Recruitment time for InspirASIAN dragons for 2023 Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival - Practice from June 3 to July 22 & Race on July 29, 2023

 Hello InspirASIAN Dragons (formerly APCA Dragons) & prospective team members!  

  

It's that time of the year for Dragon Boating and we are back again for the 2nd year in a row after Covid. 

  

We would like to get count of people who can participate this year, so I am sending this out to folks on my list before I send it out as company-wide distribution.  (I also have general info for our new paddlers below) 

  

Please email team captain (Thomas Yoo) at inspirASIANdragons@outlook.com if you can make it to our practices and races for this year. Just like last year, the race will be only 1-day event instead of a normal 2-day event. 

  

Most important date to remember is the race day July 29, 2023. 

You MUST be available for the full day. 

  

You do not have to attend all practices but are strongly encouraged. My rule is that one can miss up to 2 practices, but you can make it up with our sister team SPACE DRAGONS’ practice. 

 

All new beginning paddlers must attend first and/or second practice sessions to learn the basics. I recommend that you come early so you have time to find the parking and come to the meeting location. 

  

Also, if you want to participate in InspirASIAN Dragons but don't want to paddle then we do have non-paddling position for you, such as drummer, logistics manager, equipment manager and photographer/videographer. 

  

Practice Times: (Tentative) 

6/03/2023          10:00am-12:30pm (beginners) 

6/10/2023          10:00am-12:30pm (beginners) 

6/17/2023          10:30am-12:30pm 

6/24/2023          10:30am-12:30pm 

7/08/2023          10:30am-12:30pm 

7/15/2023          10:30am-12:30pm 

7/22/2023          10:30am-1:00pm (go over race logistics) 

  

Race Times: 

Saturday 7/29/2022 7:00am - 5:00pm (approximate time frame) 

  

Donation: 

$50.00/paddlers 

Includes all practices, boot camps, race fee, coaching, food/water during the race 

If you volunteer for a non-paddling position in addition to paddling, then your fee will be waived as well. (Drummer/Caller, Steer, Equipment Manager, Secretary, Steer, Photographer) 

 We won’t start collecting until after first 2 practices for those who just wants to try out. 

 

For AT&T Employees: There are other options. 

 

If you are an AT&T employee, you can earn volunteer rewards from Benevity to pay for your dragon boat fees.   

 Login | AT&T Community Engagement (benevity.org) and find opportunities to volunteer.  You can earn $5 or $10 per hour depending on the opportunity.  

  

Please donate to InspirASIAN (INSPIRASIAN) and forward your donation receipt to nc9293@att.com  

 

Here’s an example. 

 

 

 

Please contact me if you have any questions and look for latest info in our blog http://apcadragons.blogspot.com, Facebook: APCA Dragons and on Twitter: APCA_Dragons. 

  

If you are receiving this email and you want to be off this distribution list, then please let me know. 

  

Thank you. 

  

Thomas Yoo 

InspirASIAN Dragons Captain & Coach 

Mobile 949-874-8088 

  

InspirASIAN 

Southern California Chapter Board 

    

  

GENERAL INFO: 

  

Dragon Boat racing is an ancient Chinese tradition that is popular internationally to this day. It involves keen coordination, focus, and strength. 

  

Join the InspirASIAN Dragon Boat team for fun, health, and networking because Your Health Matters. We are looking for paddlers and hospitality crew from June 3 through July 29, 2023. 

  

For additional information, contact team captain/coach, Thomas Yoo at inspirASIANdragons@outlook.com. We will provide PFD (lifejacket) and a paddle, but we do recommend getting your own PFD if possible. Paddlers usually wear swimsuits underneath their regular clothes but any workout clothes that can get wet is fine. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. 

  

We will only have limited practices for the 2023 Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival (https://www.lbdragonboat.com/) so I hope you can make to all practices plus both race days. Video on the main page has InspirASIAN at 0:59 mark. 

This will be a fun & exciting opportunity if you haven't experienced the race before.  

  

  

  

  

(Waivers are not ready yet but will be online before the first practice) 

 

Items to bring for practice: 

Required- Signed ICEA & SCDBC Waiver form (I will bring some extra at practice). This is required before you get on the boat.  This can be downloaded from Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival website at https://www.lbdragonboat.com/forms.php , click on Festival Participant Waiver Form.  

