HEART. COMMUNITY. PURPOSE.

Author Cindy TongPosted on Categories General
This past Saturday, Houston Heat had the honor of supporting Lighthouse of Houston’s Blind Fury for their first on-the-water dragon boat practice of the season.

With sights set on competing at the Austin Dragon Boat Festival on April 25, 2026, these determined visually impaired paddlers took an important step forward this past Saturday.

Despite the rain and wet conditions, Blind Fury enjoyed their first and only real opportunity to be together on the water, in the same boat, building rhythm, trust, and connection — and they made the most of every moment.

We are incredibly proud of our Houston Heat volunteers who showed up, supported, paddled, and helped create a welcoming and empowering experience. From loading and unloading boats to sharing knowledge and encouragement, they were truly EXCELLENT ambassadors of our community.

👏 Thank you to our volunteers:
Andrew Lavinsky, Ann Wong, Carsten Brown, Chloe Ho, Damon Chik, Denise Monroe, Dylan Lovell, Gabriela Bocchini, Grace Tsai, Ha Nguyen, Jaidon Damschen, Joel Castaneda, Maria Buenabad, Owen Chik, Virginia L Rodriguez, Zhiyi Chen

Your time, energy, and heart made a lasting impact.
We’re excited to see Blind Fury continue to grow and take on Austin later this month.🔥

TEXAS SPRING CLINIC — WHAT A WEEKEND!

Author Cindy TongPosted on Categories Race & Event

Our 1st Texas Dragon Boat Spring Clinic hosted by Houston Heat was a huge success this past weekend!

With up to 7 boats on the water, 6 elite coaches, and around 130 paddlers in attendance, the energy was incredible from start to finish. The weather showed up for us, and so did all of you.

Paddlers had the chance to learn from rotating coaches, gain insight during the Q&A session, and see frame-by-frame feedback through video review — and most importantly, everyone brought great attitudes and a willingness to grow.

A big thank you to all of our coaches, steers, volunteers, and every paddler who came out and made this clinic such a memorable experience. Events like this are only possible because of the community behind them.

We’re so proud of what we built together this weekend — and we hope this is just the beginning.

🔥 HOUSTON HEAT 2026 SEASON KICK‑OFF — WHAT AN INCREDIBLE START! 🔥

Author Cindy TongPosted on Categories General

Our 2026 Season Kick‑Off brought 112 paddlers to the water — one of the biggest and most exciting turnouts in Houston Heat history! We welcomed 55 first‑time paddlers, 30 youth, and so many returning members and alumni who helped make the day unforgettable.

And what a way to begin our 20th Anniversary year!
Two decades of paddling, community, and shared passion — and we launched this milestone season with energy, heart, and a shoreline full of smiles.

A huge thank‑you to everyone who came out, supported new paddlers, helped with setup, guided youth, steered boats, and shared their love for the sport. Your enthusiasm and generosity are what make Houston Heat such a strong and welcoming community.

We’re excited for everything this anniversary season will bring — more paddling, more growth, more memories, and more moments together on the water.

💛🔥 Here’s to an amazing 20th year for Houston Heat!

Welcome to the 2026 Season! Kick Off Houston Heat’s 20th Anniversary on the Water

Author Cindy TongPosted on Categories Practice Registration

Paddles Up! We are thrilled to welcome everyone to the start of the 2026 Dragon Boat Season.

This year marks a massive milestone for our club: Houston Heat is celebrating its 20th Anniversary! For two decades, we have been dedicated to paddling hard, building a strong, supportive community, and growing together both on and off the water.

We want YOU to be part of our next chapter!

To celebrate the new season and our anniversary, we are hosting a FREE Season’s Kickoff Event. If you have ever been curious about dragon boating, this is the perfect opportunity to give it a try.

Who Should Attend? Everyone! We welcome ALL levels of experience. Whether you are looking for a new competitive sport, a fun way to stay fit, or a great community of friends, you’ll find it here. Furthermore, youth paddlers join for FREE!

Don’t worry about equipment—all gear is provided. Just bring water, sunscreen, and a readiness to have fun.

RSVP Today! We can’t wait to see new faces and returning members in the boat. To help us plan, please RSVP here.

Texas Team Making Waves – Congrats LSD!

