And now for something completely different. This past weekend, for our September social meetup, some team members put down their trusty dragon boat paddles and picked up pickleball paddles instead. In lieu of trying to stay in-synch, everyone did their best to hit fast moving plastic balls across the net as well as dodge (and chase!) the errant ones that flew through the air. Everyone had fun trying a new activity and socializing over food and drinks.
Houston Heat represented at CCWC 2024
Ten members from the Houston Heat Dragon Boat Club joined Texas’ premier dragon boat team, Lone Star Dragon, to compete in the 2024 Club Crew World Championships (CCWC) in Ravenna, Italy, from September 3-8, 2024. This historic moment marked the first time any Texas team had qualified for the CCWC. Our Houston Heat members raced alongside the Lone Star Dragons in the Senior A Mixed Standard division (20-person boat), proudly representing Texas on the world stage and making us all incredibly proud!
Another WIN at AAPI Heritage and Dragon Boat Festival
It was a beautiful Sunday, May 19, 2024, when the Houston Heat Dragon Boat Club participated in the inaugural @AAPI Heritage and Dragon Boat Festival held in Dallas, Texas. Led by our first-time festival coaches, Christi Pham and Joel Castaneda, the team was well-prepared and eager to compete.
The Heat Was On, both on the water and on land! We showed up and put everything we’ve got in the race. Congratulations to the team for another win🥇!!!
HH taking home the GOLD!
What a weekend at the 2024 Austin Dragon Boat Festival! As you know, the Heat has been training hard and the results have paid off!
Due to the excitement and growth of the club for the 2024 season, Houston Heat was able to bring two teams to the event this year: Houston Heat Fire and Houston Heat Flame! Both teams joined 5 other teams to round out the competitive division.
In Texas, you never know what kind of weather you will get from Mother Nature. This day was no different! All of the teams faced a 20-25mph headwind, with up to 35-40mph gust! Let me tell you.. even though that headwind was brutal at times, it wasn’t about to deter the Heat!
HH Fire had a good number of first timers, and gain a huge amount of experience from their very first race! They battled hard throughout the day and even finished the final 1k distance race with 6:09.898! Congratulations to all of the Houston Heat Fire team!
HH Flame definitely turned the wick up. They finished first in the final with a 2:17.107 to take Gold in the A division and held the top spot for the fastest team of the day! Congratulations to all of the Flame members for a job well done!
The weekend was a huge success both on and off the water. Houston Heat went to Austin with a goal to not only race but to have a fun team experience! By the end of the day, all of the members left with great stories and an even tighter team bond! We are looking forward to the next race in Dallas, Texas on May 19th! Stay tuned for more!!
Getting Ready for the Austin Dragon Boat Festival
Houston Heat Fire and Flame are gearing up for the Austin Dragon Boat Festival this weekend! It’s sure to be an exciting and memorable experience, especially for those joining in for the first time. Get ready for a fantastic weekend of racing and fun!
Pre-race dinner with ICE CREAM and CUPCAKES!
A GREAT day at the kickoff!!
What a perfect morning for the Houston Heat 2024 Season Kick-off! We want to thank all of the adventurous first-timers as well as our dedicated members for coming out to make it one of the biggest and best kick-offs yet! Watch out as we set the water on fire!! HEAT IT UP!!!
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From the very beginning
The very first Houston Heat crew formed in the summer of 2006, specifically to head to Nationals in Tampa that same year!
“With heart and perseverance, we went from the humble beginnings of forming a small dragon team in Houston to forging a path towards a culture that now expands over 10 dragon boat clubs and hundred of paddlers across Texas and its neighboring states. Now we are set to take on the world! “ – Jeff Gee
HH Kickoff! Come try dragon boat for free!
Welcome to the 2024 Houston Heat Dragon Boat Season!!! Everyone is welcome to join us on Saturday, Feb 24th as we officially start our season. RSVP here now!
16th IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships
While we are still celebrating the 2023 Club Crew National Championships win with our teammates who raced with the Lone Star Dragons , we want now want to turn our attention to the upcoming 16th International Dragon Boat Federation World Dragon Boat Racing Champions held next week in Thailand! We are very proud that Team USA will be represented by our very own, Jackson Lau, Joel Castaneda and Michael Zheng, who are long time members of Houston Heat. We are also excited for Texas paddlers, Shirley Che, Rhonda Gideon, Elizabeth Olivares, John Jamerlan and Scott Baltisberger, who will also be on Team USA! We wish them all safe travels as they make their way to Rayong, Pattaya. Racing will start next week at the Royal Thai Navy Rowing and Canoeing Training Center. Best of luck to our friends as well as all the racers!!
HH represented at 2023 Club Crew National Championships!!
A Texas-sized congratulations goes out to the Lone Star Dragons on their championship win in Sarasota last weekend at the USDBF Club Crew National Championships 2023 ! It was truly awesome to watch the team, which included several of our very own Houston Heat paddlers, battling it out against some of the fastest teams in the country! With this win, LSD has earned a berth to the 2024 Club Crew World Champions in Ravenna. Italy! They let it be known that Texas is now a true player in the elite competitive dragon boat world!
Hats off to our very own Houston Heat paddlers and coaches for their contributions to the success of the Lone Star Dragons’ spectacular showing at the 2023 Club Crew National Championships!!