AN echo of drums could be heard as dragon-shaped boats roared near Water Garden City Beach, kicking off Bahrain’s fourth Chinese New Year tournament last week.
Organised by Bahrain Rowing and Canoe Centre, the event attracted four teams for the men’s 400-metre race and three for the mixed 400m race. Legion of Vikings and Black Dragons sliced through the waters as they won the 400m dash and the mixed race respectively.
“It was a tough challenge,” said Alfonso Varela, co-captain of the Black Dragons. More so as their team members were relatively inexperienced, having come together just a few months before the event.
“Most of our members had left the country during the pandemic,” the 31-year-old said. However, the new team was so spirited and willing to take on the challenge that they trained four days a week in addition to each member’s own personal training, which included cycling and lifting.
“Each dragon boat has 10 paddlers, five on each side, one commander who syncs the paddlers, and one steersman who guides the boat to its destination,” Alfonso said.
“Based on each individual’s power and weight, we decide where they would sit on the boat to ensure it is balanced.
“Once we are all synchronised, it does not feel like it is one person paddling anymore... the boat just flies.”
The dragon boat has its roots in ancient Chinese folklore. One tale tells a story of a man, a councillor and a renowned poet in his time, exiled from his nation and seeing it fall into violence, threw himself into the river in deep despair. Shocked villagers, who loved him, rushed into the river on their boats with banging drums, to no avail.
Dragon boats have been making waves worldwide ever since and, in Bahrain since December 2016, not with the sadness of loss, but for the love of the sport and the comradeship born from it.
“The sea is our playground, the water our ally, the wind our strength,” said the Legion of Vikings captain Michael Belano.
“We put our all in what we do, and every day in training is hell,” he added as his team cheered in agreement.
The Vikings compared their experiences in water to being cradled by a mother, calling them some of the happiest moments of their lives.
Meanwhile, Alfonso has sent an open invitation for anyone to join the team-oriented sport.
“We encourage all people to join the Black Dragons or any dragon boat team as we are always happy to receive newcomers,” he added.
The event also saw the celebration of the Chinese New Year with a guzheng concert accompanied by a beautiful classical dance by teachers from the Confucius Institute at Bahrain University.
Future dragon boat events will include a post-Ramadan regatta.
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