San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Tenacious dragon boat paddler acts as ambassador for centuries old sport
old sport is just as fun today.
“It’s innovative, creative, and anyone of any age can do it,” said the exuberant Yeung, who admitted she has a hard time staying still. “It’s fun and accessible to anyone.”
She’s right. More and more dragon boat teams, organizations and events are springing up all over the Bay Area, but the Granddaddy of them all, so to speak, is the California Dragon Boat Association’s Northern California International Dragon Boat Festival, held for years first at Treasure Island then later at Lake Merritt. It was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, but this year, enthusiasts are ready to put their oars back in the water and get rowing.
And of course, it was Yeung who led the charge to get the festival together. In recent years, teams from all over the world competed, including teams from Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Australia and the United Kingdom.
It’s a source of pride for many Asian Americans, Yeung said, but many paddlers with non-Asian roots have taken to the niche sport. Festivals are held throughout the world, and Yeung’s team attends as many as they can.
A dragon boat is a long rowboat, resembling a gondola but with intricate “scale” decorations on the sides. During races, a dragon tail is attached to the back of the boat and the head of a dragon graces the front.
Yeung knew as soon as she first stepped foot in her grandfather’s dragon boat that she was meant to be there. Born
“It’s innovative, creative, and anyone of any age can do it. It’s fun and accessible to anyone.”