Cindy Tong – Houston Heat©

Dallas, we brought the HEAT!

Cindy TongMay 28, 2025May 28, 2025Race & EventLeave a comment

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!

Cindy TongMay 1, 2025May 1, 2025Race & EventLeave a comment

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

Cindy TongApril 6, 2025April 6, 2025GeneralLeave a comment

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!

Cindy TongMarch 3, 2025March 3, 2025Race & EventLeave a comment

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!

Cindy TongFebruary 26, 2025February 27, 2025General

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! 🔥

Cindy TongJanuary 29, 2025February 20, 2025Practice 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! 🚣‍♀️🔥🎉

That’s a wrap! And Celebration!

Cindy TongNovember 6, 2024February 20, 2025General

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

Cindy TongOctober 17, 2024February 20, 2025Race & 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!

Cindy TongSeptember 22, 2024February 20, 2025General

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

Cindy TongSeptember 22, 2024February 20, 2025Race & 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!