91视频

Last week, I had the opportunity to venture out onto the Willamette with the Fire Breathing Blowfish, a local dragon boat team.

I was writing a piece on the team鈥檚 captain Marla Baker, the former owner of a stainless steel company and now a boat-repair specialist. Marla, along with her husband Chuck, an electrician, are two of the many members of the ACE industry that participate in the city鈥檚 dragon boat races.

Together, Marla and I had a great conversation about her love for the industry 鈥� 鈥渨henever I smell burnt steel, I fall in love again鈥� 鈥� how the sport can benefit works on the jobsite and, most of all, beer. Evidently, beer is the unofficial drink of dragon boat racing.

After we spoke, Marla stuck a paddle in my hand and insisted that I participate in the team鈥檚 practice. Foolishly, I accepted her challenge, thinking that I was more than capable of keeping up. Within a few minutes, barely a 100 yards from the dock, I was exhausted. As I fell behind the team鈥檚 rhythm, my paddle started to collide with the other rowers and I slowed down to a sluggish pace. Our photographer, Sam, wasn鈥檛 doing much better, as he was trying to balance on the bow of the boat and take pictures while water splashed in his face; at one point, our eyes connected, full of despair.

Despite my pathetic paddling and Sam鈥檚 lack of sea legs, though, the experience was great, and I鈥檓 happy we got to get out of the office for it (the views of downtown鈥檚 skyline from the river were spectacular). I definitely see how the sport can keep industry folk in shape. Even more, I loved the camaraderie between the team, even though Marla liked to poke fun at me for rowing like a little girl.

More photos after the jump.