Dragon Boating For Beginners

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/b/6/6/3/event_26566691.jpeg

Sunday practice focuses on teaching beginners the technique of dragon-boat paddling. You will receive plenty of instructions and time to practice the technique as well as the opportunity to ask questions and get a great workout!

Rain or Shine!
You will get wet either way!

Please read all of this so you can come prepared!

I am a member of the Seattle Flying Dragon Boat Club (http://www.seattleflyingdragons.org) on Lake Union. They practice 4 times a week on Lake Union and I invite you to join me, rain or shine, on Sundays at 3pm (we’ll be done by 4:30pm or 4:45 at the latest). Dragon boating is fun and a great workout! While no experience is necessary (they’ll train you as you go) it is an intense workout so be prepared to push yourself.

If you can't make this date, check out the calendar (https://www.meetup.com/hiking-and-dragon-boating/events/calendar/) for other dates.

If this is your first time, please arrive about 5 minutes early to fill out the form and waiver. Please don't be late! You will receive about 10 minutes of paddling instructions before we hit the water, so if you are late you'll miss it. To save time you may fill out the form and waiver before you come. Click here (http://www.seattleflyingdragons.org/uploads/6/3/1/0/6310376/sfdbc_member_form2011.pdf) to download the member form, and click here (http://www.seattleflyingdragons.org/uploads/6/3/1/0/6310376/usdbfclubwaiver2011.pdf) to download the waiver. Print out both forms, fill them out completely, and bring them with you to practice. No one gets in the boat without turning these in first.

Your first three times are free. If you decide you love it and want more then you can join the club for only $100 per year and attend as many (or as few) of the practices as you like, as well as participate in several dragon boat races each year if you wish. We practice all year round regardless of weather --a steady rain does not stop us! Practice is only cancelled if there is lightning, or winds exceed 18-20 mph, or there is very thick fog. Otherwise, we are out on the water regardless of weather. The only other reason we would not go out on the water is if less than 8 paddlers show up. For safety, we need a minimum of 8 paddlers per boat. It's very rare that less than 8 people show up (usually anywhere between 14 to 40 paddlers show up) but it does occasionally happen.

If you don’t know what dragon boating is just google it, or search for dragon boating on Youtube. There are tons of videos there including this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4LxagL1jmQ
and read the Wikipedia entry here http://en.wikipedia.o...

If you have never tried it before, I recommend that you watch a couple youtube videos to get the basic idea of the paddling technique. No experience is necessary and you will be informally trained during practice, but it helps if you watch a couple videos first to get the basic technique in your mind. Here are a couple that I recommend but there are several on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZlWWnoA7Yg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7lRbj3K8c4

What to wear: Dress for the weather. But you will also be working hard so don’t overdress or you may get hot (they say to dress as if it is 20 degrees warmer than it actually is). In warmer weather, shorts and a non-cotton t-shirt are fine. In general, cotton is discouraged, especially in colder weather. You will get wet and cotton gets very cold when wet and takes forever to dry. In fall/winter weather, I generally wear a long-sleeved wool shirt and fast-dry hiking pants with wool leggings underneath for warmth even when soaked. You can wear either water shoes or just sneakers (with wool socks). Some members wear full-on rain gear if it’s raining, but you may get too hot from the workout. Even if it’s not raining, you will probably get wet from being splashed accidentally by the paddles (yours and others). Basically, if you are wearing an under-layer of wool, it shouldn't matter much if you get wet, but you are free to wear rain gear if you prefer. Oh, also, it's good to wear some kind of gloves in colder weather. They should have gripping material on the palms so the paddle doesn't slip in your hands. They can be waterproof but don't need to be.

If you are claustrophobic, you won’t enjoy this as there are around 20 people per boat with two people per seat usually, depending on how many folks show up for practice. You will likely be sharing a seat and be sitting very close to your seat mate. Although, if everyone is paddling correctly and in sync with each other you won't be touching.... much.

It’s a good idea to either bring a change of clothes, or a big towel to put on your car seat for the drive home. I live very close by so I just put a towel on my seat and drive home wet to shower and change. But if you don’t live nearby you may want to bring a change of clothes as you will likely be soaked either from the lake, the rain, your own sweat, or all three!

Also, bring a bottle of water, but not much else. You will leave your cell phone, keys and wallet in the locked club house on shore. Some people bring an energy bar for after practice unless you are going to eat a meal right away. You burn a lot of calories dragon boating so you may be hungry afterward.

You will be provided with a paddle and a life jacket, but feel free to use your own PFD if you have one that you like.

Aside from your paddle and life vest, the only personal item you will be bringing on the boat with you is your bottle of water. There is no room for bags, towels or extra clothing. You can leave your wallet, keys, cell phone, etc in the locked shed. You can leave your towel and change of clothes in your car.

If you decide to join me for this, please be in relatively good shape and also be able to manage relatively independently. I am in no way in charge of, or the leader of, this dragon boating club. I’m merely a member and inviting others to join me to try it out for free. There will be a coach and other long-time members who can better answer your more detailed questions.

The group is very welcoming so don’t be shy! It’s really a fun way to get out on the water, meet new people and get a super great work out in a unique way.

Please only RSVP if you seriously intend to show up... Rain or Shine!!

We meet at the Kenmore Air Terminal at the south end of Lake Union located at:

950 Westlake Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=950+Westlake+Ave+N,+Seattle,+WA+98109&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=950+Westlake+Ave+N,+Seattle,+King,+Washington+98109&gl=us&ei=0mmSTNXiO47CsAPQyojBCg&ved=0CBQQ8gEwAA&z=16)
Parking is free. Do not park in the Kenmore Air parking lot but rather in the large parking lot just outside of their lot.
Also, please be aware of the current construction going on in that area as part of the Mercer Corridor Project (http://www.seattle.gov/Transportation/ppmp_mercer_construction.htm). There are occasional lane closures. Click here (http://www.seattle.gov/Transportation/docs/mercer/2010_0924_Mercer_Construction_Notice_FINAL.pdf) for more info on that.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What shall I wear to go paddling?
A: Paddling is a water sport and you will get splashed. Wear shoes that can get wet. Wear layers to help stay warm in the cold weather - cotton is not recommended. If it is cold and/or raining, then rain gear is appropriate. In the colder months, bring gloves that can get wet - many paddlers use neoprene gloves, but any gloves will help to keep your hands warm. Bring along dry clothes to change into after paddling.

Q: Isn't it dark when you go out evenings in the winter?
A: Yes - it is dark by the time we get on the water, the lights of the city are beautiful and the water is generally calm. We have lights on the boats when we go out during winter evenings.

Q: Do you go out in any type of weather?
A: We paddle rain or shine. Although, if there are severe storm conditions, then practice will be canceled.

http://www.seattleflyingdragons.org

Seattle Flying Dragons on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Seattle-Flying-Dragons/151505338240321)