Dynamic Dragon

“It’s a way for me to release all the negative energy that builds up in
my body from the stresses of day-to-day life, and I can restore peace
and calm. It is, at once, exhilarating and serene to glide through the
water in a boat that is powered by your own energy.There’s nothing
else like it.” ~ Esther Wallace, Mad Paddlers of Knoxville, TN

“What has dragon boat meant to me? Let me count the ways.

I found a flyer at my doctors office about this great exercise program. So, I called  and was told to come to the health club on Tuesday. I went and met the coach (Kelly) and participated in the class. It was great as I had always like to exercise being a former 5-K runner. I thought, ‘This is great.’ Then she said we will meet at the marina to paddle??? OK, well I’m up for anything. I went and just loved the experience.

Everyone was very patient with me as a new person just learning how to paddle. I  am from buffalo and didn’t do too much paddling as we only have about 2 months without snow.  They now have one dragon boat there and are ready to get another. They pack in as many paddles a week as they can during the summer. Then we started to condition two times a week and paddle two times a week. When I went home last summer they let me come to their conditioning class and meet their team. It was great and lots of fun. But then I realized how much the group had affected me. We were going out to lunch, going to the movies, going to plays. Wow! I never thought I could be so close to a group of ladies and just have fun.

Everyone is so positive and helpful. Dragon boating is not just about paddling; you are a team and you all want to do well. We went to mini-camp this summer in Chattanooga and fell more in love with paddling and dragon boating. This year we are hoping to go to a competition and meet other dragon boaters and get some more good tips and make new friends. Dragon boating keeps your mind, spirit and body strong. We have had a second coach and she was great. Stacey worked so hard with us to make our team even better. She left to go back to school and we are now waiting for a new coach. I am lost without class. We are not paddling due to cold weather but hope to be back on the water soon.  This has been an experience of a lifetime.” ~ Judi Perdue, Dragon Boat at the Beach, a cancer survivor team