Nowra Waterdragons Dragon Boat Club

10 things to know about dragon boat racing

• 1: It’s ancient: The sport’s roots can be traced back 2,000 years to the Pearl River Delta, Guangdong Province, southern China, where villagers, paddling teak longboats, competed for religious and community celebrations – and bragging rights.
• 2: It’s also modern: The modern, international version of the sport kicked off in Hong Kong in 1976. Dragon tails and heads are fitted to standard-sized dragon boats, each with 20 paddlers, a sweep (steerer) and a seated drummer.
• 3: Dragons rule the waters: A dragon is the only mythical creature among the 12 symbols of the traditional Chinese zodiac. Believed to be super-powerful creatures who rule the waters of the earth (i.e. rivers, lakes, seas) and the heavens (i.e. clouds, rain, mists), if you’re gonna pick a creature to symbolise your sport, you can’t go wrong with a dragon.
• 4: It’s paddling, not rowing: Paddlers face forward, propelling a dragon boat with paddles that aren’t rigged to boat’s frame. Rowers sit backwards, using oars attached to a rowing boat, propelling it through the water with a sweeping motion.
• 5: Strokes, drummers and sweeps: Two paddlers called strokes set the pace at the front of the boat, which all other paddlers must follow. A seated drummer beats a drum in time with the lead stroke, while the sweep (steerer) uses a wooden steering oar to guide the boat’s direction.
• 6: Auroras in the boat: Australia’s national dragon boat team of elite paddlers is named the Auroras. Our club is very proud to have representatives in the current and past Aurora squads.
• 7: It’s addictive: Fast, fun, team-based and gets you fit outdoors.
• 8: It’s global: Almost 90 countries or territories are affiliated with the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF).
• 9: Dreaming of the Olympics: Dragon boat racing isn’t yet an Olympic sport, but the IDBF is doing its part to try to get it admitted.
• 10: 9,000 reasons to start: Approximately 9,000 paddlers, from all around Australia, of diverse ages, backgrounds, genders and abilities, belong to dragon boat clubs for the thrill of being part of a dragon boat crew and because of the friendliness of our sporting community.

Where and when will I train?

The Waterdragons have two training bases – Nowra and Sydney – with experienced coaches and sweeps at both. New paddlers benefit most from learning to paddle during daylight hours – which allows us to see you and you to see us. (Winter evening training sessions are strictly for our competitive crews.) Please note, that due to renovations at Bank Street, Sydney, the training locations and times for our Metro paddlers have changed.

Interested in trying dragon boating? You can with a Dragon Pass. Get in contact with us for more information about how you can join our Dragon Pass program. And if you’d like to know when and where we train, check out the training session information on our website’s homepage.

What should I bring and wear?

Dragon boat racing is a watersport. You’ll sit in a boat, with 19 other paddlers, a drummer and a sweep. To help you come prepared, here’s what to know:

• You can borrow a club paddle and lifejacket.
• Expect to get wet.
• Wear quick-dry sports clothing (e.g. tights, boardies, shirts that don’t chafe).
• Bring water to stay hydrated but no glass or metal bottles are allowed on the boat.
• Wear closed-toe water shoes (e.g. Crocs, reef shoes, all-terrain sandals).
• Bring a hat (e.g. cap, visor, bucket hat).
• Slather on some sunscreen.
• Insect repellent is optional.
• Don some sunglasses but leave the expensive, branded pairs at home.
• Have a change of clothes and a towel for the trip home.
• If you’re joining us at a local cafe after Saturday training in Sydney, bring some coffee money. In Nowra, $2 will cover coffee and cake available, after the Saturday morning’s session, in the clubhouse.

How fit must I be to try dragon boating?

Dragon boat racing is an excellent way to get fit and build your strength and flexibility. We do assume first-time paddlers will have these physical and psychosocial abilities:

• Cardio: Being able to jog or cycle without difficulty is a good start. As a dragon boat paddler, you’ll develop your heart and lung muscles but a basic level of cardio fitness is required for anyone wanting to get started.
• Strength: Gym work, Pilates and yoga offer a good foundation, as does outdoor work (e.g. landscaping, farm work, bricklaying). Dragon boating will definitely build your strength – on and off water – as the season progresses. A strong core is essential.
• Ability to swim: Dragon boating takes place on water and all crew members must be able to swim. An annual swim test is a requirement for training and competing. All new paddlers are required to paddle with a lifejacket at training sessions, irrespective of their swimming ability, until they have completed a swim test.
• Accepting feedback: One of the most important skills is the ability to accept feedback from the coaching team. They’ll guide you towards improving your technique, strength and contribution in the boat if you are open to receiving positive feedback.
• Team work: Dragon boating is a team sport. Cooperation, communication, respect and trust are vital.

Is it safe?

Safety is extremely important in this sport. To keep you and all our paddlers safe, we do the following:

• Our coaching team is very experienced and accredited by our state and national bodies.
• Our coaches and sweeps (steerers) have first aid training.
• A first aid bag is kept in the boat at training sessions.
• Our experienced sweeps (who steer the boats) are accredited by our state and national bodies.
• We monitor weather conditions and do not paddle if lightning, high winds or extreme weather is forecast.
• We have safety protocols for entering and exiting the boat, capsizing (which doesn’t happen often!), swapping seats, and passing other vessels on a waterway.
• We wear lifejackets when training outside of daylight-saving hours on Shoalhaven River, Nowra.
• We conduct annual swim tests which paddlers are expected to pass. (Read the FAQs for more info.)
• Staying hydrated is very important. A training session typically lasts 60-90 minutes. In summer, you must have water with you.

What costs can I expect?

When you register for a Dragon Pass, a temporary club membership, your first few sessions are free.

When you register as a full club member and train with us, then expect the following costs:

• Club membership fee contributing to club coaching, boat maintenance, administration and facilities. More info.
• DBNSW membership fee which covers public liability insurance and administrative costs to run the sport. More info.
• Club uniform (e.g. shirt, hat, hoodie, soft-shell jacket).
• Your own paddle.
• Your own lifejacket or personal flotation device (PFD).
• Regatta fees: the costs of which vary depending on the type of regatta and where it’s held.

Who can I contact if I still have questions?

Email presidentnwd@gmail.com with your question/s and preferred contact information (e.g. mobile number or email). We’re happy to answer your dragon boating and membership questions.

Acknowledgement

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waterways on which we live, thrive and paddle. We recognise their continuing connection to land, sea, culture and community, and we pay our respects to Aboriginal Elders past, present and emerging.

We support these sporting organisations and initiatives