Who We Are
Open Water Dragon Boat is a dragon boat club offering individuals in La Crosse, WI and the surrounding areas the opportunity to strengthen themselves both physically and mentally, while enjoying the natural beauty of the region.
Our Mission
The Open Water Dragon Boat’s mission is to assist people in finding their potential. OWDB wishes to help people of all ages find confidence and ability working in a team setting.
Find your inner SISU
Life-changing Transformation
Through personal experience, we know the life-changing transformation dragon boating can have. We transform from a group of chaotic individuals to a functioning crew. The combination of teamwork and comradery results in positive aspects, which can then be employed to the individuals family, workplace, and community. As a team, we expect to be supportive of one another. We find our inner strength, our SISU, through the power of the group. Realizing we may accomplish more together as a team. In a dragon boat, it doesn’t matter who you are or where you came from. On the water, we are all equal. We build and strengthen together.
Our Story
Susan and I met because of dragon boating. Now, husband and wife team and co-owners of Open Water Dragon Boat. A place where everyone is welcome, experience not needed. Susan, is an experienced paddler. Dean, experienced steers/paddler. Also, a Dragon Boat Canada certified community coach.
So, who goes out and buys their own dragon boat? Well, we did! Opportunities to go paddling were limited. Where you could go, even more so. Out of that came the thought of finding our own boat. While spending a week in Florida dragon boating in 2016. I asked about finding a used dragon boat. I was put in touch with a great guy in Toronto, who had a used Rain Forest. A few months later, we headed to Toronto and brought the boat back to Minnesota.
