Meghan talks about Dragonboat Racing in LA

§ July 22nd, 2010 § Filed under Other Voices § Tagged , , , , , , , , , , § 2 Comments

My name is Meghan and one of my favorite fitness activities is dragonboating.  A dragonboat is basically a 40 foot long canoe that holds up to 20 paddlers (in 10 rows), a steersperson, and a caller/drummer.   It’s a big, heavy boat and paddling is a great workout for your entire body but especially your back, core and arms.

I started paddling in San Diego back in 2005 when I joined the UCSD Dragonboat team.  The first couple of weeks were rough.   I was so sore that for days after practice it hurt just to lean back against a chair.   It was a great experience with great teammates and I didn’t want it to end.  When I was back in LA after graduation, I joined the Los Angeles Racing Dragons, or LARD, because some of my friends had joined and were having a great time.


Photo of Meghan by Matthew Chin

We practice on the water on Saturday and Sunday and during the week many of us try to get together closer to where we live or work for cardio and strength training.  The training is important because a fully loaded boat of 22 people is really heavy.   But strength is only part of the equation: everyone has to paddle in time to move it forward efficiently.  Paddling technique encompasses everything from the rotation of your torso and the angle the paddle enters the water, to the recovery time between strokes.  If you’re off time, or your technique is different from everyone else’s, you’ll clack paddles with the people around you.  It may not sound this way, but once you get the hang of it, paddling can actually be very peaceful and relaxing.  You go out in the water and just get in the zone of paddling, leaving all your worries back on land.  It’s great stress relief.

If your reaction to that paragraph was, “Dude.  Sign me up right now,” that’s fantastic.  But if it scares you, don’t worry.  Dragonboating can be a great sport for people who aren’t in the best shape or who have trouble getting motivated.  If you were running and got tired, you could slow down to a jog.  But on a dragonboat, when there are people with paddles right behind and in front of you, you don’t get to stop just because you feel like it.  You have no choice but to keep going, and then you’ll find more strength than you realize you had.

In the end, you’re not just responsible for yourself but for your entire team, and the team’s success comes from that collective commitment.  That said, to me the enjoyment is more than just paddling, it’s about the people.   We work hard, play hard and we support one another off the boat in countless ways.  I feel very blessed to be part of the LARD family and I couldn’t imagine paddling with another team.

To get started, you’ll need a PFD (personal flotation device) and a paddle.  There are plenty of levels of fancy upgrades of course, but a simple foam PFD and a wooden paddle fitted to your body size will get you going.  Quick-drying clothing, a visor, sunglasses and sunscreen will all make the experience more comfortable.  When you’re brand new and learning the movements, it wouldn’t hurt to wear some protective gloves as well (bike gloves work if you have them).

Dragonboating is so much fun and can open the door to other water sports, such as outrigger canoeing and paddleboarding.  If you like the water, having a tan, and making new friends, it’s a great form of exercise and I highly recommend it.  See you on the water!

Meghan is a historian, brand-new librarian and dragonboater.  You can visit the team at: www.laracingdragons.org

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