Ethan Palmer

“I started dragon boat on a whim, a whim that quickly evolved into a full-on love affair. I was training full time for Sprint Kayak at Lake Lanier in Gainesville, GA when I was offered a paddle and a seat in a dragon boat walking off the dock after kayak practice 3 weeks before U.S National Team trials. That’s all it took. I was hooked.

My favorite dragon boat memory is finding the sport itself. I am a longtime paddlesports athlete in rowing, adventure racing and whitewater paddling and recently started earning my stripes in sprint kayaking, yet, I had no idea this sport even existed until I was offered a seat. Utilizing knowledge of body mechanics and leverage for all other water sports, the stoke came naturally. I had one of “those moments” of: this is exactly what I’m made to do. This first memory has given direction and focus to my new mission of developing and growing the popularity, recognition, and involvement of elite athlete programs into the sport.”

[Ethan Palmer (Stonington, CT, USA), paddler on ICF & IDBF US national teams.]

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