Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
Paddles Ready is your go-to podcast for everything happening in the world of paddle racing.
Hosted by Dougie and Hando, the show brings you inside the sport with race reviews, real-time commentary, and conversations with paddlers from across the globe. Whether it’s breaking down major competitions, sharing behind-the-scenes stories, or hearing directly from the athletes shaping the sport, this podcast keeps you connected to the pulse of paddle racing.
From elite races to grassroots scenes, Paddles Ready covers it all, giving you insight, perspective, and the stories you won’t hear anywhere else.
What you’ll hear:
Honest race reviews and analysis
Conversations with paddlers and industry voices worldwide
Commentary on trends, performances, and competition results
Stories from the front lines of paddle racing
If you follow paddle racing or want to understand it better, this is where you stay informed.
👉 Visit paddlesready.com for more episodes and updates.
We are going into China with paddles ready. Wow. Into China. Into China. Ni hao le ho ma. Xie Xie. Old Dalia into China. Paddles ready. People in China, they know about the history of this sport. They know it's over 2,000 years old. There is millions of paddlers in China. This is a great opportunity for East and West to meet.
What's China doing differently? Don't worry. Shh, shh. It's embedded in their, their culture. Tell us about Ice Dragons. Oh. That would be so popular. Ice Dragons. Yes. Does Mr. Luo also do race commentary? For instance, you know, "China about three lengths to go. Here come Canada. Back to China. Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Here's America. America. Old Dalia. China. Oh, China win. Thailand." Does Mr. Luo do the call? Yeah. Yes. Yes. Yes, yes, yes. Thank you. Are China the ones to beat? But- Absolutely ... yes. And China are the ones to beat, Hendo. Oh, my goodness
Paddles ready
This is Paddles Ready, the global voice of paddle sports. Live commentary, race coverage, athlete stories, and expert analysis from across the world of paddling. From dragon boat racing to ocean ski, this is where the competition, the culture, and the stories come together. Let's get into it
All right, Hando, this is the big one. That's right. We've got some special guests. This is the big one. We've got a special guest. We've got a special guest. And today we're joined by Mr. Lua from Champion Boats, a name behind one of the most recognized boat brands in paddling worldwide. From grassroots clubs right through to international competition, Champion Boats have played a huge role in shaping the sport of dragon boating.
But what really stands out is the passion behind it, especially when it comes to supporting the next generation of paddlers. Now, this conversation's a little different here, Hando, today. We'll be working with an interpreter. We've got Fiona, so we're going to slow it down, lean into the stories. Slow it down.
And really go behind the scenes of the craft, the mindset and the future of paddling. This is going to be great, Hando. This is- Wow ... going to be great. Mr. Lua, welcome to Paddles Ready podcast. Welcome, Mr. Lua. to Australia. It's
an honor for him to be here to do the interview. It is an- Oh ... honor for us. For both of
us. Now, I know Hando- So, thanks ... is itching to get going. So Hando, this is your time. No. So Mr. Lua, I first bought my first boat off you in 2011 with a purple boat in Dubai. Mm.
Dubai. Uh, yes. Yes. He remembered. Yeah. It was, uh... I worked with Mr. Lua and his team for the Dubai Diggers, and we painted it purple- Mm-hmm ... because it was the first time the new Champion Small Boats- Mm-hmm ... 2012 Hong Kong, uh, Club Crew World Championship. Mm. Okay. Okay. Yeah. A-
and the best thing is we won gold. Mm. Mm.
Mm. Congratulations. Yeah. Mr. Lua, I guess my question, my first question to you is, how did you get into building boats? Mm.
