Over 2000 years ago, according to a Chinese legend, a beloved poet named Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River as an act of protest. Grief-stricken villagers raced out to save him in long boats, beating drums to scare away fish. That act of collective intervention — of a community refusing to let one of their own go — became the origin of dragonboating.
Today, the sport is practiced by millions worldwide. 20 paddlers sit in rows of two, propelling the boat forward with simultaneous strokes. Each boat is also equipped with a “sweep” who controls a large steering oar in the boat’s stern, directing the boat’s movement and shouting safety commands. In addition, there is a drummer who is located at the bow. They control the boats pacing, ensuring the whole team is on the same page. Contrary to popular belief, the drummers themselves don’t set the pace. “The rate is set by the paddlers, who communicate with the drummer so the whole boat can hear the rate,” BHS sophomore Beatrix Glynn explained.
The East Bay Rough Riders dragon boating team draws students from Berkeley, El Cerrito, Albany, Hayward, and beyond. Still, with so much geographical distance between teammates, unity is the top priority. “You can’t try to be faster or better than someone else,” said Lalima Gluesenkamp, co-captain of the team and senior at BHS, “Everyone always needs to be thinking about the person next to them, or the person in the back of the boat. No matter what, you’re all connected.”
That interconnectedness is the soul of the sport. When one paddler is off-tempo or gives subpar effort, the effect ripples through the entire boat. “Every stroke you don’t take, your teammates take for you,” BHS sophomore Sean Rudner said.
Last year, the Rough Riders traveled to Canada for a race featuring 200 competing teams from all around the world. While races themselves may appear as a sprint from an outside perspective — 500 meters, completed in two minutes — they feel like a marathon of pain for those working so hard inside the boats. Still, as quoted by Gluesenkamp, “Even when you’re battling so hard that you feel like your core is going to explode, it’s fine because everyone around you is doing the same, and everyone around you is going to support you in doing what you need.”
Beyond the endurance and grit that is needed, what makes this sport unique is the direct connection between culture and sport. Although modern dragon boating teams compete year round, the biggest races occur on the Dragon Boat Festival day. As a sport that represents one of the largest Chinese celebrations, the team’s coach and a high school teacher at El Cerrito High makes sure to teach his players about it. “Our coach always talks to us about the importance of the sport and why it is such a big part of Chinese culture,” Gluesenkamp said.
The Dragon Boat Festival is held on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. The holiday includes watching dragon boat races, eating zongzi, a type of sweet or savory glutinous rice dumpling, and hanging up calamas leaves in order to ward off evil. Dragon boating is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, as a result, learning about this culture comes naturally for many involved in the sport. “I’ve learned about (Chinese) mythology, and also about the range of the Chinese diaspora,” Gluesenkamp said.
Dragon boating originated in Chinese communities over two millennia ago, yet the emphasis on collective performance and cultural importance has remained the same. Players are able to be part of a sport that celebrates heritage, connecting with others who have a shared passion.