Design Your OwnPaddle Contest
Your paddle. Your canvas.
Design a dragon boat paddle that tells your story. Win a free Hornet paddle featuring your design.
No purchase necessary. All art styles welcome.
Hand drawn, digital and AI artwork are welcome, as long as your design is original.
Make your mark in 3 steps.
You don't need to be a professional artist. Start with our blade outline and see where your imagination takes you.
Start with the outline.
Download the dragon boat paddle blade template. Print it to draw by hand, or bring it into your favorite design app.
Download the outlineMake it yours.
Your team, your roots, your favorite place, or something entirely unexpected. Create artwork that you would love to take on the water.
Explore past winnersEmail us your design.
Email your design to contest@hornetwatersports.com between October 1 and October 31, 2026. Include your name, country and a few words about your inspiration.
See entry instructions
One blank blade. Endless possibilities.
The official outline is a free PDF. Save a copy, add your artwork and keep the finished design inside the blade shape.
They started with a blank blade, too.
Explore three winning designs from the Hornet archive. Different stories. Different styles. The same starting point.
Imagine taking your own design onto the water.
Previous winner Daven Martin Tupas took his custom paddle to the 2026 IDBF Club Crew World Championships in Taiwan.
A design he created became a paddle he could race with. This year, it could be your idea we bring to life.
See Daven's storyReady to submit your design?
Send your entry from October 1 through October 31, 2026. All entries must arrive by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on October 31.
Send it straight to Hornet.
All entries must be submitted by email. Attach your finished design and tell us a little about the idea behind it.
contest@hornetwatersports.comPrepare my entry emailOpens your email app with the subject filled in. Attach your artwork and send the email to complete your entry. Nothing is submitted automatically.
Include with your entry
Help us credit your work and contact you if your design wins.
- Your finished paddle design
- Your name and country
- Your email address
- A design name and a few words about your inspiration
A clear image or PDF makes your design easy to review. Keep your original artwork file in case your design is selected.
The contest inbox is for submissions only. For questions about the contest, email info@hornetwatersports.com.
A few good questions.
The practical details, so you can focus on your design.
Do I need to be a professional artist?
What does the winner receive?
Who can enter?
When do entries close?
How is the winner chosen?
How do I submit my design?
The next winning design could be yours.
Start with a blank blade. Submit October 1 to 31, 2026.
2026 official contest rules and disclaimer
No purchase is necessary to enter or win. The Design Your Own Paddle Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram or Facebook.
- Eligibility. The contest is open only to those who are over the age of 18. The contest is open to residents of all countries and is void where prohibited by law. Hand drawn, digital and AI artwork are welcome, but your design must be original. Do not copy, trace or closely recreate someone else's artwork, graphics or paddle designs, including through AI. Changing colors or making small edits to someone else's work does not make it an original entry.
- Agreement to rules. By participating, you agree to be fully and unconditionally bound by these rules and represent and warrant that you meet the eligibility requirements. You agree to accept the decisions of Hornet Watersports as final and binding as they relate to this contest.
- Contest period. Entries will be accepted from October 1, 2026 at 12:00 a.m. through October 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time (America/New_York). All entries must be received within this period.
- How to enter. Create your design using the paddle blade outline. All entries must be emailed to contest@hornetwatersports.com during the contest period. Use the subject line "2026 Design Your Own Paddle Contest Entry" and attach your finished design. Include your name, country, email address and a short description of your design.
- Prize. One winner will receive one free Hornet Watersports dragon boat paddle featuring their winning design, including shipping.
- Winner selection and notification. The Hornet Watersports team will select the winner after the contest closes. The winner will be announced on Hornet Watersports' Instagram and Facebook pages and contacted directly by email using their entry details.
- Limitation of Liability: By entering you agree to release and hold harmless Hornet Watersports and its subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers and directors from any liability, illness, injury, death, loss, litigation, claim or damage that may occur, directly or indirectly, whether caused by negligence or not, from (i) such entrant's participation in the contest and/or his/her acceptance, possession, use, or misuse of any prize or any portion thereof, (ii) technical failures of any kind, including but not limited to the malfunctioning of any computer, cable, network, hardware or software; (iii) the unavailability or inaccessibility of any transmissions or telephone or Internet service; (iv) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Promotion; (v) electronic or human error which may occur in the administration of the Promotion or the processing of entries.
- Disputes: THIS CONTEST IS GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF HONG KONG, WITHOUT RESPECT TO CONFLICT OF LAW DOCTRINES. As a condition of participating in this contest, participant agrees that any and all disputes which cannot be resolved between the parties, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this contest, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, exclusively before a court located in Hong Kong having jurisdiction. Further, in any such dispute, under no circumstances will participant be permitted to obtain awards for, and hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, including reasonable attorneys' fees, other than participant's actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e. costs associated with entering this contest), and participant further waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.
-
Rights granted by you:
By entering this contest, you grant Hornet Watersports and its representatives the right to use your submitted design, along with your name and social media handle, for promotional purposes related to the contest and Hornet Watersports products. This includes sharing your entry on our website, social media channels, email newsletters, and marketing materials. No additional compensation will be provided beyond the contest prize.
- Privacy Policy: Information submitted with an entry is subject to the Hornet Watersports Privacy Policy.
- Sponsor: The Sponsor of the contest is Hornet Watersports International.
Questions about entering? Email info@hornetwatersports.com.