| September 14, 2026 |
NatNews |
ISSUE 235 |
FRIENDSHIPS + ENJOYABLE COMPETITIONS IN DRAGON BOAT RACING
|
Individuals seeking community and an adrenaline-pumping activity can find enjoyment in a unique and engaging boating hobby. Originating in ancient China more than 2,000 years ago, dragon boat racing is a fast-growing water sport that can appeal to individuals of all backgrounds and skill levels. Teams of up to 20 individuals sit in rows of two in canoe-like vessels, each one with a drummer setting the beat to keep the crew in unison. Dallas resident Karyn Nyholm became involved in dragon boating about a year and half ago. She said one of her friends was already a member of the Dallas United Crew Delite and was trying to put together a community racing team for the Dallas AAPI Heritage and Dragon Boat Festival. “I was going through a tough time at the time, and she more or less suggested that joining her team and being in that community would help lift my spirits,” Nyholm said. “I did the festival but didn’t think that it would lead to anything since it was only a community team (basically a group of friends that entered the race but was not an actual competitive team). But something about competing and being out on the water was so much fun that I joined the team shortly after the festival.” Nyholm said she practices with her crew twice a week, though she hasn’t been going as often in the Texas summer heat. She also noted that there are typically four competitions in a season in which the team competes—one in April in Austin, the AAPI Heritage and Dragon Boat Festival in May in Dallas (the team’s “home” event), a race in June in Oklahoma City, and a competition in October in the Houston area. For Nyholm, taking part in dragon boat racing is about much more than competing. “This sounds cheesy, but I love the people I have met,” she said. “I’ve met some really close friends through dragon boating I don’t think I would have met otherwise. I also enjoy being on the water—I grew up on a pond, and the water is like a second home to me.” |
While dragon boating is an enjoyable sport for many individuals, it’s also an activity that presents several challenges. Nyholm, an avid runner taking part in the Berlin Marathon later this month, acknowledged that not only is conditioning rather difficult at times because her muscles become quite fatigued, but there are also additional factors that team members must work through together. “Overall, I think the biggest challenges are your form and staying in sync with the other paddlers,” she said. “Good form maximizes time in the water, so you get maximum power. Staying in sync with the other paddlers is key because you can build momentum and glide on the water, which allows you to go really fast. If one person is out of sync, it can drag the boat.” For one who has never attended a dragon boat race, Nyholm said the best way to describe the scene is that it’s like a track meet: several heats and events going on over the course of an entire day. “For me as an athlete, there can be a lot of waiting around and mentally getting ready for my event,” she said. “There’s a lot of excitement in the air, as well. I’m a beginner paddler, but there are some people on my team who are very experienced and very good at this, and it is fun and exciting to cheer them on and get inspired.” And Nyholm said she certainly plans to continue being a part of the dragon boating community for the foreseeable future. “The people I paddle with (Dallas United Crew Delite) are so nice and fun,” she said. “I grew up in and around the water, so being on the water is incredibly enjoyable. Plus, it is a great non-running way to be a little competitive, and I love the teamwork aspect of it since running is so individual.” |
DID YOU KNOW?
|
In the entire state of Wyoming, there are only two sets of escalators, both located in banks in the city of Casper. |
HOW DOES ONE DETERMINE FAN LOYALTY?
