What is dragon boating?
Dragonboat racing is an aquatic sport in which a twelve metre long canoe-like boat, wide enough to sit twenty people (two abreast) along with a sweep to steer the boat and a drummer, is paddled over a course of either 250 or 500 metres in length. During races a dragonboat will feature the head and tail of a dragon, a mythological creature regarded by the Chinese as having dominion over the waters and exercising control over rainfall. The following pictures from the Canberra Festival and other local regattas in 2004 show the tradition, fun and excitement that is dragon boat racing.
Dragon boat racing is a 2,500 year-old Chinese sport that has become a global phenomenon with over 10,000 teams in more than 50 countries. According to the United States Dragon Boat Federation (USDBF), there were over 70 dragon boat festivals, 3,300 dragon boat teams and more than 50,000 paddlers in the US during 2004. In Houston, the Texas Dragon Boat Association hosts the Houston Dragon Boat Festival and the Gulf Coast International Dragon Boat Regatta every May and October. Dragon boats are 4 feet wide and 40 feet long, beautifully colored and shaped like a dragon with a dragon’s head and tail. Each boat holds 20 paddlers moving in perfect unison, a steersman navigating the boat, and a drummer pounding a rhythm to keep the team in sync. The roots of dragon boat racing originated 2,500 years ago in the southern provinces of China. According to the legend, Qu Yuan, a poet and advisor to the Emperor, jumped into the Mei Lo River in despair over government corruption. Local citizens rev
For those unfamiliar with the sport, dragon boating simply put, is a boat of 20 paddlers, a drummer and a steers person paddling to cross the finish faster than their competition. It’s a team sport in its purest form that encompasses the elements of power, speed, synchronization and endurance. With its beginnings in Southern China, dragon boating today is the fastest growing international team water sport. Each year, race festivals are held around the world in Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe and the United States, one of the largest festivals in the North America is held right here in the San Francisco Bay Area. The appeal to dragon boating is mainly contributed to the sport’s ability to accommodate a wide spectrum of skill levels ranging from novice to competitive. At the novice and recreational level, teams often form as a means of social outlet, team building and an alternative means of exercise. For the spectator, the true display of the sport’s intensity and skill is witnessed in
The sport of dragon boating is over 2000 years old with its origins steeped in tradition. The pageantry, the colors, the mechanics of dragon boating are educational and present a view into the past. The Legend of Chu Yuan Over 2000 years ago Chu Yuan, poet, warrior and loyal aide to the emperor, fell victim to plots and deception and found himself out of favor at court. When the old emperor died, Chu Yuan was unjustly banished and wandered the countryside composing poems he hoped would be heard and heeded by the new emperor. His inconsolable desolation grew until one day he threw himself into the Mi Lo River. His devoted followers, learning of his death, rushed to search for his body. Fearing the fish might devour the body; they beat their paddles on the water and banged drums and gongs to frighten the fish. Today, athletes from around the world meet to commemorate Yuan’s sacrifice for honor and justice in the form of Dragon Boat Racing. Dragon Boat Racing Today Dragon boat racing is t
Dragon boating is a team sport that originated in Southern China. Dragon boating teams compete in races that vary in length from 250m to 1000m. These teams are composed of paddlers, two strokes, one drummer, and one steerer. There are usually 16 to 20 paddlers, however some boats have been known to seat as few as eight paddlers and as many as thirty-six paddlers. Paddlers are seated in pairs in the boat, and each is responsible for paddling on one side of the boat. Since the number of paddlers is large, synchonization is essential for any good team. Like all team sports, all of the positions in the boat are equally important, and no one team member can compensate for a lagging teammate. The specific responsibilies for each of the positions mentioned above are outlined below: • Drummer – Sits at the front of the boat and is responsible for keeping the boat in time. • Steerer – Positioned at the rear of the boat is responsible for keeping the boat going the correct way. • Strokes – Sit i
