By Mary Swift-Swan

BAD are the dragons that rowers make fly. Members of the Berkeley Bay Area Dragon rowing team generously moved one of its dragon boats to Alameda last summer. The adult team, called the Dragon Flyers, quickly manned the boat. Not yet a full boat, there are enough rowers to get out and row most Saturday mornings at 9:30 from in front of Chevy’s restaurant. More Alameda residents or workers are welcome.

What is exciting about the dragon boat is the number of youth teams who are gaining interest around the one boat. There are now three youth teams who row the boat regularly, preparing by building team skills and strength for upcoming seasonal competitions. Dragon boats race in the Estuary, Lake Merritt, Foster City, and Berkeley to name a few of the locations where the ten teams practice and race. There are also major races in Vancouver, Portland, Long Beach, and championship races in the Bay Area in September. The new Alameda teams will have to fly to catch the tail of the established dragons.

Carol Beaver is the boat captain for Alameda’s boat. Carol can be contacted at carolb@alamedanet.net. She aids and encourages the development of existing and new teams. Ken Hong, who brought the boat over from Berkeley, has generously given his time to coach these new teams. He is one very dedicated coach, inspiring the kids to do their best. His job may soon get easier as his young rowers are taking to the paddle and his direction with enthusiasm and style. The new team, who call themselves the Puff Dragons, were sitting tall on their benches by their second pass by.

Home Base recognizes the rowing team as an after-school activity. To participate in any activity, the young students have to come up with a Community impact project, a Mission statement, and an Educational benefit. Here are the ideas they came up with:

Mission Statement: Work for what you believe to achieve goals–no drugs, no smoking. They intend to use the name Puff Dragons as a lead into that opportunity.

Team Value: Learn that it’s not all about “you,” but requires team work to accomplish goals, on the water and in life.
Educational Benefit: Build strength and develop endurance through rowing, bettering ourselves in the physical and mental states.