Author Cindy TongPosted on Categories Race & Event

Huge congratulations to Lone Star Dragons for wrapping up an incredible CCNC and earning three berths to the 2026 Club Crew World Championships in Taiwan! 🇹🇼🐉

We’re especially proud to see several Houston Heat members racing as part of the LSD crew — representing HH with heart, power, and teamwork all the way! 💪

What an amazing achievement — congratulations again, and see you in Taiwan!

 

Houston paddlers heading to Germany!

Author Cindy TongPosted on Categories General

Off to Germany! 🌍🏆

Huge congratulations to our Houston-based paddlers heading to the 2025 IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Brandenburg, Germany! Representing Team USA are Eva, Lucas, Jackson, Joe, John and Elizabeth from respective local clubs. All six are also proud members of Lone Star Dragons and have trained hard to earn their place on the national team.

We’re beyond proud to see our local athletes take the world stage—your passion, grit, and teamwork are an inspiration to us all. Safe travels and paddle strong… Germany, here they come!
Let’s go, Team USA!

Dallas, we brought the HEAT!

Author Cindy TongPosted on Categories Race & Event
Houston Heat made the journey up north for the 2nd Annual Dallas AAPI Heritage and Dragon Boat Festival on May 18th, and it was a day to remember!

The team arrived to warm, muggy weather and a race site whipped with winds at 10–15 mph, with gusts reaching over 25. The skies were overcast, the water choppy, and the whitecaps never stopped rolling. Despite the intense conditions, it was a successful event for the team. HH made it into the grand final and proudly brought home bronze in the competitive division! We also made it all the way to the final knockout round, racing back-to-back-to-back and holding strong right up to the very end.

Huge congratulations to all our paddlers who competed! Newer members added their first or second race to their journey, and our seasoned paddlers got to test their grit in some of the tougher conditions we’ve faced this season. The spirit, teamwork, and determination on display made us incredibly proud.

Onward and upward, Houston Heat! Let’s keep racing, keep growing, and always bring the fire. 🔥🔥🔥

Houston Heat Defends the Gold at the 2025 Austin Dragon Boat Festival!

Author Cindy TongPosted on Categories Race & Event
What an incredible showing—racing alongside other teams is always a thrill, but this weekend, Houston Heat knew exactly how to SHOW UP! Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a new member finding your rhythm, this was a moment to celebrate.

Kudos to all our first-time racers who crushed their very first event!🔥 Your#teamworkmakesthedreamworks rit were on full display. The teamwork and camaraderie that built this win started long before race day—out at every early morning practice, every drill, every stroke.

This victory is a true club effort. The gold isn’t just for the veteran boat—it belongs to every single paddler who has been putting in the work. It’s a reflection of the spirit, determination, and heart that every Houston Heat member brings.

Take a well-earned victory lap, soak in the moment—and let’s keep the momentum going. See you at practice! 🔥

History Made! Houston Heat’s First Youth on Team USA

Author Cindy TongPosted on Categories General
Huge Congratulations to Lucas Nguyen!

We are beyond proud to announce that Lucas Nguyen has officially made it onto the USDBF Team USA U16 Division and will be representing the USA at the IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Brandenburg, Germany, July 14-20, 2025!

This is a historic moment for Houston Heat, as Lucas becomes the first-ever youth paddler from our team to make it onto Team USA—and not just from Houston Heat, but from the entire state of Texas!!

Lucas attended Team USA selection camp, led by our very own Coach Jackson and other team USA coaches, where he trained alongside 130 other top youth paddlers from across the country. After an intense weekend, he was selected as one of the best to represent the USA on the world stage!

Lucas, we can’t wait to cheer you on as you take on the world! Let’s go, Team USA!

Thank You for Joining Our Kickoff!

Author Cindy TongPosted on Categories Race & Event

What an EPIC start to the 2025 dragon boat season! With nearly 100 paddlers, including 50+ first-timers, and a record-breaking 5 boats on the water, this is our BIGGEST season kick off EVER! 🔥The energy was high, the weather was perfect, and our passion for dragon boating was stronger than ever! ❤️

A HUGE thank you to all the first-timers who came out to give this amazing sport a try—we loved paddling with you and hope to see you back soon! And of course, a massive shoutout to board, members and volunteers for making this event such a success! We could not have done it without your love and support!

Missed it? No worries—we’re just getting started! All new comers still have two more FREE practices with us! Sign up for this coming week for more fun! We will see you on the water!

Want to join the membership already? Fill out the online form here


📸 Ronald Zulueta, Juno Chou