2009 Dragon Boat Races Results. SAVE the DATE: YMCA Dragon Boat Team Challenge 2010 September 24 - 26, 2010. Registration Information for 2010. Sponsor Teams Priority Registration, May 1 - 31, 2010 Returning Teams Registration begins June 1. Registration Opens for New Teams beginning July 1. For more information please contact Roxanne Davis. 12th Annual YMCA Dragon Boat Team Challenge September 24 -September 26, 2010 Northshore Park in The Woodlands Presented by Hewitt                                             View Pictures of Past Dragon Boat Events! This unique team building event is designed to build community spirit among corporations, civic groups and community organizations. The activities are designed to bring individuals together to achieve a single goal – To Have FUN! They achieve this by becoming a team and working together as a synchronized unit. It’s much more than “beating the other team.” It is the camaraderie, visiting and playing with old friends, meeting new friends, hard work and feeling good about it. At the YMCA, Everybody Plays and Everybody Wins. “If team building and camaraderie is important to your organization, then I highly recommend that you enter a team”, states Steve Sanders with Memorial Hermann Hospital. “It is just plain FUN. No matter what the age or status in our organization, everyone is equal in this event. Our team was comprised of physicians, nurses and technical staff. They work very cohesively as a team, so the Dragon Boat event was a continuation and enhancement of that team spirit. Those who participated last year, have been talking about the Dragon Boat races all year and are looking forward to this year.” Dragon Boat Event: The Dragon Boat Races are the main event. Dragon boats are forty foot long, extremely, colorful dragon headed canoes and weigh over 1800 pounds. This year’s event will feature four boats racing in beautiful Lake Woodlands. Powered by a well-coordinated team, the dragon boat team consists of 18 paddlers, 1 drummer and 1 flag catcher. The key to success is synchronization. All the paddles combine as one big paddle and that’s what moves the boat forward. An expert steersman is provided with each boat guiding the team to the finish line. Professional, trained crew, give instructions to each of the teams as they load and unload the boats.  Additional Activities: In addition to the dragon boat races, each team will have the opportunity to participate in five other fun team-building activities. These activities will vary and will include problem-solving, non athletic as well as physically challenging. There will be Something for Everyone regardless of their fitness level or athletic abilities! All events will be introduced at the Team Captain Meeting in August. Details TBA. History of Dragon Boat Races: Dragon boating began in China over 2000 years ago with the legend of Chu Yuan, a poet, warrior and loyal aide to the Chinese emperor. Yuan fell victim to deception and found himself out of favor in the emperor’s court. When the old emperor died, Chu Yuan was unjustly banished and wandered the countryside composing poems he hoped would be heard by the new emperor.. His desolation grew until one day he threw himself into the Mi Lo River. Upon learning of his death, Chu Yuan’s devoted followers rowed boats in the river and rushed to search for his body. Fearing the fish might devour the body, they beat their paddles on the water and banged drums and gongs to frighten the fish away. Today in Yuan’s honor, athletes around the world meet at dragon boat festivals to commemorate his sacrifice for honor and justice. In ancient China, dragon boat festivals also paid homage to the dragon who the Chinese believed controlled the water for the crops. It is difficult to trace the roots of dragon boat racing in the United States. A Philadelphia rowing team was given a dragon boat in 1983 by a Hong Kong group. A dragon boat festival in New York in 1991 sparked further interest. Most dragon boat hotspots are in the MidWest. The South Montgomery County YMCA brought dragon boat racing to Texas and The Woodlands for the first time in 1999.   Who can enter? Teams from corporations, service organizations, civic and community groups, churches, schools, neighborhoods are invited to participate.  The YMCA makes it so EASY to participate. The Y organizes and facilitates all team activities, provides all the equipment, rules and instructions as well as a team tent, water & ice and event t-shirt. The Y also provides professional staff, volunteers and safety/security agencies to create a positive, safe and fun environment. A team is composed of:   Minimum of 20 members.  We suggest 22, but no more than 30. Each team roster must have a minimum of 5 females Participants must be at least 18 years of age (High School Bracket Information listed below) Team Bracket Information Teams will participate in only one bracket with a time commitment of approximately four hours. Each bracket will consist of 16 teams.  Bracket times are:  Friday morning, 8:00am - Noon Friday afternoon, 2:00pm – 6:00pm Saturday morning: 8:00am - Noon Saturday afternoon: 2:00pm - 6:00pm **Sunday morning: 8:00am - Noon (High School Division)  Sunday afternoon, 2:00pm – 6:00pm **The 2010 High School Division is Sunday morning: September 26th, 8:00am - Noon.  All team members must be enrolled in high school, grades 9th - 12th.  Youth groups from schools, churches, athletics and service organizations are invited to participate. All you have to do is send in the team registration form, recruit your team, show up and have FUN! Team entry fee for School and Non-Profit Groups is TBA, Sunday only.  Do you need more encouragement to sign up?  According to C.J. Haynes, a member of The Woodlands Rotary team, “The YMCA Dragon Boat event gives individuals an opportunity to get to know fellow members in a new and different light. We found the experience; to have a very powerful impact on the cohesiveness of the organization, the reality that good leaders are also good followers and our community is made up of really good and caring people.” Get ready to Row . . . Row . . . Row . . . your Dragon Boat!  To Register: To register stop by the YMCA located at 6145 Shadowbend Place in The Woodlands.  Limited space available so register early.  For more information please call Roxanne Davis at 281-681-6723 or rdavis@ymcahouston.org       What to Bring / Wear: Team Members should bring sunscreen, gloves, wear comfortable clothes and athletic shoes. More than likely you will get wet. Team members are encouraged to bring drinks and food. The YMCA provides water, ice and team tent. The YMCA provides all the equipment, including life jackets and oars for the Dragon Boat races. Directions to Northshore Park in The Woodlands I-45 to The Woodlands. Take the Lake Woodlands Exit. Continue west on Lake Woodlands. You will cross over the lake. The park entrance will be on your left immediately after the bridge. Please follow directional signs.  Officers will be on duty to direct traffic.                                 Return to Top