呃，说起来话长。 嗯，It's a long story。 呃，中国的北方。 你一开始不是-
中国的北方不划龙舟。 嗯。 很少划龙舟。 嗯。 呃，我就把南方的龙舟往北方推广。 嗯。 呃，北方推广就是它需要一定的器材，因为南方都是用的木质龙舟。 嗯。 木质。你现在就给她讲。 Actually，呃，he，he used to be a rower coach，呃，rowing coach。And you know that he，呃，我说你说其实首先你是一个以前是一个呃，
赛艇的教练。And that's the, that's the reason that he got i-into the water sports。 Yes。 And then he was born in the north of China。 Yes。 Yeah, and in north, the dragon boat is not very popular like in the south of China。 Yes。 嗯哼，呃，然后接着说 and。 那个因为南方的龙舟呢，是木质，木质，它要划完以后，它要沉到水里。 嗯。 明年再划。 Um, but she, she asked when in the 10 years, uh, in the same year just is there is a zone of the middle school she she could run through the end then.
Um, you mean- Just an issue ... just she have a fan of the long zone. They are put them down to a bit. Mm-hmm. Uh, they found the keyhole can zone. You long motto long zone way they found. Mm-hmm. Well, she now tie you love woman she have a fan of the she have a dawn zone you the zone. Uh, for her tie love the long zone.
Mm-hmm. Yeah, so, uh, the, that is the reason that he got into the water sports and, uh, he lived in China, uh, uh, lived in north- northern part of China. Mm-hmm. Uh, in the, uh, dragon boat is not very popular there. And so he, he want to, uh, have some dragon boating in the northern part. Mm-hmm. And he started to produce the dragon boat himself.
And you know that they, um, traditional dragon boat is, uh, wooden. Yep. Yeah. It was teak, teak. Uh-huh. And I paddled in the teak boat in Hong Kong. Uh-huh. And after the season- Mm-hmm ... we took the plug out and sank them in the water. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yes. Yes. Yes, yes, yes. Yes. Yeah, that's it. I know that, I know that.
That is the s- the south, in the south. And, and then Allison, Allison Wong, you know Allison. Mm-hmm. Um, uh, i- in Stanley Dragon Boat, 'cause I was in Hong Kong 1993. Mm-hmm. Then I think the fiberglass boats- Yes ... from Champion. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yeah. Yes. That's what they, it's she's- Fiberglass ... she's, she's, she's got a little doll.
Uh- Did they, fiberglass ... she got a song on the beat, her trance, she, she turn, she just wanna turn sway found the. Yes. How the heck you have seen yet is she wrote her kind of woman trance. She, she- This is fantastic ... she got- Fiberglass ... fiberglass the low. Yeah. Oh. Even they found don't been- Yeah, because, uh, you know that, uh, in the northern part, uh- Mm
uh, it's frozen in winter. Uh, so- True, fiberglass this one. Yes ... the, the water wheel are froze, the snow, uh- Right. Right ... you know, that the, the wooden boat, uh, cannot be sank in- Ah ... underwater to store. Ice. Yeah, so we need- Well, we'll talk about ice later. Yes. Yeah, yeah. So this is- That's the reason we have, uh, produced the boats not wooden.
Uh, it's a kind of a composite, uh, material that is, uh, the fiberglass, uh, boat. Yeah. A- and amazing because- In Dubai, I shipped two wooden teak boats from Hong Kong to Dubai. Very heavy. Oh. 他其实之前还是从香港运了两条那个，呃，木龙舟到迪拜，然后那个船其实是很重的。 I know. Yes. Dougie, what, what have you got for Fiona and Mr.
Luo now? Well, I think just talking about the boat still. Okay. Mm-hmm. When you were building and when you started making the boats, you know, what was, what was the hardest part about making the perfect boat- Mm. That Champion is today? 嗯。他说就是说那个你这个，我们做船到现在什么样，什么是你最大的一个困难，
然后又是什么成就了Champion到今天这个位置。 嗯，从木头船转，转到这fantasy class。 嗯。 因为它是一个质的转变。 嗯。 呃，我们要首先要保证这个船的稳定性，还有它的这个流线流畅。 嗯。 是一个非常重要的事儿。所以说我们在不断地改进。 嗯。 不断地适应，啊，高水平的运动员。 嗯哼。 啊。所以说在不断地改进中，嗯，现在就是。
嗯嗯。Okay, so, um, you know that we need to, uh, have the boats to be steady, and, uh, we need to, uh, have the very good, uh, streamline design of the boats. And after years of continuously- 高速船。 Continually, uh, improvement, uh, and with the, uh, a lot of, uh, paddlers and e-especially the, uh, professional ones- 嗯。 They, they tests and, uh, they try to-- They use the boats.
