Damian Napper, Great Britain

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3-D Diamonds

added to one side of any design /color

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NEW for 2024 Dragon Saddle SS-11

Extra wide Velcro closure, a pull tab for removal,

unique platform dynamics, with or without a glide side on

half the top, fabric options, the ultimate closed-cell chloroprene.

TM

DragonSaddle.com

Doug started paddling OC6 in Hawaii in 1980

2021 SS-6

DRAGON BOAT CANADA

2018 DS-W

With removable insert and bench clips that are padded to protect the boat.

2021 SS-9

With or without a racing glide surface on half the top for efficient movement, speed, and longer stroke distance with vertical leverage. Gunnel side or inside placement is influenced by seat location, stroke rate, race distance, body weight, coaching and more. Technique versatility is significant.

The Dragon Saddle SS-11 without Teflon is soft and comfortable like you expect it to be using pure chloroprene. $62

SS-11 with part Teflon on top allows exceptional performance that you will be surprised to have. $76

Both are IDBF approved and secure to the bench using a base grip and extra wide OneWrap Velcro with a pull tab, engineered for perfection.

DS-AG

15mm thick, all grip neoprene top and bottom, basic comfort. $33, available at volume discounts. 

Doug at ENC in Spain with Mike Haslam, founder of the IDBF, meeting about the dragon boats for clubs in Ukraine.

Discover the magic! The glide side has zero friction from a 0.5mm 100% fluoropolymer film over the Dragon Saddle pure chloroprene. Dragon Saddles are IDBF approved.

If you just sit on these SS sprint saddles they will only be a placebo. Move, find it, discover the magic !

It really did start on the ground.

SS-L3 and SS-4 with team logo 2020

DragonSaddle@gmail.com

4" 10cm wide OneWrap VelCro with a pull tab.

This is so easy and secure.

Dragon Saddle model SS-11

2016

SS-GG

Here are a few displayed at races.

Is this magic?

Press on the Teflon and the owner's name appears.

DS-S, The Original Dragon Saddle since 2009, is still very popular. It is " The Classic " dragon boat seat cushion known for adjustable comfort with 2 removable 100% chloroprene inserts. It was made for Kristen Stickels of Puff DBC at Oleta River in Florida, the first paddler to use one. Canada has been a large market for Dragon Saddles since the start.

2009 DS-S

The first Dragon Saddle

Doug with Valerii Morgun, President of the Ukrainian

Dragon Boat Federation

Ukraine National Team,

Dragon Saddles are used in world championship dragon boat racing.

The original DS-S, DS-AG and the new SS-11 are in production. All other models have been improved and updated to the SS-11 model

Contact Doug at dragonsaddle@gmail.com to place an order or for any questions.

The Ukraine Club
Lakhidnyi Viter on the podium

The non-friction glide side initiates a faster return, an easier rotational pivot, a deeper leg drive, maximum isokinetic, core and FULL-BODY contractile power. The magic is a longer vertical stroke length within the pace.

Custom embroidered national team DragonSaddles were displayed and marketed at the 2015 IDBF World Championships in Welland, Ontario by Dragon Saddle LLC, Walton Sports and Hornet Watersports.

APPROVALS

Go to DESIGN CHOICES SS-11 up on the Navigation Bar

2018 SS-GG

with QR bench fasteners

SS-11 is here after fourteen years. This is the #1 Dragon Saddle for racing. It works! Here is simply why: The wider glide platform bends perfectly, just enough to get a deeper leg drive and much more power while preventing over-reach. Optimal Paddle Angle Is Maintained longer and farther. Rotation or pivot are faster and farther too. Try Teflon inside for 200m and outside for 500m and 2K races or determine the best position of the Saddle under varying conditions at practice.

Dragon Saddle LLC, since 2010, has a product line of high performance dragon boat racing seat cushions, training and coaching products.

Team discounts and occasional clearance pricing are available. To order the DragonSaddle or any product on this site, contact Doug at dragonsaddle@gmail.com with your proposed order, quantity for discount consideration, questions, and your shipping address for a shipping quote. The ordering page has a list of worldwide distributors as well. Doug invented all of the DragonSaddle products and makes them himself. To order, email Doug, dragonsaddle@gmail.com.

