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Dragon boating dates back more than 2,000 years to ancient China, where it began as part of the annual Duanwu (Dragon Boat) Festival. According to tradition, the festival honors Qu Yuan, a respected poet and government official who lived around 278 BC. After being exiled from his kingdom, Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River in protest of government corruption. Legend says the local villagers rushed out in their fishing boats to try to save him. They beat drums to scare

When most people think of dragon boating, they assume the strongest team wins. The truth? The most synchronized team usually does. Every paddle stroke creates a force that moves the boat forward. When all 20 paddlers enter and exit the water at the same time, those forces combine into one powerful, efficient movement that keeps the boat accelerating smoothly. When paddlers fall out of sync: - Some paddlers are trying to accelerate the boat while others are already finishing t

One of the coolest things about dragon boating is that many festivals are about more than just racing. For more than 2,000 years, dragon boat festivals have brought people together to celebrate culture, tradition, and community. While those celebrations have evolved over time, that same spirit lives on today. Many modern dragon boat festivals use the event to support charities, nonprofits, cultural organizations, hospitals, and other causes that make a difference. This season

One of the most important chapters in modern dragon boating began with a group of breast cancer survivors. In 1996, Dr. Don McKenzie challenged the long-held belief that breast cancer survivors should avoid strenuous upper-body exercise. To prove it, he brought together a team of survivors to train in a dragon boat. The results changed more than medicine—they changed the sport. The women not only showed that dragon boat paddling was safe after breast cancer treatment, but tha