3/28-29/26 - 2026 Arizona Dragon Boat Festival 

The 2026 Arizona Dragon Boat Festival, held in Tempe, Arizona, pushed the team to its limits over a demanding two-day competition in intense desert heat. Facing premier programs from across the nation, the team delivered strong performances and secured victories in multiple divisions.

In the Collegiate Division, both the A and B boats performed at a high level, with each qualifying for the A Division Final—an achievement not reached in the past decade. The A Boat dominated the field, capturing 1st place by a significant margin and defeating top programs such as UCLA, UCB, and UCI. The B Boat also impressed, placing 3rd in the 250m Knockout races and 2nd in the Guts and Glory Division, outperforming several Arizona-based teams on their home waters. Meanwhile, the A Boat continued to compete against the nation’s fastest crews in the Division A 250m Knockouts and Guts and Glory races, finishing 4th overall in both events.

The Women’s Boat and Open Boat also delivered strong performances against highly competitive fields. The Women’s Boat advanced to the Division A Women’s Final, earning a 5th-place finish overall. The Open Boat narrowly missed qualification for its final, falling short by just 0.14 seconds.

The Arizona Dragon Boat Festival remains a highlight of the season due to its wide range of race categories and consistently high level of competition. It also provides a valuable opportunity to race against national team paddlers, as well as former coaches and mentors. With this experience, the team now turns its focus toward continued training in preparation for the final race of the season in April.