  

Recommended- sunscreen (sun protection), sunglasses (eye protection), hat (additional sun protection), water (it's a workout), towel (to dry yourself since you'll get wet), quarters (if parking at meter lot) 

  

Optional- folding chair (if you want comfortable place to sit), change of clothes (if you want to get out of wet clothes), sandals/aqua shoes (some folks like it barefoot, other sandals, I like the aqua socks), snacks (especially if you didn't have time for breakfast), water gloves (it's nice to have them to grab on to the paddle) 

  

Where to meet: 

Our first practice for the Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival race will be on Saturday 6/3/2023 Time: 10:00am at the Mother Beach/Marine Park, Long Beach. When using your GPS, type-in 5739 Appian Way, Long Beach, CA 90803, which is about where the entrance to the meter parking is. This is a metered parking lot, and the parking fee is enforced starting at 8:00am. (15 min = 25 cents) There is also a free parking area which is linked below on Google map along with our meeting location at the park. This is roughly our meeting spot at the park on page 1. The free parking area (Boy Scout Parking) is shown on page 2: click here. 

  

More Info: 

Paddlers must be able to attend at least 4 practice sessions beginning June 3 through July 22, 2023 (Saturdays) and MUST attend full day of the festival on Saturday July 29, 2023. Paddlers will be asked to sign a waiver. COVID vaccination proof may be required to participate. Our practice time varies. Normal start time is between 9:00am to 9:30am and end time is between 10:45am to 11:30am. Festival times are between 7:00am to 5:00pm. 

  

For new paddlers, it is very important for you to attend the first 2 practices since we'll be going over the basics. 

  

After certain practices, we may have boot camp type of workout session to be announced later. 

  

Practices, boot camp, and workout homework will all be counted toward “point” to win the participation award to be awarded at the race. 

  

I recommend that new paddlers come on time so that we can go over the dragon boat basics. You can also follow us on Facebook APCA Dragons and/or twitter @APCA_Dragons and/or blog at http://apcadragons.blogspot.com/ 

  

Thank you and let's have fun! 

  

We hope to see you out on the water. 

  

  

Thomas Yoo  
InspirASIAN Dragon Boat Team 
ERG at AT&T 

Mobile 949.874.8088 

 

2022 InspirASIAN Dragons Race Packet & Last Homework

 

Hello Team,

 

Here’s the Race Packet which has all the pertinent information about the race.

PLEASE READ thoroughly this packet since it has lots of good info, especially if you are new.

 

 

There is also a last home work. This is the last push get that prize for attendance and homework.

 

CARDIO HOMEWORK

 

Can you run/jog for 3 minutes?

 

Bronze: 4 mph

Silver: 5 mph

Gold: 6 mph

Platinum: 7 mph

 

Anything equivalent is fine also.

 

Just let me know via email that you have done the homework for a point by Friday before the race.

 

Thank you.

 

Thomas Yoo

InspirASIAN Dragons Captain & Coach

AT&T InspirASIAN Dragons' Final Practice for LB

 Hello Team,

Thank you for those who attended our sixth practice.

For the sixth practice, we did some starts and the full race sets. Everyone should work on the "UPs" where we lean forward and twist motion only.

We will roster you on the seta and do "real" race sets for our final practice before Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival.

It's too late for new paddlers to join at this point. Please work on your cardio, drink lots of water, and eat well.

We will be going over race logistics after the practice.

Schedule for July 23, 2022:

9:20am – 9:40am – Sign-in

9:40am – 9:50am – Warm-up

9:50am – 10:00am – Get ready and board the boat

10:00am – 10:55am – Practice on the boat

10:55am – 11:30am – Clean the boat and cool-down

11:30am – 12:00pm - Go over race logistics then Depart or Team Lunch

Please contact me if you have any questions and look for latest info in our blog http://apcadragons.blogspot.com, Facebook: APCA Dragons and on Twitter: APCA_Dragons.

Thomas Yoo

Captain/Coach/Dictator

AT&T InspirASIAN Dragons Practice 6 of 7

 Hello Team,

 

Thank you for those who attended our fifth practice.

For the fifth practice, we learned the starts. Everyone work on the "UPs" where we lean forward and twist motion only.

We will practice some short race sets for our 6th practice.

 

If you are new to paddling and have not attended first 2 sessions then you will need to come out early to go over the basics before going on the water so please let me know.

 

Please bring the signed waiver to YOUR first practice.

https://www.lbdragonboat.com/forms.php

 

Schedule for July 16, 2022:

9:20am – 9:40am – Sign-in

9:40am – 9:50am – Warm-up

9:50am – 10:00am – Get ready and board the boat

10:00am – 10:55am – Practice on the boat

10:55am – 11:30am – Clean the boat and cool-down

11:30am – 11:45am - Depart or Team Lunch

 

Please contact me if you have any questions and look for latest info in our blog http://apcadragons.blogspot.com, Facebook: APCA Dragons and on Twitter: APCA_Dragons.

