Vienna Pink Dragons 2025
By Svenja Franke-Bruhn, Country Liaison Austria.
The Vienna Pink Dragons have enjoyed a dynamic and exciting first half of the year, participating in paddling events across Austria and beyond.
We kicked off the year in January with a special trip: Julia, our current president, and I (Svenja) flew to Florida to attend the Unleash the Dragons Festival & Leadership Camp. It was a truly enriching experience—full of learning, laughter, and camaraderie. A personal highlight was meeting Dr. Don McKenzie, whose groundbreaking 1996 study in Vancouver laid the foundation for BCP teams worldwide. What a fantastic way to start our paddling season!
The Austrian season officially launched on June 24 with the Drachenboot Cup in Korneuburg, near Vienna. In a summery atmosphere and driven by sporting spirit, our paddlers demonstrated once again that they’re competing this season with heart, strength, and true team spirit. Our team finished in the mixed category with a commendable 9th out of 21 teams after some thrilling races.
Even before the official start, some of our breast cancer paddlers gained valuable racing experience. Firstly at the long-distance race in Dresden. In Hannover, four Vienna Pink Dragons supported Team Pink Royals UK from England. In this newsletter, you'll find detailed coverage from fellow paddlers Christina Bremer as well as Wendy Grose reporting on the vibrant Pentecost weekend festival in Hannover on June 9.
Another highlight was our participation in the charity dragon boat race in Steyr, Styria, on July 5, where we secured an impressive 5th place out of 25 teams in the mixed category.
In May, I (Svenja) was delighted to paddle once more with the Go Europe team at their three-day festival in Barcelona. Our efforts were rewarded with two medals—an exhilarating moment for all involved! Wendy Grose shares insights on the Go Europe team’s appearance in Barcelona on May 25.
In mid-July, three Vienna Pink Dragons travelled to Brandenburg, Germany, to witness the introduction of the new BCP Category at the World Dragon Boat Racing Championships. It was a fantastic experience, whether attending as a registered supporter, like myself for the non-member BCP Alliance FR team, or as passionate fans like Rinoa and Julia. You can read more about this in a separate article.
Looking ahead, the Vienna Pink Dragons are now fully immersed in preparations for their tenth anniversary celebration on 20 September 2025. This special occasion will also mark the commissioning of their new breast cancer standard boat. We’re filled with anticipation and excitement as we also prepare and look forward to the IBCPC Festival in Aix-les-Bains in 2026!
