Marketing

Dragon Boating

Dragon Boating is a high intensity, high exertion sport, that combines individual physical fitness and team coordination, in a spectacular on-water display.

Dragon Boating originated in China and for around two thousand years has been developing into a world-wide sport, which is pushing for inclusion in the Olympics.

Dragon boat teams consist of twenty paddlers, steerer and a drummer, in the standard boat. A more recent innovation is the ten person crew; once again there is a steerer and a drummer.

Races are conducted over two hundred metres, five hundred metres and two kilometers. Up to six teams usually race side by side in lanes similar to a rowing course. Traditionally boats carry a Dragons head at the front and a tail at the back.

Boats can achieve speeds approaching twenty kilometers per hour over a short distance and competitive paddlers require a high level of fitness. Each paddler lifts their paddle, hits the water and draws back the blade full of water, between sixty and ninety times per minute, or better than a stroke per second, for periods ranging between fifty seconds and ten minutes.

It sounds hard but once trained, paddlers can range in age from eight to over sixty and there are races that cater for most age divisions.

Some people prefer to paddle for fun and most clubs welcome recreational paddlers and often run come and try days for anyone who’s keen to learn the sport.

Press release tips

When preparing a press release it's important to follow some very basic rules.

First, make sure what you’re saying is interesting and is designed to attract attention. Headline - STATE CHAMPIONSHIP/BATTLE OF THE DRAGONS/STARS OF DRAGON BOATING/REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

Precise the event you’re trying to get attention for. Make it interesting and a stand out paragraph. (See below example)

Describe the event and please don’t focus on the traditional... Blessing of the boats etc. Unless you know your target audience has an interest in Dragon Boating or Asian Culture.

Tell people exactly what will be going on, the course length, the number of paddlers, any high profile athletes attending or any high profile people from any walk of life attending.

Last, and by no means least... The very important Questions need to be answered.
Where it is being held, exactly.
When it is being held, exactly.
Who to contact to get more information, all numbers, and email address etc.

It is very important that you appoint a media liaison person and that the person appointed is a good talker.

When you’ve done all that, call DBQ Board for final approval.

Press release template

For Immediate Release
Friday 6th December 2013-12-05
From Dragon Boat QueenslandSUNSHINE COAST - BATTLE OF THE DRAGONS

On Sunday the 8th December 2013 (club name) are hosting a battle between Southeast Queensland’s top Dragon boat teams at Lake Kawana.

Eleven (11) clubs will field approximately five hundred paddlers. Athletes will race in Men’s, Women’s, Mixed, and Junior divisions over a five hundred metre course. Several clubs are well in contention for State and National Championships.

(Club Name/s)  are just a few of the more highly rated teams.

Dragon boat racing is a growing sport that caters for athletes of all ages in several divisions. It is popular around the world but more so in Europe and Asia. Dragon boats traditionally consist of twenty paddlers, a sweep and a drummer. All paddlers stroke in unison to propel the boat at speeds which can exceed ten knots (18.5 kph).

This is a visually exciting sport involving some extremely fit individuals. A lot of football, netball and basketball players participate in Dragon boating during the off-season or just to enhance traditional training regimes. It is very popular with women as an alternative to, or to compliment fitness workouts.

Dragon boats can race on 200 metre, 500 metre, 1 kilometre and 2 kilometre courses at Lake Kawana.

Please find a link to a previous WIN News story below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJjBQZi6anU

WHERE: Lake Kawana, Stockland Park, Sportsmans Parade, Bokarina (UBD ref page 90 E 7)

WHEN: Racing starts at 0820 hrs and Finals start after 1300 hrs on Sunday 8th December 2013.

WHO: Contact – Your club contact person 

DBQ Marketing Officer  info@dbq.com.au