MORE

At the top navigation bar go to 

DESIGN CHOICES SS-11.

SS-11 is also available with the 6.5mm, removable, pure chloroprene insert, without Teflon. $65

The top platform of the saddle has a semi-flexible bench overhang for really getting out front for the pulling power in front seats or a longer rear pushing power and leg drive for the back seats.

SS-11 2024

Dragon Saddles at the 2022 Club Crew World Championships in Sarasota, The European Nations Championships at Banyoles, Spain and EDBF Euro Cup Championships in Dubai.

Scroll down to the right to select numbered webbing choices. With no choice, your handle will likely be solid black. Choose your top fabric identified at the DESIGN CHOICES link at the top. Send your team logo to dragonsaddle@gmail.com.

Remove inserts for IDBF race compliance.

See the BCS / BCP Selection close-up in Design Choices SS-11 from the top Navigation Bar or send your team logo for a custom order.

2011

All products on this website are created and hand-crafted in Lake County

Central Florida and in the rural farm area of Northern Illinois, USA

HANDLES and WEBBING

with bench clips

Direct Contact Ordering: email Doug, dragonsaddle@gmail.com

Two production facilities now: Eustis, Florida and Dekalb, Illinois.

Dragon Saddles are not big, bulky, clunky, inferior foam seat pads just to sit on that deteriorate and wear out quickly. They are not sloppy velcro that doesn't last either. Dragon Saddles are about the science of specific paddling technique purposes engineered into each design. Dragon Saddles are the pioneers in dragonboat seat cushions. Be your best. Choose the DragonSaddle brand made in Florida.

IDBF World Championships at Tampa, FL 2011

and more

The glide surface is pure and thick PTFE Teflon, a polymer of carbon and fluorene. Super Saddles, the SS models for Competitive Racing with the glide on pårt of the top side are hand crafted and engineered for your efficiency and highest potential. The surface has the lowest coefficient of friction of any known solid synthetic material. Try one on our test bench at the races.

Choose a handle and back edge webbing from the numbered list below. How many SS-11 Dragon Saddles do you want for your team discount? *We do custom logos and images on the polyester canvas fabric too. Inquire! Send your team logo to Doug's email: dragonsaddle@gmail.com

Some of the Windy City paddlers from Chicago at camp in Tampa 2018 with their glide and grip saddles plus polymer bench clips, the SS Dragon Saddles. They became one of the first top level racing teams where most of the paddlers used Doug's Gliding Dragon Saddles.

We have Dragons, Sea Turtles, Dragon Fly's, Dragon Scales, Sunsets and Beaches, Abstracts, Solid Colors, National Teams and Club Logos. See the full collection from the top navigation bar and select your choice with a circled screen shot or identification number. Send to Doug for purchasing info:

dragonsaddle@gmail.com

If you have ever been on a National team in the World Dragonboat Championships or hope to be, The Super Saddle SS-11 is made for you.

Marc, Team USA Coach,

at the Dragon Saddle Factory

The Dubai Diggers, one of the top teams in the world.

SS-11 is like an open door, allowing the athlete to pass through on the way to a higher,

unrestricted performance level.

The Classic Dragon Saddle model DS-S

At the Races

Elegant In Simplicity, Profound In Results

The Dragon Saddle store at the races

Are you wondering what happens in the body during that fractional second of "recovery" in the paddling stroke when the volume and quality of nerve impulses prepares for competitive action? Physiological recovery by the paddling athlete: The liver supplies glucose originating from glycogenolysis, glycogenesis, lactate generating lactic acid from pyruvate and anaerobic energy production in cell cytoplasm, pyruvic acid supply to the energy producing mitochondria that seek stored fatty acids and amino acids to cycle through the energy production demanded during paddling, anaerobic and aerobic energy production that work together, crossing paths in their adaptations to the demands of competitive paddling sport athletes.

Carry and keep it safe

on your paddle.

