Sponsors

This year, we would like to thank Steelcase for stepping up as title sponsor.

The global leader in workplace furnishings, services and products, Steelcase is inspired by nearly 100 years of insight gained serving the world's leading organizations, to create high performance, sustainable work environments that bring people together to focus, collaborate, socialize, learn and “love how you work” — just like a winning paddling team!

We’d also like to once again thank Man Investments.

Hosting a world-class race is possible thanks to the commitment and assistance of the paddle community and sponsors. This year, we would once again like to thank Man Investments, which has supported the race since 2008. Man Investments has been a world-leading alternative investment management business for more than 20 years, providing asset management and investment management services to private investors, institutions and financial professionals.

And we would like to thank HBO+EMTB.

The HBO+EMTB group offers multidisciplinary expertise in architecture, interior design, workplace solutions, urban design, landscape design, heritage and planning. Our diverse team of staff assist clients in every major regional centre, providing commensurate response to requirements wherever, and whenever, they arise. The group's work has been acknowledged with design awards across a breadth of building types. The practice continues to strengthen this reputation, contributing to the built environments of the world’s most dynamic cities.

We would also like to thank Robert Walters for the tremendous support we have received from them. Robert Walters (www.robertwalters.com.hk) is one of the world's leading specialist professional recruitment consultancies with 38 offices spanning 18 countries, and specialises in placing candidates on a permanent, contract and interim basis across various industries and functions. We recognise that for most paddlers who compete in our race, ocean sports are an avocation. Should you consider changing employment in the future, do keep Robert Walters in mind.

This race would also not be possible without the support of the surfski and outrigger manufacturers who make a limited number of surfskis available for charter for international paddlers, or provide sponsorship in other ways. Delivering paddle craft to Hong Kong in container ships is, to say the least, a logistical nightmare and an expensive endeavor for the manufacturers and their agents.

Think kayaks has, for the second consecutive year, been so kind to support the race with the donation of a Think surfski of the raffle winner’s choice. Please do your part to help “sponsor” the race by buying these tickets. All proceeds go into the organization of the Dragon Run without which this fantastic race would not be possible.

This year our kit sponsor is 2XU (human performance multiplied). Apart from triathlon, run and cycle gear, 2XU offers Compression that is suitable for sports men and women of any discipline. It is scientifically proven to enhance performance and aid recovery with superior technology.

We would also like to thank Jaspas for once again jumping aboard as this year's official F&B sponsor. Not only do they provide our paddlers with healthy and nutritious snacks during registration & briefing, Jaspas will also have a feast fit for Olympians waiting for us at the finish line. We hope that as a thank you, you will visit one of the four Jaspas outlets, Castelo Concepts' newly opened Oolaa, Wagyu, Wagyu Lounge, Cru Wine & Grill, Zaks, Sopranos, Pepperonis or book one of their "notorious" Jaspas Junks. For more information have a look at www.casteloconcepts.com.

Epic surfskis (www.epickayaks.com) are available for charter; for details and reservation contact roughwaterhongkong@gmail .

Fenn surfskis and OC1’s from Outrigger Connection are also available for charter; for details and reservation contact James Shortis at kaikane@netvigator.com. Anyone needing a Fenn surf ski or OC1 will need to reserve one at least one month in advance.

We also want to thank Nelo, which is the largest canoe manufacturer in the world, designing and creating boats for racing, touring, fitness, sea racing, slalom and surfskiing. In recent years Nelo has made the surfski one of its main priorities, developing race-winning boats for all athletes and conditions, and organizing what aims to be the one of the best sea race in the world - The Nelo Summer Challenge. If you want to learn more about Nelo, please email to Nelo Hong Kong on hkkayak@hotmail.com.

Once again we cannot adequately thank the Sea School Hong Kong for its hospitality. The expansive venue is where we host our race briefing, load our boats to be transported to the start, and of course it is the finish line of the race. Students from the school volunteer to help take boats off the water, wash them down and rack them (and we should all remember to thank these lads for their hard work!). And each year, more students compete. The school was founded in 1946 and provides a secondary school boarding education for boys with learning disabilities and for those from disadvantaged families. It is registered charity and in addition to normal school activities operates an elite training program with emphasis on water sports. The Sea School not only offers us a top-notch venue, it enables us to host a race that shows local and international paddlers and integral part of Hong Kong's maritime community.

For the second year running Pacsafe®, leaders in smart anti-theft travel gear, will provide winners with secure, practical travel gear to keep your stash and equipment safe. If you’re planning your next adventure or headed to your next race, check out their site www.pacsafe.com. Their gear gives you the peace of mind you need get ahead on the road and in the water.

Nutrition Asia is also supporting us this year with free PowerBar products (http://www.powerbar.com/about/about.aspx) in our race-kit packages and will also provide recovery beverages at the finish. For more on PowerBar products see this link: http://www.powerbar-europe.com/2010/.

Typhoon8 is supporting the race by providing two paddles — one each for the local male and female winners of the Dragon Run. For more information about what products are available from Typhoon8, contact Lister Woo on lister@typhoon8.com.

Finally, a thanks to Transact24, for our website. The Hong Kong-based payment service provider has offices and/or operating entities in Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, China, Macau, Mauritius, Austria, South Africa, the USA and the UK. It has a processing relationship with several acquiring banks and institutions word-wide and offers internet merchants payment options such as Visa, MasterCard, JCB, Amex, Diners, Chinese Debit Cards, ACH (Auto Clearing House) transactions and Wire Transfer. More information about Transact24 can be found at www.transact24.com and www.t24gi.com.

During the 2011 Steelcase Dragon Run, Epic sent its factory team to the race to help repair paddlers’ boats.