About Tellico Heat
Our Story
Early Years
Tellico Heat Dragon Boat Club [“THDBC”] was founded in 2015. In 2016 a small but dedicated group embraced the sport and with patience and commitment sustained the Club.
Like minded people were attracted to dragon boat as an additional fitness opportunity that added a competition component.
A core group of leadership built their expertise as paddlers and coaches by attending coaching class(s), training camps and using the wealth of information available on all facets of the sport.
As a result of their passion, THDBC attracted 35 new members in 2023 and a similar number in 2024.
For each of the last two years THDBC has participated in four competitions, or Festivals, sponsored by non-profits organizations. THDBC donated a combined $8,000 and $6,050 for 2023 and 2024 respectively for causes such as Harmony House Domestic Violence Shelter, Breast Cancer Awareness, Cumberland River Pact and Knox Area Rescue Mission. The 2024 total was impacted by the cancellation of Lake James Festival after the devastation of Hurricane Helene. Here is a look back over the 2024 Season (video loop).
2025, an Epic Year for the Tellico Heat Dragon Boat Club
For Tellico Heat, the 2025 Season was second to none. From Fitness and Endurance Paddles to Race Practices, Festivals and Competitions, our mission and goals exceeded all expectations making this the best one yet. This season we had the addition of some awesome drone footage from a paddler’s husband, Randy. (Johnson City prep wearing our Circulation Sponsors Practice Jersey’s) A few members participated in GWN and PanAM Training Camps (9 paddlers competed in the Tampa Dragon Boat Festival’s Senior C Mixed as Team OTC in April); coaches held training sessions for our Men‘s Clinic, our Pacers & Rockets, and showed our community spirit by hosting a Dragon Boat experience to promote awareness for Ovarian Cancer. The team traveled to compete, making debut 500m and 10-Paddler boat races. Races included, Montgomery Dragon Boat Festival on the beautiful Alabama River at Montgomery Riverfront Park with proceeds benefiting River Region Trails, Inc non-profit working to develop pedestrian and cycle infrastructure to enhance community health, quality of life, economic development, tourism, and equality working to extend the Riverfront Greenway in 2025 which opens up more opportunists for getting out on the water); Chicago International Dragon Boat at Busse Woods (USDBF Competition 2x200m and 2x500m mixed/women); Johnson City Community Competition for Honor Flight of the Appalachian Highlands at Winged Deer Park; Kentucky Dragon Boat Festival at AJ Jolly Park (Paddling for Cancer Awareness (P4CA) in Alexandria); and, Peachtree City Dragon Boat Race & International Festival at Drake Field in Peachtree City, Georgia, hosted by Peach State Dragon Boat Academy featuring fast-paced 10-paddler 200m races (a THDBC first) on the scenic waters of Lake Peachtreee, which included a most meaningful Cancer Flower Ceremony honoring survivors and loved ones affected by cancer. This race also included the now epic Knock-Out Race where teams competed in 100m races until the final heat. Tellico Heat Mixed and the Tellico Heat Women’s 10 made it to the final round coming in 2nd and 3rd! If you are still reading, know that the Women’s 10 Paddler Boat has bragging rights until season 2026 for the fastest time in the 200m race! The cooler weather in September and October brought some of the best of the season on Tellico Lake for both Fitness and Endurance Paddles, much beloved by many members of the club. The team concluded its official race season in our epic 2nd Annual Intra-Club Races held at our very on Tellico Lake in front of a supportive crowd at Tellico Yacht Club where the 2nd of three races was not to be missed. (See Video). While Green Envy won the competion with the fastest average time (1:00.61). Orange Crush proved that Tellico Heat paddles with fierceness, determination and teamwork (Race #2). Three paddlers from THDBC traveled to participate in the Lake Hernando PanAm Dragon Boat Festival, two of whom paddled with HEAT DBC earning a Bronze Medal in the Premier Mixed Race. Bob Holz, one of our club’s new members for 2025 had the opportunity to paddle with an inexperienced team from a local Elementary Schooll. He left Tellico Village as a Paddler and came back a Coach, representing our club, embodying our mission! Well done, Pam, Kevin, and Bob. (We may all be a bit jealous!) But, thank you! You made us proud! Tellico Heat may be paddling in different boats throughout the season, but we paddle as one! Fitness and Endurance Paddles are a club favorite. Please consider joining us for 2026 where you can Paddle More, Age-less! Special thanks to Doug, Club Manager, and all the coaches, for an amazing season!
