What I Love About Dragon Boat “People ask me why I like dragon boat. I could say many things, such as being on the water, the competition, camaraderie, etc. But what I really love about dragon boating is the synchronicity. I can’t think of any other sport that requires exact synchronicity to be successful other than synchronized swimming. Baseball, football, soccer, track… are all team sports, however, each athlete has a particular job and individual effort makes the team strong. In the dragon boat, the “job” of each paddler is to be in synch. It takes every paddler to do their best; to reach far enough, pull hard enough and exit quickly enough for the next stroke all in time with the 19 other paddlers. One variation can change the outcome of that practice and/or race. Once someone gets the stroke, “gets it”, it is a graceful, elongated, continuous movement. There is nothing prettier than to watch a boat full of people that “get it” and their “swing” is all in synch. The paddles enter the water at the same time, the paddles pull back at the same time, and they leave the water at the same time finally ending in the “swing”; paddles are flared out and skim over the water to be positioned for the next stroke. It’s harmonious and a splash of bright colors only to disappear into the water for the next stroke. When the whole boat “gets it” it’s a beautiful thing.”