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Kristin Chick aka Chicki was today awarded Dragon Boat NSW 2022 Coach of the Year at the DBNSW AGM in Sydney. Celebrations have broken out across Jervis Bay and are expected to continue long into the night, possibly past 730. ‘It’s been amazing to watch the progression of Mako under Chicki’s coaching from a start-up to achieving great results at NSW, ACT and Nationals.” said Nic Frowen DBNSW Chair.
“On behalf of the entire Mako Paddle Club membership, I need to take this opportunity to offer Chick our most wholehearted congratulations on this tremendous honour. We could not be prouder.” said a very excited Mako President Simon Katz.
“She has built our club from the absolute waterline up. The passion, the dedication, the tireless commitment, to not only our club but to the sport in general. Her generosity of spirit, her guidance and knowledge sharing, her wisdom and her support. Never wavering. Never-ending. We are all so fortunate to have had the privilege of sharing this journey with her.”
Former Mako President Matt Gardner also acknowledged the announcement with a short but heartfelt statement, “Patio Furniture!”
Chicki’s DBNSW Coach of the Year Nomination
Kristin Chick (aka ‘Chicki’) is the coach of one of DBNSW’s newest dragon boat clubs, Mako Paddle Club. Having launched the club in November 2019 with sixteen paddlers, donated paddles, and the oldest dragon boats in Australia, Mako has gone from strength to strength under Chicki’s leadership, coaching, communications skills, and unbridled enthusiasm.
Chicki is responsible for arranging and running three on-water sessions a week, regatta management, dedicated new paddler technique sessions, video and technique feedback sessions, and sweep development, as well as being one of only two accredited female race sweeps.
In terms of results, Mako leapfrogged every expectation set, and this has come from Chicki’s engaging, ever-positive and brilliantly communicated technique development, season planning and training session structures. Her engaging and supportive approach gives paddlers the space to grow, while also building technically proficient and focused crews. Chicki’s coaching and leadership are the cornerstones of Mako’s recruitment and retention. Her season and session planning is thoughtfully constructed and brilliantly executed.
In season 21-22, Mako competed in DBNSW and DBACT regattas as well as our first AusChamps in Adelaide. Mako: won gold in 4 from 5 events in Jindabyne; won our first DBACT final in the mixed 200m, and won our first Luna New Year medal with a 3rd in the Sen A Mixed. With a bare-bones squad of 26, Mako raced in the Premier category with six prem paddlers only and a goal of making one final across the two days of racing. Mako made all six straight line finals and came 4th in the Mixed 20 2k and 5th in the Open’s 10’s 2k.
Mako’s unexpected results are the direct result of Chicki’s unwavering commitment to grassroots paddling and giving every member 100% commitment to becoming the best paddler they can be.
