Clarify Misconception On Dragonboat

This is in regard with Jean post on the issue of life jacket. But in life, things may not be as simple as it is. I perfectly understand why they choose not to wear as a ex-dragonboater myself. In high performance sports like dragonboat, you cannot have anything to hold you back. Life jacket is one thing that is really irritating and hinder your movement. I totally agree life jacket must be worn. Most of the race ended neck to neck(those without NJC joining) and very often you need a viewcam to decide the eventual winner. A 5% drop in performance means most likely you will lose the race. However, I must say the authorities must enforce it if not such accident will continue to happen.

As a super-safety conscious person myself, I would also be forced by the circumstances not to wear it. Being a rower, winning is everything. Can you imagine the anguish of them going through 4-5 times of grueling training per week and not to get anything back after the race?

Let me clear some of the misconception of the sport itself.

Miconception 1: Dragonboat is a exercise that use only arm power
Dragonboat uses legs to kick also and everytime after the race, I could feel my legs getting soft and jelly. Dragonboating uses lots of cardio too. That's why you see them often running around. It's a sport that requires you to have a great cardio and arm power to excel in it.

Misconception 2: Dragonboat sinks easily
I don't know what these people are really thinking about but dragonboat is really stable as it's base is wide enough. Even if you want to overturn it, it would need a lot of team effort to do it. For my three years as a rowers, I have not experience this myself. I only witness this during the dragonboat race when boats collide. That is only when boats collide.

Misconception 3: You need to be a swimmer to join this sport
Throughout my 3 years as a rower, there's so many non-swimmers I see participating in this sport. I can only keep my head barely afloat until my third year there. In other words, I mean my swimming sucks.

Misconception 4: Life jacket is a must
I remembered clearly that it is only halfway through my second year that SDBA enforce every rower to wear the jacket. It is not a must to wear jacket and wearing jacket makes rowing very uncomfy and prone to abrasion at the armpit area.

Once agin, I hope I have done nothing to offend Jean. Jean is my friend and I owe her many favor including getting her to put Reuben's Back Home music on her blog. I really appreciate her kindness for this.

I will be visiting them later in noon. I'm lost for words on what to say to them.