Coaches Corner

The International Olympic Committee says a top-notch coach is “positive, enthusiastic, supportive, trusting, focused, goal-oriented, knowledgeable, observant, respectful, patient and a clear communicator.” Here at Mako, our Coaching team ticks all these boxes.

Mako Head Coach – Kristin Chick

Kristin Chick, aka Chicki, is a seasoned dragon boat coach and paddler with over 14 years of experience at international, state, regional, and club levels. She recently led the Australian Auroras Senior B team at the 2023 IDBF World Nations Championship in Thailand.

Chicki excels in all aspects of dragon boat coaching, including paddler technique and fitness development, crew configuration, team building, morale-boosting, and race strategy design and adaptation. Known for her effective communication and ability to foster a positive, respectful team culture, Chicki is highly regarded in the dragon boating community.

Kristin has a track record of success, having founded and coached two clubs: Komodo Paddle Club in 2010 and Mako Paddle Club in 2019. Komodo dominated the Senior A division at the AUSDBF Nationals for six years, and Mako has grown rapidly and achieved solid competitive results, including a top-10 finish at the Lunar Festival 2024.

Mako Assistant Coaches

The 2024-25 season marks the first year our Head Coach will be supported by two Assistant Coaches.

Ryan Brown

Ryan “Rhino” Brown is a newly appointed Mako assistant coach eager to share his drive and passion for dragon boating with the Mako family.

Ryan “Rhino” Brown is a newly appointed Mako assistant coach eager to share his drive and passion for dragon boating with the Mako family. Rhino has over 10 years of experience coaching his kids’ youth soccer and basketball teams and has served as the Mako Land Fitness Coach for the past 3 years. His motto is “Don’t get paddle to get fit; get fit to paddle.”

Though Rhino has only been paddling for a few years, he has built quite the resume. Rhino has paddled two seasons with the NSW Senior A Team, two seasons with the NSW Southern Regional Team, and most recently, with the Australian Auroras Premier crew. In this time, Rhino has also received his Level 3 sweep accreditation and has swept for Mako and the NSW state team. His sweeping accreditation enabled him to lead many Mako training sessions and has laid the foundation for his role as assistant coach.

Rhino is always keen to exchange dad jokes and fitness ideas and enjoys the ones that bring the most groans. You have been warned!

Angie Jenkins

Angie Jenkins brings a wealth of experience, enthusiasm and energy to the role of Assistant Coach.

Angie’s dragon boat journey began only a few years ago. In that short time, she was an indispensable captain and committee member, sweep, stroke, paddler, scratcher of backs, and deliverer of snot and bulging neck veins. Hot off the heels of an international paddling debut representing Australia, Angie bought back a host of medals and will use her experience to commit to the Club and her teammates.

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