Sabine Hofer - photo by Nigel A JAMES
Dragon Fire and Water Girl!
Sabine Hofer has always been a very sporting person, but, just 8 years ago, something happened that changed her active ideas completely. Her course took a brand-new direction, she became a “Dragon Girl”.
It was 2004. Another normal day at work. And her colleague, Barbara Hofmann’s idea of forming a Dragon Boat team to compete in competitions seemed just like another good idea. Another new sport and just for one season. Why not!
And, so it was that the training began. It was hard. Neither Sabine nor any of the other twenty “athletes” had expected such drill, but, the first race was coming and they were determined to do the best that they could.
And their best was better than they thought. Paddling to the beat of a drum and being kept on course by a steersman, they went down the river and into place number 2. They were thrilled, and, with success to their name they signed up for more.
And their luck kept on coming. This 4000 year old Chinese sport, complete with its colourful traditions of boats that look just like dragons which eat rice before every race was all theirs. They had mastered it all, and, in doing so, had entered a world that they never knew existed!
Having qualified for so many races, they have now been all over Europe. Everywhere, they have found, there are people who like dragon boating, too. And the reason is simple.
This is a sport that’s for everyone. Age makes no difference, dragons are friendly and they are there for us all. And the fun? This is no question, and it’s not only for those in the boats. Watching the action is just as exciting – and one doesn’t have to get wet. But, feeling the strength of the water and being part of a team that’s moving at speed is well worth the very hard training and the time that one spends.
Today is Europe, tomorrow the world, but the fun of the racing is wherever one presently is!
More info:
http://www.dreamboat-elin.at/
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