Thoughts from China.
Our team went China for the International race held at at Miluo and Nanning and here are some thoughts after the race as to why some teams are so much better.
Training hours
The Chinese and Phillipines paddlers won by simply by putting in more training hours. The winning Chinese team in Miluo, Xin Jiang Dragon Boat team, went to Guangzhou to train under a famous coach. The Phillipines sent their National team to china, they train six times a week, 3 water training, 3 land training, every week. National Junior College, train 5 times a week.
Training technique
Their college of physical education actually listed dragon boat as a subject taken by students. They have drummers, who only drums and does nothing else, coxians who cox and does nothing else, and rowers who rows, and does nothing else. Focus and specialization.
Aggression
It is tough to describe this aspect of rowing, but looking at the Beihua University team, winners in the female category, the will to win is frightening and this really drives these ladies to the gold medal.
Fighting spirit.
The Chinese teams fighting spirit is extremely strong, even when they are left behind in the starts, you can still see the steadiness and coordination as they strive to catch up. They never give up in a race.
