By Dragonboating EXCO ‘26
“Are you ready!”
All heads low, anticipating the call.
“Attention…”
Deep breath. Focused.
“GO!”
Paddles in – Pull – Recover – Set up – Repeat.
1 minute – a test of mental grit and physical limits. At the end of that 1 minute? Bliss. Not just at the sweet victory, but at the blood, sweat, and tears put into preparing for the race that have finally paid off.
Welcome to Raffles Dragonboating!
Dragonboating is not just a test of physicality; it is equally a test of the mind. It hones your resilience, pushes your endurance through the tough training sets, and challenges you to give your all with every stroke. When the muscles tire and fail, your mind takes over, powering the boat to the finish line.
Dragonboating is by no means an individual sport; it is a collective effort. The boat can only surge forward with one united push. You cross the finish line, not as individuals, but as a team.
As a developmental CCA, we require no prior experience, only the inner drive to challenge yourself and embrace new experiences. What we value most are individuals who show up to training not just for attendance, but those who show up with heart, grit, and a desire to learn and improve. We don’t look for the biggest muscles, we look for the biggest hearts. In short, we’re looking for the PASSIONATE, the RESILIENT, and the COMMITTED.
We participate in 2 races each year: the annual National Inter-school Competition (May) and the Pesta Sukan (July), both featuring the 200m DB12 and DB22 races. As of 2025, we proudly hold the title for National Inter-school A-Division Girls 12-crew Champions, and third and fourth placings for A-Division Boys 12-crew and 22-crew, respectively.
During competition season, the team trains 3 times a week: land training on Monday in the school gym (5:00pm-7:00pm), and water training on Wednesdays (9:00am-11:00am) and Fridays (5:00pm-7:00 pm) at Kallang Basin. Land training consists of structured gym sessions, while water training primarily focuses on paddling and improving our technique.
Winning is important – after all, that’s one of the main goals we train for. What drives us, however, is the passion we have for the sport and the close-knit community we have built: the RIDB family.
If you are up for the challenge, prepared to embrace hard work and discipline, and at the same time looking to have fun, we welcome you with open arms to join our Raffles Dragonboating Family!
