Heart and Soul Dragon Boat team on a mission
INDIALANTIC, Fla. — When I tell people I paddle on the Heart and Soul Dragon Boat Team, they automatically think of a rowing shell and crew. I just smile and quickly share my love and knowledge of Dragon Boat Paddling.
Dragon boating is a fun-filled, adrenaline pumping, water sports activity. Teams compete in large canoe-like vessels fitted with ornately carved dragon’s heads and tails. Crews of up to 20 people sit in pairs and paddle to compete in races over distances ranging from 200M sprints to long distant 2K. Each boat has a drummer in front beating time to keep the paddlers in unison, and a Steer-person in the back to guide the boat.
Although the sport is some 2,000 years old, it is thriving in communities across the globe including here in Florida.
An oncologist in Canada discovered that the physical demands of dragon boating could be beneficial to his breast cancer patients. Heart & Soul Dragon Boat Team was started by Beth Gitlin, a Satellite Beach resident, who was a breast cancer survivor (BCS). A 501(c)3 was formed to support other survivors and offer them a chance to connect and exercise together to promote recovery and good health. I personally found dragon boat paddling by accident while looking for dolphins at the Mathers Bridge. Having moved to the area just months before, I thought this would be a great opportunity to make new friends and be on the water with dolphins. It became so much more when I learned this team was started as a BCS team and all these women had similar stories to mine. The friendships that develop when you are all paddling in the same boat in total synchronicity is priceless. I began paddling to get in better shape but realized very quickly, I wanted to be in tip top shape to paddle better.
Currently Heart and Soul Dragon Boat Club consists of an enthusiastic mix of men and women. Our mission is to stay healthy and fit, support the community and have fun racing dragon boats. We host three teams:
- Heart and Soul Breast Cancer Survivors
- Heart and Soul Men and Women’s Mixed Teams
- Heart and Soul Senior Women
Among the men and women of Heart & Soul, 26 Senior B (age 50+) women will be competing at The Club Crew World Championships this July in Sarasota, FL.
In the meantime, other members continue to practice and train on the Banana River for upcoming local festivals and races. If you are interested in trying this sport, please reach out to us on our website: heartandsouldragonboating.org.
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