FGPC GorgeFest

• Registration Fees: $1000 including GST

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The FGPC Gorge Fest Dragon Boat Pursuit-Slalom Regatta features three parallel slalom courses with staggered pursuit starts, allowing crews of different abilities to compete safely in exciting, closely contested races that are designed to bring boats to the finish line together.

Each of this one-day regatta’s 3 heats includes:
• 100M straight-line acceleration zone
• 300M gated slalom section
• 100M straight-line sprint finish

Plus there is a novelty “Unsterned 100M” race for the top 3 in each division

Medals will be awarded to the three fastest teams in the Grand Final medal heats, as well as medal heats in A, B and C rounds of the mixed and women’s divisions. Consolation heats receive results on the leaderboard but no medals. Medals will also be given to the winners (1st Place only) of the Novelty 100M races.

This slalom format rewards more than speed. Success comes from steering accuracy, crew synchronization, tactical pacing, and the ability to maintain momentum through every safely-designed curve. This new regatta isn’t about who starts first; it’s about who arrives best. Whether you’re a competitive crew, a recreational team, or simply looking for a fresh challenge, Gorge Fest offers an accessible, safe and exciting day of racing unlike any other dragon boat event in the Pacific Northwest.

Please register early to avoid disappointment. Crew registration payment must be made before registration in this event is confirmed. Registrations and payments must be received no later than Tuesday 1 September 2026 (midnight).

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• Teams will be registered on a first come, first served basis;  if registration fills before the two weeks prior to the event your crew will be waitlisted.
• FGPC Staff Sterns and Drummers will be available for $100 per staff person. Adding a staff drum or stern to your team is an option for convenience or last minute emergency; we cannot guarantee that a team will win in exchange for hiring a member of our race staff.
• Note that male drummers and sterns are permitted for women’s teams. All paddlers must be female.

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Join a “Stew” crew for GorgeFest

Your crew is not attending the Festival but you still want to compete? YOU’RE INVITED!

This year, we’re offering solo paddlers the opportunity to participate in professionally-managed stew teams for our GorgeFest. Individual paddlers can register for a $60 fee (which includes everything set out below) and provide FGPC’s race management staff with your gender, preferred side and approximate weight and years of experience. Once submitted, you’ll be placed in a festival stew team, with an optional practice on the Friday morning (25 September) before the race.

Here’s what you can expect from participating in the GorgeFest in beautiful Victoria BC:

1. a supplied team tent in the event’s beautiful paddlers’ village, along with spare paddles and PFDs if you don’t have your own
2. a full day of races – this one-day regatta includes:
   1. 100m straight-line acceleration zone
   2. 300m gated slalom section
   3. 100m straight-line sprint finish
   4. 100m unsterned novelty race for the top 3 of each division
3. Medals will be awarded to the three fastest teams in the Grand Final medal heats, as well as medal heats in A, B and C rounds of the mixed and women’s divisions. Consolation heats receive results on the leaderboard but no medals. Medals will also be given to the winners (1st Place) of the Novelty 100M races.
4. We will make every effort to assign friends or existing teammates to the same crew. We’ll be collecting that kind of information as we set up boat rosters.

Click here to register as a solo paddler

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SITE MAP

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Festival Cancellation/Refund Policy

There will be 25% administrative fee for all withdrawals. The final date to withdraw a team from the festival is two weeks before the event. There will be no refunds of any type after this date, including if the festival is cancelled due to safety reasons.

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