USA Sprint National Championships were held for the first time on Lake Natoma in Sacramento, CA on Oct. 14 and 15 and Team Phoenix was there with paddlers racing in the open, 40s, 50s and 60s categories (500M and 1000M) and individual Team Phoenix paddlers racing in open, 40s, 50s, 60s and 75s V1 (500M). Everyone paddled their hearts out, most advanced to finals and many finished top 3: Open Women 1000 – 2nd place; 40s men 500 and 1000 – 2nd place; 50s women 500 – 2nd place and 1000 – 3rd place; and 60s women 500 – 3rd place. Congratulations racers!

USA Sprint National Championships is the qualifying race to represent Team USA (mainland US) at the IVF World Sprint Championships to be held in Hilo, Hawaii in 2024. Thank you to Head IVF coach Alicia Lin Kee, Amy Thomas and IVF men’s coaches Andy Thomas and Vince San Nicolas for taking on significant coaching responsibilities, in addition to representing on the race course, and to presidents and coaches of Team Arizona and Na Leo O Ke Kai for critical support. And YES! Team Phoenix will be going to Hilo, Hawaii in 2024. Details pending.

History of Team Phoenix. We are a group of people with different abilities, talents, experiences and backgrounds who have come together for a shared purpose, to paddle! There are no shortcuts, we need to put in the hard work, dedication, sacrifice, effort, commitment, teamwork and patience to level up! Team Phoenix was originally formed in 2021 with paddlers from Na Leo O Ke Kai, Team Arizona and SunGi, MonGi and PFD dragon boat teams and coached for 2022 IVF competition by former Na Leo head coach Margaret Coulombe, with support from Alicia Lin Kee (coach with Na Leo) and Laura Baack (coach of PFD). The goal for the group was to take the best in Phoenix and elevate our performance nationally and internationally. In 2023, Team Phoenix expanded significantly, including attracting athletes from AZ, CA, NV and OR. Looking forward to 2024 in Hawaii. Go Team!