2012: Year of the Dragon!
What a year we have planned for 2012! It’s the year of the water Dragon on the Chinese calendar. We have a rigorous dragon boat racing schedule. Featured in this special edition newsletter, we highlight each event and part of its story for you. Enjoy.
Heart of the Dragon Festival
April 14, 2012 – Event Info
Macon, GA – A growing event in Macon, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Heart of Georgia produces this event as a fundraiser. Coming up on the fourth race, the event will feature up to 20 teams at Sandy Beach on Lake Tobesofkee.
The Junior League of Tuscaloosa Dragon Boat Races
April 28, 2012 – Event Info
Tuscaloosa, AL – After hearing about the success of dragon boat racing as a fundraiser, The Junior League of Tuscaloosa took the plunge feet first. This all-female civic organization has landed several sponsors and hopes to attract 30-35 teams to the Black Warrior River in its first showing.
Decatur General Dragon Boat Festival
May 12, 2012 – Event Info
Decatur, AL – Word of mouth spreads quickly when news of a dragon boat race leaks. That’s what happened in Decatur, where more than 60 teams are already committed in its first year. Presented by Toray Carbon Fibers America, Decatur General Hospital benefits from event proceeds.
Children’s Hospital Dragon Boat Festival
May 19, 2012 – Event Info
Chattanooga, TN – In its 6th year, the Children’s Hospital Dragon Boat Festival will likely attract 60 local corporate and community teams. More than $107,000 was raised during the 2011 event for the Children’s Hospital Foundation at Erlanger.
Cape Fear Dragon Boat Festival
TBA – Event Info
Wilmington, NC – After a great first-year event, the Cape Fear Dragon Boat Festival returns for more fun! Presented by Blue Hand Home, this event is also a fundraiser for Step up for Soldiers and the Sunburst Foundation. The previously announced date will change. A new date is TBA. Check the event website for updates.
KARM Dragon Boat Festival
June 23, 2012 – Event Info
Knoxville, TN – A celebration of the 10th year in Knoxville and benefiting Knox Area Rescue Ministries, we have an ambitious goal: To attract 60 or more teams and raise $187,000, enough money to provide 100,000 meals at KARM.
Owensboro Dragon Boat Festival
August 4, 2012 – Event Info
Owensboro, KY – In its second annual event, the city of Owensboro hopes to make big impressions toward growth, with 30 or more teams, at this year’s Dragon Boat Festival at English Park on the beautiful Ohio River.
Gateway Dragon Boat Festival
August 11, 2012 – Event Info
St. Louis, MO – Friendly competition abounds on the Creve Coeur Lake as these teams take fun to new levels. Proceeds benefit Operation Family Help, a new Signature Healthcare Foundation initiative to assist families of patients with financial challenges by providing services such as therapy, equipment or transportation.
Habitat Dragon Boat Festival
August 18, 2012 – Event Info
Gadsden, AL – A first-year event and fundraiser for the Gadsden-Etowah Habitat for Humanity, this is a build-up for many years of happy paddlers at the perfect location for fun and festivities on the Coosa River in downtown Gadsden.
Montana Dragon Boat Festival
September 8, 2012 – Event Info
Bigfork, MT – They like to go big in Montana, and it shows! Gaining lots of traction already, the first Montana Dragon Boat Festival will feature U.S. and Canadian dragon boaters racing for glory! Local and club teams will take part at a scenic venue on Flathead Lake, hosted by the Kalispell Convention & Vistors Bureau and benefiting Save a Sister, a breast cancer charity.
Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival
September 15, 2012 – Event Info
Cleveland, OH – Club and local teams enjoy a 500-meter race on the Cuyahoga River in the histroric Flats, in downtown Cleveland. Event proceeds benefit The Gathering Place, providing services to individuals and families touched by cancer free of charge.
Duncan-Williams Dragon Boat Races
September 22, 2012 – Event Info
Memphis, TN – In its second year, the Duncan-Williams Dragon Boat Races will likely attract more than 60 teams. Thanks to supportive sponsors, this event will be huge! Proceeds benefit the Tennessee Clean Water Network.
Cumberland River Dragon Boat Festival
September 29, 2012 – Event Info
Nashville, TN – Historically held in August, we switch gears to fall, and add pledge-raising to help the Cumberland River Compact enhance the health, and enjoy the Cumberland River and its tributaries through education, cooperation and action. We expect 50 or more teams on the Cumberland River, downtown.
