Pete Atkinson

“My first season with Buzz was incredibly eye-opening for me; I didn't comprehend the scale or standard of the Hong Kong dragon boat culture, particularly the fisherman race circuit. We are particularly lucky at Buzz to be the only mixed expat and local team to be invited to these races and race under our own colours. Paddling with Buzz has taken me to some of the outlying Islands in Hong Kong that I didn't even know existed until I was racing dragon boats.

To pull up at a race venue on a remote island with the fishing trawlers lining the race course and all the different teams flags flying is truly a image to behold. To then jump into our own 24-man teak boat and race against boats with grandfather, father and son in the same boat.

Only then do you realise this is so ingrained in the community and culture of Hong Kong as a way of getting together, competing, and bonding over a love of racing and the water.”

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[Peter Atkinson (Aberdeen, Hong Kong) ex-men’s captain of Buzz Dragon Boating Society in Aberdeen, paddler on British Premier national team.]

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