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25.01.2022 Maybe we could do this & visit some other Aussie teams.

25.01.2022 I would like to thank all of the teams and paddlers who shared their photos of their "sleeping dragons" and kind comments for photos that we shared. Looking ah...ead we will at some point (soon I hope) need to awaken our dragons and when that time comes here are some suggestions as to how you go about it. Also, if your boat doesnt have a name, perhaps it is a good time to give it one! TRADITIONS DOTTING OF THE EYE AND BOAT NAMING CEREMONIES Waking the Dragon: Dragon Boat Teams should try to preserve the traditions of dragon boating by carrying out their own version of the Dotting of the Eye Ceremony. This can be done when the boat is first put into the water at the beginning of your paddling season or for all the racing boats at the various Dragon Boat Festivals and Regattas. Speeches are made by prominent people who dot the eyes, forehead and tongue then sprinkle holy water and throw rice, whilst the teams gather around the boats banging the drum and beating their hands against the inside of the boat. Read on below for more about the traditions of the Dotting of the Eye and Boat Naming ceremonies. Words for the Dotting of the Eye Ceremony: Eyes: Please awaken this golden dragon Forehead: Bless this world with peace and harmony Tongue: Bless the crews with winning spirit Below, with thanks to Dragon Boat World International, is a description of the traditional ceremonies which was published in one of their magazine editions., Issue #1 January 2008... Eye Dotting Ceremony and Giving Name to a Boat The modern sport of dragon boat racing was born in Hong Kong and many people still consider Hong Kong as a dragon boat mecca. Since I (the author) live in Hong Kong, I am frequently asked about how the traditional Eye Dotting Ceremony is performed. In Hong Kong there are two major ceremonies involving boats. One is the Eye Dotting or Awakening Ceremony and the other is the Naming of a new boat, which some people consider to be the christening. In Hong Kong, if you want to know anything about the traditions of the sport you look to the Fishermen. The Fishermen, who populate the various harbours around Hong Kong, are the keepers of the traditions of the sport. You will find many variations on the theme of Awakening the Dragon throughout the world In Asian culture the ceremony is about respecting the dragon and getting him into a good and friendly mood towards you, the team, and the community. You want the dragons protection, not his anger. However, additional ceremonial performances, such as the Lion Dance, are always welcome and definitely will add to a spectacular show and event. The ceremony which is known as the Eye Dotting, is actually the Awakening of the Dragon and should be repeated each year after the dragons rest during the off-season. It is typically performed when the dragon boats are first returned to service and again just prior to racing. It is important to remember that it is considered very bad luck to paddle or race in a dragon boat that has not been properly awakened or has its eyes closed. In Hong Kong the fishermen dont incorporate the naming of a new boat during the Awakening Ceremony. Although naming the boat may be important in Western Culture, it is not such an important part of owning a dragon boat in the East. There is no smashing a bottle of Champagne against the hull or sprinkling of holy water. 1. Choose the Date: When planning the ceremony the first thing you want to do is set the date. You will need to consult a Chinese calendar as there are good and bad dates. A boat awakened on the wrong day will have bad luck and will not perform well. Choose wisely. There are several web sites that can help you find the right date or you can consult with a Feng Shui Master. 2. Items Needed: a) Red paint and a brush b) Incense c) Symbolic Hell Money d) A metal bucket or open container to burn the Hell Money e) A basket of fruits, a steamed chicken or other goods a dragon might appreciate f) A small table and table cloth g) A roasted pig h) Only if you give a name to your boat red wrapping paper or cloth to cover the writing of the name on the boats hull. 3. Preparation of the Boat: In the case of Name Giving, paint the name on both sides of the hull somewhere close to the drum. When the paint is dry, cover it with the red wrapping paper or cloth. Before the ceremony you need to dress the boat by attaching the dragon head and tail, drum and drum seat. You should also decorate it a little. The boat can be on land or in the water for the ceremony. If the boat is on a trailer, make sure there is nothing in the way of the head and that it can be reached easily. If the boat is in the water tie it up at a 90 degree angle to the dock or to the shore with the dragon looking towards you. Remember you must be able to reach the eyes. It is acceptable to tie several boats together as long as they all face the same direction. 4. Ceremonial Procedure: 1. Making a Sacrifice to the Dragon Place the table cloth in front of the Dragon. If you dont have a table you can put the table cloth on the ground in front of the boat. Put the fruits and chicken and perhaps other foods on the table cloth and decorate it nicely together with some incense. Place the metal bucket or container nearby the table cloth. Next, have someone who is important to the team, club or organization, like the team captain, club president or your big sponsors, hold the burning incense in their hands. The hands should be clasped together in front. The person should then bow three times to the Dragon and three times to the open water. The team and other attending guests may also bow. Repeat for each boat you are awakening. After bowing, place the Hell Money in the metal bucket and burn it. So far no speeches are held. By making the sacrifice and bowing, you will be showing respect to the Dragon and the Spirits of the Water. 2. Giving Name to the Boat (if applicable) Again, have someone important to your team or group perform this step. If you are adding a sponsors name to the boat this would be a perfect time to involve them. Have the sponsor remove the wrapping paper or cloth covering the name of the boat. It is appropriate for the person to say a few words such as this boat shall from now on carry the name or I wish you all good luck on the water something like that. This is not the time for long drawn out speeches. Remember, the Dragon is waiting and he still cant see. 3. Awakening the Dragon Again, one of the important persons, it doesnt need to be always the same, takes the red paint and the brush and dots the dragon head at five points. The center of each eye, the tongue and the tip of each dragon horn. Painting the eyes gives the dragon sight. Painting the tongue gives him taste. The horns are painted to give the dragon power. 4. Bowing of the Awakened Dragon If at this point the boat is still on land, it is time to launch it. You can place incense somewhere near the bow of the boat, the point where the head attaches is a good place. Once the boat is in the water have the crew load. The entire crew including drummer and helm back paddles some distance away from the shore or dock and then sprints forward briefly toward the ceremonial party. They stop the boat and repeat the process a total of three times. This symbolises the Dragon bowing to the audience, which many bow also or greet him in return. 5. Showing the Dragon around Next the boat is paddled once around the water venue. This allows the Dragon and the Spirits of the Water to become introduced and know where the Dragon will be moving around. 6. Cutting the Roasted Pig When the boat is back to the shore, it is time for speeches and to cut the roast pig, which is known as food for the Gods. The cutting is ceremonial, but after that it just becomes another dish for the party. The fruits and chicken, which have been symbolically sacrificed are in fact there and can be eaten. Again, there are many different variations of this ceremony. This is the one that many of the Hong Kong Fishermen use and that is familiar to me (the author). It is similar to ceremonies in other parts of Asia. If you use this one you can feel confident that your boats are properly awakened, named and are ready to race.

