The Pittsburgh Paddlefish dragon boat team has been paddling the Allegheny River since 2003. Affiliated with the Three Rivers Rowing Association (TRRA), we work out as a team year-round (complete indoor facilities with paddling and rowing ergs, weights and pilates exercises and on the water) to compete in local, national and international dragon boat races. The team is open to men and women of all ages who would like to pursue the sport of dragon boating.

In our relatively short history as a team, the Paddlefish have developed strong paddling skills and gained international racing experience. Paddlefish team members have raced in a number of world and US national championship events including:

• 2005 World Dragon Boat Championships in Berlin, Germany
• 2007 World Dragon Boat Championships in Sydney, Australia
• 2008 World Club Crew Championships in Penang, Malaysia
• 2009 World Dragon Boat Championships in Prague, Czech Republic
• 2010 U.S. Club Crew National Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Chattanooga, TN

We also share our interest and skills by actively volunteering to help novice dragon boat paddlers learn the sport. During the summer, Paddlefish typically donate their time to hundreds of novice paddlers in Pittsburgh; those numbers have increased every year as the sport becomes better known in the Western Pennsylvania region.

What’s up with our name?

The Pittsburgh Paddlefish are members of the Three Rivers Rowing Association (TRRA). We work out together year-round to paddle dragon boats competitively. We’re a diverse and welcoming bunch of men and women of all ages!

Team founders decided on the name “Pittsburgh Paddlefish” to honor the paddlefish, a large freshwater fish prized for its caviar, and characterized by its long paddle-shaped snout.

Due to high levels of pollution, paddlefish  disappeared from  the rivers of Pittsburgh in the early twentieth century, but are slowly returning. They are presently considered “extirpated’ meaning, if caught, they must be returned to the water, unharmed, immediately. As the rivers recovered during the last few years, the Pennsylvania Fish and Game commission started restocking paddlefish back into the rivers in the hopes that the population will increase and add to the great sport fishing of the area.

Click here to read more about how Paddlefish team members have volunteered to restore paddlefish to Pittsburgh rivers.

Pittsburgh Paddlefish Team By-Laws

The team’s by-laws can be accessed and downloaded by clicking here for the latest version of the document and Member Rules and Responsibilities can be accessed and downloaded by clicking here .

2011-2012 Pittsburgh Paddlefish Steering Committee

The functions of the committee are to act as the administrative body of the organization relative to finances, policy recommendations to the membership, event and race scheduling and any other matters affecting the purpose of the organization