Dragon Boating is actually one of the oldest sports in the world today, originating over 2000 years ago in the Southern provinces of China. The modern sport of Dragon Boating consists of a long canoe with twenty paddlers who sit ten long and two abreast, one drummer who sits at the front and keeps time, and a sweep, who stands at the back and steers. For the boat to move smoothly through the water, all team members need to be paddling in unison and take their timing from the front two paddlers who are called strokes, as they set the stroke rate.International standard race distances are 2000m 1000m 500m and 200m sprints.

The sport has now spread around the world from Canada and America, to countries all over Europe, South Africa, New Zealand and here in Australia.

When competing at regattas, boats start from a standing position, the combination of strength and near perfect timing is necessary to get your boat across the finish line first. Endurance is also an important element of dragon boat racing and this goes hand in hand with the crew pacing themselves so that they dont fade half way in a race and ensures they have enough reserves to power across the finish line as many races are fought out in the last few meters and placings often differ by split seconds. The sport of dragon boating is truly one of the most exciting team sports that anyone can participate in.

Dragon Boating is characteristically a social sport, and while it has the added benefits of working a whole range of muscles and develops both strength and endurance.