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Dragon Boat racing began in China more than 2,000 years ago. Legend
has it that Qu Yuan, a Chinese poet and scholar in the fourth century
BC, took such umbrage to the corruption within the Chu Dynasty
he flung himself into the Mi Lo River. Qu Yuan was very beloved
by the people, and local fisherman paddled furiously from shore
to try to save him. To prevent his body from being eaten by the
fish and to appease the river dragons, the fishermen scattered
rice dumplings into the water. They couldn't save Qu Yuan, but
this attempt to save Qu Yuan is re-acted in the form of dragon
boat racing every year.
Now more than 2,000 years later the sport of dragon boat racing
has really taken off. Dragon boat racing is one of the fastest
growing water sports in the world. The sport has always been
popular in the Pacific Rim, but the growth of the sport in the
Western world over the last five years has been nothing short
of phenomenal. Find a city with a stretch of water and chances
are you will find a dragon boat race: Hong Kong, Sydney, New
York, London, Cap Town, Dhaka, Wellington, Vancouver. A quarter
of a million people turn out annually for the Toronto race and
Sweden alone has over 400 crews.
The dragon boats have a unique concave design originating from
Chinese fishing vessels thousands of years ago. These multi-colored
boats are decorated with fierce dragon heads, scaly bodies and
elaborate tails. Measuring nearly 18 meters long, they are almost
the length of a large metro bus.
Teams race along a straight course in an assigned lane varying
from 250 to 1,000 meters with an average time of three to six
minutes. For the competitors, the object is to have all 20 paddlers
working together at top speed with well-timed strokes of the
blade hitting the water as horizontally as possible.
The goal is to generate enough speed to cause the boat to rise
high and smooth above the water by a cresting wave beneath the
bow. Typically, a seasoned Dragon Boat crew will have a rate
of 70 to 80 strokes per minute and can travel over the water
at 3 to 4 meters per second. A world class level dragon boat
operating at top speed can actually pull up a water skier!
A friendly, easy to learn activity which appeals
to both young and old alike, dragon boating is a great team building
and family sport. It's also a great excuse for getting fit and
to have fun with your friends on the water. Once a team has been
indoctrinated into dragon boating, the benefits will be immediately
apparent; from the health perspective to the camaraderie and
spirit the sport invokes.
The most exciting
part of dragon boating is the Festival itself. One of the rituals
associated with the races is "Awakening the Dragons." This
is where a Taoist priest dots the eyes of the dragon head in
order to bring the dragon out of its slumber. This ceremony,
which dates back over the centuries, is performed at the opening
of all races. Much of the excitement and pageantry is due to
the intensive and passionate efforts of the 1,000+ paddlers
that train every year for this event. Commitment to excellence,
spirited competitiveness, and broad community involvement makes
this event an annual success.
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