Dragon boat racing got its start around 2,500 years ago, but it is probably still something of a mystery to many on campus. The concept, however, is simple: Long Taiwanese-style boats, typically carrying teams of 22 people (20 rowers lined up in pairs plus one drummer calling out instructions at the front of the boat and one person at the rear to steer it) race to the finish line ahead of the rest of the field. The sport is highly competitive and requires complete synchronization on the part of the team in order to reach a common goal.
The Portland State Dragon Boat Club competes throughout the Northwest in places like Tacoma, Seattle, Olympia and Salem. The Portland Rose Festival hosts the team’s biggest competition of the year, though. Held in June, the race attracts nearly 100 teams from all over the world for a 500-meter sprint down the Willamette River.
Lincoln Mosier, a third-year paddler and team captain, is excited about how the club has been developing and honing their technique.
“Dragon boat racing is 60 percent mental and 40 percent physical,” Mosier said. “The most important thing is working as a team to control timing.”
Though drums are customarily employed to maintain the team’s tempo on the river, the PSU dragon boat club looks to their coach, Marc Hehlen, for motivation. Hehlen has been involved in dragon boat racing since high school.
“[Hehlen is] very good at communicating and has made our team stronger,” Mosier said.
I got a chance to see that communication at work when I went out on the water with the team—it was clear that club members fed off of each other’s encouragement and support, urging one another to go just a little faster each time. New members are also welcomed with open arms, as Yuliyana Kobel found out when she joined the team.
“I saw a flier and was looking to get involved somehow,” Kobel said. “I saw it was a good opportunity and I took it. I was nervous about capsizing, but I had support and became more comfortable. It’s also a really good workout.”
The cost to join is $100 for a season-long membership. If you would like more information about dragon boat racing at PSU, email dragonbt@pdx.edu.