23.01.2022 Many teams on Vancouver Island are still not coming together on the water in their boats. So it is off for a refreshing hike through our lovely forests and what do we see? A reminder of the DRAGON that still calls out to us!

20.01.2022 A bit of a laugh for all us paddlers. Enjoy!

20.01.2022 La quarantena finita! Anche per le UGO iniziata la fase 2....... P.S.: un grazie speciale a #EditorFedericoBonato che ha realizzato questo divertente video

19.01.2022 Today we celebrate International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, & Transphobia. Were going rainbow for #IDAHOBIT May 17 to support @minus18youth and LGBTIQ youth. You can too: idahobit.org.au

18.01.2022 For the really early risers! By my reckoning this is happening at 3am our time.

18.01.2022 We might need these tips soon!

17.01.2022 "CATCH this" - staying connected

15.01.2022 We are certainly missing training sessions with our exceptional coach Magie- remembering fun times.

15.01.2022 We know that this is a very challenging time for all so we wanted to pass along a little reminder to start your week You are stronger than you think and suppo...rt is available if you need it. Weve linked off to some great resources here: https://headtohealth.gov.au/covid-19-support/covid-19 See more

15.01.2022 La ripresa.....delle leonesse!!!!!!

13.01.2022 Dr. Don McKenzie- BCS Dragon Boating, the Beginning On this episode, Dr. Don McKenzie, researcher at the University of British Columbia, joined us on the podcas...t to share his research project and the development of the breast cancer division in the sport of dragon boating. As a part of his research, he developed and coached the first ever breast cancer dragon boat team- Abreast in a Boat. He shared details of his research, the outcome, as well at the lasting impact the study had on the breast cancer community in dragon boating. Take a listen in! www.behindthepinkribbon.com Please subscribe, rate, and review! And share!

13.01.2022 Fabulous bit of writing about the thrill of racing. Hopefully we will get to feel it for real before too long.

