Pulling together

Why dragon boat racing is more than just a sporting activity

Julia Voss, Project Engineer at Inros Lackner in Rostock

How long have you been a member of the dragon boat team – and how did you become involved?
I've been with the team since it was founded, so for seven years now. At first, I could hardly imagine what dragon boat racing was all about – I kind of needed to be persuaded to join. Today, I'm really glad my colleagues persuaded me. The sport has become an important part of my life.

How often does the dragon boat team meet for training? Does it regularly participate in regattas?
From April to September, we meet once a week for on-water training. Every year, we participate in the autumn races organised by Kanufreunde Rostocker Greif e.V. – and now also in the Indoor Cups organised by SV Breitling e.V. Rostock. These are real highlights, both athletically and in terms of team spirit!

What motivates you personally to be so active in the team in addition to your demanding job?
That’s simple – it’s the team. It's not just about strength or endurance – it's about trust, rhythm and cohesion. A quote from Andrew Carnegie sums it up nicely for me: "Teamwork is the fuel that enables common people to attain uncommon results". In our dragon boat, we can only move forward by pulling together – just like in our working life.