Schedule & Fees

Living Root is a Boston-based dragon boat team that has been churning up the Charles since 2005. We practice aboard our two sleek dragon boats several times per week and we race around the country and in Canada. We hold practice year-round, which includes indoor practice during the winter months. Practices are tough workouts designed to build strength and endurance. We race to win, and have fun along the way.

Blue Boat

Living Root’s Blue Boat is our advanced mixed crew. The Blue Boat is for paddlers who want to train hard and push themselves to win. Blue Boaters commit to attending two practices per week and they must pass a time trial. We provide extensive technical training to refine paddling technique and elevate race performance. Paddlers receive one-on-one outrigger canoe training sessions designed to improve form and endurance.

And Meet Your Living Root Coaches…

Sandy Parker has been paddling with Living Root since 2006 and has been its President since 2008. An ex-rower with an inability to be away from the water for too long, Sandy drums for Living Root’s Blue Boat and coaches paddlers of all levels. An avid athlete who is always trying to work on her own paddling, drumming and coaching technique, Sandy loves the challenge of getting 20 paddlers to perfect their form and put massive amounts of power in the water, all while having just a little bit of fun.

Dave Parker is Living Root’s team captain. He started paddling in 2006 and has been hooked ever since. No stranger to boats, he began sailing at 12, spent several years driving ships in the Navy, and now draws on his maritime experience to lead the team. An expert in paddling technique, Captain Parker excels at identifying problems and teaching solutions. Years of experience have taught him that truly anyone can become an amazing paddler with just a little training.

Chris Abramo was one of Living Root’s original members and then took a 4 year hiatus and re-joined in 2009. Never to be outdone in anything, he serves as Living Root’s unofficial race-day chef, and one of the most motivational people you may ever meet in your life. He coached one local community team of mostly new paddlers to C Division victory at the 2011 Boston Dragon Boat Race. Chris loves tearing up the Charles and scaring duck boat drivers and sailors alike while steering and he prides himself on being a positive voice for all of his teammates.

Amy Gilman is Living Root’s Strength and Conditioning Coach and Sports Nutritionist. She has held her personal training certification for ten years and is currently completing her internship requirements to become a Registered Dietitian in 2011. Amy specializes in functional training, weight management, corrective exercise, Pilates and other disciplines. Her job is to take you and make you a paddling machine! Pairing her expertise in training with nutrition she is a valuable resource and fine tunes the Living Root athletes. Amy has competed in Ballroom Dance, Martial Arts, Fitness competitions, and now, of course she is competing in Dragon Boat for Living Root.

Scott Gilman is loud. Promoted to Living Root Dragon Boat Coach in 2011, he can be heard bellowing his encouraging commands up and down the Charles River all week long. Scott is a firm believer in core stability, strength and endurance training and focuses on conditioning his athletes to be the best. A decade ago Scott was obese and now uses Living Root Dragon Boat as a method to maintain his health and fitness levels. He can often be heard mumbling about technique when he’s sleeping.

Teresa Lau has been paddling since she moved to Boston in the summer of 2009. In 2011, she started coaching LRDB after falling obsessively in love with both paddling and drumming. Teresa has always been a competitive athlete, but has never been this dedicated to a sport. She believes that anyone can excel at becoming a superb paddler, so she works with new paddlers on the Red Boat to help them learn Living Root’s technique and form, and loves to torture veteran Blue Boat paddlers to further perfect their skills. When drumming, Teresa often sings to help her teammates stay in time (but it’s not always pretty).

Living Root 2011 Race Schedule

Saturday, March 19
New York Indoor Paddling Regatta

Saturday, April 30
Run of the Charles

Saturday – Sunday, June 11-12
Boston Dragon Boat Race and Festival

Saturday – Sunday, July 23-24
Montreal International Dragon Boat Race and Festival

Saturday – Sunday, August 20-21
Riverfront Dragon Boat Race, Hartford CT

Saturday, September 10
Rhode Island Chinese Dragon Boat Race and Taiwan Day Festival

Thursday, September 22 – Monday, September 26
Shanghai International Chinese Dragon Boat Invitational

Saturday, October 1
Philadelphia International Dragon Boat Race

Saturday, November 12
Miami Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival