IMBAders: The Proud and Victorious
The Dragon Boat competition was on for Thursday, June 25th, 2020. The competition was held despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This is thanks to Taiwan's rapid and effective response to the outbreak. Good news for Dragon Boat teams gearing up to participate in the century's old tradition. The IMBAders will took their place among the prestigious Dragon Boat competitors at DaJia River Park (台北市大佳河濱公園龍舟碼頭) over the June Holiday weekend.
Led by Dragon Boat captain Second-Year Jim Lai, the team made the necessary preparations to be worthy adversaries to the competition. One such preparation is increasing the frequency of practice. While challenging, this proved the IMBAders are up to par with more experienced teams. What started as a friendly, recreational club has now turned into an opportunity for glory.
The reigns of the Dragon Boat will eventually be handed over to First-Year student Isaac Chua of Malaysia. He has been a crucial aide to Jim in leading Dragon Boat training and organization. He represented the IMBAders at the drawing and now it is official. The IMBAders set to face off against three teams.
The other teams are pros, many of them having been formed years ago. Isaac believes the team needs to train hard in the last month to be ready. Students' class schedules plus inclement weather has posed challenges for the IMBAders. Still, they persist. "Jim and I plan to have a least one training per week. We [are also working] with the coach for strategy” There will be individual and optional trainings held in the school gyms now that they are open. Led by Jim, Isaac, Francisco Lopez, Phillip McDaniels, and Aileen Calix. When asked if he thinks we're up to the competition, Isaac stated:
"We have a good, diverse unit but we need to push ourselves harder. The other teams are competitive and we want to look like we know what we're doing. The Dragon Boat Club has given the IMBA program a team to cheer for that is closer to us than other NCCU teams.”
When asked if the team will be ready Isaac gave his now well-known, usual reply: "Of course, dude!"
Of course. The morale has been boosted by the news and everyone is excited to use their hard work. At a mid-May practice, the IMBAders even challenged another team practicing their skills on the water. The ‘friendly’ race was all but friendly as the IMBAders took off and trounced the competition from the start. Winning gets everyone excited. First-Year student Francisco Lopez of Honduras has emerged as one of the leaders of the team. He had this to say:
"The energy starts to boil in the spirit of the rowers. Some have consistently attended practice, while some haven’t been able. Regardless, we all get to experience the warmth, camaraderie, and decisiveness that their coordination requires. A group bikes two hours all the way to MAJI Square. Then we row restlessly for two hours. Sweat drips down under the hot sun for the entire training, but we are IMBAders and IMBAde we shall. We have competed, we have practiced, we have fixed our mistakes... now, we are ready to go out to the Taipei Dragon Boat competition to give it all and show that regardless of our spot on a table, we are more than that. We are cheerful, dedicated, decisive, we learn from our mistakes, and most of all we know how to enjoy the competition."
After not fielding a team last year, this year's team has a lot to prove - to current and past IMBAders, NCCU, and the Taipei community as a whole. Captain Jim has worked hard in generating interest, buzz, and participation in the Dragon Boat team and we're excited to see it pay off. The pressure is now on the team to come together for training, team spirit, and the competition itself to deliver an effort we can all be proud of.
One advantage, at least in spirit, is the team's diversity. The team is a reflection of the Internationality of the IMBA. This increases interest in the competition and participation in terms of fun and excitement.
The full roster of local and international superstars:
The IMBAders encouraged everyone to come out and support and be heard. The IMBAder spirit needed to be carried throughout, and supporters showed up, made signs, and cheers.
The race at DaJia River Park got off to a quick start and the IMBAders pushed out as the horn sounded. At this point, it didn’t matter if the team finished first or last. The collective sentiment was focus, power, and coordination. The goal was to finish what we started 9 months ago. After 3 minutes and 58 seconds, Anastasiia Bobrova grabbed the finish flag and threw it to the river. The IMBAders – hot, tired, and sore – look to the riverside as their classmates and friends cheered them. The last place team saluted the judges, the river, and then gleefully rejoiced as a team in the showers as the water seemed to wash away the doubt, anguish, and obstacles they had to overcome this school year. They looked like victors, and victors they were that day. That’s what the Dragon Boat club and team set out to be. With most of the team returning, next year should be no different.
All smiles as the team shows their excitement and enthusiasm for the competition and all of the hard work they’ve put in thus far.
