The women of DieselFish
explain why the future of dragon boat is female.
By Alex Ling
There
has never been a better time for women to race dragon boats.
The
International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF), the sport’s governing
organization, recently decreed that mixed gender crews must be split evenly by
gender.
That
means that IDBF-affiliated teams like DieselFish can now race only if they have
10 men and 10 women in the boat. Previously, a mixed-gender crew could field a
boat with only eight women.
The
IDBF’s mandate has pushed dragon boat teams to do the right thing. Crews around
the world are scrambling to recruit and train more women. More women now than
ever are picking up paddles and racing.
DieselFish
has always strived to get more women involved in our sport. We value our female
members and treat them as equals. Over the years, we have promoted many women
to prominent positions. Our current coach, treasurer and pace setters are
female.
As
part of our long-term, ongoing effort to promote dragon boat racing to women, a
number of DieselFish’s female members got together to talk about dragon boat
racing and the team. They were eager to share how the sport has improved their
lives. Here are their thoughts—in their own words.
ROSTER
Angeline
Mingfield: AM
Anna
Koan: AK
Conely
Chan: CC
Iris
Fung: IF
Kathy
Harsano: KH
Marynka
Rojas: MR
Sonya
Tetnowski: ST
Why are female paddlers
in such demand right now?
MR: Teams have always
struggled to recruit and retain female paddlers, but as to why–I have no idea.
I fell in love with the sport the first time I paddled. In an effort to recruit
more women paddlers, the IDBF instituted a new rule that coed teams must have
at least 10 female paddlers. So even more so, female paddlers are highly
valued!
ST: As with many
other extra activities, women have other responsibilities with family that take
up what little spare time most women have on a weekend. If they have children
then games, meets, lessons and things that require them to prepare or transport
family members. Just my opinion...
AK: I think the
governing bodies for dragon boat paddling are trying to be more inclusive and
make the sport more balanced, as evidenced by upping the minimum number of
women required on a boat from eight to ten.
Why should women try dragon
boat paddling?
MR: I’ve always been
involved in some kind of sport ever since I was a kid. However, what I really
love about dragon boat is that anyone can paddle. There’s a place in the boat
for anyone, regardless of height, weight or fitness level. A petite woman under
5’ and a man 6’5” and everyone in between will all contribute to the success of
the team.
AK:
Women should try dragon boat paddling because it's fun! You don't have to be
super crazy fit to start, and once you get the hang of it, it makes you feel
like a badass.
KH: Some benefits to
list: promoting physical fitness, strengthening of muscles in different areas
of the body, improving your level of endurance, developing self confidence and
taking pride about one’s personal goals, being part of a team that can be as
good as men’s team and enjoying the female camaraderie.
ST: The joy of doing
something maybe outside of their comfort zone. It is such a great feeling to be
on the water, and feeling the wind your hair all while being disconnected for
just that moment in time just feels wonderful.
CC: Dragon boat
paddling is sport where you engage your arms, your legs, your core and your
spirit. Not only is this a physical exercise, but the mind is challenged—what
better way to conquer the challenge than to have teammates conquer it alongside
with you?
IF: When you are on
the water, surrounded by nature, you can breathe in fresh air. This will reduce
stress. If you exercise, your body will release some kind of hormone that will
make you happy and young at heart.
What do women add to
dragon boat teams?
MR: While men have
more muscle power, women contribute something even more valuable–excellent
timing. Women seem to have a better sense of timing that keeps the boat in
sync, the foundation for any dragon boat team.
KH: Competitiveness, organization,
commitment and power.
ST: It is often
surprising to hear that women are very competitive, but we like to win! And
most women I know are not afraid to work for it. Women are great pace setters,
and are not afraid to take on new challenges. They add balance, laughter and
healthy competition!
Do you need to have
certain body type or fitness level to paddle?
MR: That’s the beauty
of dragon boat – anyone can do it! Because it’s such a great all around
workout, paddlers really benefit from a sport that works your core, legs, and
upper body as well as your cardio.
