Amazing Dragon Boat experience

Last weekend, I was invited to join the try-outs for a dragon boat team in Cebu. The first time I tried paddling a dragon boat was at Manila Bay in Manila as part of our training in the Metafit boot camp. The dragon boat is a very special tradition in ancient China as it was used for religious purposes as a way of appeasing the rain gods. Later Qu Yuan, the great warrior poet, committed suicide in the river Mi Lo as a protest against political corruption. Since that time over 2,000 years ago, dragon boat racing has become a major part of Chinese culture, representing patriotism and group integrity and to commemorate his sacrifice, the people began to organize dragon boat races in his memory. 

Each dragon boat has an ornately carved dragon's head at the bow and a tail in the stern. The body of the boat is painted with the Dragon's scales. The paddles symbolically represent the claws. In the International Dragon Boat Federation, there are generally 18-20 paddlers per standard size dragon boat and 8-10 paddlers in the small boat, plus a drummer and a helm (steerer). In traditional festivals, the boat designs and crew numbers vary. The race is a colorful event, with at least two boats competing against each other over distances from 200 to 2,000 meters and above. Not only are strength, endurance and skills important but also teamwork and armony.

KUGTONG DRAGON BOAT CLUB. It’s a Cebu team that started out in September 2015. The team derived its name from a mythical creature called  "kugtong" rumored to be lurking under the first Mandaue-Mactan bridge. The team consists of young professionals from different lines of business who share a common love for sports, and a healthy and active lifestyle. They have grown since October 2015 when they started joining clinics and races in Cebu, Dumaguete, Leyte and just recently at the 10th Boracay International Dragon Boat Festival.

"Better Together!" That is their mantra. The team strongly believes in the power of teamwork that dragon boat paddling has exemplified as well as with the other team sports. They are also geared to promote water sports all over Cebu City and start a Clean Water Drive. Their aim is not only to keep the waters clean and [sanitary] for all locals and encourage a rise of water sports athletes, but also to give life back to the ocean. Their advocacy to keeping the environment clean on land and water shows the heart that keeps the team together.

The tryout started with a safety briefing on basic commands inside the boat such as standby, attention, row and easy command (my favorite command). We were divided into two groups based if you are left or right handed. I volunteered for the left side because majority was right handed. Inside the boat, all you need is to focus on timing and rhythm as the speed of the boat will not be based on how strong your paddlers are but on timing of each row. It must be one big catch in every paddle. On the first day, I have the tendency to muscle each row instead of using the whole body or core in every pull. Form is very important, in attention position or command (left side of the boat) your weak or guide arm must be stay as straight as possible and almost parallel to the water. Twist your torso sideways almost perpendicular to the water and that you will be facing each other with the opposite paddler. Your legs must be properly anchored to the boat floor to get as much leverage in pulling. Pull with your whole body and avoid muscling each paddle because by doing this, only smaller muscle group are being used instead of the core. Maybe it works during the final stretch but with a race that is 500 meters or longer, your biceps and shoulders will burnt out before you get to the finish line. It’s a domino effect as you should always be alert with the paddler in front of you or the pacer. You don’t want to get ahead or be behind in each paddling or rowing stroke.

I have noticed that the rowing becomes easier when you are rowing together or in sync with the others. Once you get tired, you can always pull your paddle in upright position and try to lean forward, you don’t want to be a burden to the paddler behind you.

It was my first time in Mandaue-Mactan channel on a small boat. The view was awesome, the sunset and the sea breeze was breath taking. I was looking forward to the rest part after each interval of rowing.

Kugtong Dragon Boat Team is led by Adong Deo, its team captain, manager and founder. Just recently at the 10th Boracay International Dragon Boat Festival, the team competed in the 500m and ranked 9th out 22 teams in the elimination round, beating the teams like DLSU, Singporean paddlers and North China Dragons. And in the 250m race, the team qualified and was able to get a slot to  compete for the 2016 Asian Dragonboat Championship to be held in Puerto Princesa Palawan. Kugtong Dragon Boat has an active member of 25 paddlers. For now, the team is renting their boat, but soon they will be having a boat of their own. A dragon boat is not cheap, a small boat (10-seater) is around P150,000 and a standard boat like the one the team is renting costs around P250,000 including 20 paddles. These are locally made from Bohol.

Tryout for team is still open. Interested parties may drop by the Cebu Yacht Club across the Marina Mall at 4 p.m. today. Bring extra clothes, drinking water, cap, shades and sun block. You can also check their Facebook page at ww.facebook.com/KugtongPaddlers