11.01.2022 BILLS PADDLING POINTS TO PONDER #9 This weeks PADDLING POINT TO PONDER involves some physical activity. Find a comfortable place on the floor to sit down, weig...ht is evenly distributed on both buttocks, legs are extended in front of you, knees can be slightly flexed, back is straight. Now lean forward and reach for your toes. For some of you this is no problem. All of those yoga classes have stretched those tight hamstrings and relaxed the tight lower back muscles allowing you to fold up like a toilet lid. Now if you are like me, the hinges are getting a little creaky and those pesky muscles that need to relax to allow such a range of motion are not quite as compliant. Also, for some of us there is a little something in the abdominal area impeding our ability to close the deal. Some of you will be able to embrace those toes but for some its stretch! No matter what, that setup only allows you to reach so far. Lets change few things and see what happens. First, instead of reaching forward with two hands reach only with one. Relax, allow the shoulder of the extended arm to rotate forward and suddenly those elusive toes are accessible for us creaky old folks and even Carlos the contortionist adds a few inches to his reach. Even so, we still feel a little resistance from those sticky obliques. So, lets shift our weight onto the outside buttock (our reaching side), free up the inside hip to rotate backwards and reach for the toes and beyond. We discover that we have released the brakes that prevent the motions that extend our reach and opened up our ability to reach beyond our toes. In Dragon Boating we often hear the coach comment on how open a paddler is on their catch position, referring to the amount of space between their reaching arm and their torso. Obviously, the more open the angle the greater the reach and the longer the stroke length. Now, we all can work on flexibility but by releasing the brakes that restrict full body motion even the creakiest paddler with a well insulated six pack can rotate around all resistance and reach for the finish line. Heres to releasing the brakes, PPP, Bill

11.01.2022 Lockdown session part.2 Needs perfecting but great fun

10.01.2022 Following our previous post, here are more Origami dragons you creative ones can make!

10.01.2022 Get those broomsticks out team!

09.01.2022 Very good coaching point. Read the explanation as to why it is the best way to prevent shoulder fatigue.

08.01.2022 Heres a little something to help you work on your technique while youre stuck at home. - - #puakeadesigns #puakeapaddles #coopeduptips #paddletips #johnpuakea #technique Puakea Designs

07.01.2022 WHY I PADDLE IN A DRAGON BOAT I paddle for the chance to live a few moments at the peak of my potential. I want to paddle with a group of dedicated dragon boat... paddlers, to compete against the best crews around and try to beat them. Everyone likes to win gold medals but we also do this to strengthen ourselves, push our own limits, and support each other. In a crew, speed and synchronization demands a total commitment of mind, body and teamwork found in no other sport. Each person on the crew must commit fully to the program in order to win. Success requires long hours of hard work and practice. With sufficient effort over a long enough period of time, progress is eventually made in tiny increments. It takes months of practice to prepare for a race that is over in a few minutes and sometimes decided by inches. Our crew practices together all year long and puts in a lot of extra hours of individual training. Competitive dragon boat racing isnt for everyone. This sport attracts people who naturally hardworking, positive, reliable, supportive, patient, and generous. I paddle for the opportunity to be involved with such a great group of people who are not only my team mates but are also my friends. Paddling with amazing people and winning is the greatest feeling in the world. Thats why I paddle. See more

06.01.2022 Some quick and easy exercises for dragon boaters! I am finding myself having to force myself to do them every time I think about reaching for a cookie! https://youtu.be/DWcakSNuG1M

06.01.2022 Goodvibes post from Rynple Sosa Hernandez. Nakaka-miss yung kada Sunday Morning nsa Manila Bay ka para Magtraining ng Dragon Boat...sa ngayon sa Emergency R...oom muna ako Palagi nka Bantay para sa Ibang Laban At Pagsagwan Laban sa Covid....pero konti tiis pa makakabalik din tayo sa Normal guys.....Magiging Maayos din po ang lahat kaya please Stay at Home po muna at Ugaliin ang huhugas ng Mga Kamay habang tayo ay nagpapa lakas ng Katawan.....Isang Mapagpalang Linggo Sa Ating Lahat.....Hey Covid-19 virus ka lang Nurse Paddler Ako!....Laban!.... #FightCovid19 #FlattenTheCurve #HealthWorker #Frontliner #ERNurse #InfectionControNurse #Paddler Rynple Sosa Hernandez