Bloomington Dragon Boat Festival
October 20, 2012 – Event Info
Bloomington, IN – Details are taking shape for the first race this year in Bloomington, where Solution Tree and the local rowing association will join forces to bring the community together for a great team building experience!
Paddles Up!
It’s hard to fathom that the long, successful and tremendously busy 2011 season is over, because in a way it’s not.
Even though the racing season is done, and I’m not working any more dragon boat races until spring, it’s really not over for me. I’m working on the 2012 event season now. What a wild ride it’s going to be, also. It looks like Dynamic Dragon Boat Racing LLC will possibly be producing and/or managing 15 events next year, up from nine this year. If I thought this year was incredibly hectic, next year looks even wilder.
I hope it begins the same way it ended. The 2011 Dynamic Dragon Boat Racing season ended in Memphis, on September 24. And yes, I did have to say on the mic one good time, “Thank you, thank you very much.” I couldn’t resist. By the time I arrived in Memphis after driving 12 hours from Cleveland, Ohio after working that dragon boat festival, I was exhausted and ready to get the week finished so that my season would be over. That’s not a great attitude to have, but we had already worked two dragon boat races in September, and Memphis still to go. I was reaching a sort of burn out and very much looking forward to what I thought would be a break after the Duncan-Williams Dragon Boat Races in Memphis. I was wrong about everything.
It only took about five minutes of getting into a boat and start coaching in Memphis to realize we were exposing new people to a new sport, and it’s time to have fun with this. I was lucky the entire week of Memphis to coach some teams with great personalities, including a motivated all-female team full of boot campers who wanted to win. They did very well on race day, too. The last team I coached had some serious talent, and I thoroughly enjoyed working with them to make them competitive. They won Gold on race day! I used that excitement to sustain me until after the races were over. Plus, since it was a first-year event, I felt like a child before Christmas Day. I actually woke up in the middle of the night feeling quite giddy anticipating race day and all the fun and unexpected surprises that always makes the day interesting. On race day, team members began arriving about two hours before races started, while we were setting everything up and everyone worked like ants to get ready. We started about 15 minutes late and quickly got back on track. We actually finished the day 30 minutes early. Kathy (the Dynamic Project Manager) and I looked at each other around 1:30 p.m. and I said to her what it looked like she was already thinking, “Are we really almost finished? This day has flown.” Except for Kathy not knowing where her cellphone was most of the day, every detail for a smooth race day was followed by the letter. I fell to the ground in a victorious celebratory sort of relief after it was over.
Following the Duncan-Williams Dragon Boat Races in Memphis, I thought maybe I could get some rest and relaxation. It had been a long six months of almost non-stop traveling to dragon boat events all over the country and logistical planning, etc. My head was full, my body was tired and I was road weary. But three different potential clients contacted me about doing site visits as soon as possible in order to get moving on their 2012 plans for dragon boat festivals. So, I traveled to three different destinations (one of which was across the country) in October. The nice thing about it – I carried the renewed excitement that got me through Memphis to “sell” dragon boat racing – an awesome sport with major fundraising capabilities – with me on every visit. Toward the end, I was getting tired again. Now, I’m settled – or at least as settled as someone with my energy level can get – and prepping for many more dragon boat adventures. There will lots of them in 2012, and I will be unveiling the dates very soon.
Paddles UP!
Proud, Beautiful People
Once the dragon boat season got going, it feels like it’s flown by faster than a dragon boat race. But here we are at the end of the racing year with only three events remaining. It’s been a very rushed, busy and fun spring and summer filled with new and existing events that have been incredibly successful. More than $250,000 has been raised for charity and thousands have thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The last two races have been big fun in two different great cities.
On August 13, we supplied boats, race production and staff for the Gateway Dragon Boat Festival in St. Louis. We drove through a highway just blocks from the Arch during our drive to the hotel and venue. Paddlers from the 25 teams participating were fun and competitive. The losing team from the year before had to wear pink shirts on race day this year in a two-team rivalry/smash talk session on the water. The losing team from this year promised to take the other team out for steak dinner this time. But this year a different team beat them both – Y-Knot from Monroe County, Illinois.
From St. Louis to Nashville, where we finished racing on August 20 in 100-degree heat by 1:30 p.m. Central Standard Time and had eight boats, equipment and gear loaded by 4:30. But before that, we raced 35 very fun corporate and community festival teams. Everyone had a blast and can’t wait to return to the Music City. The Nashville Rugby Club took the Grand Champion prize and everyone won on the water – as usual!
