Secret Sports

Copyright © Mark Berndt

Whatever Floats Your Boat

See photos, race results and more.

Year of the Dragon

"What is it?"

That's what most people ask when they amble over to check out the UCLA Bruin Dragon Boat table at Freshman Orientation or at UCLA's Club Sports Jamboree. And unless you've lived in certain parts of the world where Dragon Boat is big — exotic places like China and Northern California, for example — you've probably never heard of it, either.

"It's similar to kayaking or canoeing, but on a boat with 20 people," says junior Daniel Leung, president of the Dragon Boat team. "People usually have no idea what it is. But one look at our poster board and they're usually pretty psyched. It's not too hard to explain, really."

While the origin of Dragon Boat goes back more than 2,500 years, the sport's history at UCLA goes back only two. Begun by senior Derrick Chan, a current team member, in 2004, the Dragon Boat roster now claims more than 40 people and is limited only by the number of cars needed to ferry the paddlers to and from Long Beach Marine Stadium, where practices are held.

What sets Dragon Boat apart from other boating sports is the size of the crew and the boat itself. Twenty people squeeze themselves into a narrow, 2,000-pound boat decorated with dragon head and tail. Eighteen people serve as paddlers, one drums and one steers. All must work together in perfect unison for 500 meters, which is exactly what the Bruins did last July when they took second place in the college division at the ViewSonic Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival.

Drummer Janet Bang, a fourth-year senior, loves her role as timekeeper and motivator, even if the responsibility nearly causes her to lose her voice. "You just have to be loud and have good rhythm," she says, laughing. "You want to keep up the momentum in the boat, and if people are feeling tired or down, it's the drummer's position to keep up the speed, the timing, everything."

Join the Club

UCLA Club Sports are open to Alumni Association members with UCLA Recreation memberships. Log on to UCLAlumni.net to become an Association member. For more info on UCLA Recreation, visit recreation.ucla.edu.

Veteran paddlers like senior Christina Fan — who gave up a position as a walk-on coxswain for the UCLA women's crew team to participate in Dragon Boat — bring their own paddles to practices and races because they're made of higher-quality, lighter wood than the ones available for rent at Long Beach. But players need not be experienced to join the Dragon Boat team. George Wang '06, the oldest team member at 32, paddled for the first time last season.

"I figured it was one way I could do my part in contributing to the UCLA tradition of beating all things USC," he says.

Published Jan 1, 2007 8:00 AM