Sydney Dragon Sports Association Dragon Boat Club

Through the eyes of a newbie...

What have I got myself in for? That was the question, and I was soon going to find out.

My first official race day meeting... 500m. Stomach in knots, sweaty palms.  All I kept thinking was OMG... OMG...

As I rolled up to the marshalling area, I thought this is it.  Its now or never.  I seated myself into the boat.  The weather conditions were enough to sink the Titanic, white caps on the water, paddling into a head wind.  This was not going to be pretty.

As we readied ourselved beside the pontoon area, struggling to hang on there was both an eerie silence and excitement in the air before the race.  Hands gripped tightly to the paddle, muscles tense waitong for the battle to begin.  All that was going through my head was George saying, SET UP, POWER, QUICK RETURN.  My head was spinning.

Then we were off!  Battling the conditions, water spraying in my eyes.  I kept thinking 500m, not long, not far, count by 10's.  The beating time of the drum, the grunts, the moaning, watch the paddle in front, lean forward, catch the water....you don’t have time to think much more than that.

Just as I felt I had nothing left in the tank the hooter sounded.  Completely shattered, muscles burning, eyes awash with water.  It's over.  I was completely knackered.

As a newbie it is all worth it in the end.  Great team spirit, great friends, and a great social event.

Until next time... POWER, POWER, POWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!