TRUE NORTH STRONG
Welcome to the official website of the True North Paddling Club, a network of teams that compete in the exciting sport of dragon boat racing.
Sharing similar values and training philosophies, our club provides athletes with progressive development opportunities; whether you’re a first-time paddler or someone that competes competitively at the national and world level. You’re sure to find a home with True North!
True North is proudly based in Toronto, Canada.
True North Strong… the True North family at at the 2022 GWN Dragon Boat Challenge.
TRUE NORTH Hammerheads
Division: Mixed Gender | Category: Premier
Founded in 1995, the Hammerheads are one of the longest standing mixed-gender dragon boat programs in Toronto. From recreational competitive paddling to joining the highest levels of premier mixed racing in the international Dragon boat scene, this team has dedicated itself year after year to the work and attitude it takes to raise the bar. Ask anyone on the team and they will confirm- it's not where you come from that matters, but what you are willing to do to get to where you want to go. Under intensive refinement over the last several years, Hammerheads has emerged in 2022 with an undefeated season, including winning gold at Club Crew World Championships in Sarasota Florida. The vision for this team remains as strong as ever- continuing to grow and develop athletes in a competitive mixed program to compete at the highest level of mixed racing possible.
Recent accomplishments are:
Gold medalist (200m, 500, 2000m distances) at the 2022 IDBF Club Crew World Championships in Sarasota, Florida
Pickering Dragon Boat Challenge: gold medalist (2019, 2022), bronze medalist (2014-2019)
Toronto Island Dragon Boat Race Festival: gold medalist (2022), silver medalist (2019) bronze medalist (2014-2018)
GWN Challenge: Gold medalist (2022), silver medalist (2018)
Canadian Dragon Boat Championships: bronze medalist (2019)
TRUE NORTH Premier Women
Division: Women | Category: Premier
Established in 2004, the True North Premier Women is Toronto’s longest running premier women’s dragon boat program. We train three times a week during the summer season and twice a week during the winter season.
Recent accomplishments are:
Premier women gold medalists at the inaugural Can Am Club Crew Championships in Welland, Ontario (2024)
Current Canadian national club champions in the premier women’s division (2023)
Reigning women’s division champions of the Toronto Women’s Regatta, Pickering Dragon Boat Challenge, and Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival (2024)
Gold medalists (200m, 500m, 2000m distances) at the 2022 IDBF Club Crew World Championships in Sarasota, Florida
World record 500m distance time of 2:00.3 at an IDBF event (Sarasota, 2022)
Our mandate is to promote the sport of dragon boat racing for women, and to develop athletes for the highest level of club and international competition. Several of our paddlers have represented Canada on the national team, winning medals in U24, Premier, and Senior A divisions at International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) World Championships.
TRUE NORTH Senior Women
Division: Women | Category: Senior A
True North Senior Women are a highly focused, hard-working, inclusive, and friendly group of women aged 39+. We train together three times a week in the summer and twice a week in the winter, encouraging each other to push our skill further and commit to the highest level of excellence. Several of our teammates have been selected to the Canadian Senior A National Team.
Recent accomplishments are:
2024 IDBF Club Crew World Championships in Ravenna, Italy – 2 golds (Standard Boat: 200m, 500m) and 1 bronze (Standard Boat: 2000m)
2024 Inaugural Can-Am Division Champions (winning all distances)
2023 Canadian National Division Champions (winning all distances)
2022 IDBF Club Crew World Championships in Sarasota, Florida - Gold medalists (sweeping all distances)
2019 Canadian National Championship – 3rd
2015 Canadian National Championship – 2nd
2014 Canadian National Division Champions (winning all distances)
2014 Club Crew World Championships, Ravenna, Italy - Gold medalists (sweeping all distances)
2010 Canadian National Championships - 2nd
We continue to help women become high performance paddlers by continually striving for excellence in fitness and paddling skill.
TRUE NORTH LEVIATHAN
True North Leviathan at the 2024 Hope Floats Regatta in Welland, ON.
Division: Mixed Gender | Category: Competitive Development, Gateway Development
True North Leviathan is one of the fastest growing dragon boat racing programs in Toronto, Canada. We are a progressive development team for athletes to reach their highest potential. Offering opportunities for new and experienced athletes alike, we foster growth in a positive and supportive team culture while striving to instill a sense of competitive spirit and community.
Our intention is to act as a platform for athletes to develop beyond the recreational level. While experienced athletes will be encouraged by our comprehensive ladder that fosters progressive development; we also welcome new athletes who are seeking an exciting new sport that instills a culture of competition, fitness, and accountability.
We have four crews in our line-up:
Competitive-Development (Mixed): Leviathan Gold & Leviathan Black
Competitive-Development (Women’s): Leviathan Purple
Gateway-Development (Mixed): Leviathan Orange & Leviathan Red
Recent accomplishments:
2024 Hope Floats Regatta - Division A Gold, Silver, and Bronze medal sweep
2024 Can-Am Club Crew Championships - Premier Mixed (first sub-02:00 in a 500m race)
2024 GWN Sport - Sport Division Champions
TRUE NORTH SLP Premier Open
Division: Open (Men’s) | Category: Premier
SLP Premier Open is the premier open crew of the True North Paddling Club. The team trains twice a week during both the winter and summer seasons and began our journey as paddlers on Hammerheads and Leviathan who wanted to compete in the Premier Open division.
Recent accomplishments:
3rd place in Premier Open at the 2023 Canadian National Championships in standard boat.
3rd place (2000m) and 2nd place (200m and 500m) in Premier Open at 2024 Club Crew World Championships (CCWC) in standard boat
Despite these achievements, SLP is working harder than ever and is looking forward to future competitions at the local, national, and international stage. SLP continues to strive for success by empowering our True North athletes, and help grow the sport of dragon boat racing in Canada.
University of Toronto Engineering Iron Dragons
Division: Mixed Gender, Women’s, & Open (Men’s) | Category: University (U24)
Iron Dragons is the University of Toronto Engineering's own dragon boat racing team. Since forming in 1997, we’ve grown into two competitive mixed crews, Blue and Gold, and one recreational crew, Purple. The same paddlers on the competitive crews also make up the Iron Dragons Women and Open crews. Competing in the U24 and University divisions, Iron Dragons has made many impressive accomplishments in recent years. We practice three times a week during the summer season and once a week on Saturdays during the winter season.
Recent accomplishments are:
University Mixed National Champions 2015, 2016, 2017
IDBF CCWC U24 Champions 2018 (9 Gold Medals, 3 Silver Medals)
The team is mainly comprised of U of T engineering students, but students of all programs and backgrounds are welcome. If you are interested in making new friends, getting stronger, and learning the exhilarating sport of dragon boat, then Iron Dragons is the family for you!
