Christian and P-O have known each other since they were 12 years old.
In other words: for a very, very long time.

Former sprint canoe-kayak enthusiasts, they shared the same docks, the same competitions, the same athlete lifestyle… and yes, the same questionable rooms during regattas and training camps.

In 2007, young adults already with an entrepreneurial spirit, while working for the former Montreal Dragon Boat Festival, they decided to take the plunge. Their idea was simple: create an organization that reflects their values, both in sport and in work. Work hard. Have even more fun.

The Beginnings

They started from nothing.
Three boats in total:

• Two used ones, recovered in Nova Scotia with a trailer and a truck that required more courage than trust.
• One brand new, bought with the entirety (and we emphasize entirety) of their personal savings.

The gamble was risky.
But the vision was clear.

A Mission That Hasn’t Aged

From the start, they put on paper a mission that, nearly 20 years later, remains just as relevant:

Break away from the beaten path and offer an exhilarating experience to our clients through water sports, with all the surprises and discoveries that come with it.

Adopt a relaxed attitude while sharing the benefits of physical activity, which can help us combat the daily stress of a life that sometimes flies by too quickly.

H2o is an antidepressant for individuals and companies wanting to escape and reconnect with the child within. Above all, we want those involved to adopt a lifestyle that guarantees they never get bored, avoid routine, and play until exhaustion.

This mission has never been a slogan.
It has become a guiding principle.

Innovating Within a Niche

At a time when dragon boat racing remains a niche sport, they decided not to stay in a corner of the niche… they wanted to occupy it entirely.

They innovate.
They respect tradition but refuse to be prisoners of established ways.

They were the first in Canada to develop the concept of seat registration, allowing an individual to discover the sport without waiting for a team to recruit them. A small revolution in a very structured environment.

Always seeking effective solutions and better partnerships, they became distributors of the Champion Dragon Boat brand throughout Canada and the United States.

And above all, they were never afraid to team up with the right people.

This openness led them to found Mission Dragon Boat with Matt Smith and Matt Robert from 22Dragons — their eternal rivals on the water who became partners in organizing international-scale events.

Challenges? Many.

In nearly two decades, they’ve seen plenty.

Unpredictable seasons.
Projects more ambitious than the available budget.
Too-short nights.
A fire that could have stopped everything… but only reignited the flame.

And then, there was the pandemic.

At a time when the number one rule was to keep distance, their sport was based on 20 people sitting side by side, breathing in sync, just centimeters apart.

It goes without saying that dragon boat racing was the exact opposite of health guidelines.

Many would have hit the brakes.
They adjusted. Thought it through. Reinvented.
And waited to return to the water.

And yet…

They are still here. Still at the Olympic Basin. Since they were 12, they’ve been hanging out on these docks. Today, you could say they are part of the furniture.

After all these years, Christian and P-O are still at the helm. They don’t count their hours. They continue pushing the H2o project further, stronger, more structured.

Because for them, it’s not just a club.
It’s a community.
It’s a life project.

And the story isn’t over.

H2o is simple:
paddle hard, laugh often, do it again tomorrow.