Yeah. Mm-hmm. So, uh, we finally we got their otherwise and- The perfect mold. Yeah, to get the perfect mold. 呃，要增加，嗯，减少它的这个横截阻力。 嗯哼。 叫横截，迎面的横截阻力，还有叫兴波阻力。 嗯哼。 还有叫漩涡阻力。
所以说在这些，呃，减，就是克服了这些困难以后，产品的龙舟就会更符合人体工程学。 嗯。Um, with the how to say with the um coordination。 Yes。 Of the power uh。 Sure。 Of the
force to, to resist to, to, to reduce the resi- The resistance, the glide。 Oh, yeah。 The glide of the boat to go forward。 The wave and the cross-section。 yeah。 Resistance and the wave making resistance。 Right。 Yeah，and 就是，就是用这个去，去减少- 解决了这些问题，
它才能叫高水平的运动员才划起来更符合人体的工程学。 哦。Then the, the, the paddlers they feel because with their we need to have the, the back, the shoulders- Yeah。 And the paddle to be at very good coordination。 Right。 So。 Yeah。 Uh, with the combination of everything that we make the- And that led into my next question。 Yeah。 What do you want your paddlers to feel when they step onto a champion boat?
嗯。 就是他现在也到了下一个问题，就是你希望就是划手会，嗯，感受到怎么样的一个船呢？就是我们的船是应该怎么样的会让他们有更好的感受呢？
船的高度和船的浮力。 嗯。 很重要。 The flotation and the height of the boat is very important。 嗯。 嗯。 就是这个船，越，就高水平的运动员坐这个，离这个，这个，这个吃水线，
就是水线到这个船高，这个距离非常重要。 The waterline and- The right distance for the catch。 Yeah, yeah。 Yeah。 完了这个，这个桨在划起来的时候- Paddles ready。 嗯。 很拉，发力的时候，就是这个高度非常重要。
嗯。 角度非常重要。 The angle is very important。 Right。 所以说，呃，真正的把运，运动员能把他的这个，这个，这个训练的运动能力。 嗯。 能发挥出来，这就是选手的最喜欢的。 嗯。 所以说我们就要让更多的选手喜欢产品。
So in order to make, uh, the, uh, the good, the... How to say? The, the performance, the max- to maxim- uh, to maximize, uh, the, uh, profe- uh, the, uh, professional paddlers', uh, mm, performance, uh, of paddling. Yes. Yeah. Right. We need to, we need to have the boat to h- uh, for the ergomatic, uh, principles. Yes. Yeah. So, so with the angle and with, when they paddle, uh, they need to have the water line and also the, the way that is the height of the paddlers at a very good, uh, uh, level, height.
The- Yeah. Yeah. So to keep it, mm. Transfer. A- and, and I've seen it from when I paddled in the teak boats- Mm-hmm ... to the fiberglass boats, and the angle- Mm-hmm ... and different foot he- you came up with different foot rests- Mm ... for the paddle to protect the- Yes, yes. ... to protect the back. Yes. Yes. And then the force- Yes
and then down- ... and then the boat, whoa, ugh. Mm. Oh. And
also have- Balance ... the head and the tail The tail. The head should be a little high- So it glides ... uh, should be a little bit... Uh, so for, for the water, uh, waves. Yes. Mm, to despite the waves. The wake.
