For Sheila Roley, the water isn't just a place to visit; it's home. Now in her 14th year of dragon boat racing, she's a cornerstone of the North Coast Paddling Club, a team she helped launch three years ago. Her passion is shared by many—the club boasts a roster of 60 eager paddlers with a waitlist of 23, all vying for a spot in one of just two boats, each requiring a crew of 22. "We wish we could accommodate everyone," Roley says, highlighting the sport's surging popularity.

So, what's the draw? To find out, I joined the club for a Monday evening practice, one of their three weekly sessions from April onward as they build toward four seasonal races, including the major Portland Dragon Boat Festival in September.

The adventure began in the parking lot of the Barbey Maritime Center, where my first lesson was about gear. Dressed in standard athletic wear, I quickly learned that paddling demands more than just effort to stay warm against the elements. Thankfully, a teammate loaned me a jacket—a stylish cardigan that stood out among the sea of technical hardshells, a reminder that performance and personal style often meet on the water.

Then came the insight that would define the evening, offered by teammate Lisa Heigh: "Everybody's happy to be on the boat." This camaraderie was palpable, fostered even during the necessary 15-minute carpool to the launch site, where teammates connect and newcomers are welcomed.

At the launch, new initiates like myself were equipped with life jackets and wooden paddles—mine sized to match my wingspan—and given a quick primer on technique. The ritual underscored the blend of ancient tradition and modern community that defines the sport.

Dragon boating traces its roots to ancient China, commemorating the poet Qu Yuan. As the story goes, after Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River following the fall of his state, local boaters raced to save him. This act of devotion evolved into a vibrant tradition, complete with rituals like tossing rice into the water to honor the river dragons believed to protect his spirit.

Back on the dock, the team formed a circle for announcements and roster assignments for their two boats, Athena and Osprey. Seated in the third row of the Athena next to veteran paddler Cathy Peterson, I was ready to learn the ropes. The first challenge? Simply getting into the boat in the brisk evening air, a moment that perfectly captured the blend of teamwork, tradition, and sheer exhilaration that makes this sport so compelling.