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(Houston, TX - August 7, 2006) For the first time, the city of Houston will have a national presence in the sport of dragon boat racing. On August 25th, the Houston Heat Dragon Boat Club will head to Tampa, FL to compete at the 2006 US National Dragon Boat Championships. The top teams from this year's Championships will represent the United States at international dragon boat events, including the 2007 International Dragon Boat Federation World Championship in Sydney, Australia.
"We are extremely proud that Houston Heat will be heading to Tampa to represent the best of Texas dragon boat teams, and help fulfill our mission to develop this exciting sport in our region," says Dr. Caroline Long, President & Co-Founder of the Texas Dragon Boat Association. "Not only will people around the country see how fast dragon boat racing is growing in Texas, but we feel that other teams will be inspired to come and visit Houston."
Houston Heat was formed in May by a group of paddlers who wanted to create year-round dragon boat activities in Houston.
"Dragon boat racing is a competitive sport where teamwork is key to success, so Houston Heat is a true testament of camaraderie, dedication and fun," says Minh Nguyen, a coach and founding member. "During the past three months, our team of new and experienced paddlers has been training intensively on paddling technique and form. In three months of intensive training, our team has made huge improvements in paddling form and technique. We're very excited about representing Houston at the National level."
Dragon boat racing is a sport for everyone. Houston Heat's membership is diverse in age, fitness level and experience. Members range in age from 17 to 57, and are equally divided between men and women. Some have been dragon boat racing for many years, while others are true beginners to the sport.
Whole families can participate in dragon boat racing as well.
Albert Wong joined Houston Heat with his wife Ann and their son, Bernie. "This sport represents a commitment from our entire family, with regards to being involved in an activity that we all have fun participating in, challenging ourselves and each other in a competitive way, to perform as part of a team. When the team succeeds, we do, too, as individuals and as a family."
"Dragon Boating is the one activity the Wong family does together," adds Ann.
Dragon boat racing is a 2,500 year-old Chinese sport that has become a global phenomenon with over 10,000 teams in more than 50 countries. According to the United States Dragon Boat Federation (USDBF), there were over 70 dragon boat festivals, 3,300 dragon boat teams and more than 50,000 paddlers in the US during 2004.
In Houston, the Texas Dragon Boat Association hosts the Houston Dragon Boat Festival and the Gulf Coast International Dragon Boat Regatta every May and October.
Dragon boats are 4 feet wide and 40 feet long, beautifully colored and shaped like a dragon with a dragon's head and tail. Each boat holds 20 paddlers moving in perfect unison, a steersman navigating the boat, and a drummer pounding a rhythm to keep the team in sync.
The roots of dragon boat racing originated 2,500 years ago in the southern provinces of China. According to the legend, Qu Yuan, a poet and advisor to the Emperor, jumped into the Mei Lo River in despair over government corruption. Local citizens revered Qu Yuan as a hero and rushed out in their boats to save him. They pounded drums to scare away fish and water spirits from eating his body. Today's dragon boat races are a reenactment of this attempt to rescue the beloved hero.
The mission of the Houston Heat Dragon Boat Club is to promote the sport and culture of dragon boating in the Houston area. For more information, email
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or visit http://www.houstonheat.org/.
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