很多船这个浪花很大。 You said that a lot of boats when they paddle- Champion ... they are great waves. But you see the champion boats, uh, when paddling, you feel that the waves are not very great. It's not very heavy. Yeah. A- and, and we thank you. 很多人感谢。嗯。 很少人能注意到，但是- There not a lot people- ... 划得舒服
notice that. 他不知道为什么舒服。 People just know that, "Oh, I, I feel this boat is, uh, better and, uh, it's more smoother and, uh, it's more, uh, uh, responsive." Uh. W- what I felt, and Doug- Yeah ... is Mr. Luo over the years has put so much work into design- Mm-hmm ... development, not only for the boat- Mm-hmm ... but for the paddler to make the paddler, as you said, ergonomic better for elite- Mm
small juniors- Mm-hmm ... and old people. 嗯。 他说我们也发现了，就是我们的船，其实你不只是说在做船，也是会，呃，考虑到这个，呃，是青年人啊、老年人啊等等的，包括像你说的人体工程等等的这些方面的一个，呃，结合。 啊，产品有很多企业的秘密。
嗯。 How good is this? 嗯。 yeah. 大家只知道它好，它很，很，很，很容易划- 嗯 ... 很好划，但是很多他们不知道为什么。 嗯。Yeah. 所以说产品比较- We have a lot of, a lot of confidential- ... 比较突出 ... yeah, confidential, uh, I mean, the patterns or- Yeah ... something that, uh- Mm ... when we build a boat, uh- Yes ... yeah, people don't, don't know. But they- Yeah
only feel that this boat is better to paddle. Yes. Yeah. So你可以讲一讲我们- 谢谢 ... 悬乘，悬乘坐板啊，那个写的。嗯。 因为- He said 谢谢 ... 因为，呃，产品在国际上最早推出来的叫双层壁的龙舟。 嗯。 龙舟。 You know, that
two layers boat, that is a pattern for champion. For pattern. Yeah. 悬空坐板。 And also the sus- uh, suspended, uh, uh, seats. The paddler seats.
Yes. 中间，中间有一个顶的。 There is only one pillar- 啊 ... in middle. Yes. Because as you said that in the, uh, traditional boat, uh, the, the seats, the, uh, the seats under, uh, it's not open. Yes. Yes. It's, uh- 他们是光面- ... separated about the, uh, bulkheads. Yeah. And now- And, and I see the bulkheads and, and even when we turn the boat upside down- Mm-hmm
the design of it- 它所有结构 ... to make, to, to make it go through is good. Yes. So Doug Amazing so far ... paddle I hope you're, I hope you're all enjoying it ... the girls are struggling there This is unreal. This is unreal. Mr. Luo, as you travel around the world and you go from regatta to regatta, what's it personally mean to you when you see the kids and the youth of today in your boats, in other boats, and in Australia we say just having a go, what's it mean to you seeing the kids today in the boats and paddling?
For the
kids, the, the, the youngers, right? The youth. Yeah, the youth. Youth. Uh Traveling the world, seeing them in champion boats- Mm-hmm ... and, and- Mm.
Kids are the
future. Yeah. Yep. Kids are the future. They are. They are. And, um, I guess that's... We- we're, I'm, I'm lost for words. I'm just so wrapped that we're just doing this. Yeah. T- ti- ti- timing's everything. Uh, have, have you got another question or you want me to keep going? Well- Let's, we've got lots of different questions I guess going into what we're just talking about, what's the future of dragon boat look like for these, the youth and, you know, the younger generation paddlers coming through?
