About this activity
Dragon boat racing is a water sport in which teams of paddlers race against each other. Races occur over set lengths, usually 250m, 500m, or 2000m. A team is made up of 20 paddlers, one steersperson who sits at the back of the boat, and one drummer who sits at the front of the boat. The typical dragon boat is 12-15 metres in length. To paddle, the participant forcefully moves the whole blade through the water; in the optimum stroke, the paddle is perpendicular to the water and goes straight from front to back. The steersperson is in charge of preventing the boat from colliding with other boats or objects in the water. The drummer beats a drum to synchronize the strokes.
Origins & history
Dragon boat racing originated in China. The origins of modern dragon boat racing are an international festival started by the Hong Kong Tourist Association in the 1970s, which invited dragon boaters from around the world. The festival attracted numerous participants and spectators, and by 1986, the first dragon boat festival was held in Vancouver. Several years later, Toronto had its own dragon boat festival. Dragon boat racing has become a professional competitive sport with many standardized races held around the world.
When it happens
Dragon boating is typically a summer activity, and the largest competitions take place in June, as part of the Duanwu Observance in the Chinese lunar calendar around the summer solstice. Many teams train year round, in indoor and outdoor venues.
Who takes part
Traditionally a Chinese sport, dragon boating is now practiced by males and females from diverse ethnocultural backgrounds. The activity has become popular among women breast cancer survivors, who form dragon boat teams as a form of bonding and support.
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