Road to Dragonboat Worlds wTeam USA

Audrey Frey is organizing this fundraiser.

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This fall I will be traveling to Welland, Ontario, Canada for the 2015 International Dragon Boat Federation's (IDBF) 12th World Dragon Boat Racing Championships.

From August 18- August 23, teams from around the world will battle it out in Welland over a week of intense Dragon Boat racing.

It's with honor that I can say I will be representing Team USA on the U24 Mixed and Women's Crews at Welland this year.

Getting to where I am now on the Road the Welland has been an incredible journey:
I've paddled more than 767 miles on outrigger canoes and dragonboats since October 2014 --about 95miles per month! , and I've done countless numbers of pull-ups, deadlifts, crunches, rows, bench presses, and squats. If I stay on track, I'll hit 1000 miles before August.

But training is only half of the story.

I am currently a law student at the University of Washington, and my journey to Welland is entirely self-funded, so every little bit of support counts.

Please take a moment to support me in my journey to Welland with U24 Team USA.

Not convinced yet? Let me tell you a little more about myself:

Waterman's Challenge, Seattle, WA, July 2014

Why do you dragon boat? I dragon boat because I love the sport.

Not only does paddling provide me with a unique vantage point from which to appreciate the natural beauty of our rivers, lakes, oceans, and aquatic ecosystems—from the estuaries and marine waters of the San Francisco Bay to the chilly lakes surrounded by evergreen trees and scenic mountains in the Pacific Northwest — it’s a fantastic full body workout, and the repetitive motion of going through each stroke has a deeply satisfying, meditative quality.

Plus, I love being around people who paddle just as much as I love being on the water. Nothing builds friendship like racing together in one boat with twenty-one other people. You train and eat and paddle together, and when you win, you win together.

After my first big race at the San Francisco International Dragonboat Festival on Treasure Island in 2008, I was hooked.

Cal Dragon Boat, Women's Crew, College Cup 2011

Bay Area New Generation, Mixed Crew, Alcan 2014

Why did you try out for the national team?

Because if not now, then when? Life doesn’t stand still. The intensity of racing is exhilarating, and I love to train for a purpose, so I went for it.

U24 Team USA, Women's Crew Training, January 2015

What keeps you motivated?

Dreaming of race day keeps me focused. Visualize:

Adrenaline pumping, blades buried. We explode into action at the sound of the buzzer. Up! Up! Maximum power with perfect form. Five hundred meters, two hundred meters, the finish! On the edge of chaos, but keeping it together. Muscles burning. A brief blur, an endless infinity.

I train hard now so that I can cross that finish line roaring, knowing I gave it my all—for myself, for my team, for the sport. The tension and anticipation are real.

Please support me in my journey to Welland, Ontario, Canada, for the 2015 IDBF 12th World Dragon Boat Racing Championships from August 18- August 23. Every little bit counts.

Learn more about U24 Team USA at
http://u24teamusa.weebly.com/

& Learn more about the 2015 IDBF World Championships at http://www.wdbrc2015.ca/site/home

Ask questions in the comments, or message me for more information. Thank you for taking the time to read this through! I hope you will consider supporting me in my journey.

Best wishes,
Audrey

And now, some race photos & fun photos: