The Killer Guppies was formed shortly before the 1999 Long Beach Festival. Given that the original line-up was a hodge-podge of those who weren’t on another team, the expectations were humble, and this was reflected in the unique name adopted by the team. Had anyone realized the team would still exist years later, perhaps the name would have been given more consideration. Or maybe not.
In 2000, the team became official with the first elected captain and matching jerseys. Along came a shiny gold medal in their division in the annual Long Beach Festival. Not bad for a team of mixed paddlers. Out-of-town tournaments began to take flight with a trip to Northern California for the SF Dragon Boat Festival.
In 2001, we refined our technique with our first dedicated head coach. KG really started to spread its wings and compete internationally for the first time, traveling to Vancouver for the biggest festival in North America: Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival. We were transitioning to become one of the top teams in California.
A Merger in the Making
The Cerritos Dragons was formed in 1996 by a group of Chinese school teachers. The team competed at the recreational level in the local Long Beach races. In 2005, the team grew more competitive and recruited from a broad region, changing their team name to California Golden Dragons. In 2006, paddlers from CGD traveled with KG to the tournaments in Vancouver and San Francisco. This was the start of a beautiful relationship. The two teams merged and retained the name; the Killer Guppies.
Ongoing Dedication
The Killer Guppies continue to compete at all levels while being fortunate to bring home hardware when hard work meets perseverance. It is a team where all paddlers are inspired by their teammates to push their limits and grow stronger. Our dedication and supportive atmosphere attracts paddlers who wish to elevate their game. We aren’t recognized just for our name, but for competing with and against the best dragon boat teams out there.