Dave Vizcaino

“I reluctantly started dragon boat 3 years ago. The last thing I was looking for in my 40s was a new sport, but my wife joined the local recreational team in Gig Harbor and quickly caught the bug. It took nearly a year, but I finally gave it a shot too and found a welcoming community where I learned the basics of the sport. Mostly, it was just a lot of fun! While I am a registered nurse, I also have a background in exercise physiology. For me, dragon boat is the perfect combination of exercise, being outdoors, and spending time socially with like-minded folks. What could be healthier than that? The competitive desire came later. I joined WAM (Washington Masters) during the 2018 season. At the time, Coach Lesley Blythe was preparing the top members of her team to compete at CCWC in Hungary. Their focus, intensity and dedication to the sport were wildly inspiring to me. The competitive fire inside me was officially lit and I set my sights on worlds in 2020.

My most memorable dragon boat moment so far was at USDBF Nationals 2019 in Colorado Springs. WAM had trained all year with the goal of earning a berth to CCWC 2020 in France. The WAM Senior A crew needed to finish in the top two to control our own destiny. The competition for the top two spots was fierce and the silver medal came down to a tie-breaker decision. When it was announced that we had won the silver medal, it was exhilarating! For a year and a half, I had worked hard to improve myself and help the team in any way I could, but in reality, it was the collective efforts of the more experienced paddlers on WAM who helped catapult the newer members onto that podium. That’s what I love most about dragon boat: it is the ultimate team sport. 

Fast-forward 6 months. CCWC is postponed. At work, I am currently helping patients fight COVID19. So much uncertainty right now, but inside me there remains a smoldering fire.”

[Dave Vizcaino (Gig Harbor, WA, USA), paddler/strength & conditioning coach on Washington Masters (WAM), paddler on Gig Harbor Dragons.]

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