DBC Instructor Certification & Safe Steering Accreditation
Instructor: Gabriel (Gabe) de Puyjalon: gabe_coach@yahoo.com
Dragon Boat Canada accreditation courses will be offered at the Rideau Canoe Club as of May 2026
- DBC Instructor: Two-Day certification course (includes Safe Steering)
- DBC Safe Steering Certification One-Day certification course
TWO-DAY INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION (includes safe steering accreditation)
This Dragon Boat Canada Instructor Certification will develop and reinforce your skills in the art of coaching Dragon Boat crews, so that your paddlers experience the very best this exciting team sport has to offer! This is the perfect certification course for coaches who take on new paddlers and crews in community, club, corporate, or school/camp paddling events - delivering solid basic fundamentals for coaching Dragon Boat paddling with a strong focus on watercraft safety.
This two-day Instructor Level gives you both a Coaching Certification and the Dragon Boat Canada Safe Steering Accreditation. Here's what you can expect:
Day 1: Dragon Boat coaching theory and fundamentals - safety rules, experiential/situational role-play, knowledge quiz and short homework assignment.
Day 2: Practical (The Safe Steering clinic): You'll learn all of the tips and tricks of safely and confidently steering a Dragon Boat through an interactive, hands-on land-based theory and technique training, followed by on-water steering skills practice (That's the fun part!)
Course details:
- Instructor: Gabe de Puyjalon
- Who should attend? People aged 16 years & over who want to learn how to coach new paddlers, and obtain a Dragon Boat Canada Safe Steering certification (learn how to steer a dragon boat!).
Sunday May 3, 2026: Day 1 - Instructor Course, and Sunday May 10 2026: Day 2 -Instructor course, and Safe Steering Course
Sunday May 17, 2026: Day 1 - Instructor Course, and Sunday May 24, 2026: Day 2 -Instructor course, and Safe Steering Course
Sunday May 31, 2026: Day 1 - Instructor Course, and Sunday June 7, 2026: Day 2 -Instructor course, and Safe Steering Course
- Registration fee: $225 + taxes
- Printed participant materials will be provided on site
- Note: Although this course & materials are in English, Gabe is fluently bilingual and able facilitate in both languages. The Instructor level gives you both coaching certification and Dragon Boat Canada Safe Steering accreditation. There is a possibility of participating in 'day 1' virtually - to be confirmed as Spring approaches!
Mandatory requirements to obtain your DBC Instructor Certification:
You must provide the following certifications (which can be completed before, or after the 2 day course):
ONE-DAY SAFE STEERING ACCREDITATION
The Dragon Boat Canada Safe Steering Accreditation is a one-day training offered to coaches/individuals who have steering experience, or have none at all.
(This is not a DBC Coaching certification)
The Safe Steering Accreditation includes land-based technical, theory & safety training as well as on-water hands-on practice, with tips and tricks to make this a fun experience AND build your confidence
Course details:
- Instructor: Gabe de Puyjalon
- Who should attend? People aged 16 years & over who want to learn how to coach new paddlers, and learn how to steer a dragon boat.
Sunday May 10 2026: Safe Steering Course Accreditation
Sunday May 24, 2026: Safe Steering Course Accreditation
Sunday June 7, 2026: Safe Steering Course Accreditation
- Registration fee: $150 + taxes
- Printed participant materials will be provided on site
- Note: Although this course & materials are in English, Gabe is fluently bilingual and able facilitate in both languages. The Safe Steering accreditation is not a DBC coach training certification, and is focused specifically on techniques for safely maneuvering and steering a Dragon Boat.
Mandatory requirements to obtain your DBC Safe Steering Accreditation:
You must provide the following certifications (which can be completed before, or after the course):
Additional Information
Registration: Thank you to the Rideau Canoe Club for making the registration portal available to all participants.
You do not need to be a DBC member to register/complete the courses.
Courses will be held on-site at the RCC - participant materials may be available prior to the course dates.
Additional dates in 2026 will be added based on demand.
What are the Dragon Boat Canada certifications in 2026?
- Instructor Certification
- Safe Steering Certification
- Level 1 (Community),
- Level 2 (Competitive: CCWC, Pan-Am's, Can-Am's & DBC Nationals) and
- Level 3 (National Team)
What are the pre-requisites?
In order to be accredited, all participants in any DBC Course must:
- Be minimum 16 years of age
- have current first aid certification,
- have a Pleasure Craft Operator's License,
- have successfully completed the Safe Sport course
- must have successfully completed all prerequisites for the course (including prior level courses)
Please reach out if you have any questions!
Gabriel (Gabe) de Puyjalon
gabe_coach@yahoo.com
DBC Competitive Lvl. Coach
DBC Safe Steering & DBC Instructor certification facilitator
