Pricing
PRICING
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Category
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# of Races
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Before Jan 1st
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Before March 1st
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After March 1st
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Sport Division
Mixed/Women's/Open/ACP/BCP/Paradragons/Senior B (50+) /Senior C (60+)*
(2 x 200m, 2 x 500m, 1 x 2k**)
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5
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$1,195
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$1,345
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$1,495
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Sport Division (Out-of-Country)
Mixed/Women's/Open/ACP/BCP/Paradragons/Senior B (50+) /Senior C (60+)*
(2 x 200m, 2 x 500m, 1 x 2k**)
NOTE: Out-of-Country Rate does not qualify for MLDB rewards.
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5
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$600
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$675
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$750
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Sport Secondary Division
Mixed/Women's/Open/ACP/BCP/Paradragons/Senior B (50+) /Senior C (60+)*
(2 x 200m, 2 x 500m, 1 x 2k**)
MUST consist of at least 90% of paddlers participating on a primary team.
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5
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$595
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$645
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$695
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Community Division
Mixed/Women's/Open
(w/1 practice, 3 x 500m)
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3
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$1,045
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$1,195
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$1,345
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Practice Session
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$100
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Prices are in USD and do not include applicable tax (7% Sales tax).
Payment Methods: We accept Visa, Mastercard or Check.
Paying by check: You will receive a discount of $25 USD. This discount will be automatically applied during the registration process.
Registration Process for tax-exempt teams: Register your team, choose the "check" option on the payment page. Please email your valid tax-exemption certificate to info@gwnevents.com along with the invoice number and method of payment (check or credit card). GWN will send you an invoice without taxes, if paying by credit card, an authorization form will be sent.
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*At least 3 teams must be registered in a division. Any division with less than 3 teams registered will be amalgamated into the next closest racing division offered.
**Only the top teams in each division will qualify for the 2K. Due to scheduling and time constraints, only 3 2K races will be offered. The number of top teams in each division will be determined by the sizes of each division.
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For more information (i.e. refund policy, multi-event discount, etc), please visit our FAQ page.
To ensure races run smoothly, smaller divisions may be combined in heats but will race independently of each other.
Community Division vs Sport Division
A community team is considered to be a team that competes in less than 3 festivals in a season. Contact GWN if your team should be granted an exception.
Registration Add-Ons
Each team registered at the festival will get a 20 x 20 team site (footprint, not tent rental) within the Athletes' Village. Teams have the option to bring their own tent or rent one from GWN. In addition to tents, chairs and tables are also available. For more information, please refer to the "Athletes' Village" tab below. Teams may also order practice sessions, please refer to the "Practice" tab below.
Location
LOCATION
Address: The event will take place at Nathan Benderson Park at 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota, FL 34235.
Site Map: For the 2025 Event Site Map, click here.
Park Rules: We're committed to creating a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable experience for participants and spectators. Before heading out to the races, there are some things you should know:
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BBQs and other cooking equipment are not permitted on-site.
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Alcoholic beverages are not permitted at the venue.
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Dogs are permitted on-site but must be on a leash (at least 6ft) at all times.
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Teams are responsible for picking up their waste within their team sites. In addition to handing out waste bags during team check-in, there will be wastebaskets located throughout the Athletes' Village to maintain the venue's cleanliness. Let's all work together to keep the site clean and green.
Schedule
SCHEDULE
To view the 2025 Race Schedule, please click here. Please note, we will be racing one (1) set of boats on race day.
For Points System and Ranking, please click here.
For 2K Rules of Racing, click here.
At least 3 teams must be registered in a division. Any division with less than 3 teams registered will be amalgamated into the next closest racing division offered.
To ensure races run smoothly, smaller divisions may be combined in heats but will race independently of each other.
Race Marshalling
Marshalling for races will begin promptly half an hour before the first race of the day. Teams must be in the Marshalling area 30 minutes before their scheduled race throughout the day.
Race Day Check-In
Every Team Captain must check-in their team at Race Headquarters on race day. Registration will be open from approximately 6:30AM to 9:30AM. All waivers must be completed prior to check-in. Please visit the FAQ section for more information on how to check in on race day.
For a speedy check-in, ensure that all waivers for your team are completed. The electronic waiver deadline is 11:59AM EST on Wednesday, May 7th. After this, only paper copies will be accepted.
Team Captain's Meeting
There will be a Team Captain's meeting on Saturday morning in front of the Marshalling Area to discuss race day rules and address any questions, 1 hour prior to racing.
Awards
AWARDS
Sport Division: The top 3 teams by points overall in the Sport Division will receive medals (Gold, Silver, Bronze).
Community Division: Medals will be awarded to the top three teams in each Grand Final and the top team in each Consolation Final.
Consolation Finals: First-place teams will receive a trophy and gold medals.
Grand Finals: Third and second place teams will receive bronze and silver medals, respectively. First place teams will receive a trophy and medals.
Awards Ceremonies
Community Division: Ceremonies will take place after each Consolation Race and Grand Final Race. Staff will gather the gold medal-winning team as they come off the water. They will be escorted directly to the Awards Stage. Bronze and silver medal-winning teams will receive their medals in the dock area.
Sport Division: Ceremonies will take place after all races are completed and points are tabulated to determine the winners.
Entertainment
Vendors
VENDORS
Marketplace:
- All Wet Sports
- Bath Fitter
- Dragon Saddle
- The Monkey Brand Apparel
- GWN Pro Shop
Food Trucks:
- Carousel Icery
- Hamiltons Concessions
- Purple Bol
- Tiki Island Concessions
Interested in being a vendor? Email us at sales@gwnevents.com to find out more.
Parking
PARKING
Nathan Benderson Park's gates will open at 6AM. Ample on-site parking is available. The cost is $15* per car.
*Rate subject to change, based on Nathan Benderson Park's discretion.
Volunteer
VOLUNTEER
Looking to have some fun on the docks? GWN is always looking for fantastic volunteers.
As a volunteer, you'll have the opportunity to be a part of the exciting and fast-paced action that is dragon boat racing. You'll also get to experience the energy and excitement of the festival event atmosphere and be a part of a vibrant community of dragon boat enthusiasts. Volunteers will be needed to help with various tasks in ensuring the safety and smooth operations of the event through the various outlined tasks:
- Boat Marshalls: Will be on the dock assisting paddlers with getting in and out of the boats. This position should be filled by people who are comfortable around the water.
- Results Runners: Will be posting the results from the Timing Officials at the Registration Headquarters. This position requires neat handwriting.
- Team Marshalls: Will assist the Marshalling Manager in ensuring that all teams are ready to load into boats at the correct time to maintain smooth running of the races.
- Crowd Control: Will ensure one-way flow traffic from the Marshalling Area after boats are unloaded.
If you would like to volunteer, we can promise some food, drinks, a really cool shirt, and community service hours (if applicable), so please complete this Volunteer Form to join our team! To get more info or ask any questions, feel free to send us an email at volunteers@gwnevents.com.
