VIC26 One-Team Approach

Dear Dragon Boat Victoria Members,  

We are writing to inform you about the proposed approach for the 2026 State vs State racing at the Australian Dragon Boat Championships and providing an opportunity for feedback prior to launching the campaign. 

In 2026, Victoria is looking to take a One-Team approach. This being that Victoria fields the strongest crews for each age division from across the state to give Victoria the best chance of success on the national stage.  
 
Why a One-Team Approach?  

To strengthen Victoria’s performance and national ranking and win the Peter Bristow State vs State Champion Trophy. We want to consolidate our top athletes into a highly competitive team in each point coring racing division. 

About the Peter Bristow State vs State Champion Trophy 

Each year, on what is now known as the Australian Championships (formerly State vs State Day), teams earn points based on their performances across every race category and division. These points contribute to each state’s total for the Peter Bristow State vs State Champion Trophy, which is awarded to the fastest state overall. By uniting as one strong team, we can focus all our efforts and maximize Victoria’s chance of success.  

Regional team results are not included in the point tally towards the Peter Bristow State vs State Championship Trophy. We believe every Victorian athlete is important, and we want everyone’s efforts to count toward earning the Peter Bristow State vs State Champion Trophy. By coming together as one unified team, every athlete’s performance contributes directly to our overall points and strengthens our chances of winning the trophy for Victoria.  

Supporting Athletes Across the State  

We understand that our membership is spread across a range of clubs and regions. When planning training camps and sessions, we will consider the geographic spread and membership base to ensure accessibility and fairness in preparation for the event.  

We believe this strategy will give Victoria the best opportunity to perform at its highest level in 2026.   

That said, we also value the feedback of the dragon boat community on this proposed change in approach.  

We encourage members to please send any feedback by Friday, 8 August to: vicstateteam@dragonboatvictoria.com.au