The Cebu Pink Paddlers dragon boat team take time for a group photo during the Santa Fe Dam Dragon Boat Festival 2023 in Irwindale, California, United States. | Contributed photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu Pink Paddlers Dragon Boat Team made waves in the international dragon boat scene in the recently concluded Santa Fe Dam Dragon Boat Festival 2023 in Irwindale, California, United States.
The Cebu Pink Paddlers comprised of female breast cancer survivors claimed two medals in the two-day dragon boat festival competed by American dragon boat teams from around the country.
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Gold in 250m corporate B category
They finished with a gold medal in the 250-meter corporate B category and a silver medal in the 250m women’s B category.
They crossed the finish line in the corporate B category in one minute and 17.47 seconds for the gold medal. They were ahead of the Desert Dragons (1:20.109) and ASU Dragon Boat Team (1:21.878).
In the women’s B, Cebu team of women cancer survivors finished the race in 1:28.717 for the silver medal, behind gold medalists Aero Dragons Athena Dragon Boat Team (1:25.547), and ahead of CA Camp Team Stib (1:28.951).
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Second overall in rankings
Their gold medal in the corporate category put Cebu Pink Paddlers second overall in the rankings behind LACDBCPKU Dragon Boat Team.
In the women’s category, they finished seventh overall, with the Long Beach Rebelles emerging on top, followed by Sungi Sun Guy at second and LA County at third.
The Santa Fe Dam Dragon Boat Festival 2023 was held last October 7.
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Las Vegas races next
After their stint in California, Cebu Pink Paddlers will head to Las Vegas for the two-day Nevada International Dragon Boat Festival in Lake Sports in Las Vegas on October 14-15, 2023.
They will compete in the more challenging categories, particularly the 200m, 500m, and 2,000m under the breast cancer survivors and women’s categories.