Catch-pull-finish-reach as sports terms are typically presented in the patterns below based on our American sports knowledge..
Catch
Pull
Finish
Reach
But in Singapore these terms are used in sequence to achieve the uniform rowing pattern it takes to navigate a dragon boat..
What is Dragon Boat Racing?
Dragon boat racing is a sprint-paddling sport in which single-bladed paddles are used. Rosters consist of 22 individuals who fill three positions.
Paddlers
- Ten pairs of two
- Sit facing forward
- Use synchronized rows to propel the boat in motion
- One key element that separates paddlers from rowers is that the paddle used in this game is one-sided and not attached to the boat in anyway
- Serves a symbolic and literal purpose as the "heartbeat" of the dragon boat
- Sits at the head of the boat facing the paddlers
- Beats the drum to indicate synchronicity and frequency of paddlers
- Issues commands
- Controls the direction of the dragon boat with an oar
- Sits behind the paddlers facing forward
- Their commands may override the drummers because they have full view (IDBF)
The Travel Channel launched a TV show titled, "Dhani Tackles the Globe." The show follows NFL linebacker Dhani Jones as he travels to different countries and learns their national sport. After his training sessions, his challenge is to compete in the sport at a high level.
Dhani Jones currently plays for the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals but when the show aired he was still a member of the Philadelphia Eagles who I am a die-hard fan of. Naturally, I was drawn to this show just for the sake that he was an Eagle, but I became immersed in it for its content. Below is a link to the episode about Dhani's physical struggles in dragon boat racing.
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| Jones on the photo shoot for his TV show on the Travel Channel |
Elite teams are able to cover a 500m course in less than two minutes. That's longer than five football fields! To give you an idea of the superior competition in Singapore, the average American team paddles at a stroke rate of 60 to 85 spm (strokes per minute) while in Singapore, the teams are able to reach stroke rates of over 100 spm (IDBF).
Dragon boat racing in Singapore
With every association under the IDBF hosts their own set of international races, the IDBF World Championship is the biggest race of them all. They are held bi-annually with the next one being held in Tampa, Florida in 2011 (IDBF).
Public Relations as Advertising
In 2006, the first-ever breast cancer survivor dragon boat racing team was formed out of Singapore. Women of all ages came together to share their experience and bond together in an extreme team support displaying their physical toughness. The concept made a huge media splash after a documentary entitled "Pink Paddlers" was showcased. Below is a link to the movie trailer (Canadian Sport Film Festival).
Public Relations as Advertising
In 2006, the first-ever breast cancer survivor dragon boat racing team was formed out of Singapore. Women of all ages came together to share their experience and bond together in an extreme team support displaying their physical toughness. The concept made a huge media splash after a documentary entitled "Pink Paddlers" was showcased. Below is a link to the movie trailer (Canadian Sport Film Festival).
Celebrities
Dragon boat racing got its 15 minutes of fame when the Royal couple challenged each other to a friendly race on Dalvay Lake in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Prince William played the role of a paddler while the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton was the sweep for her team. In the end, Prince William's team was the victor.
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| Some friendly trash talking between the couple |
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| Prince William paddling |
News stories about the event broke out on ABC, CBS, Fox and BBC news reports, People Magazine, the Washington Post and every major network and magazine in England and Canada (Effron).
Guerilla Marketing
Dragon boat racing managed to find its way onto the grandest international sports platform of the Olympics, despite not being an actual event. At the 2000 Sydney Games, the 2008 Beijing Games and the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, a dragon boat was used to carry a torch bearer and an Olympian to their destination. The viewership of the Opening ceremony for the Vancouver games was approximately 32.6 million (CBC News).
References
Canadian Sport
Film Festival. (2011, October 3). The
Films. Retrieved October 23, 2011 from
http://www.sportfilmfestival.ca/2009/?p=108
CBC News.
(2010, February 12). Olympic torch’s long
journey at emotional end. Retrieved October 23, 2011 from
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/02/12/bc-olympic-relay-final-day.html
Effron, L.,
Patrick, M. (2011, July 4). Royal Couple
Battles In Boat Race. Retrieved October 23, 2011 from
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/prince-william-lands-military-helicopter-dalvay-lake-crowds/story?id=13992231
International Dragon Boat Federation. (http://idbf.org/).
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