The Pittsburgh Paddlefish dragon boat team has been paddling the Allegheny River since 2003. Affiliated with Three Rivers Rowing Association (TRRA), we work out as a team year-round 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 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 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.

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

What’s up with our name?

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 were extirpated from the rivers of Pittsburgh in the early twentieth century. As the rivers recovered during the last ten years Pennsylvania Fish and Game commission has started to restock 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 are volunteering 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.

2009-2010 Pittsburgh Paddlefish Steering Committee

Coach(es) - Stefani Danes, Bob Dassel-Robinson, and Richard Northway
Co-captains - Jim Robertson
Communication - Marie Hirsch
Equipment - Dave Owens
Logistics - Judy Robertson
Membership - Massimo Cenciarini
Treasurer - Anne George
Web site maintenance - Massimo Cenciarini, Rachel Blair, Lisa Kennard, and Jen Weitner

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