Episodes
Every episode of Paddles Ready — watch the video, listen to the audio, or read the full article.
EP07: The Race to Catch China: Inside USA Dragon Boating’s Rise with Tommy Leonardi
Can the USA catch China in dragon boating? That’s the question at the centre of this episode of Paddles Ready, as Dougie and Hando sit down with Tommy Leonardi for a deep dive into the rapid rise of USA dragon boating on the world stage.
EP06: How Canada Became a Dragon Boat Powerhouse with Julie Robitaille
How did Canada become one of the strongest dragon boat nations in the world? In this episode of Paddles Ready, Dougie and Hando sit down with Julie Robitaille, President of Dragon Boat Canada, for a deep dive into the rise of Canadian dragon boating on the world stage.
EP05: Is Dragon Boating a Sport or Just a Festival?
It’s a question that comes up more often than you’d think and in this episode of Paddles Ready, Dougie and Hando dive straight into it.
EP04: “We Are a Sport” — The Fight to Define Dragon Boating’s Future with Claudio Schermi
“We are a sport.” It’s a simple statement but it sits at the centre of one of the biggest conversations in dragon boating today.
EP03: “This Could Be Their Last Adventure” — The Power of Dragon Boating with Meri Gibson
“This could be their last adventure.” For thousands of paddlers around the world, dragon boating is more than a sport, it’s community, recovery, purpose and in some cases, a final chapter lived to the fullest.
EP02: Why Isn't Dragon Boating in the Olympics?
What a weekend. In Episode 2, Dougie and Hando wrap up the Australian National Titles from Kawana Waters after a massive few days of racing, interviews, club stories, and paddling chaos.
EP01: It's Here! Welcome to the Paddles Ready Podcast
It’s here. Paddles Ready has officially launched. 🌍 In this first episode, Dougie and Hando kick things off by sharing how Paddles Ready went from a simple idea in Berlin to a global platform for paddle racing and dragon boating.
QLD State Titles 2026 - Event Wrap-Up & What's Next
Dougie wraps up the Queensland State Titles weekend with the numbers, the lessons learned, and a look ahead at what's coming for Paddles Ready — including plans for Nationals coverage with more cameras, athlete interviews, and behind-the-scenes content.
QLD State Titles 2026 - Day 2 Full Livestream
Day 2 of the Queensland Dragon Boat State Titles — nearly three hours of semi-finals, finals, and championship racing. The stakes are higher, the margins are tighter, and the commentary is turned up to eleven.
QLD State Titles 2026 - Day 1 Full Livestream
Full live race commentary from Day 1 of the Queensland Dragon Boat State Titles. Over four hours of heats, semis, and finals across Senior, Premier, and Open divisions — featuring crews from Gold Coast, Brisbane River Dragons, Kumra, Red Cliff, Sunny Coast, and more.
QLD State Titles 2026 - Race Highlights
The best moments from the Queensland Dragon Boat State Titles in under 5 minutes — closest finishes, biggest upsets, and the races that had the crowd on their feet.
QLD State Titles 2026 - Medal Presentations & Awards
The medal presentations and trophy ceremonies from the Queensland Dragon Boat State Titles — including the Ian Peters Trophy for fastest standard openers and the 500m championship awards.