|
Sports can create plenty of big feelings. To the dismay of hardcore fans, beloved players leave or get traded (the night of February 1, 2025, will forever live in infamy), organizations restructure or even change their names, teams sometimes relocate, and people frequently move to new cities. Amidst the wave of ensuing emotions, it’s often difficult for fans to know what to do or how to feel or whether or not their loyalty should remain where it once was. Atlanta resident Rod Washington, who moved to Georgia from Dallas a little more than four years ago, cheers for the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons, and Atlanta Hawks. He attends all of the home games for the Falcons and approximately five Braves games each season. Washington said if a person relocates to a new city, the question of whether that individual should remain a fan of his or her old city’s team or adopt the new city’s team is contingent upon the city and the level of personal fandom. “I lived in Texas most of my life, but I never liked the local teams,” he said. “I have become a fan of all local Atlanta teams since I relocated.” Dallas resident Drew Mbiam, who grew up in the Houston area, is a fan of all Houston organizations, as they are his “de facto home teams,” but he admits to rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles because that was his go-to team when he used to play the Madden NFL video game. “I’m also a fan of any team LeBron [James], Giannis [Antetokounmpo], Paige Bueckers, or Angel Reese are on because they have the best stories,” he said. Mbiam noted that he believes that if a person relocates, that individual can support the team from his or her old city or new city—or both. “They can have a home team and current residence/transplant team,” he said. “That doesn’t become a problem until those teams play each other.” For Dallas-area resident Robyn Allen, where she lives is not a concern as to what team she supports. She is an avid Buffalo Bills fan and currently doesn’t have set loyalty to any other franchise. “I don’t have an NBA team I love anymore since Luka was traded,” she said. “I like to follow the Lakers and the Knicks since they both are led by our 2018 draft picks [Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson, respectively].” Allen added that she thinks a person can choose any team he or she wants to follow, regardless of ownership or location changes, but that different sports often see various facets of fan loyalty. “I do not care about baseball or hockey, so I can only speak about the sports and leagues I enjoy watching—the NFL and NBA,” she said. “I think in the NFL, a person is more loyal to a team, regardless of if the roster changes. In the NBA, a person will follow the player’s career. Often, there is more of a connection to the player in basketball instead of the team. I can’t explain why, but it just seems to work out that way.” Unfortunately for many fans, not only do players come and go, but sometimes entire franchises leave (condolences to former fans of the San Diego Chargers, Seattle SuperSonics, and St. Louis Rams, to name a few). Mbiam acknowledged that a city doesn’t own a team, and he brought in some of his own metaphors to help paint the picture.
|
“That would be like asking me to be loyal to my neighbor Steve’s sand volleyball team,” he said. “The relationship is tenuous at best. If you have a dog while you’re with someone for any period of time and then move on, you would understand if they decided to hang out with and/or pet other dogs. It’s the same idea—whether you’re the owner or the ex, there are plenty of dogs at the dog park.” For Washington, remaining loyal to a team that moves depends on the new owners and the reason for the franchise relocation. He said there are certainly ways for a person to keep up with teams they want and not hear about those with which they want no affiliation. “Technology makes it easier to follow and connect with an out-of-market sports teams today,” he said. “YouTube and podcasts make it easier to avoid local sports radio, which is a win.” Washington acknowledged that there are certainly reasons people abandon their fandom of teams they once supported—whether that’s because of coaches, players, or the attitudes of local fans—but whatever one opts to be a fan of is a personal choice that should not be questioned. “A person should cheer for whatever team they like,” he said. “It probably happens most in college football.” Mbiam said there are plenty of reasons people walk away from being fans of certain teams—and that includes team relocation and owners making bad decisions or appearing rather “odious.” “Teams are privately owned enterprises that can change their makeup for any number of reasons,” he said. “The Tennessee Titans used to be the Houston Oilers. Ownership decided to move them. That move meant they’re no longer the home team for the H, so best of luck to those guys. Others can choose to support the Tennessee Titans or still call them the Oilers. I question their connection to today’s reality. Nostalgia is cool, but every year is a new season.” But Mbiam added that he believes that it’s acceptable for people to be fans of whatever teams they choose because, in most cases, connections to that team are arbitrary, especially when it comes to professional franchises. “There are no requirements for picking a team,” he said. “People born in Dallas find a way to be fans of the Arlington Cowboys, so if I want to be an Eagles fan, why not?” Similarly, Allen said she doesn’t think that a person needs one definitive reason for being a fan of a team, as the definition of “ties to a team” can be different for different individuals. “Everyone has a connection to a team they root for, even if they don’t physically live in the ball club’s region,” she said. “There is a story to tell on how the fandom began for everyone.” WEEKLY PHOTO OP     .jpg)  NatNews staff and some dear readers recently experienced the value of counting in prime numbers |
| Upcoming Events |
Monday, September 14: Free Cult Classic Movie Monday — Step Brothers at Sundown at Granada |