How's dragon boating evolving, and what's it look like for them going forward in the future? 嗯，
对于这个青年人或我们有什么样的展望，就是龙舟的发展，呃，对于就是，就是，呃，让更多的青年人来参与，有什么样的一个远见或者是发展。 那他就是 Okay. You should- 最好的方式是让这个龙舟走进校园 And the best way is to have the- 做一个团队- ... dragon boat into- 团队这个- ... college, university or- 团结协助 Yeah ... high school, yeah 协作，这就是- It's a teamwork for them 对 Right 让他们奋勇争先这个品质 嗯 嗯 And to paddle in the same boat to win, that is, uh, a very good things for the children to, uh, to make it together, yeah 在校园- 嗯
我们有陆地上的龙舟- 嗯 ... 还有这个荡桨池- And we also- 划水的时候那个荡桨池 ... produce the kind of a land dragon boat 就水在-在内部流 That is for children I know. We'll- 人在上面划 We'll- we'll talk about that real soon Um, and also the, the paddling pool, uh, that is also for children Oh. 就是在校园里- Yeah, the, the, the pool The pool, yeah 在校园里参加龙舟相关的一些，
啊，这个训，基础训练 mm-hmm 增加这个龙舟的意义 mm-hmm. It's, uh, good to, uh, uh, have the more meaning for the, uh, children to have the dragon boating Yeah. Right Um, up at the sta- up at the national titles- mm-hmm ... uh, you came into Brisbane Typhoon. A, a young club here, did very, very well. Won some national titles.
mm-hmm. Uh, there's Kenny that Mr. Luo spoke to. He went for a, a week in China to a specific dragon boat coaching clinic all the way from Australia because they were very, very Chinese-based, uh, the Typhoon Club. It was amazing. Mm. Typhoon Club in China? Our Typhoon Club that you met- Yes, yes ... in, in nationals I know that One of our paddlers, Kenny- Uh-huh
went to China- Uh-huh ... for a whole week- Uh-huh ... dragon boat course, because as you know, dragon boating in China, it's history, it's culture, and they're the best. Mm. Okay. 他说就是有他们那个俱乐部，你还记得吧，就那个台风俱乐部，就是他的俱乐部。 嗯 他们说有一个，呃，有一个人，那个小运动员跟你还聊过天。他呢，之前上中国去待了一周，去在中国学习龙舟，去上龙舟课。 嗯 嗯，这个人。 嗯 嗯，他说这样的话，其实因为中国是龙舟的起源嘛- 嗯
有个历史的，就是这个发源的地方嘛。 嗯
Um, we have more meaning and we'll make it, uh, more powerful if you have more people like you to, uh, promote and spread the dragon boating to the world. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. Well, that's why we're sitting here with Fiona and Mr. Lu on Paddles Ready. That's a bit of history, Doug- That's a bit of history
about, about Champion- Yes ... and what they're doing. We, I s- I see Mr. Lu in many world championship. We, we commentated in the world championships- Yeah, Brandenburg ... in Brandenburg in Germany. Mm-hmm. That's right. We were together. Mm-hmm. And, and there's a, there's a famous race, the 500, I think we called, and, and, and we saw all our, our, our commentary- Mm-hmm
in Chinese hieroglyphics that, that, that other people have shared, which was amazing. Mm-hmm. The race call was, yeah, it had the Mandarin- Mm-hmm ... um, prompted- Translation ... translate. Oh, it was awesome. It was so cool. Mm.
Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. So now that, that's paddles ready. A little bit about Champion and Mr. Lua. The history of Champion and Mr. Lua. So Fiona, Mr. Lua, tell us about Ice Dragons. Oh.
Oh. Ice Dragon Boat. Yes. Okay. Tell me. How, how did you come up with it? Is it because you are Northern China? And how long has it been going? And what's the future? Mm. Because he was born in
the north of China, and the, the place he lived is a cold place. Co- what, what was that-- What's that area called? Uh, Mm. Liaoning, Dalian, China. Dalian. Liaoning, Dalian. Dalian. Dalian. Ah. Very tall people in Dalian. In
winter, there's ice. Really- Mm.
And in winter, children will have a lot of sports on ice. Right. Yes. Yeah. Entertainment, everything. Mm. Some
entertainment, uh, entertainment equipment on ice. It's kind of-- It's not like the Ice Dragon Boat. That's a kind of a, uh, small car with some, um, blades and- Blades, yeah ... and, uh, you can just sit and paddle. Yes. Oh. Mm.
Mm.
所以说希望大家能继续划龙舟，那就想起来把龙舟下面装上冰刀
Uh,
Um.
