What a season it has been. Between exploring homes for our future festivals, spending time with teams on the ground, representing IBCPC on the world stage, and preparing for the business of Congress, I have rarely stopped moving these past few months — and I would not have it any other way.
Much of my travel has centred on scouting locations for our 2030 and 2034 festivals. There is nothing quite like standing on the water where a future festival will one day be held and picturing the thousands of paddlers who will gather there. These visits are never only about logistics. At every stop, I have had the privilege of spending real time with local teams — hearing their stories, understanding what hosting IBCPC would mean to their community, and seeing first-hand the warmth and determination of the paddlers who hope to welcome our movement to their shores. Those conversations, more than any site inspection, are what confirm we are choosing the right locations for our future.
I was also honoured to attend the opening of the IDBF's new office in Hong Kong, an important milestone for our sport's international governing body. It was a proud moment to represent IBCPC among the wider dragon boating family and a reminder of how far this sport — and our place within it — continues to grow.
But most importantly, much of my recent time has gone into preparing for Congress and the elections to be held at our festival in Aix les Bains. Alongside our organising team for the festival and our IBCPC Congress team lead so capably by Ann, our secretary, I have been working through the finer details of the festival program with our host organisers, making sure every ceremony, session, and celebration reflects the standard our paddlers deserve. Congress is one of the most significant moments in our organisation's calendar, and I want every member arriving in Aix les Bains to feel that the preparation — right down to the smallest detail — has been done with care.
Behind the scenes, we have also finally put the finishing touches on our new IBCPC paddle and merchandise range. This has been a long time coming, and I know many of you have been asking after it — I cannot wait to share it with you all in person.
None of this happens alone, and I want to close this message the way I try to close everyone: with gratitude. To our board, our directors, our volunteers, and every team who has hosted me, fed me, paddled with me, or simply shared their story with me this year — thank you. I look forward to seeing so many of you very soon in Aix les Bains.
Meri Gibson
President, IBCPC
