Nikki White

"I initially started because I was looking for a watersport to do during the hot Australian summer; I had always played a sport of some sort growing up and into adulthood. I was participating in amateur boxing at the time I went to a dragon boat come-and-try day for my club.

I liked that it is quite a technical sport and takes time and training to master, also the endurance and strength component of the sport attracted me.

The sport offers great opportunities for everyone, no matter people’s gender, age, ability. I have met so many fantastic people and been to amazing places with this sport and am thankful for it.

My favorite memory would have to be my trip to China for an international invitational in May/June this year. I had been before, in 2016, but this year was such a different experience. We were lucky enough to participate in races and training at Nardelli Dragon Boat site, Foshan City, Nanhai, Jujiang, Guangzhou, Nantong City, and the 25th anniversary races at Guangzhou City.

We went to Chebi and the Dragon Boat Museum there, the Wong Fei Hung Museum, and had banquets and cultural experiences that we will never forget. To immerse ourselves in the culture of dragon boating in China provided a new perspective on a historic sport."

[Nikki White (Canberra, ACT, Australia), paddler on Ice Dragons Paddle Club.]

072