Rather wreck than fall behind! The 2025 China (Foshan) Diejiao Dragon Boat Drift Race, widely known as the "F1 Race on Water," has officially kicked off. This year, the event welcomes its first-ever foreign participant.
Michael, a German currently teaching in Shunde, first heard about the Diejiao Dragon Boat Drift Race through a friend. After visiting the Chenfeng Village dragon boat base in Diejiao, he was so impressed by the experience that he decided to join the race. He later became the team's first foreign paddler and is now training actively for the June event.
Michael said his hometown Augsburg is known for kayaking, a sport he often takes part in. He initially assumed the skills required for kayaking and dragon boat drifting would be similar, but soon realized the differences. After more than a month of training, he has gradually mastered both seated and kneeling paddling techniques, and even some Cantonese commands. He hopes more people will discover the charm of Foshan's dragon boat drift and looks forward to seeing a World Cup" for dragon boat drift someday.
The rivers in Diejiao Nanhai have the typical features of a Lingnan water town, winding and varying in width. The narrowest parts just allow only two dragon boats to pass side by side. This unique river terrain has created the world's only dragon boat drift race. In 2017, the race was included in the sixth batch of Foshan's municipal intangible cultural heritage items.
