Dragon Boat racing takes off

A 2000-year-old Chinese boating tradition is bursting into UCLA
as the university’s newest club sport ““ Dragon Boat
racing.

Primed to splash into the waters of Shanghai, China as an
official Olympic sport in 2008, dragon boat racing has evolved into
a worldwide water sport phenomenon, reaching Russia, most of
Europe, Asia, Australia, and America.

The Dragon Boat race is a time-honored custom that sprung from
the attempt by local fishermen in 277 B.C. to rescue China’s
first great poet, Qu Yuan, who had thrown himself into the Miluo
River as a protest to political corruption.

Founded earlier this summer, UCLA Dragon Boat racing attracted
over 100 students who demonstrated interest. Whereas in crew there
are only eight people situated on the boat, there are 22 people in
Dragon Boat; 20 paddlers, a steersperson, and a drummer.

Similar to many club teams on campus, UCLA Dragon Boat President
Derrick Chan stressed the importance of commitment throughout the
tryout process.

“I would definitely choose a committed paddler over an
experienced one,” Chan said. “It’s a year-long
commitment. Even though our season is during the spring, we train
and practice year-round like any other UCLA athletic
team.”

The objective in Dragon Boat racing is to have all 20 paddlers
working together with well-timed strokes hitting the water
simultaneously. One position in particular is responsible for
ensuring that each paddler is in line.

“The drummer helps keep time,” Chan said.
“Without a drummer, there would be no rhythm. The paddlers
would be offbeat.”

Without precise timing and discipline by all 22 team members,
the Dragon Boat would stutter through the water instead of gliding
above it.

It hasn’t taken rookie Dragon Boater Dan Tran long to
understand the importance of the teamwork that Dragon Boat
preaches.

“Everyone’s linked together,” Long said.
“I know my teammates depend on me.”

UCLA Dragon Boat will be competing against other collegiate
Dragon Boat teams such as UC Irvine and Stanford. In addition to
these intramural races, UCLA Dragon Boat also hopes to compete in
open competitions.

“It’s intense. Especially for us, because all of the
other teams have experience, and we’re just starting
out,” Chan said. “Dragon Boat is a team sport; timing
is everything.”

And timing takes time.

Even though UCLA Dragon Boat is still working on meshing
together and paddling as a unit, Chan feels confident about his
team’s ability to compete.

“Any team that is willing to put in time to practice will
do well,” Chan said. “I see a lot of determination in
our team. A lot of potential.”

UCLA Dragon Boat practices twice a week, once on land and once
on water.

With each stroke of the paddle, the Bruins inches nearer to the
Dragon Boat mantra that is echoed by teams all across the world,
“One boat. One mind.”