The Pink Champagne Breast Cancer Survivors Dragon Boat Team competed in snow rather than water recently.

Based at Hengistbury Head, they normally paddle their boats from their base and along the River Stour at Christchurch or out towards Mudeford Spit. However, they have just returned from Le Grand Bornard in the French Alps where they competed in a new type of dragon boating. Instead of water, the boats were fitted with skis and they raced other teams from Europe and Ireland on snow.

Two teams of eight took to the boats along with a drummer and a helm, steering at speed across the snowy landscape. It was a very different experience with adapted paddles which dug into the snow.

A spokesperson said: “It was such a fun event to be part of and a reminder to the 22 women who went that there is life to be lived and celebrated after having had breast cancer.”

To find out more about the team see  www.pinkchampagne.org.uk. Or find them on Facebook.