About Us
Stanford Terminal Velocity
Inspired by the lure of the water and our longing for adventure, the
Stanford dragonboat team is a dynamic group of undergraduate and graduate
students who spend a few hours together on the bay once a week to escape the
rigors of Stanford life. We vary in ethnicity and interest, and seek to
build a friendly and energetic team spirit each year that is unique to the
sport of dragonboating. If there is ever the possibility of achieving
terminal velocity, we hope to reach it as a team.
Stanford Terminal Velocity was founded in 2003 when former Stanford students and avid paddlers Mike Liu '03, Linda Cheu and Vicki Jew approached the Okada RF about the possibility of starting a Stanford team to compete in the newly-started college races in the CBDA.
Howard Chiou '05, the Okada ATA at the time, took on the responsilibity of starting a team, and Evelyn Chin '06, Lindsay Gibbon '06 and Gina Hsieh '05 jumped on the bandwagon.The student founders hoped to bring the 2,000 year old
Chinese tradition to Stanford students
of all ages, ethnicities, and majors.
As one of the first few college
dragonboat teams to come into existence in the California area, the Stanford
Team will be competing for its third consecutive year at Lake Merced this
May. The team’s swift progression into its third season was made possible by
several experienced paddlers (Mike Liu, Kristin Sunamoto, Emily Ma, Vicki
Jew, Rob Brogle, and Linda Cheu) who generously volunteered to coach,
CDBA’s heading policies towards college teams, ASSU funding, and our
dedicated members.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is dragonboating?
Dragonboating is a traditional Chinese sport that has now become a worldwide
recreation. It is a highly team-cooperative activity, where as many as
twenty paddlers work together in synchronized movements to propel the long
canoe-like boat forward. A drummer situated at the front plays on a drum to
keep the entire team in rhythm.
Why is it called 'dragonboating'?
The sides of the long and narrow boat is decorated with a pattern that
represents the scales of a dragon. The head of the boat is ornated with a
dragon head, and a long dragon tail is added to the posterior of the boat.
What is the time commitment like?
We will have practices every Saturday early afternoon starting January and
ending with a California-wide race in mid-May. Practices usually last up to
three hours. The team will not be practicing during Dead Week and Finals
Week. Team members are also allowed to miss two practices per quarter.
Attendance at the first and last practice, and at the race in mid-May is
required.
What are the expenses?
Boat rental, space rental, food, and transportation are free. Due to
limited funding, however, you will be responsible for buying a uniform.
What do you do to join?
Saturday weekly practices start January. Newcomers are very welcome.
To subscribe to our e-mail list, please write to
majordomo@lists.stanford.edu,
and type "subscribe dragonboat-recruit" in the body.
Or simply email our President, Betty Luan.
Dragonboat History
The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival (5/5 of the lunar calendar) commemorates
attempts to rescue the poet Qu Yuan, who drowned on the fifth day of the
fifth lunar month in 277 B.C. As the Zhou Emperor’s minister, he fought
against corruption and urged the emperor to avoid conflict with the Qin
Kingdom. Officials who envied and feared him quickly removed him from
service. While he traveled and taught in exile, he learned that the Zhou had
been defeated by the Qin. Overwhelmed with despair, he threw himself into
the Miao River. Because he was loved by many, fishermen set out in long
boats to retrieve his body, beating drums and throwing zong zi (rice wrapped
in leaf) into the river to keep scavengers away.
Today, in remembrance of Qu Yuan, many eat zongzi and take part in the
Dragon Boat Festival, held annually in China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and
in overseas Chinese communities such as those in Canada, Europe, Australia
and in the U.S. This cultural sport has also become a popular recreation;
the 2,000 year old Chinese tradition is currently petitioned to be
recognized as an Olympic sport.
Dragon Boats are painted and decorated like dragons, ranging from 40 to 100
feet in length. An open-mouth dragon head adorns the front, with a scaly
tail appended to the rear. Depending on the length, up to 80 paddlers may
power the boat. Smaller crafts holding up to twenty paddlers will be used
at the California Dragon Boat race. A steersperson maneuvers from the rear,
while the drummer sits at the front, beating the rhythm to which every
paddler will simultaneously, in unison, enter his/her paddle into the water
as competing teams race to reach the finish line.