And, uh, you know that the, uh, the entertainment equipment are, equipment are so simple, so he's thinking to have some professional one. And since he, uh, produced the dragon boats- Mm. -uh, on the manufacturer, and he's thinking how to make it, the, uh, sports in winter, uh, more professional and linked with the dragon boat.
So- Mm. -he got it, the Ice Dragon Boat. A- and when the young kids sit in the Ice Dragon Boat, they progress into normal dragon boating when the ice melts. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. Yes?
I love it. Yeah. I, I, I love it. A-okay. Du- Doug, we were talking to Mary yesterday. Yeah. Mary Gibson from the International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission, also Loretta Lewis- Yep ... and my friend from Typhoon, they were in China- Mm-hmm ... for the 2026 Ice Dragon. Was it the first, uh, international event?
International event, I think. Uh, Ice Dragon Boat. Oh, oh, not that, that, not the first one. That's the not the first one. No, not the first one? Um, Uh,
Yeah. Uh, that's the Mary's first time. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. Mary's first and Loretta's first time as well, I think. Yeah. Mm, yes. Mm.
And Melanie. Melanie from- And, and Melanie from AusDBF. She was there as well. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Fantastic. She's official. Yeah. So- She's official ... Mr. Luo, if Handal and I, if Nick and I were to go up north to China, and we were to go and experience our first Ice Dragons Regatta, take paddles ready. Mm-hmm. Which one is your favorite without being biased, and which one should we go and see?
而且我们都，都，都要在赛前就要宣发这个城市的特色。 其实可以让他们去参加那个国际的嘛，因为他们是一个国际媒体嘛。 OK。 对吧？ 可以，其实我们都很多，你就告诉很多比赛都可以参加。 We, we have a series called我们叫什么超级联赛还是 Super- 对啊，超级联赛。 Ice Dragon Boat Super League。 Right。 In China we have- Oh, really? ...around eight to six stops every year and one or two international races。 是这样，是这样。 Yes。 Yeah，so you welcome to attend anyone because all in different location。 Wow。 Different。 And, and some in Canada?
加拿大也有吗？ Yes, yes。 Yeah, yeah。 Yes，also some in Canada。 加拿大还有那个谁，
匈牙利。 And also- 对 ...some in Europe。 Some in Europe。 Yeah。 雪龙舟法国。 And also the Stone Dragon Boat in France。 芬兰。 Right。 Uh-huh。And also the, the ice event in Finland。 Wow。 最早在，啊，莫斯科和乌克兰，他两个出，出的
And, uh, Ukraine and, uh, And the Ukraine? Russia and Ukraine- Russia ... they all have interest of, uh, developing the ice dragon boat. Yes. But you know that, political, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Political p- p- politics once again. Yeah, yeah. But we have a contract then to, to have event there, but, uh- Yeah ... mm. So on the ice dragons and going back to the youth of the sport.
Mm-hmm. Here in Australia, New Zealand, we play, our kids play football from age four or five. At what age in China- Mm ... are the kids jumping in boats and starting to learn how to dragon boat? Mm.
Great question. They started from middle school- Middle school ... around 12
years old. Yes. Okay. Okay. But it's not a sport that very popular- Yes ... for everyone. No, no, no, no. Right. China's such a big place. So again, if you're tuning in and listening in, we're with Fiona and Mr. Luo from Champion. We were just talking about the evolution of Champion, but then Ice Dragons. Now you were mentioning before Land Dragons.
Mm. Yeah. Please, please, we- Elaborate ... we, elaborate. We would love to know that. Mm. What is Land Dragons and where is it as far as, um, at where, where is it right now? Mm. As far as a sport? Mm.
They also want to train and really look forward to participating in the competition. So they can only use land dragon boat to train, but their, uh, this, this, uh, technique is the same, very similar. Because, uh, a lot of paddlers when we, uh, attend the ice events, they, they don't have a place to, uh, paddle on ice in the south.
