Ncawpa.org
Title
NCAWPA Home Page
Description
NCAWPA, National Capital Area Women's Paddling Association, established in 1992, first came together as a women's dragon boat team. Now called the DC Dragons, it has evolved to include men's and mixed teams. A non-profit, community-based organization, NCAWPA spearheaded the development of dragon boating and outrigger canoeing both locally and along the East Coast and was a driving force behind the creation of the Eastern Region Dragon Boat Association. We are a co-sponsor of the Washington Dragon Boat Races, the first and only dragon boat race in Washington, DC and we've been a member of the Board of Directors for the Washington, DC Dragon Boat Association since 2001.
Dragon boat races are held all over the world. The festival and races originally arose to commemorate Ch'ü Yüan, poet and kinsman of Huai Wang, the ruler of Ch'ü (China) over 2000 year ago. Loved by the people, disliked by his rivals, driven to despair and banished from court, he had thrown himself in the Mi Lo River in Yeuyang, China, to drown. Beating drums and splashing the water furiously with their paddles, the boatmen raced into the river to save him, but failed. This event is re-enacted in the dragon boat race in a series of sprints 250M, 500M and 1000M in length.
Intrepid paddlers, the DC Dragons have participated in competitions in Canada, Taiwan, Thailand and Singapore, including medalling at the World Dragonboat Championships in Philadelphia, PA in 2001. In addition to the more usual sprint races, the team participated in a 4000M race in 2003. All members of NCAWPA are continually challenged to become top-level competitors in endurance races as well as the sprints.
Contact
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- ARLINGTON VA
- United States 22203-1225
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- +1.703524257
