The East Bay Rough Riders Dragon Boating team, while often compared to the rowing team, is actually unique to itself. dragon boating, a club sport which competes in the Bay Area, consists of a long, semi-thin boat, painted with traditional dragon scales, and with the telltale dragon head and tail on the ends. The athletes sit on rows of benches that fit two people each, paddling on each side.
This sport is available to students 12 to 18 years of age, and mainly draws from Berkeley High School and El Cerrito High School (ECHS), with some middle schools as well. Although the sport is already unique, one of the most special attributes of this team is the inclusive community.
The community they’ve built prides themselves on their diversity and inclusivity of their members. “I think that the diversity of the team and how there’s all sorts of different people that wouldn’t interact normally at school really makes it a stronger and a better community,” BHS junior and Vice Captain Lalima Gluesenkamp said.
LGBTQIA+ representation is a core part of the Dragon Boating team, contributing to the sense of an accepting community felt by the athletes. The gender diversity on the team also creates a close knit community.
“We have a broad range of identities, and because, specifically, we have so many people who are used to being a minority, a lot of us come from one marginalized group or another, I think we’re used to (being) accepting of people who are different from ourselves,” said Head Coach and founder of the youth team Lawrence Pang who works as an ECHS calculus teacher when he’s not coaching on the water.
While Pang is proud of how all students on the team support each other regardless of differences, Pang believes that this aspect should not be unique to the Dragon Boating team.
“I think it’s important for every culture to be that way. This team is one important aspect of our lives, and we spend a lot of time in it. We put a lot of effort into it. I think any group environment should be that way,” Pang said.
Over the course of the year, the Dragon Boating team participates in multiple competitions held in the Bay Area, racing against various age groups and teams. During races, the team can be heard yelling out their team calls, inspiring everyone on the boat to muster up more strength and power. Phrases such as “power ten,” which is when the team puts in an excess of strength for ten full strokes, helps the team to focus while racing. “It’s good that there’s a sense of supportiveness and connection even outside of the people who you know because it makes it easier to talk to people and easier to get help when you need it,” Gluesenkamp said.
Many members of the co-ed team felt immediate acceptance when they joined the Dragon Boating team. One of these people was Eva Patrick, a BHS senior. She feels that the team is unique compared to other sports teams.
“Recently, at a race, our coach was talking about what kind of makes us special as a team, and it really is the community,” Patrick said. “It really is one of the strongest communities I’ve been in, and so I think that’s been really consistent for as long as the team has existed.”
One of the main reasons Patrick joined the team was because of the diverse identities the team drew. “That was part of the way it was sold to me. I don’t think we’re predominantly trans, but a lot of us are. It’s a very queer team. So that’s really nice for me to be a part of,” she said.
The East Bay Rough Riders Dragon Boating team is inclusive and supportive to students of all different identities and grades. It’s a fun way to meet new people, receive PE credits, and become a part of a bonded community. With only a small amount of sports including co-ed teams, the dragon boating community is rooted in the connection of people appreciating and encouraging differences.