Dragon boater and Stand-up Paddle Instructor Lilian Tong shares how she fell in love with the sport of Dragon Boat and Paddle Sports
She had always been a water-sports girl growing up. Having picked up Stand-Up Paddleboarding while she lived in Hong Kong, Lilian Tong then went on to cross train in the team sport of dragon boat.
If you are more interested in Stand-up paddle, you can also read about How to Stand-Up Paddleboard in our "Learn a Sport" section with Lilian here too!
The electrifying atmosphere and strong team camaraderie she experienced got her hooked and she has not looked back since.
But just how popular is dragon boating in Singapore, and is it still dominated by men? SportPlus.sg recently had a chat with Lilian to find out more about her passions and just how inclusive the sport of dragon boating could be for those who have no experience in the sport.
How long have you been dragon boating?
Lilian: Since 2018.
What made you start dragon boating and how has it evolved since you first began?
Lilian: I was always a water-sports girl since I was young. I first picked up stand up paddleboarding (SUP) while living in Hong Kong and met several friends who cross-trained with a team, Blue Sky Sports Club, during the dragon boat festival season in June.
They encouraged me to check out the dragon boat festivities one year at a fishing village in Sai Kung.
The atmosphere was so lively. From the heart-thumping beat of the drums, a whole row of roasted suckling pigs displayed on the podium awaiting winners, the tightly packed pier filled with raucous racers and their supporters to the intense competition on the water. I was hooked!
Ultimately, I was very drawn to the camaraderie seen amongst the team. It was something I’ve missed since my team sports days in secondary school. I made it a goal for myself to race with a team at the next festival.
From being a “seasonal” paddler who only races once or twice a year, paddling has now become my way of life.
I joined the Austcham Paddle Club when I moved back to Singapore as it was one of the rare few clubs that offered both flatwater and open-water paddling.
My team kept me sane and active during the lockdowns. These days, I train with Austcham at least twice a week, and have been racing at multi-paddle sports almost every other month since COVID restrictions eased off.
Do you agree that dragon boating is a male dominated sport?
Lilian: Like most endurance sports, it inevitably has been. Nonetheless, it’s heartening to see more and more ladies picking up the sport. I think competitiveness runs deep in our veins regardless of gender, and the team aspect is a very attractive draw for women to be part of.
How many ladies are there on your dragon boat team / club?
Lilian: We have over 50 ladies of different nationalities in AustCham Paddle Club.
What would you do to encourage more females to participate in the sport of dragon boating?
Lilian: Most clubs run Newbie Day occasionally to encourage rookies to get a taster. I often emphasise the beauty of the social aspect of this particular sport — it is very international and inclusive.
While it can feel intimidating at first, you’re never alone. You can always try out with your own friends or you'll eventually meet awesome like-minded people on the boat. You can always choose how the sport suits your lifestyle, be it recreational or competitive, with different teams.
Regarding physical benefits, it is a great cardiovascular sport that is less taxing on the knees (especially for adults). Being on the water never fails to be therapeutic. There is longevity in paddle sports — you still see folks paddling in their seventies!
What is one of the popular misconceptions about dragon boating for females that is false?
Lilian: I love seeing the positive mental shift amongst my female paddle friends. It’s all too common for women to have superficial vanity concerns such as developing dark skin complexion or bulking too much shoulder muscles being our concern.
It’s definitely not as bad as you think as long as you know how to take care of yourself and do preventive sun protection.
There’s a saying that “exercise is a celebration of what your body can do; not a punishment for what you ate”. The sport allows many of us to embrace whatever weight we are, and work towards achieving personal best on our physical performance instead of physical looks. I’m constantly empowered seeing my teammates driven to better themselves and live by this mantra.
Do female paddlers have different strengths and advantages to male paddlers?
Lilian: I would say females are more naturally attuned to building a bonded community — which is an essential ingredient in teamsports. While sports rely heavily on strength and endurance, harmony and synchronization are a big part of team sports.
On the technical aspect, timing of your strokes is as important as how strong your strokes are. We always talk about “gelling well” as a crew on and off the boat to make us a winning team.
Share your most exciting dragon boat experience with us so far
Lilian: Locally, I love the annual Austcham 10km Challenge my club just hosted over the weekend (14 October). It’s been around since the nineties and it’s not your typical dragon boat sprint-distanced race.
The race is iconic because it’s the only time in the year we get to paddle all the way inside the Marina Bay Promenade, passing through Singapore’s iconic landmarks. Moreover, this is the rare few races where every paddler feels like a winner just from completing the distance.
I had the privilege to head to Busan with Austcham last September for the Korea Open Busan International Dragon Boat Festival. It was so memorable as it was the very first overseas race we got to go since COVID.
We swooped three golds and one silver, partied with many paddle friends from overseas teams and even experienced a super typhoon (Typhoon Hinnamnor) the very morning we were supposed to leave Busan.
I’m looking forward to potentially racing at the 14th Club Crew World Championships Ravenna, Italy with the club next year!
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