 

Thomas Yoo

Captain/Coach/Dictator

AT&T InspirASIAN Dragons Practice 5 of 7

 Hello Team,

Thank you for those who attended our fourth practice.

For the fourth practice, we did some strength training. We will start to practice some starts for our 5th practice.

If you are new to paddling and have not attended first 2 sessions then you will need to come out early to go over the basics before going on the water so please let me know.

Please bring the signed waiver to YOUR first practice.

https://www.lbdragonboat.com/forms.php

Schedule for July 9, 2022:

9:20am – 9:40am – Sign-in

9:40am – 9:50am – Warm-up

9:50am – 10:00am – Get ready and board the boat

10:00am – 10:55am – Practice on the boat

10:55am – 11:30am – Clean the boat and cool-down

11:30am – 11:45am - Depart or Team Lunch

Please contact me if you have any questions and look for latest info in our blog http://apcadragons.blogspot.com, Facebook: APCA Dragons and on Twitter: APCA_Dragons.

Thomas Yoo

Captain/Coach/Dictator

AT&T InspirASIAN Dragons Practice 4 of 7

 Hello Team,

 

Thank you for those who attended the third practice.

We are getting serious now. For the third practice, we did some endurance training. We will do some strength training for our 4th practice.

 

If you are new to paddling and have not attended first 2 sessions then you will need to come out early to go over the basics before going on the water so please let me know.

 

Please bring the signed waiver to YOUR first practice.

https://www.lbdragonboat.com/forms.php

 

Schedule for June 25, 2022:

9:20am – 9:40am – Sign-in

9:40am – 9:50am – Warm-up

9:50am – 10:00am – Get ready and board the boat

10:00am – 10:55am – Practice on the boat

10:55am – 11:30am – Clean the boat and cool-down

11:30am – 11:40am - Depart or Team Lunch

 

Please contact me if you have any questions and look for latest info in our blog http://apcadragons.blogspot.com, Facebook: APCA Dragons and on Twitter: APCA_Dragons.

 

Thomas Yoo

Captain/Coach/Dictator

InspirASIAN Dragons - First Practice: DONE

Hello Team,

 

Thank you for those who attended the first practice of the season. It was good to be back on the water.

Those who attended the first practice may be feeling the soreness right about now or earlier.

I have advised at the practice that there will be attendance/participation award which you will earn point for each attendance and home work completed.

So, those who attended the first practice is already 1 point ahead.

Those who missed our practice can make it up by attending any year-round team’s practice to make up that point. You will be able to make up maximum of 2 points.

Here’s our practice date and times.

 

Practice Times:

6/04/2022          9:00am-11:45am (beginners should attend to learn basic paddling technique on the beach)

6/11/2022          9:00am-11:45am (beginners should attend to learn basic paddling technique on the beach)

6/18/2022          9:30am-11:45am

6/25/2022          9:30am-11:45am

7/09/2022          9:30am-11:45am

7/16/2022          9:30am-11:45am

7/23/2022          9:30am-12:30pm (go over race logistics)

 

Schedule for June 11:

9:00am – 9:30am – Sign-in & go over basic paddling technique for beginners

9:30am – 9:45am – Warm-up

9:45am – 10:00am – Get ready and board the boat

10:00am – 10:55am – Practice on the boat

10:55am – 11:30am – Clean the boat and cool-down

11:30am – 11:45am - Depart

 

 

Another way to get the point is the home work so here’s your first home work.

 

 

HOME WORK!!!

 

First home work is easy peasey.

You all learned the proper way to paddle now. Top arm by your head, bottom arm straight, twist to face your partner, etc...

 

Here's the video reminder on how to paddle dragon boat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7lRbj3K8c4 

 

This video shows slight bent on the top arm, but I would say more bent is more comfortable for most of the people, but you can do it whichever is feels comfortable.

 

 

Now, practice that form to the tune of Queen – We Will Rock You.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXGbhniTBrU

 

 

This song has slow beat and it’s about 2 minutes.

Every clap should be hitting the water.

It is slow enough to really twist and stretch out.

 

Practice your form for the entire song for both left and right side for total of 4 minutes.

Please let me know via Email, Facebook, or comment on our blog before our next practice on June 11.

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/apca.dragons

Blog: https://apcadragons.blogspot.com/

 

Thank you.

 

 

Thomas Yoo

InspirASIAN Dragons Captain & Coach

Mobile: 949-874-8088

Office: 714-247-0583

 

InspirASIAN

Southern California Chapter Board