The SS-11 feels more complete than any other seat pad in the world.. It is for all paddling abilities, 20cm 8" wide x 40cm 16" long with a SEMI-FLEXIBLE overhang for front edge efficiency, extremely secure to the bench with 10cm 4" wide VelCro hook /loop, low profile hook and a pull tab for instant use. High durability, light high-end materials.15mm overall race compliant thickness, the optional removable insert adds 7mm, with the magical Teflon glide or not, removable insert or not. The Teflon is twice as thick for 2024. SS-11 with magical racing glide,15mm IDBF approved pure chloroprene thickness and your choice of laminated custom fabric design on the anchoring side. Also available without Teflon, with a full sized pocket and removable 7mm insert for practice. An added option is your team logo. There is an optional 6"x7" transparent grip patch you can install to increase anchoring traction adjacent to the Teflon if needed for only $6.>>>>>>

$ The SS-11 is expensive so please contact Doug at dragonsaddle@gmail.com for the best pricing discounts and shipping quote:

New paddlers, team discounts, International orders, wholesale, reselling for team fundraisers and other volume orders. Manufacturing and shipping are located in Florida and Illinois, USA.

All National Team Dragon Saddles are available.

With pure PTFE

"no friction" Teflon glide section

LET IT RIDE !

Doug

Dragon Saddles in Dubai

The Classic Dragon Saddle, DS-AG and SS-11

Mike Thomas,

IDBF President

ENC

This is the Classic, the first and Original Dragon Saddle, all neoprene with two removable inserts and a grippy neoprene base against the bench. The top has laminated nylon fabric.15-25mm adjustable thickness for racing compliance or practice comfort. It has been popular since 2010. $USD $50, contact dragonsaddle@gmail.com for team and volume discounts.

COLOR CHOICES are royal, navy, ocean, red, black.

IDBF

2019 SS-L

dbl sided VelCro, Light, neoprene grip and gliding top created for the 2019 World Championships in ThaiIand.

Using the rare qualities of your SS-11, you experience a thrilling opportunity to discover how much more you can do.

This is race day equipment engineered for your team to celebrate winning. During your first use, you can maintain a vertical paddle blade through a much longer distance under full power and high velocity. Here are the details:

You can do more! You will contribute more to the team effort. Feels magical but be physically ready. Stay in control. It is all you. This is the newest equipment engineering in dragon boat racing for paddlers to discover thebalance and timing between the sliding freedom of movement and using a grip effectively. Anchor the paddle blade in the water and push the boat forward with controlled power through a longer and faster vertical stroke. The contrast of Super Saddle quality "Smart" PTFE with the lowest coefficient of friction of any known solid material feels like a slippery liquid next to a soft but aggressive grip or a medium grip surface neoprene material with just enough to maximize dynamic paddling efficiency. Reach with the entire body, reducing shoulder syndromes and injuries. Rapidly scoot far forward over the glide surface on the water side with a straight horizontal outside arm, driving down with the inside arm and entire upper body for deep entry into the water. Look forward to see the pacing group seats 1-3 with perfect timing. Use your quads for a major push from a solid footing.

The hull, the water, you, the team as one machine, the paddles, the motivation, the breathing, the thrust, the front boat wake are all one rhythm. Partial levitation forward you feel an escape for a moment from gravity. Reach out for deep blade dive, FULL-BODY DRIVE, and pivot using the extremes of glide and grip surfaces. The grip side is the pivot point, not the vertebral column. The glide side is for the stroke length. There is a timely initiation of a high velocity return-reflex using your core muscle complex. The outside hip slides to the position of optimal reach, then exploding with abs, double leg drive and your ENTIRE MUSCLE MASS.

Using your newfound ability to maintain maximum isokinetic leverage against the non-compressible water with intense focus against the vertical paddle blade through a longer stroke length, experience whole synchronism with the team. The inside grip is a solid point for stability during the contracting stroke and a lift-off point during the out-stretched, open reach. Keep air passages open by not looking down. The energy pathways of glycolysis transitioning to the mitochondria are hard at work. In a sprint race, the pathway will begin 95% anaerobic in the first 10-15 seconds. By only 2 minutes it will become 50% aerobic and climbing from there. Cardio!!

Take advantage of polytetrafluoroethylene. The sprint saddles are made for serious paddlers to experience their ultimate racing ability.

Take special care during transportation and handling to protect the Teflon on these valuable saddles from impact, abrasion, dirt, folding, bending, sun duration and solar heat on the grip portion on the top side. No washing machines. Not throwing. Keep your saddles off the ground. Your sliding glutes and sit bones are going to leave your butt print on the Teflon to enhance the glide.