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Head Coach - Christopher Alexandrou
Sloths Dragon Boating Club has some of the best dragon boat coaching in the country. Coach Christopher "Zeus" Alexandrou has a proven track record of successful coaching at club, state, national and international levels. He has been a part of The Sloths' coaching team since 2001, taking on the Head Coach role in 2009, and has guided the club to numerous State, National and Club Crew World Championships medals.
Training with The Sloths is the perfect preparation for paddling at a representative level. Drawing on his experience with elite crews, Zeus knows what it takes to win, and can train you to get there.
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 Assistant Coach - Jon Detjen
Jon "Detch" Detjen has been dragon boating since 2005. He first represented NSW and Australia in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Most recently he represented Australia's Senior A squad in 2019. With coaching experience since 2008, and a decade of working with the best coaches in Australia, he became a valuable member of The Sloths' coaching team in 2016. Under his coaching, the women won bronze at NSW State Champs in 2019, bronze at Chinese New Year 2020 and silver at NSW State Champs in 2021! After some time off to be with his young family, Detch is back as our Assistant Coach.
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Opens's Captain - Matthew Epati
My paddling journey began unexpectedly when I got stuck in Auckland,
NZ during COVID restrictions, and a close friend invited me to join his team,
the Steel Dragons. The experience sparked something—
so when I returned to Sydney, I decided to keep at it. A quick Google search led me to the Sloths, and unfortunately for them, I’ve been hanging around like a bad smell ever since.
Now heading into my fifth season, what keeps me hooked is the crew connection,
the unity, competition, and community that come with the sport—and the way the water will often leave you breathless… literally. Ohana.
Side note: I also hold a PhD in 90s karaoke hits. 🎤
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 Women's Captain - Shona Stewart
My introduction to dragon boating was unexpected—I first saw a club training in Newcastle while walking my brother’s dogs in 2010. A few weeks later, I attended a Come and Try session in Bathurst, my then-hometown.
Not long after, I became president of the local club, completed my coaching course, and learned how to sweep. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of competing in multiple state campaigns, and this year marks my third time representing Australia at the World Championships. Beyond competition, I’ve also enjoyed unique paddling experiences, such as the Ord River Marathon.
In 2016, I found myself at a crossroads with dragon boating. Spending more time in Sydney, I was encouraged by a friend to train with the Sloths—and from my very first session, I was hooked. The club’s welcoming and passionate community reignited my love for the sport.
Sloths embraces paddlers of all levels, from social enthusiasts to high-performance athletes. With top-tier coaching and an environment that fosters both motivation and camaraderie, it’s the perfect place to grow.
As Women’s Captain, my goal is to support every paddler in achieving their personal best and to build a unified, determined women’s crew—one that thrives both on and off the water.
Mixed Captain - Natalie Trajcevski
Super happy and excited to be the Mixed Captain of Sloths for this season (2025-2026).
Being able to blend our paddlers to create strong sloth crews is an honour.
Bringing back #insync. Let's go #SlothsOn3 |
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