Oh, mm. Some tropical, subtropical- Mm. -uh, countries or location. So they need to have some kind of land dragon boat to practice. Right. To exercise, yeah. Because land dragon boat is easier to paddle. And the techni- So because of the inspiration of this ice dragon boat, in the end, when it is not very convenient, they also do some
land dragon boat competitions separately. Mm. And the technique of the ice dragon boating and the land dragon boating, they are same. Right. So it's better for them to practice on- Okay. Yeah, gotcha ... uh, on land for the, uh, ice events. Yeah. A- and, and is it on a sled or wheels? Oh, so yeah, it's on wheels. Wheels.
It's on wheels. Yeah. Yeah. Wheels. On wheels. Have you seen- Yes, yes ... have you seen, I noticed on my Facebook, o- on my algorithm at the moment on Facebook- Mm ... the kids in Thailand on the skateboards? Ah, yes, yes, yes, yes. It's on... Have you, it's like . Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So, yeah. So yeah, the, the skateboards, you gotta watch these kids.
For those people out there, go and have a look at these young kids in Thailand, and they're just
like, "Paddle ready." Yeah. Like a race car. Mm. In Brandenburg, we talked about Mr. Luo also does race commentary. Mm-hmm. Yes? Sorry? Does Mr. Luo also do race commentary? Uh-huh. Like, uh, uh, call the races. Mm-hmm. Um, for instance, you know, "China about three lengths to go. Here come Canada. Back to China, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Here's America. America. Oh, Dalia, China. Oh, China win Thailand." Does Mr. Luo do the call? Oh. Yes, yes, yes. Um, usually when I am doing, that is, racing, rowing, um, I, I just commentate. Oh,
um, he is more active. Uh, but I have also done it. It used to be, uh, when he, uh, the coach of, uh, for the, uh, rowing. Ah, ah, okay. That's years ago, yeah. Yeah. Because, because China is a professional team. We, from childhood
It's 专业的训练. 很专业的训练. Mm. For rowing, uh, uh, that in China, all the team are the, uh, for the national, uh, uh, for the na- for the government. Yes. Right. And, uh, they got salary and, uh, they, uh, they, they practice, uh, every day- Yes ... for the Olympic. Okay. Yeah, yeah. Well, for the rowing. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. A- and, and dragon boating, I know there's many clubs from all over the world go to get invited to Chinese events, um, in all different places, and they enjoy it so much.
嗯。他发现世界上很多地方不同的这些运动员，就是这个龙舟的运动员，他们都很愿意去中国参加不同的比赛。
Yes. Yeah. Yes. Mm. Yes. All righty. How good. Well, that's it, Mr. Luo. Well, we, we thank you. Thank, thank- Thank you for making the effort- 感谢你 ... to come out. 谢谢，谢谢. Yeah. 谢谢你- Thank you, thank you, thank you ...这次的采访。 We know you are very busy- 对，很忙 ... and the national titles are still going on in Kawana. Uh, and I hear you're going back up tomorrow.
Yeah, Thursday. 明天也会去比赛。 I'm going to be in the senior tomorrow. So we will see you tomorrow. 明天也会再见你。 Hopefully present us a gold medal. 希望他们能够，那个，到时候你给他们颁那个金，金牌。 We, we won two gold- 等下他们都会金牌 ... and a silver, uh, on the weekend with, with, with the, the, the young Brisbane Typhoon team- Mm
which were very, very good. Yeah. Okay. Um, everyone out there- Thank you ... this is Mr. Luo. This is Fiona. Mm-hmm. I'm Hando. I'm Dougie. And Paddles ready. Paddles ready. Done. Okay.
Hey, Nico. How are you, big fella? Whoo, Dougie. How are you, mate? I'm good, mate. I am so good. I, um... Massive news. What's... Tell me about the news. Massive, massive news. We are half a dozen podcasts down. We have four of the s- Six of the best ... six of the best to date. I've got to sit up, mate. I've got to sit up for this news, let me tell you.