The St. Louis and Nashville events went smoothly because the race organizers were experienced and prepared. We also had an incredible officiating and steering staff for both events, including my husband who coached all week in St. Louis, and in Nashville. In both cities, paddlers I steered for on race day told me that he said to them, “You’re proud, beautiful people.” He tells every team he coaches that. He tells me that. Some paddlers ask him if he does wake up calls, too. He probably would. It’s all about boasting their confidence, of course. Coaching positive and keeping people excited is easy with such a great sport. We have fun with it, as well. The saying is so catchy that in Nashville, when the teams were lining up at the start line, a team next to me in Lane 2 started chanting loudly in short, choppy bursts, “Proud, beautiful people; proud, beautiful people; proud, beautiful people” over and over again. After a few times, someone in the boat I was steering said, “Hey, he said that to us, too!” I laughed and said, “He tells everyone that. But you are proud, beautiful people. He’s right.”
He is right.
Another nice thing about these two races – from the volunteers to the spectators, people were cheering for each other for a job well done. Teams were shouting, “Hip, hip, hooray” for each other. That is a beautiful thing.
Proud
Beautiful
People
There’s nothing like coaching a dragon boat clinic and getting some family time. It was great, and was my agenda recently during a visit to a breast cancer survivor team I’ve coached in clinics for about three years now. For this most recent clinic, the team asked me in advance to come up with some team building exercises as well. After giving it some thought and building on some of my experiences, I arranged the following for the team:
In the morning, we gathered and some paddlers shared what pieces of the stroke they’d like to improve. Then, just before we loaded the boats for the first session, I told everyone that at lunch we would “build our team” by each of us sharing what we’d like our legacy to be, what do we want to be remembered for in this life. I shared in personal detail what my legacy is, and why. In a word, my legacy is giving and all the experiences I’ve had in life brings me back to that. The work I do in producing and managing dragon boat races also raises a lot of money for charities (so far nearly $250,000). I told everyone to think about what their legacy should be while we paddled in the morning session, and then we would share at lunch.
After the sharing started, I was surprised to hear how many women had never given that much thought about their legacy, especially considering I was in a room full of breast cancer survivors. It was amazing and refreshing to see how many women wept through their legacy presentations. It was equally as touching to see women standing beside them make a move to hold and comfort their teammate. A number of the women said the dragon boat club had given them something to live for, and in ways they’d never before imagined. Most of them said they wanted to give in some form – whether it be to help someone, to be a friend or to be a great family member. It was an amazing exercise in why and will – the why of what we do every day of our lives and the will to carry on, for whatever reason. We all leave a legacy. Make yours count to someone.
This blog was originally published in 2007, and gives an insider perspective of what it’s like to paddle in a dragon boat on race day
Paddling a dragon boat is unlike paddling any other water craft. Even though it is very similar to an Outrigger canoe, it isn’t exactly the same. Practicing in a dragon boat is much different than racing in a one of these 46-foot long boats. One coach said, “Racing is controlled chaos.” And it is, really. Especially when the adrenaline is pumping through your veins and you think about the potential of your team beating everyone else to that last buoy.
When the coach says “Paddles Up,” a rush of excitement, fear of failing and drive to paddle your heart out consumes you all at once. Then, you start paddling those deliberately long strokes and you’re reaching as far as possible, clinching teeth, straining, not even feeling the energy of the boat until it feels like you’re gliding. You realize someone is counting and you are operating this lightweight paddle through the water. You’re actually not doing so badly. Through your rush of adrenaline, your brain recalls that the process involves following the person two seats in front of you on the opposite side. Watch for the paddle in the air, hit the water with it when they hit. Listen to the count the coach yells; listen to the beat of the drum, unless you’ve tuned out everything except your own heartbeat. Reach so far you’re nearly out of your seat, hanging out the side of the boat giving it every atom of energy in your being. “Give the best you can give on this day,” good coaching advice.
