Team Blue, a dragon boat team for people with physical disabilities

Adaptive Adventures Team Blue is a dragon boat team for people with physical disabilities that highlights the collaborative and supportive spirit many paddlers say is a cornerstone of the sport. Rachel Bowyer coached the Colorado team this season and was interviewed by Denver Gazette after the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival at Sloan's Lake.

Rachel told Denver Gazette that team members include athletes who use wheelchairs or other mobility aids, athletes who are blind or visually impaired, and athletes living with chronic illnesses.

“Our athletes have an additional challenge of, maybe they have certain restrictions or impairments on certain sides, so how do you activate the muscles that you can to really engage with the paddling and make sure you can (push) against the water?” Rachel said.

“I think people make a lot of assumptions in general about what people with physical disabilities are capable of doing, but the reality is that, with just a little bit of equipment and a positive mindset, there’s so much you can do,” says Rachel.

Read the full article here:
https://www.denvergazette.com/2026/08/29/colorado-dragon-boat-festival-brings-high-spirits-cultural-education-to-denver/

Check out Team Blue's professional photos by Ian Drummond:
https://www.drummondphoto.com/Clients/Adaptive-Adventures/n-fzNQhH/2026-08-29-Dragon-Boat-Festival