Ship shape

Deborah Crabtree never heard of dragon boat racing.

One day, as she walked her greyhound around South Philly, Crabtree noticed another woman who was also walking a greyhound. That woman was in incredible shape.

"They were the best arms I’ve ever seen," said the now 37-year-old Crabtree, of Eighth and Ellsworth streets. "I asked her what she did."

When Crabtree found out the stranger paddled for the Schuylkill Dragons dragon boat team, she decided to give the sport a try.

Four years later, Crabtree, a project manager for the Department of Health in Trenton, N.J., is having the time of her life.

"Coming from a background where I wasn’t athletic, this is such a nice opportunity for women," she said. "It’s very fulfilling."

The Schuylkill Dragons are a women’s dragon boat team based in Philadelphia. It has 74 rowers ranging in age from 27 to 69.

The sport dates back to about 400 B.C. with boaters on China’s Mi-lo River. Today, more than a million teams compete worldwide with an Oct. 1 race scheduled in Philadelphia for the Schuylkill Dragons.

Spectators of the sport can expect to see 20 women paddling at the rate of 90 strokes per minute, synchronized to the relentless beat of a drummer, in a 1,400-pound canoe with a carved dragonhead at the bow.

THE SPORT HAS such a huge international following that teams travel the globe to compete. Although Crabtree wasn’t able to make last month’s seventh International Dragon Boat Federation racing championships in Berlin, she was able to hear about the trip from friend and fellow South Philly resident Kris Hall. The 27-year-old environmental scientist was in Germany from Aug. 3 to 7 to compete against teams from Italy, Canada, Singapore, China and several others.

Hall competed in the premier women’s boat division, age 40 and under, and made the major finals for the 200-, 500- and 1000-meter events. They finished fifth overall in each division.

"The team was very pleased with our performance," Hall said. "We had some tough heats with only seconds separating the first- through sixth-place boats."

When teams weren’t competing, the athletes had a chance to bond, which culminated in an exchange of gifts. Hall left the closing party with jerseys from the German and Macau, China, teams, as well as a sweatshirt from Team Philippines.

Since joining the Dragons four years ago, Hall has traveled to Washington, D.C., Welland, Ontario, Canada, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Rome and several other cities. Some of the season highlights include winning the women’s division in D.C. and Boston, Mass., as well as the Eastern U.S. Women’s Division in the North American Club Crew in Ontario.

Dragon boat racing requires a serious commitment as the Dragons could be on the Schuylkill as early as 5:30 a.m.

"Early morning practices are nice," Hall said. "There is a chill in the air and the sun is usually rising as we pull away from the docks."

Yona Feder, a personal trainer, helps keep her fellow dragon boaters in tip-top shape during the winter. Hall refers to the sessions as "CardiYona."

"The workouts consist of anaerobic threshold training, strength training, muscular endurance and core conditioning," said Feder, of the 900 block of South Eighth Street. "On Saturday mornings a small group of us meet at the Pennsport Gym on Bainbridge Avenue. We do a circuit of five different cardio machines interspersed with intense drills on the half-court."

And Crabtree is there every time.

"Every Saturday morning we are at Yona’s mercy," she said with a laugh.

As tough as the workouts might sound, Feder said dragon boaters need to be in prime mental and physical condition. She said having good cardiovascular endurance is crucial.

"Races are as little as one or two minutes depending on the distance," she said. "You are working at 100 percent capacity. Dragon boaters also need powerful upper bodies to pull through the resistance of the water."

Ironically, after going through Feder’s fierce workouts, Crabtree said she is "still aspiring" to develop arms like that of the greyhound-walking stranger.

Muscles aren’t required to join the Schuylkill Dragons. The team, which is recruiting for next season, employs coaches who will work with all levels, teaching the basic skills to beginners and refining the skills of experienced paddlers. Together, the team bonds and prepares for competitions in local, national and international events.

"We vary in age, occupation and experience, but are all drawn together by the sport," Hall said. "We are all dedicated to growing and improving as a team. It has been a great experience."