06.01.2022 We could do these in team colours!

06.01.2022 7 Lies Dragon Boaters Believe When it comes to myths and lies surrounding a sport, nothing can come close to dragon boating. With so many self-professed experts... and enthusiastic amateurs out there, some of the most widely accepted facts, tips and techniques are downright lies. Wise up and make sure you dont fall for these seven lies that most dragon boaters believe. 1) An expensive paddle will make me a better paddler. Year after year the big manufacturers come out with extremely expensive paddles packed with all new technology that they claim will make you paddle faster than ever before. Sadly this isnt always true. Whilst bargain-brand paddles should be avoided, there is no evidence to show that top of the line paddles are any better than mid-range ones. Instead of simply buying the most expensive paddle you see, head to a specialist store where youll be able to get an experts honest opinion on the right paddle for your body and paddling style. 2) I need to stretch before every paddle. If theres one thing every amateur paddler is sure of, its that you should do some stretches before you paddle, right? Wrong. Far from warming you up for your paddle and loosening up your muscles, stretching pre-paddle can actually increase injury risk and reduce paddling efficiency. According to research carried out at Florida State University, stretching cold muscles before a run reduces efficiency by about five per cent when compared with a light cardiovascular warm up. The main aim of a warm up is to get oxygen flowing to your muscles, which you can do with some brisk walking or very light jogging. 3) Im too old to be a dragon boater. Think youre too old to take up dragon boating? Fauja Singh would like a word with you. At the age of 100 Fauja became the worlds oldest marathon runner when he finished the 2011 Toronto Waterfront Marathon with a time of 8:11:06. Its not as if he had been running all his life either Fauja only started seriously training for the sport when he was 89 following the death of his son. Although paddling does get harder with age, thats not to say you cant still do it successfully. If you are an older paddler try using a 80%-100% tactic to give yourself some recovery periods mid-session. 4) If Im careful Ill never get injured. Whilst warming up correctly, wearing the right gear and avoiding overtraining are all great ways to boost your chances, there is no sure-fire way to avoid paddling injuries no matter what anyone tells you. Many paddlers will suffer some form of injury during their training. The most common area for these injuries is the rotor cuff, shoulder, lower back, hip, knee elbow. A lot of injuries are caused from poor technique so get feedback from your coach often. If you do get injured theres no need to beat yourself up about it. Simply rest, recover, and get back to training when youre ready. 5) Paddling is the only exercise I need. Some say that paddling is some sort of exclusive miracle exercise. Theres no doubting that paddling is great for you and great for your teams timing and cohesiveness, but if its all youre doing then youre not getting the full benefits. Adding other exercises into your routine will offer up a whole host of body-boosts, including muscle balancing, injury prevention, and cardiovascular development. 6) I dont have time to paddle today. When you hear about people doing 2 hour training runs you could be forgiven for thinking that dragon boating is a sport that you simply dont have time for. Theres no denying that long training runs are beneficial, but they certainly arent the be all and end all of dragon boating. By focusing on the quality of your training, there are plenty of great sessions you can do in under an hour, or even on your lunch break at work. For example, try a 45 minute interval session with an easy 10 minute warm up followed by blocks of five minutes of hard running with three minutes light jogging as a recovery. If you can get into a dragon boat, replace hard running and light jogging with the paddling equivalent. 7) I should carb-load before every race. If youre sitting down to a mountain of pasta the night before a Regatta, the only thing its going to do is make you feel bloated and lethargic when youre trying to paddle. Carb-loading should only be reserved for half marathon races and above, otherwise youll see more drawbacks than benefits. Most Dragon Boat races are sprints. That means, carb-loading not required.

05.01.2022 Ever since the COVID-19 became a threat to us all, people have rushed out to purchase certain products to sustain themselves while going through self-isolation.... One of those products is flour and other baking supplies. It seems that people are now tackling baking as their prime occupation. So we thought we would give you some ideas for cakes you can make as a practice for next years team potluck! You will be a star! See more

04.01.2022 Something a bit fun. Or will it give you an idea?

04.01.2022 Some homework for all the good cooks in the club & those who are now practicing to become good cooks. I am hoping for a range of dragon boat themed birthday cakes once we can go back to celebrating together. Feel free to post any attempts!

04.01.2022 We may have to go back to Turtle Racing if we cant get our boats back on the water soon. (Can you tell I am running out of things to talk about when there is no racing or team paddling going on? Suggestions welcome!)

03.01.2022 This is for you Pam Peppler!

03.01.2022 I think we could all have one of these as club casual wear!

03.01.2022 So looking forward to getting back in the boat! I hope this is a good omen.

01.01.2022 Tada! Dragon boat paddle board... #Kanoesports #Lifesshortpaddlehard #Dragonboat #paddleboard... #landpaddling @ Singapore See more