a carabiner.
Sun protection: hat with a brim, sunglasses (with a safety strap) and sunscreen are highly recommended.

Do I need to know how to swim?

Yes, it is important that you know how to swim. If you are not a strong swimmer, please let your steersperson/leader know.

Youth outrigger paddlers must be confident swimmers, with no exceptions. Outrigger paddling encompasses a wide variety of skills, canoes, and races; it is mandatory for all youth paddlers to demonstrate successful recovery and re-entry from a full huli (flipping and recovering) of a canoe, and a successful remount of an SUP.

You must wear a properly fitted Canadian Coast Guard–approved personal flotation device (PFD) if:
– You cannot comfortably tread water for 15 minutes
– You are paddling a SUP
– You are a youth paddler (coaches will show you how to put one on correctly)

Do I need to bring my own paddle, PFD, boat / SUP board?

No, we provide boats, paddles and personal floatation devices (PFDs). All SUP paddlers must properly wear a Canadian Coast Guard approved PFD.

Will I get wet?

Yes, it’s a water sport, so you might get wet! Please bring a towel and a complete change of clothes. We have changerooms on site but no showers.

Where are you located? Is there free parking?

We are located in Barnet Marine Park. There is plenty of free parking, but be sure to check the posted signs, as parking time limits vary throughout the year. On sunny weekends, the parking lots can fill up early, so we recommend arriving early.

After entering the park, drive to the west end of the parking lot. Park and walk down the road and cross the railway tracks. The clubhouse is the large brick building immediately on your right.

What’s expected of me?

We want everyone at Lotus to have a great time. Please take a moment to read our Code of Conduct. It’s simple: be kind, be respectful, and treat others the way you’d like to be treated.