Hot Sake History

History

Hot Sake was formed under Seattle SAKE Dragon Boat Club in 2002. Since then we have been training non-stop (in summer or winter, rain or shine) for the sheer enjoyment of paddling (and being around each other). During the summer months, we participate in Dragon boat festivals ranging up and down the US and Canadian western coasts, and sometimes venturing out as far as Toronto and Hawaii. Check out our race results and team photos over the years!

What is dragon boat racing?

Dragon boat racing, simply put, is synchronized sprint paddling in a long and thin canoe. It is very similar to outrigger canoe paddling (Hawaiian style) but without alternating sides. A full dragon boat crew consists of 20 paddlers (two per bench), one caller/drummer at the bow and one steersperson at the stern. A typical race distance is 500 meters, and there are also 1,000-meter, 250-meter and 200-meter races in world-level competitive events. Dragon boating originated in China over 2000 years ago, and is one of the fastest growing sports today! Teams from all over the world compete in this exciting and enjoyable sport.

History of Seattle Sake

Seattle Sake was started in 1996, by a group of eight friends who shared a passion for dragon boating. They gathered more friends together and started a single team: Team SAKE. The team initially practiced in Voyageur Canoes until, with generous donations, the group pooled together enough funds to purchase their very own dragon boat and incorporate a new club: Seattle Sake Dragon Boat Club.

Since then, it has grown to a major dragon boating club with over 200 members and seven medal-winning teams: Team Sake, Absolut Sake, Survivor Sake (a women's cancer survivor team under Team Survivor Northwest), Hot Sake, Vintage Sake (our Masters team for age 40+), Sakeccino (from Starbucks), and the latest addition in 2007, Habu Sake (from Group Health).

Seattle Sake is a full member of the Pacific Dragon Boat Association (PDBA) - regional representatives for Hawaii, California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Alaska with regional affiliation to the United States Dragon Boat Association (USDBA) and associate membership to the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF).

Our Club's mission is to promote the sport of dragon boat racing in the Northwest, promote cultural diversity, participate in community outreach projects and to practice good sportsmanship while maintaining an atmosphere of fun and camaraderie. Our teams travel up and down the West Coast (including Canada and Hawaii) to compete in races against teams from all over the world. Every team practices hard and plays hard! New members are always welcomed and no experience is necessary. We provide the life vests, paddles, and dragon boats - all you need to supply is your enthusiasm!