On November 14, the Desert Falcons took to the waters at Deira Creek, proudly sporting our blue jerseys. The team gathered at QD’s, ready for an evening of focused training. With the EDBF race approaching fast, we’re putting in the work and making every session count.
Splitting Into Two Boats 🚣♀️🚣♂️
We arrived at 7:00 PM, and by 7:15 PM, the crew was warming up and shaking off the day’s fatigue. The energy was high as we split into two boats, each guided by our skilled steerers. Coach Alain took charge of Boat 1, while Neil led Boat 2. At 7:30 PM, we hit the water and got right into it.
Boat 1 Lineup:
- Bow Side (Left): Intan, Loren, Mahmoud, Radhi, Khaled, Lian
- Stroke Side (Right): Evie, Jobai, IS, Big J, Ruby
Coach Alain kept Boat 1 focused on synchronizing strokes and maintaining a steady pace. The team worked together like a well-oiled machine, paddling in perfect rhythm. You could feel the power behind each stroke as the boat glided through the calm creek.
Boat 2 Lineup:
- Bow Side (Left): Ferdz, Tonette, Steve, Len, Dennis
- Stroke Side (Right): Lambert, JJ, Ging, Alnita, Chevy
Coach Neil led Boat 2, emphasizing endurance and power. The paddlers kept pushing hard, matching each other’s strokes with precision. The team spirit was high, and it was amazing to see the coordination between both boats.
Drills and Endurance Building 💪
Tonight’s session focused on endurance and timing. We drilled down on our form, practicing long and strong strokes. Both boats covered an impressive 7,341 meters, with a moving time of 1 hour and 22 minutes. We started at 7:45 PM and paddled until 9:15 PM, making every second count.
Highlights From the Session 🌟
One of the highlights was the teamwork. Despite the long distance, everyone gave it their best. Intan and Ferdz set a strong pace for each boat, keeping the rhythm steady and the team motivated. Newer paddlers like Big J also showed great effort, keeping up with the experienced crew.
We even had a chance to practice race starts, which added a burst of excitement to the training. The quick bursts of speed reminded us of what’s coming up soon at the EDBF race. If you’re curious about how we prepare for races, check out our Ultimate Guide to Dragon Boat Training.
Wrapping Up the Session 🌙
By the time we finished, the sky was dark, but our spirits were high. We docked the boats and did a quick cool-down stretch to prevent injuries. Everyone left feeling tired but accomplished. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come, and we’re excited to continue improving as we get closer to the big race.
For more on our journey, don’t miss our recap of the Dragonboat Fitness Challenge 2024. Stay tuned for more updates, and as always, keep paddling strong, Falcons! 🦅💪
See you at the next session!
