Dragon boat racers heading Down Under

Five women from the Kent Dragon Boat Association are headed Down Under later this month to compete in the Club Crew World Championships.

The five are among 25 members of Washington Masters (WAM) — a team consisting of women dragon boaters age 50 and older, who will race in Adelaide, Australia, beginning April 1.

Participants representing Kent are Chris Salzer, Lisa Foster, Debbie Taylor, Mary Sorenson and Ann Markley. Each of the women got her start in dragon boating through the Kent Dragon Boat Association, which has two teams: Dragin’ Tails, which is a co-ed team, and Ladies of the Lake, an all-women team.

Dragon boat races range in length from 200 meters, which last about a minute, to 2,000 meters, which takes 10-12 minutes to complete. While 2,000-meter races don’t usually take place in the U.S., they will be a part of the competition in Adelaide, Salzer said.

The journey to Australia has been about 18 months in the making.

“(WAM coach Lesley Blythe) had a vision a couple years ago to have a more competitive opportunity for paddlers in the northwest area,” Salzer said.

WAM took second in a qualifying race in August, and found out in September they would go to Adelaide for the world championships, which take place every other year.

“When we heard that team in first place could not go we were given birthright to take their place,” Salzer said.

WAM is the first women’s team to represent Washington state in the world dragon boat competition and the first master’s team — with all paddlers 50-plus — representing the state.

Representing not only the state but Kent in an international competition is an honor, Salzer said.

“We are hoping to do well,” she said. “We have never been involved in an event quite of this magnitude. It will all be new to us. There is a lot to gain from that.”

Salzer said she hopes the trip to Australia will spark interest in dragon boating locally.

“We are always looking for new members to come out,” she said.

The Kent Dragon Boat Association practices Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings, beginning March 15 at Lake Meridian. The first three practices on the water are free for those who would like to try the sport. After that, the cost is $125 per year.

Salzer, 55, of Covington got involved in dragon boating about five years ago after surviving breast cancer as a new way to stay active. She said she enjoys the close-knit relationships she has forged with her teammates, both in Kent and on WAM.

“There is lot of team work and synchronicity that has to take place to make that boat move and move efficiently,” she said.

Foster

Foster, 51, of Kent, has been involved with the group on and off for about 15 years, after learning of the sport through her son’s Little League team.

“Word of mouth usually seems to be the best way we all get recruited,” she said.

Being a part of WAM has pushed Foster physically, she said.

“I am in the best condition shape that I have been in years,” she said. “You don’t realize what your body is capable of until you push yourself.”

Although she hopes the team wins, she is unsure of how it will do in international competition.

“Here we know most of the team in the area we race against and how we will fare,” she said.

Foster said after the competition she is looking forward to spending a couple weeks exploring Australia — which is on her bucket list — including snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef and visiting the Outback.

Taylor

When Taylor started dragon boat racing in 2004, she never expected to one day compete overseas.

“It was more just for fun, something to get me out of the house,” the 56-year-old said. “I didn’t have any idea where it would lead.”

Taylor, who lives in Kent, learned about the sport at a dragon boat festival at Lake Meridian.

“Dragon boating is very inclusive,” she said. “You make great friends. One person can’t make a boat go. You need all 20 paddlers. You are out there with a bunch of teammates and friends.”

Sorenson

Dragon boating is the first sport Sorenson, 60, has been active in.

“I am like, ‘Why did wait until this age to start getting involved?” she said.

Sorenson, of Auburn, started dragon boating about seven years ago at the encouragement of her sister-in-law who coached a team.

Learning to race wasn’t too hard, Sorenson said.

“You don’t have to have perfect form,” she said. “You have a lot of support in the boat and people that help you out.”

Sorenson’s husband, James, is also involved in dragon boat racing as a steersperson for the Kent team. He also helps out with WAM and will travel to Australia for the competition.

Markley

Dragon boating is an activity Markley, 58, of Kent, shares with her husband, Jeff.

Markley started dragon boat racing about six years ago after taking a canoe trip with her son’s Boy Scout troop.

“One of moms said, ‘You are a really good paddler . You should try dragon boating,'” Markley said. “That was how I got hooked on it.”

Her husband got involved with the Dragin’ Tails team.

“It is something that is fun and social and active,” she said. “It is a real good thing for our relationship and family.”

Jeff Markley will accompany WAM on the trip to Adelaide.

“Australia has been on our bucket list,” Ann Markley said. “This was a great opportunity to race and sight see there too.”

For more information about the Kent Dragon Boat Association, visit kentdragonboat.com.