ABOUT US
WHO WE ARE
We are a community of athletes who enjoy paddling competitively together. We strive to be strong physically and mentally for ourselves and for one another. We are supportive of each other's paths to be the best on and off the water. We believe hard work makes us strong and teamwork helps us win. And fun builds a family.
Catch22 paddlers have a range of fitness interests. We are powerlifters, weightlifters, yogis, kettlebell enthusiasts, runners, bikers, hikers, walkers, outrigger paddlers, erg fanatics, dancers, gyms rats, swimmers, kickboxers, tennis dabblers, orange theory frequenters, and home workout loyalists.
Catch22 welcomes all levels of fitness. We provide a friendly space to grow as athletes while working together to be a competitive dragon boat team.
HISTORY OF CATCH22
Our team was born out of New York City’s Flushing Bay in 2011, which has been a breeding ground for dragon boat crews for years. We have traveled to compete in cities all along the Northeast, including Boston, Philadelphia, Montreal, Toronto, Washington D.C., and more. In 2014, we raced at the IDBF Club Crew World Championships in Ravenna, Italy!
At the time, it seemed like a huge catch22 to be able to find a crew that could compete at the highest levels but still have tons of fun. So a few of our founding paddlers decided to make it happen. Our namesake not only denotes our mission, but references our stroke and our philosophy. The crucial “catch” of our team’s stroke is when we initially dig our paddles deep into the water, setting up for a strong pull. While we execute this on the boat, we also aim to do the same in the community- dig deep and lift the level of dragonboating to a new level. We keep a no frills, one-boat-one-crew mentality based on the belief that all that is needed to move a boat are strong paddlers, a drummer, and a steerer to lead the way.
2019 & PRIOR SEASONS GALLERY
2018 SEASON MONTAGE
WHAT IS DRAGONBOAT?
What is Dragonboat? Dragon Boat racing combines everything you never thought could go together, in perfect harmony. It combines the tradition of ancient Chinese culture with the modern world of competitive sports. Dragon boat racing dates back 2,500 years but has recently been highlighted in SI, the WSJ and the NYTimes as one of the fastest growing water sports in the world with hundreds of international teams competing in over 60 countries. Paddlers require grace, flexibility and synchronicity while exhibiting strength, power and endurance. Twenty paddlers race in a slim, 40-ft boat in perfect beat to a drummer that sits on the bow as the coxswain steers from the back. Each stroke is composed of an explosion of energy as the boat tears through the water, balanced by a relaxed return as the paddle cuts through the air. Crews propel the 800lb boats for distances of 250m, 500m, 1000m or more.
Catch22 is a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) sports organization; established under Catch22 Racing Limited.