Natalie Tse

“Fun fact about me, I was born on Tuen Ng Festival (Dragon Boat Festival) - it’s meant to be!

All in all, dragon boat has spiced up my boring life in Hong Kong. I'm forever grateful for all the amazing people I've met throughout my journey. I think dragon boat is a very unique sport that requires a lot of teamwork that is different from other sports. 

Dragon boat takes up most part of my university life. I like to say I’m in the Bachelor of Dragon Boat, minoring in eat, sleep, and gym (and rarely study, haha). Dragon boat is definitely a fierce, competitive sport, and converts many individuals into one to fight for the same goal together. #OneBoatOneHeart

Being on United Fishery, a fishermen team at Aberdeen, has taught me a lot about the fisherman culture in Hong Kong which not many locals know about. People often give me glares on the train when I hold a paddle, and frequently ask questions like "Why're you still paddling when Dragon Boat Festival's over?"

OH! Here's the best part about joining the team. We have about 5-6 private boat races at outlying islands to celebrate the sea god/goddess' birthdays (these are fishermen-style competitions from the old days); these are our kind of junk boat parties, and that's the real essence of dragon boating.”

[Natalie Tse (Hong Kong), paddler on United Fishery, ex-women’s captain of University of Hong Kong Dragon Boat Team.]

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