Raffles Canoeing is transitioning into Raffles Dragon Boating this year! But the culture and work ethic of this team is something that has and will stay strong and unwavering batch after batch and we have no doubts that this will remain the same for all the batches to come.
At Macritchie Reservoir, where we make a row!
The revamped CCA will focus on representing the school via Dragon boating. Dragon boating in many ways is similar to canoeing in terms of training, team building and the nature of the sport. The tough and relentless trainings will mould you to be stronger, tougher and just as passionate about dragon boating as we all are about canoeing. Besides preparing for the Dragonboat competitions, other experiences include the 1-Star and 2-Star certification courses, as well as try-outs in canoe-polo and race boats like the Kayaks and Canoes. There are no pre-requisites to join the CCA and students of any fitness level may join us.
“At the end of each training, as you huddle together for the Raffles Row cheer, your body is completely exhausted but your voices and spirits are strong, echoing all around you reminding you again that you are not and have never been on this journey alone.”
With water trainings 2 times a week, and self training almost every other day, it is definitely a demanding sport and it is not easy. Each training leaves you thoroughly aching with a fresh set of blisters. But don’t let this scare you off — as long as you are willing to work hard and never give up, the payoffs are well worth it. Every time trial, every pull up set, every run, every gym circuit pushes you well past your limits to become stronger than you ever think you can be.
There is no one body type that is most favored, or personality type. All we are looking for is the attitude to never give up and a willingness to work hard.
And when you feel like giving up, your team will be there to carry you through. An integral part of Raffles Row has always been the team. It is the one thing that has remained from batch to batch. It is the team that cheers you on as you fight to increase your max rep, the team that you will come to see as competition to push yourself but as friends to cheer you on, it is the after training showers, the rooftop dinners, the inside jokes, the promises to see each other in remedial, it is the team that never stops believing in you even after you stop believing in yourself. When you are in the middle of a time trial, arms burning, legs cramping, you see your teammates, a mix of pain and determination smudged across their faces, you stop doing it for yourself and start doing it for your crew, and for every other team mate.
“It shouldn’t be easy to be amazing. Then everything would be.”
At the end of each training, as you huddle together for the Raffles Row cheer, your body is completely exhausted but your voices and spirits are strong, echoing all around you reminding you again that you are not and have never been on this journey alone. There is just something special about being amongst a team that fight their hearts out side by side to be great at a sport we all come to love. The tough and unforgiving trainings are where you will learn so much more than how to paddle, they will teach you perseverance, defeat, dedication, discipline and passion; and this is where the strongest friendships will be forged.
“The tough and unforgiving trainings are where you will learn so much more than how to paddle, they will teach you perseverance, defeat, dedication, discipline and passion; and this is where the strongest friendships will be forged.”
As a member of the CCA, the physical trainings will revolve around the skills set for Dragonboat with emphasis on the team work. Besides preparing for the Dragonboat competitions, other experiences include the 1-Star and 2-Star certification courses, as well as try-outs in canoe-polo and race boats like the Kayaks and Canoes. But the main focus will be competitive Dragonboating. There are no prerequisites needed to join this sport. There is no one body type that is most favored, or personality type. All we are looking for is the attitude to never give up and a willingness to work hard, we promise you will not regret joining this team.
“It shouldn’t be easy to be amazing. Then everything would be. It’s the things you fight for and struggle with before earning that have the greatest worth. When something’s difficult to come by, you’ll do that much more to make sure it’s even harder―or impossible―to lose.”
