Oriental Dragon Boat Club
Dragon Masters
WELCOME!
Paddling is in our blood.
Feel the same?
Come and paddle with the
Dragon Masters.
The Dragon Boat and Crew
A dragon boat team consists of 20 paddlers, a steerperson standing in the aft (rear) of the boat who guides the boat, and a drummer in the bow (front) of the boat, who provides a beat as well as a visual cue for paddlers to stay in time with the strokers (those paddlers in the first row who set the pace).
Teams
Teams can consist of all men, all women, or mixed crews. Technique, timing and power are the three key elements of a successful team; and fourth, and very critical, are teamwork as each paddler works together paddling in unison - not following one another, but mirroring one another.
Competitions
Dragon Boat Races can occur over several distances, the minimum being 200 meters, the maximum being several miles long for skilled professional teams. Usually a race event will take place over a full day with several timed heats taking place to determine a competitive division in which to place the team. Paddling in a race is pure adrenaline-pumping exhilaration.
Origins of Dragon Boating
Dragon boating began in China over 2000 years ago, originating from superstitious beliefs that boat racing would ensure prosperity and bountiful crops. Dragon boating has come to symbolize humankind's struggle against nature and the fight against enemies, as events took place during the summer solstice when death and disease were most common.
Dragon Boat racing became embedded further into Chinese culture when the patriotic martyr, Chu Yuan, threw himself into the river after being exiled by a corrupt King. The people of the Kingdom of Chu loved and respected Chu Yuan and devoted much of their time trying to deter the fish and water dragons away from Chu's body by splashing their paddles and beating their drums. They also fed Chu by casting rice wrapped in leaves into the river, and today rice cakes are still eaten today as part of dragon boat festival celebrations.
