The president of UniTS Sports Centre (CUS Trieste) Michele Pipan adfirms that Dragon Boat races renew their message of brotherhood and sports inclusion. The objective for 2026 is to increase the number of universities involved’ 

The journey continues along the development and growth path that began with the first edition in 2024. We are approaching winter, but for the people of Trieste and beyond, images of the typical autumn event revive in their heads and eyes: the Barcolana, which in October 2025 reached its 57th edition and offered to all citizens the usual rich and all all-encompassing programme. Among the events that did not disappoint, there was certainly the 2nd edition of the Barcolana Dragon Boat University Challenge organised by CUS Trieste in collaboration with the University of Trieste, CUS Venezia, the Società Velica Barcola e Grignano and with the contribution of the Regional Council of Friuli Venezia Giulia. 

The event, on Tuesday 7th October, saw boats with dragon-shaped heads and tails compete in the San Giusto basin with the students of the teams of CUS Trieste, CUS Bari, CUS Venezia and CUS Udine on board with the UniUD students who went to reinforce the ranks of the two Venetian formations (CUS Venezia Ca’ Foscari and CUS Venezia Iuav). After the Ceremony of the Painting of the Dragon's Eyes, to wish good luck to the boats following the traditional Chinese rite, on the 150-metre course adjacent to the Audace Pier the challenges were unleashed among the four teams composed of 16 athletes each. CUS Trieste took away the satisfaction of winning the home event by making the first clear path in the Eliminatory Group, capturing three successes on as many duels faced, and then defeating CUS Bari again in the most coveted Final. On the third step of the podium came the CUS Venezia Ca’ Foscari who, in the Final for 3rd and 4th place, won the race with the CUS Venezia Iuav. The final ranking saw therefore the triumph of CUS Trieste (1st) ahead of CUS Bari (2nd), CUS Venezia Ca’ Foscari (3rd) and CUS Venezia Iuav (4th). 

‘After the 2024 edition, which was organised very quickly but proved to be a successful experiment,’ says Michele Pipan, President of CUS Trieste, ‘the Dragon Boat University Challenge 2025 was a great success, with around 100 students from various universities, not only in Friuli Venezia Giulia, and confirmed to be a sporting activity capable of involving athletes and amateurs of all levels and conveying a strong message of inclusion and team spirit. In the challenges between Dragon Boat, it is not competition that dominates, but integration, aggregation, the concept of a team, and the opportunity to test oneself together among boys and girls with different sporting and human backgrounds.’ 

‘The initiative launched in 2024 – adds Pipan – has been revived again during the Barcolana, the symbolic event of our city. The success of the day was evident both from the point of view of visibility and for the enthusiasm and satisfaction of the participants who fully experienced the spirit of brotherhood and collective fun of the initiative’. 

After two editions there is a real desire to continue the project by expanding the number of universities involved and opening up to the participation of foreign universities: ‘The Barcolana, the container event that hosts us, reached world excellence after starting from a small group of friends who met for the last regatta of the season with their boats. As the creators of this Dragon Boat University Challenge, we would like to follow the same growth path. I strongly believe that there is a possibility to increase the number of participating universities, both from Italy and abroad. In Italy there are several university sports centres (CUS) engaged in a circuit of national Dragon Boat competitions that own their own boat. These factors can certainly play in our favour. It will be necessary to start with the organisation well in advance in order to achieve the new objectives, and specifically towards February/March 2026. 

It has been not only the Dragon Boat University Challenge but also the entire activity of CUS Trieste that has been growing in these years and we have definitely started the 2025/2026 season on the right foot. As Pipan pointed out: ‘This year, we started with new developments, first and foremost the reorganisation of the volleyball sector on a path of growth with very encouraging numbers. Since 31st August (the date on which all previous year’s memberships expire), we have already registered around 800 members. The activities hosted and promoted in our gym in Via Monte Cengio have also increased and new agreements have been launched with external gyms and structures to expand the possibilities given to our members.’