Paddles Up: Embracing Culture, Community, and Connection on the Water

Dragon boat racing is a centuries-old tradition that originated in China over 2,000 years ago, rooted in cultural rituals honoring ancestors and seeking good fortune and harvests. Today, it has evolved into an international competitive sport celebrated for its teamwork, endurance, and rich symbolism—bringing together diverse communities to paddle in unison and honor the cultural heritage of Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.

In celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, we invited Shirley Che, a fellow SMPS member from the North Texas Chapter to share her personal experience with this ancient sport and reflect on how it has positively shaped her life.

Q&A

Dragon boat racing has deep cultural roots in many Asian communities. What personal or cultural significance does dragon boat racing hold for you, and how has it shaped your connection to your heritage?

I find it absolutely fascinating that I grew up in Macau, China, and I took dragon boat racing for granted my whole childhood. It was something that was just constantly happening—my dad was on a corporate team for years, and he always came back sunburnt and tired, but then he would do it again the following year. I don’t even think I ever bothered to go watch him. I regret that for sure. But that’s what’s fascinating; I never expected that it would be my sport when I was there, let alone after I moved to the US. I actually learned the sport in English! All the commands that I know about dragon boating, I only know them now in English.  I don’t have any blood family in the US (I have family by marriage), so this connection back to a piece of childhood was so unexpected and very much cherished. Now when I travel home to Macau/Hong Kong, I look for opportunities to guest paddle with local teams, and I am hoping to learn this sport in my first language.

How has participating in dragon boat racing created opportunities for building cross-cultural understanding or breaking down stereotypes about the AANHPI community?

Dragon boat racing is an incredibly international sport. And it's not just because you have people from all walks of life on your team, but also the nature of the sport is truly worldly. The more you get into it, the more it encourages you to travel and experience the world. There are a lot of races at the national and international level, so you inevitably become very cultured along the way.

It is so much easier to break down barriers when you have one thing in common that you really enjoy and understand. Everyone I meet paddling has this connection; we share the dragon boating culture. That allows us to take our guards down and be more ready to have open, non-judgmental conversations about other topics. I think this is true for a lot of sports, but the culture of dragon boating is just so worldly to begin with. It works even better.

Another aspect of this: I traveled with another team to race in the Philippines when I first started paddling over a decade ago. I've never been to the Philippines, and if I had gone there by myself, I would have stuck to the tourist routines. But because there were a few Filipinos on that team, I got to see the place and learn how lives are lived from their perspectives. And I was able to trust these Filipino teammates that I had just met because we shared the culture of dragon boating; we had a foundation. I have gotten experiences like that in Canada, Italy, Thailand, etc. What a treat!

What role has the dragon boat community played in fostering a sense of belonging or inclusion for you, both within and beyond the AANHPI community?

I have always said that dragon boating is probably the most inclusive sport that I know of. For example, within my crew in Dallas, our youngest member is 22 and our oldest member is almost 70, and we race as a crew. Our extended Texas team is as young as 13, and as old as mid-70s—both competing at the international level. There is a seat for you in a dragon boat no matter your age, size, ethnicity, or fitness level.

There are also visually impaired teams; and at the international level, there’s also a Paradragon division at races. I should also mention that research has shown a positive correlation between dragon boating and breast cancer survivors’ journey to recovery. The motion of paddling is helpful to the muscles affected. Pairing that with the camaraderie of being a part of a dragon boat team, it’s an activity recommended by many oncologists for breast cancer survivors.

What do you hope others can learn or appreciate about AANHPI heritage and resilience through the sport of dragon boat racing?

I am honored to serve as one of the organizers for our race in Dallas, which commenced just last year. With substantial assistance from the City of Dallas Arts and Culture Department and the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP), the dragon boat race—which is where I and my dragon boat club come in—is complemented by tons of performances, exhibitions, and vendors, all of which are local Asian-owned and led.

We did encounter challenges with some corporate teams and sponsors who did not return this year due to changes in their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies: ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) were disbanded, some budgets cut significantly, etc. It was difficult to hear and accept. Nonetheless, I remain optimistic that the turnout at the event will surpass last year's record. I choose to believe that while corporate struggles with DEI&B (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging); people, on the personal level, long for community. We want to be a good neighbor, a good supporter of local small businesses, enjoy a beautiful day out at the lake and the park, and learn something new about, in this case, Asian cultures.

I hope our readers will go check out any Asian-themed festivals or community events this AANHPI Heritage month; and if there’s a dragon boat event near you, go check it out, experience the excitement of a sprint sport that requires 20 padders to paddle perfectly in sync—no quarterback stars, just a common goal to cross the finish line first.

For members of our SMPS Seattle chapter who are interested in exploring dragon boat sailing, we have many great opportunities throughout the Puget Sound. Here are just a few (of many) links to get you started: