Author: Cindy Tong

Thank You for Joining Our Kickoff!

Author Cindy TongPosted on Categories Race & EventLeave a comment on Thank You for Joining Our Kickoff!

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

World-Class Coaching Right Here at Houston Heat!

Author Cindy TongPosted on Categories General

Did you know that Houston Heat’s very own head coach, Jackson Lau, is not only the assistant coach for Team USA Dragon Boat but also a multi-time Team USA athlete? His experience on the international stage brings elite-level coaching and training to our team right here in Texas!

This past weekend, Team USA hosted a training camp at Santa Fe Dam in Los Angeles, bringing together top paddlers from across the country. Huge shoutout to Jackson, Joel (assistant coach of HH, also multi-time Team USA athlete), and Alice for representing Houston Heat and Texas at the camp!

With leadership like this, we’re ready to make waves this season! Weather you are completely new or experienced paddler, come join us for a great 2025 season!

 

🔥 Kick Off the 2025 Houston Heat Dragon Boat Season with Us! 🔥

Author Cindy TongPosted on Categories Practice Registration

Welcome to the 2025 Houston Heat Dragon Boat Season! Whether you’re a seasoned paddler or brand new to the sport, we invite you to join us on Saturday, March 1, 8:30 – 11:45am as we officially launch another exciting season on the water.

Never tried dragon boating before? No problem! This is the perfect opportunity to get fit, build endurance, and strengthen your core—all while having fun. Dragon boating is a full-body workout that challenges your strength and coordination, but you won’t even notice because you’ll be too busy enjoying the ride!

More than just a sport, Houston Heat is a community. You’ll meet new people, make great friends, and be part of an incredible team that supports each other both on and off the water. Plus, there are opportunities to travel and race in different cities—even internationally! Imagine competing alongside your teammates while exploring new places together!

We’ll provide paddles and PFDs—all you need to bring is your enthusiasm and a willingness to try something new.Let’s make 2025 our best season yet! See you on the water! 🚣‍♀️🔥🎉

Sign up for the practice HERE

That’s a wrap! And Celebration!

Author Cindy TongPosted on Categories General

What an exciting season! This year, Houston Heat welcomed close to a record number of members, each bringing energy, dedication, and spirit to every paddle stroke. From practices to races, it’s been a season full of hard work, camaraderie, and plenty of fun – all made possible by the dedication of our board members, coaches, and committee volunteers.

Special thanks to VP Margaret and board member Ann for their unwavering support over the years. Their leadership has played a huge role in shaping our club.

We ended the season with an amazing celebration, surrounded by both old and new friends who make this journey unforgettable. Thank you to everyone who paddled, cheered, and supported us along the way. Reminder: The new season starts at the end of February, 2025 – see you there! 

HH Races at DFW Dragon Boat, Kite, and Lantern Festival

Author Cindy TongPosted on Categories Race & Event

Houston Heat hit the water once again at the DFW Dragon Boat, Kite, and Lantern Festival on October 6, 2024. The team performed strongly in the first two heats, but narrowly missed the top spot, finishing just behind DUC Dragon Boat Club to bring home 2nd place.

Though we didn’t clinch the win this time, it was an exciting race – especially for some of our addlers as their first race! It was a fantastic day of teamwork, racing, and supporting Texas local festival. We’re proud of the effort everyone put in and grateful to be part of such a vibrant community event. Great job, team! 💪🚣‍♀️🎉

HEAT ’em UP!

From Dragon Boats to Pickleball: Trading Paddles for a New Kind of Fun!

Author Cindy TongPosted on Categories General

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

Author Cindy TongPosted on Categories Race & Event

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

Author Cindy TongPosted on Categories Race & Event

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!

Author Cindy TongPosted on Categories Race & Event
We’re Back, Baby!! Houston Heat is on Fire! Gold for Austin!

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!!