2025 ALSO BROUGHT SUPPORT FOR OUR OWN SANDI DEDICATING RACES FOR HER: SANDI’S SOLDIERS!
The men and women of THDBC welcome the opportunity to enjoy our beautiful lake and to work toward personal fitness and team competition goals while continually developing their skills unique to the sport of dragon boat. Race Prep Montage
Whether a member chooses to compete or not, wonderful camaraderie is built by participating in all levels of learning and fitness sessions, filling in on competition practices or working on a spot for festival competitions. Group social events and communications keep everyone connected and grow friendships. (2024 Footage highlighting our beautiful Tellico Lake)
CORE OBJECTIVES
Tellico Heat's Goal is to build our club one friend at a time while having fun. We seek to enjoy, grow, and strenghten the sport of Dragon Boating by incorporating the following Core Objectives:
- BUILD the Base - We seek to expand our membership and strengthen the sport at the grassroots level in order to engage as many people as possible in Dragon Boating
- PROMOTE the Sport - We seek to promote awareness of the sport and organization to inspire participation in Dragon Boating at all levels.
- ACHIEVE Improved Fitness and Function - We strive to enchance physical, mental, and social well-being by improving strength, muscular and cardio-respiratory endurance, and flexibility.
- ATTAIN Competive Success - We seek to participate in the rich tradition of performance success at all levels of competition.
Our Mission
Tellico Heat Dragon Boat’s Mission is to promote the growth and development of the sport of dragon boat in our community at all levels of activity, which include fitness, team-building, competitive racing and social recreation.
Tellico Heat Dragon Boat is committed to fostering an environment characterized by these key principles: Honesty, Integrity, Respect, and Sportsmanship. All parties shall uphold the highest standards of behavior, which applies to Coaches, Athletes, Volunteers, Officers, and Administrators.
We are excited that in 2025, our fleet at Tellico Heat DBC has expanded with the addition of a “new to us” 10-paddler boat, further enhancing opportunities to paddle.
Tellico Heat Adds 10-Paddler Boat to Its Fleet
Tellico Heat Dragon Boat Club Adds to its Fleet
It is with great pleasure that the Board announced that due to a VERY GENEROUS AND ANONYMOUS DONOR, the Club purchased a 10-person boat! The trend for 10-person boat racing has grown, and we want to be a part of that trend. However, it won’t be used just practicing for races. Remember when we didn’t have enough people to go out on paddles and had to cancel; well, now, if we have that situation, we can use the 10-person boat. Overall, we believe that this is a great addition to our fleet and our club! ~ Coach Dee Many thanks to Dee and Denise for working with the Donor and the boat seller to coordinate the acquisition. The boat was picked up from Tampa and delivered to Tellico’s Tugaloo Dock for its “new to us” debut in April. Together with our 20-Paddler boat Tellico Heat owns, the 20-Paddler Boat we lease, this new 10-Paddler Boat is an exciting addition to our fleet.
Club members showed up to Tugaloo Beach to welcome our boats for the 2025 Season.
First Paddle of the Season
April may bring May showers, but for Tellico Heat Club members, it brings Dragon Boats! On the Water Promo for Season 2025
Last Paddle of the Season
2024202OC
The nights are cooler. The leaves are changing. October is the perfect time to paddle with Tellico Heat Dragon Boat Club. Tears were shed at the last paddle of Season 2024. Please don’t shed tears, Coach Kevin; 2025 Season race season may have ended, but the Fitness Paddles (an integral part of our club) is in high gear. (Click Kevin’s photo to wipe away his tears and see photo of the last year’s Paddle Team Photo! *2025 Season Recap is in Production. Keep checking back for updates! Boats were bailed, paddled to shore and lifted onto the trailers for Chris with Dynamic to haul away over the winter. 2025 Best One Yet Season Recap Version 1.0
Click the Logo to view Tellico Heat IntraClub Race
Our 2nd Annual IntraClub Festival in October 9, 2025 is a wrap! The 2nd Race was epic! While Team Green Envy may have had the fastest average, Team Orange Crush brought energy and in true spirit of our club, we were one club enjoying the lake, celebrating our season, and giving Tellico Village a mere sample of what it is to be a part of Telico Heat! One Club, One Logo, One family!Paddle More, Age-Less! Paddles UP!
Race #1 Team Green Envy That start! Those Pacers! Engine Room Engaged! Rockets on Fire! Power! It worked! Thanks Coach Dee and Denise!- Sorry Kevin and Cat! Wink with love!-not “bless your heart.”
Epic 2nd Race – Team Orange VS. Team Green
Alternate Version of the Epic 2nd Race Demonstrating Tellico Heat may be in different boats, but we paddle as one (and almost literally-but Steerers had perfect control – we learn to trust the sweeps).