SUMMER HEAT
Be aware that it can be very hot during the middle of Summer when we paddle. Pease bring plenty of water and look out for signs of heat stress among the crew.
During training sessions, the responsibility of monitoring and managing the wellbeing of athletes lies with attending club coaches, sweeps, committee members and fellow athletes. DBNSW recommends the use of the Heat Alert Index in the likeliness training will occurring during high temperatures as set out in their heat managament policy recommending that we do not race when the temperatures go above 35C.
With this in mind our club has decided that we will not paddle at all when the temperatures are forecast to be 40C and above. On these days an alternate early morning training session will be offered pending sweep availability. Cancellation of the afternoon session and the proposed alternate will be posted on Facebook and an email will be sent out.
PADDLING TECHNIQUE
Below is a coaching video demonstrating Dragon Boat technique as presented by Serghei Cucsa for the Australian Dragon Boat Federation (AusDBF).
HOW TO DETERMINE THE RIGHT LENGTH OF A DRAGON BOAT PADDLE
Here are a few techniques you can use to determine the right paddle length:
Do a sitting test: Sit on a flat surface and stand a paddle up next to you, blade down. Can you reach up and grab the handle? If so, this might bethe right paddle length for yo
Do a standing test: Stand on a flat surface and stand a paddle up next to you, blade down on the ground. If you can fit at least three fingers between the handle and your armpit, this might be the right paddle length for you.
Do a real test: To truly find the right paddle, you have to add water! With that in mind, the easiest way to determine your ideal paddle size is to use paddles of different lengths for a few minutes at a time during practice. Simply swap paddles with your teammates and see what length works best for you.
An introduction to sweeping a dragon boat.
