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Thanks to the 2008 Regatta Sponsors!
AT&T - APCA
St. John's Middle School St. John's Upper School
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 9, 2006
Marla Massey
Texas Dragon Boat Association
marla.massey@sbcglobal.net
281-808-6855
www.texasdragonboat.com
For additional photos contact
Annabelle Ruch
akruch@aol.com
(832) 771-7661
Photos available upon request
MEDIA ALERT: LOCAL DRAGON BOAT TEAM TO REPRESENT HOUSTON AT THE 2006 NATIONAL DRAGON BOAT CHAMPIONSHIPS
WHAT: |
For the first time, the city of Houston will have a national presence in the sport of dragon boat racing On August 25th, the Houston Heat Dragon Boat Club will head to Tampa, FL to compete at the 2006 US National Dragon Boat Championships. The top teams from this year’s Championships will represent the United States at international dragon boat events, including the 2007 International Dragon Boat Federation World Championship in Sydney, Australia. |
WHAT: |
Houston Heat Dragon Boat Club - Houston Heat is the first year-round dragon boat club in Houston. Its mission is to promote the sport and culture of dragon boating in the Houston area. |
DATE: |
To View Dragon Boating In Action On Buffalo Bayou, Photo & Video Opportunities Are Available During Any Of The Following Team Practices: Saturday, August 12, 7:30am – 10:30 am |
TIME: |
All practices are held from 7:30am – 10:30am |
WHERE: |
Tony Marron Park |
ABOUT: |
Dragon boat racing is a 2,500 year-old Chinese sport that has become a global phenomenon with over 10,000 teams in more than 50 countries. According to the United States Dragon Boat Federation (USDBF), there were over 70 dragon boat festivals, 3,300 dragon boat teams and more than 50,000 paddlers in the US during 2004. In Houston, the Texas Dragon Boat Association hosts the Houston Dragon Boat Festival and the Gulf Coast International Dragon Boat Regatta every May and October. Dragon boats are 4 feet wide and 40 feet long, beautifully colored and shaped like a dragon with a dragon’s head and tail. Each boat holds 20 paddlers moving in perfect unison, a steersman navigating the boat, and a drummer pounding a rhythm to keep the team in sync. The roots of dragon boat racing originated 2,500 years ago in the southern provinces of China. According to the legend, Qu Yuan, a poet and advisor to the Emperor, jumped into the Mei Lo River in despair over government corruption. Local citizens revered Qu Yuan as a hero and rushed out in their boats to save him. They pounded drums to scare away fish and water spirits from eating his body. Today’s dragon boat races are a reenactment of this attempt to rescue the beloved hero. |
CONTACT: |
Jen Haejin Kim, HOUSTON HEAT, (832) 428-1591, jen@houstonheat.org, www.HoustonHeat.org |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jen Kim • (832) 428-1591 • info@houstonheat.org • www.HoustonHeat.org
Local Dragon Boat Team to Represent Houston at the 2006 National Dragon Boat Championships
(Houston, TX – August 7, 2006) For the first time, the city of Houston will have a national presence in the sport of dragon boat racing. On August 25th, the Houston Heat Dragon Boat Club will head to Tampa, FL to compete at the 2006 US National Dragon Boat Championships. The top teams from this year’s Championships will represent the United States at international dragon boat events, including the 2007 International Dragon Boat Federation World Championship in Sydney, Australia.
"We are extremely proud that Houston Heat will be heading to Tampa to represent the best of Texas dragon boat teams, and help fulfill our mission to develop this exciting sport in our region,” says Dr. Caroline Long, President & Co-Founder of the Texas Dragon Boat Association. “Not only will people around the country see how fast dragon boat racing is growing in Texas, but we feel that other teams will be inspired to come and visit Houston."
Houston Heat was formed in May by a group of paddlers who wanted to create year-round dragon boat activities in Houston.
“Dragon boat racing is a competitive sport where teamwork is key to success, so Houston Heat is a true testament of camaraderie, dedication and fun,” says Minh Nguyen, a coach and founding member. “During the past three months, our team of new and experienced paddlers has been training intensively on paddling technique and form. In three months of intensive training, our team has made huge improvements in paddling form and technique. We’re very excited about representing Houston at the National level.”
Dragon boat racing is a sport for everyone. Houston Heat’s membership is diverse in age, fitness level and experience. Members range in age from 17 to 57, and are equally divided between men and women. Some have been dragon boat racing for many years, while others are true beginners to the sport.
Whole families can participate in dragon boat racing as well.
Albert Wong joined Houston Heat with his wife Ann and their son, Bernie. “This sport represents a commitment from our entire family, with regards to being involved in an activity that we all have fun participating in, challenging ourselves and each other in a competitive way, to perform as part of a team. When the team succeeds, we do, too, as individuals and as a family.”
“Dragon Boating is the one activity the Wong family does together,” adds Ann.
Dragon boat racing is a 2,500 year-old Chinese sport that has become a global phenomenon with over 10,000 teams in more than 50 countries. According to the United States Dragon Boat Federation (USDBF), there were over 70 dragon boat festivals, 3,300 dragon boat teams and more than 50,000 paddlers in the US during 2004.
In Houston, the Texas Dragon Boat Association hosts the Houston Dragon Boat Festival and the Gulf Coast International Dragon Boat Regatta every May and October.
Dragon boats are 4 feet wide and 40 feet long, beautifully colored and shaped like a dragon with a dragon’s head and tail. Each boat holds 20 paddlers moving in perfect unison, a steersman navigating the boat, and a drummer pounding a rhythm to keep the team in sync.
The roots of dragon boat racing originated 2,500 years ago in the southern provinces of China. According to the legend, Qu Yuan, a poet and advisor to the Emperor, jumped into the Mei Lo River in despair over government corruption. Local citizens revered Qu Yuan as a hero and rushed out in their boats to save him. They pounded drums to scare away fish and water spirits from eating his body. Today’s dragon boat races are a reenactment of this attempt to rescue the beloved hero.
The mission of the Houston Heat Dragon Boat Club is to promote the sport and culture of dragon boating in the Houston area. For more information, email info@houstonheat.org or visit www.HoustonHeat.org.
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Contact: Jen Kim • (832) 428-1591 • info@houstonheat.org •www.HoustonHeat.org
Texas Dragon Boat Association
The Texas Dragon Boat Association is a 501(c)(3) Texas non-profit corporation established to promote the tradition and sport of dragon boating, increase awareness of Asian and Asian American culture, and enhance cross-cultural understanding. TDBA organizes the Houston Dragon Boat Festival in downtown Houston each May and the Gulf Coast International Dragon Boat Regatta in Bay Area Houston each October.
The American Dragon Boat Association is a volunteer organization dedicated to the promotion of friendship, fun, and education between teams and communities. Its mission is to promote cultural understanding on a worldwide basis and educate the public to the benefits of working together through the sport of dragon boat racing.
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The Texas Dragon Boat Association is a 501(c)(3) Texas non-profit corporation. Our mission is "to promote the tradition and art of dragon boating, increase awareness of Asian and Asian-American culture, and enhance cross-cultural understanding."
© 2008 Texas Dragon Boat Association
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