AK: Having a certain
body type isn't really necessary. Having at least a moderate level of fitness
helps when first starting out, as is true of most any sport. I personally
started out at a fairly couch potato level; I will admit that the first couple
of months were kinda rough for me, but things got easier the more I went to
practice and the stronger I became through paddling.
IF: Anybody with two
hands can do it. If you are not fit, this is the right place to go. It is
better to paddle than to go to the gym because when you’re out on the water,
you get to see wild birds, sea lions, baby sharks and enjoy perfect California
weather.
Why do you paddle?
MR: I haven’t had
much paddle time this year because I’ve been coaching more than paddling.
However, I do love the rush of being on the water, feeling the boat surge as
the entire team paddles in a steady rhythm, and the excitement of crossing the
finish line.
AK: I paddle for a
few reasons. It's my primary form of exercise. It's an interesting hobby to
have; I like telling people that I do dragon boat paddling because it sounds
and looks cool, haha. Paddling also makes me feel powerful, both on and off the
water; whenever I have that combination of perfect form, strong stroke, and
wind blowing my hair, I feel like a viking warrior charging into battle. And
then after practice, the soreness reminds me that I worked hard and that my
body is becoming stronger.
KH: I paddle because
it’s a good way to stay fit, get out of my comfort zone and try a new sport
activity. Also, I enjoy having a new circle of friends from different
professions.
CC: The three “F” pillars:
food, fun and fitness. I love working hard and paddling with my teammates. Then
immediately after, going out to eat my heart out with the rest of the DB fam.
AM: I paddle for my
team because I love DieselFish. Some of my female teammates are older than me.
But they are all wonderful individuals. I feel like I'm always welcomed and can
easily relate to their jokes and moments. I also love paddling over running any
day.
How does DieselFish
support its female members?
MR: I have raced with
other teams, but I love the camaraderie within DieselFish. We truly are a
family and support each other, not just the women. We cheer each other on,
celebrating each other’s accomplishments, as a team and as individuals. We
truly show each other Fishie Love!
KH: In terms of
support, I don’t feel there’s any difference between female or male. Being a
new member just for several months, it’s truly about being part of a team. You
have the support from both the male and/or female members mentally and in
learning paddling techniques.
ST: Because there are
several females on the team, they tend to look out for each other. They also
provide support if a member is having a challenge, both personal and training
wise. Checking in to see if we are doing OK. I appreciate all the members of
the team, both male and female, they seem to be very supportive of all members
of the team. They made me feel so welcome on the team.
CC: DieselFish treats
all members regardless of age, gender orientation and ethnicity the same. We
train together as one team.
IF: The team
understands the advantage of having female members. That is why our pace
setters are females. Also, we have a kick-ass female coach.
What is your favorite
DieselFish moment?
MR: I have many, but
for this season it has to be our Lunar New Year dim sum lunch. It has become a
tradition for us to get together before the season starts. It’s so great to see
everyone and catch up on what happened during the offseason. Fishies bring their
families, and even those who aren’t actively paddling still join us.
KH: When experienced
team members shares paddling tips, encouragement and praise. It adds to boost
your self confidence and helps you to strive and be a better paddler each week
at practice. The sense of humor from team members makes you forget the pain,
soreness or aches on your body. It’s a whole package moment, a positive and
supportive environment and sense of humor.
CC: The final race at
the Northern California Dragon Boat Race 2016. It was a bit rough in the
beginning as our crew was new and still adjusting. Mistakes were identified
during the debrief session and the crew immediately responded and began making
changes. We saw major improvements by the second race—but the final race was
really when the team gelled. Everyone contributed to the success of the final
race and it shows how much can be achieved by putting a little heart into it.
AM: We paddled at the
Nor Cal race in 2016. We chanted “FOR BEER!” during the whole last chunk of the
race. It was the funniest thing I had have ever heard in all my years of
paddling.
DieselFish
believes the IDBF’s 10 women rule is positive step forward for dragon boat
racing. The sport needs more female representation. We have always encouraged women
to attend our training sessions. DieselFish offers three free practices to
newcomers.
