Ever wonder what all those women are doing paddling a dragon boat? The answer might inspire you.
Paddling for Life – Photo courtesy Irmgard Belle
Have you ever seen a large boat with scales painted on the sides with about 20 women paddling in time (hopefully) and a steersman yelling at them from the back of the boat on Powell Lake?
This is the Paddling for Life Dragon Boat team, and we have been paddling on the lake since 2003.
The team started by purchasing a second hand boat and was comprised mostly of breast cancer survivors. It takes 20 paddlers to fill a boat and a steersman and a drummer that sits at the front of the boat to keep time while you are racing. Our team has evolved into cancer survivors and supporters (I am the latter) and we paddle twice a week. We also attend several regattas around the province in the summer. We participate in many events around town including Sea Fair and the Blackberry Festival. The team has lots of fun participating in social activities too.
The Paddling for Life dragon boat team
Dragon boating became synonymous with breast cancer back in 1996 when Dr. Don McKenzie, a sports medicine specialist in Vancouver started a team for breast cancer survivors to promote health and raise awareness. He believed that these women could lead full and active lives. The original team “Abreast in a Boat” are still paddling and the sport has grown throughout the world because of his efforts.
20 paddlers, a steersman and drummer, all on the same beat
I find dragon boating a wonderful way to get upper body exercise and a great way to make new friends. I really enjoy being out in the boat practicing on our beautiful lake with these warrior women. Last practice we paddled to Haywire Bay and back.
We paddle in all kinds of conditions but we seem to do best in rough water. The reward for all of our practicing is when we attend the regattas, with Nanaimo being my personal favourite. There are over 70 teams participating, making it one of the bigger festivals. Teams dress in costumes and sing chants, they cheer each other on— and the volunteers are just great. The whole atmosphere is positive and just so much fun. It is the highlight of our paddling season! We are also attending a festival at False Creek in Vancouver in May this year, and I hope we will have some spectators cheering for us.
The races are usually 500 meters and teams finish anywhere between 2 and 3 minutes. We have measured out the distance on the lake with our finish line being under the bridge. In a race the drummer beats the drum in time with the strokes who are the two paddlers at the front of the boat. This helps the whole boat to keep in time.
Powell Lake practice regatta – Photo courtesy Irmgard Belle
Dragon boating isn’t only for women, there are mixed teams at many of the regattas and there is a team in Powell River called “The Pearl Warriors” who also paddle on Powell Lake. Both teams are always looking for new paddlers, so if you are interested we have posters around town and you can leave a comment here to contact me for the “Paddling for Life” team. You can also come down to the lake on Tuesdays or Thursdays to watch and see if you would like to give it a try.
“Paddles Up, Take it Away.”
Barbara Behan
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