Enter the Dragonboat!

NOTE: Here is a guest post from Mathieu Duchesneau, who enjoys racing dragonboats. 

Draconian Ships

Anyone who starts practicing the sport of Dragonboat racing can hardly ever stop (not without regretting it).

It is intense, hard, addictive, makes you live hells and heavens, and grants one of the best feelings of accomplishment in the world. And unlike many others, Dragonboating is a TEAM sport in its purest form.

Truly, few sports can claim that much.

A Bit of History

I don’t really care about history (OK I lied, I like it), but it’s good to put things into context; therefore here is a glimpse of historical background.

With more than 20 centuries of regular practice, Dragonboat racing is one of the oldest sports in the world. Its roots come from China; the first competitions took place during the annual DuanWu Festival, and have never stopped since.

There is great Chinese legend associated to this sport; it is well-known that the Dragon is probably the most respected and celebrated creature in China’s culture. Amongst other things, dragons are considered as the rulers of the rivers and the seas.

Another legend related to this sport is that of Qu Yuan, a well-respected statesman. The common folk, as they learned of his suicide, tried desperately to save him by riding their fishing boats on the river to get to him, paddling and drumming to keep the fish and evil spirits away and from the man’s body.

More details on Dragonboat’s history can be found here.

The Basics of Dragonboat

Obviously we don’t need to chase a man’s dead body anymore, so let me explain how it works in our modern times.

A dragonboat is typically around 42 feet long and weighs 5-700 pounds. It is usually made of heavy-duty fiberglass with simple wooden benches.

The crew counts 20 paddlers (10 each side), a steerer at the rear, and a drummer at the front; 22 people total. The steerer leads the crew and drives the boat, while the drummer will call the rhythm or repeat commands for the front paddlers.

If I start getting fancy I’d also mention the roles within the paddlers group. Typically we’ll have :

• Smaller-sized people at the front to act as Pacers, leading the, erm, pace, for the rest of the pack

• Physically well-rounded paddlers will compose the Engine Room; They’re the boat’s core strength to ensure a sturdy, solid movement of the boat

• Bigger and/or more explosive crewmembers will form the 6- or 8-pack; They power the rear, and will provide an explosive overdrive (namely, a “pick-up”) in carefully-chosen times of need.

Wait, did I start getting fancy? Oops.

Win as a Team, Lose as a Team

Now I’ll take a step ahead and bet that you’d all hope to be part of the 6-pack, so let it be said right now:

NO ROLE within a dragonboat crew is to be under/overrated. They are all equally important (and equally as hard), and a lack of effort from just one member can make all the difference in the world.

Therefore the above titled saying is well-known around dragonboaters: “Win as a team, Lose as a team”. Each and every crewmember takes credit for a good race, and same goes on screw-ups.

The main reason is this: A dragonboat is at its fastest and most efficient, when ALL paddlers keep the EXACT SAME RHYTHM. Ideally, all 20 paddles should go in, pull, and get out of the water at the same time, every time.

This simple yet critical notion makes it impossible to win with any one person.

We all pay

With that in mind, we really need to learn to trust our teammates just as much as ourselves. We are all in the same (proverbial) boat, and if one crewmember half-asses (we call it “skinny-dipping”), WE ALL PAY.

Therefore, it’s also a exceptional motivational incentive. You don’t want to be the skinny-dipper. Your crew won’t even need to know it! But you’ll hate yourself.

The Challenge

Everyone who knows me, knows I love my life filled with challenges (checking out my blog might give you a hint).

When I started dragonboating I knew I’d have a lot of fun; however I’d never have guessed the amount of physical and mental toughness it requires!

Physically, a dragonboat race is extremely demanding; it recruits the muscles in all energy systems and leaves you battered. However, at the exact same time your cardio takes a beating! You’re pulling the hell out of your body, and doing it repeatedly.

Awesome.

Such a physical demand takes a mental toll. You feel like giving up. “Oh, we’re so close now”. Or you’re tired as frack, but just then your coach asks for even more! Is he crazy?!

Rock-hard mental toughness is built when you’re a dragonboat paddler. There’s no getting around it.

The Death, and Rebirth

In the midst of a race, all beaten up but not giving up, you’re depleting all reserves. Giving it all you got. Then you’re empty, but somehow you still keep going! You CAN’T stop. All your team is still paddling; therefore you’re paddling. Any other notion is out of the question.

You grate everything. Then you find some more. And then some, and again.

At some point, though, it stops.

You die.

Nothing’s left! Even less than nothing!

Then you wake up again. Maybe you won, or you might have lost.

However the outcome, there is much to celebrate;

A team has died, then it was born again.

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Tagged as: articles, dragonboat racing, guest posts, Mathieu Duchesneau