News — Dragon boat

This article was originally published on Paddlechica.com.   1. Not Warming Up Properly Too many paddlers jump into a boat for a training session or even a race without a sufficient warmup. Dynamic stretching at least 15- 45 minutes before hitting the water is crucial to get your muscles well-lubricated and ready to fire. A light run is beneficial to raise your total body temperature and get your body ready for vigorous activity, but you also need to be doing active stretches. Shoulder circles, hip circles, leg swings, squats, lunges, jumping jacks, etc. all help get your body loosened up and prepared...

This article was originally published on Hornetwatersports.com. As long as there have been boats on this earth, there have been paddles. And different cultures developed their own versions of propelling watercraft over the centuries, from the outrigger canoes of the Pacific Islands to the ornate dugouts of the coastal tribes in Alaska. In China, dragon boats reigned supreme. Short History of Dragon Boats Dragon boats made their debut on the Yantze River in China about 2,500 years ago. As the name suggests, these weren’t casual watercraft designed for pleasure cruises. They were precision boats designed to take part in rituals...

This article was originally published at Hornetwatersports.com. Have you ever heard stories about how elite golfers choose their clubs? Let’s just say they don’t simply walk into their local shop and choose whatever club is on sale. It’s often taken to a much higher level. For example, many golfers prefer to spend several hours using a club before buying it. If they’re religious, they might pray about it. Others will go even further, sleeping with the club under their pillow. If they still feel good about it in the morning, then they’ll consider it the perfect match. At the bare...

This article was originally published on Hornetwatersports.com. “Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.” - Helen Keller Have you ever found yourself scrolling mindlessly through pictures on Instagram, when one image made you stop, sit upright, and take notice? That’s what happened when Jason, one of our partners at Hornet Watersports, saw the artwork of Gareth W. Smith on Instagram. Take a look at his feed and you’ll see why we were instantly impressed. His designs are intricate, yet simple. There’s flow and color, combined with a subdued, natural look. Although unique, what’s more impressive...

  For the original blog post, please visit: http://paddlechica.com/the-f-word/  Ever since you were young you’ve heard about the “F-word.” You were warned about it, became frustrated by it, tried it out, accused others of its misuse, and then eventually learned the extent of its power. It has upset you, disheartened you, maybe even harassed you. This may surprise you, but I’m talking about the word “fair.” Using the F-word in dragon boating gives some people an inordinate amount of pleasure but strikes absolute dread in others. Depending on the type of team you paddle on, your team might embrace its use or renounce it. Yet whatever your team’s...