The next piece of the race technique is an intense adrenaline ride. These are the fast strokes. It is the controlled chaos. You are paddling faster, and you think for a quick second if you get any more rocket on that power you could lose your paddle in the water. Listen to the coach or drummer shouting the count to you and move the paddle with the count. Keep looking up, again spot the paddler on the opposite side, two seats up and watch for the paddles up. Your paddle should be up at that moment. Coming out of the count and into the gradual extension to longer, deeper strokes brings you closer to the finish. These strokes win or lose a close race. Reach, and keep reaching, maintaining the paddles up everyone else has perfected, with the beat of the drummer in front, move your body with the person in front of you. Reach farther, spear your paddle into the water like a warrior, like the Chinese statesman who inspired the sport, explode with your final burst of energy until the coach finally yells, “Let it run.” You wonder if you remembered to breathe. Breathing is important. You are breathing now, fire through your veins, like the dragon.
You are experiencing the boat… You are getting the race experience.
After stumbling upon a personal journal, I decided to develop a blog series this dragon boat season. I’m calling it Dragon’s Alive for the same reason I dreamed up the idea – to give life to my life’s work, i.e. dragon boat racing and charity.
Starting this Friday the 13th, I will blog every day while I’m in Chattanooga for the Children’s Hospital Dragon Boat Festival until race day, on Saturday, May 21. A lot happens during practices and the week leading up to the event: from coaching teams to final week preps for an awesome race day, it’s a busy and interesting time. Look for photo and video updates, and the blog, of course!
I’m calling the blog Dragons Alive, because that’s how the idea evolved in my head. I’ve been a writer for a very long time. I have several personal and work journals. The journal I found was a personal one I had designated as my grief diary after my friend Karen died more than three years ago. Sadly, I’ve lost two other very important people in my life after Karen passed. One good thing I can say about experiencing death – it teaches you how to live. Something I wrote to Karen in that journal: “You’re always in the back of my head saying, ‘You’re alive. Do something with it. Go for it.’”
Karen and many lost loved ones taught me how to live, and be alive. Part of that is sharing, and giving. Through dragon boat racing, we work together as a team, and through the festivals, we give back as a community. Be part of that journey. The dragons are alive with power – to win – in every possible way!
Paddles Up!
New Web sites!
When I started the adventure of bidding out the services for a new Web site, I knew it would be a lot of work – both on my part, and for the chosen company. The reason – my company is not what you’d call common. You don’t see many dragon boat race organizers and equipment companies out there. Explaining the Dynamic Dragon Boat Racing business is itself a challenge, I had also tell bidders what I want to communicate and how. The what was in my head, but I was not resolved about the how. That’s where the Web company and the relationship/understanding becomes crucial. After an excruciatingly hard decision to research, contact references and view Web sites of companies and getting good bids from some of them, I settled on a company where I live – Slamdot, in Knoxville.
After consideration, the Slamdot proposal made sense – divide the sites into four – give each its identity. What you get are four very distinct sites for very distinct services and events.
* racedragonboats.com – This site features info about Dynamic Dragon Boat Racing LLC, which produces dragon boat festivals, and provides quality services and equipment to events all over the U.S.
* chattanooga.racedragonboats.com – In its 5th year, the Children’s Hospital Dragon Boat Festival in Chattanooga, benefiting the Children’s Hospital Foundation, is expected to attract more than 70 teams, on May 21, 2011.
* knoxville.racedragonboats.com – In its 9th year, the Knoxville Dragon Boat Festival, benefiting Knox Area Rescue Ministries, is expected to attract more than 70 teams on, June 25, 2011.
* memphis.racedragonboats.com – In its inaugural year, the Memphis Dragon Boat Races, benefiting the Tennessee Clean Water Network, is expected to attract more than 30 teams, on September 24, 2011.
Dragon Boat racing features primarily corporate and community teams of 20 paddlers a drummer, and steerer racing in 46-foot long dragon boats. It is the ultimate in team building and fundraising, netting more than $250K for events worked by Dynamic in 2010. Needless to say, connecting the info to communicate all that needs to go out to teams, sponsors, potential teams and sponsors, spectators, and the like for each event and customer is vitally important. I was a bit nervous, and naturally unsure of what to expect. This entire process took two long months, which is tough for someone who’d rather work quicker. But I knew it had to be right. I am pleasantly and overwhelmingly surprised to be as pleased as I am. These sites were precisely what I was looking for to promote this sport, my business, events and the charities who benefit from them. I’m excited to offer some great conveniences for teams, sponsors, clients and anyone interested in what this great fun is all about and why so many love it! Check it out on the new Web sites. They are incredible!
Paddles Up!
Penny Behling
Owner, Dynamic Dragon Boat Racing LLC
