Dragon boating in Singapore has an international following, tough events and a legion of sworn converts. Despite the initial pain, Luke Clark became one of them. He explains the buzz

There was a time when, if someone had shouted ‘Longer, deeper, harder’ in my ears first thing on a Sunday morning, it would have meant something entirely different. Now, thanks to the sport of dragon boating, such battle cries have for the past four years become my weekend call to action – of the aquatic kind.

It was not always obvious that I would take to the sport. On my very first training session, I thought I would die. The sun beating down on the Kallang Basin was so intense; the paddle in my blistered hands felt so heavy. No amount of bottled water seemed like enough, and my butt was sore from the hard seat. And what was it with those people yelling instructions at me on a Sunday morning? Forget it, man. I returned home, stumbled into the shower and slept like a zombie for the whole afternoon. This was clearly never happening again.

Many who try dragon boating do so only once. As a first-timer, you literally jump in at the deep end, and the first few practice sessions are gruelling, especially if you are out of shape. This is no light tour of the Singapore River, and few teams want passengers coming out on the boat for a ride. First-time paddlers usually sit towards the back of the boat until they’ve got a feel for it, allowing for the initial lack of coordination and style. You will be tested as to whether you are a right- or a left-sided paddler, and briefed regarding the stroke action – the water catch, pull and release – which initially feels completely alien. Under the hot midday sun, a typical two-hour training session feels almost sadistic in its intensity. Some teams start mid-season training sessions with an hour’s paddling, nonstop. It’s enough to scare off even the keenest of green paddlers.

But don’t be put off. I was once more used to seeing the wrong side of Sunday morning from the back of a nightclub. Yet after a few weeks of braving the 8.50am wake-up time, I started craving my Sunday training, and the intense workout for my core region of my back, arms and shoulders. I also started enjoying the camaraderie of the international teams on the riverbanks afterwards – that first beer of the day feels pretty righteous after such thorough exercise.

There are eight international teams in Singapore – from the US, Australia, Britain, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Hong Kong and Japan. The sport welcomes men and women, locals and expats, young and old. Teams race in both men’s, women’s and mixed categories, in both open and international divisions. For a nominal fee, often $10, most teams welcome first-time paddlers during the start of each season, which are split into two per year. Typically, they insist you join up after three or four practices, with team fees often around $150 a season. When you come along, it’s essential that you bring enough water – try a 1.5-litre mineral water bottle. Wear sunscreen, a hat and sports clothes that allow sufficient movement. Some simply train in swimwear. You will be given a life jacket by your team, and it’s mandatory you wear one. Wearing gloves will also help you avoid blisters.

A few training sessions in, the first serious purchase you make in the sport will likely be your own paddle. While initially, the team you join will have a paddle for you, chances are you’ll soon tire of its waterlogged weight and tendency to splinter. I admit, I have a geek-like pride in my 50-inch ZRE carbon fibre paddle, which weighs a fraction of the wooden ones. To buy one, you are looking at paying over $260, but one should last you through your dragon boating career.

Racing is the addictive part of dragon boating, and the main reason people like me get hooked on the sport. From the middle of a 20-person boat, spread across six lanes, with each team howling towards the finish line, the adrenalin rush is electric. When a boat race feels good, it’s like pure synchronicity; all you hear is the roar of the crowd, and the swoosh of 20 paddles carving the water as one. You build into the final charge, all your muscles screaming – then cross the line inches ahead of your competition. These are the cathartic moments dragon boaters train so hard for.

In Singapore, it is never too long until the next race, with the calendar split into two major regattas in the year – an 800m race in June at Bedok Reservoir and a 200m event in November, held at Boat Quay. There are many secondary-level regattas and series too, plus a number of offshoot events that explore different variations on the same theme.

For more information on the Singapore Dragon Boat Association, go to www.sdba.org.sg.

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Dragon…tugging?
Look out for these interesting variations on the dragon-boat theme
• Outrigger canoeing: Unlike the classic, mono-hulled dragon boat, the outrigger canoe features one or more lateral support floats – known as outriggers – fastened to the main hull. These lend greater stability to the boat, and it means outriggers can go longer distances in choppier waters. Besides being great for endurance, this style allows you to train regularly on both sides of the boat. Singapore Paddle Club is a sports team on a mission to bring outrigger canoeing to the Lion City – visit its base at Tanjong Beach on Sentosa. www.singaporepaddleclub.com
• DragonTug: Held in May at Boat Quay for the past two years, DragonTug is literally a tug-of-war match between dragon boats. With a pulley system set up behind them, teams of 12 sprint to a target, then tug their way to victory, with the most powerful team winning.
One Fullerton, Singapore River (www.dragontug.com). MRT: Raffles Place.
• Breast Cancer Foundation Dragon Boat Programme: Dragon-boat paddling for breast-cancer survivors started in Singapore in 2003, but the impetus came from a Canadian study that found repetitive upper-body exercise helped those treated for the disease. The study followed 22 breast-cancer survivors in Vancouver in 1996. Results showed that a specially designed dragon-boat training programme helped to stabilise lymphoedema (swelling of the arm/chest area after lymph node surgery or radiation treatment). Indeed, it led to relieved symptoms in many cases. Now teams made up of breast-cancer survivors are fixtures in the local dragon-boating community. www.bcf.org.sg