I'm liking it. We are going into China with paddles ready. Wow. Into China. Into China. 你好，你好吗。谢谢。 Odalia into China, paddles ready. There we go. Wow. Bit of Chinese there for me. Bit of Chinese, and that's one of the reasons we are going in there. We have been, as everybody knows on the podcast, also through our socials, we have been chatting away to the powers that be.
Um- Yeah ... we, we can actually tell you guys now, we had Mr. Luo from Champion Boats in here. Wow. Uh, he came down to Australia a couple months ago, and we had the- him in as a guest with his, with Fiona, and we had an absolute blast, didn't we? It, it, it was amazing. Uh, you, you, you're thinking about bringing, uh, West to East, East to West.
Mr. Luo sat here with us, with Fiona, and the energy that he brings- Oh, it was- ... and, and, and, and what he's got going on- Yeah ... is amazing because he's m- he's shooting, he, he's going hard himself. Yeah. He was down in, in New Zealand, uh, then, then back to China, in Europe with his Champion team. The videography, some of the stuff- The production team was great
that's coming out- Yep ... out of China and Champion with Mr. Luo. 谢谢. Mr. Luo, hello. Amazing. So there we go. We are now front and center, ready to go in. Um- Well, you, you talk about China and, and, and we're going, and we're lucky. Y- y- the paddling history of China is amazing. You've got, you've got the Chinese festival, the Dragon Boat Festival.
It's, it's the, the fifth day of the fifth month. Yep. And, and that is synonymous everywhere in the world So, uh, sorry, just had a call. It, it was coming from China. There you go. Uh- But as Claudio said, remember when we interviewed Claudio the other day from Macau? Yes. And for people, you know, people in China, they know about the history of this sport.
They know it's over 2,000 years old. Mm. You know, here in the West, we're just starting to get... You know, we're speaking to Julie in Canada. Mm. 40 years. Look how powerful they are in 40 years. But China gets it. And- And that is why we are so proud to be going in there. We're coming to you guys there in China, and we're coming to you over the next four weeks.
We've got a plethora of episodes ready to go. Oh, wow. Nick, we're going to be going in, setting the first three months, and we're setting the standard. We're taking this sport into China, and we're gonna have a ripper time. Imagine our voices, our tones in, in Mandarin. Well, I can't wait to see that. I mean- That's gonna be amazing
so yeah, so anyway, so that's why I was gonna... Let's talk about China. Let's talk about The paddlers we know, what we've seen when we've gone overseas, how strong they are. Um, you know, you've got the big blokes like myself that are paddling in the West. Hmm. You know, you've got all different shapes and sizes.
Well- But when you go to a paddling regatta that is, let's just call it full of professionals and the Chinese- Oh my goodness ... oh my God. That, they've got- For their size they are so quick and so strong. Oh, the ratings are. But, but they've got professional leagues. Yeah. Um, you know, I was fortunate enough, we paddled in China- Yeah
you know, down the, down the Three Gorges and then in other events. But so many different events and, and tens of thousands of paddlers at each different event in the small boats, in the 50 Men- Yeah ... but even in the 100 Men. Have you seen some of the stuff that Mr. Luo's been putting on- Did you- ... just lately?
Exactly. Because obviously, you know, it, it... The history, the culture, we keep harping back on it, but the best thing about it, they do take the Chinese history and culture in dragon boating to everywhere else on the globe. Yeah, they do. So it, it's really good for, I think, our segment to be coming into China and their internal paddlers hearing what we're saying- Yep
and the voices of all the other paddlers that are enjoying and loving the sport of paddling, from little tiny people- Yep ... all the way up to those elderly. Oh, 100%. But this is also- Didn't mean to say elderly ... going to be fantastic for the population, the community of dragon boating in China to see what we're doing in the West, to see what Julie's up to there in Canada, to see what Tommy's doing in the US.
Mm, mm, mm. Um, this is a great opportunity for East and West to meet, bring the sport to both parts of everyone's country, and mate, I cannot wait. I cannot wait. Uh, a- and, and look, us at different events when, when we're all around the world, like we- we're gonna be interviewing them. Okay. We'll have our own different translators, but then it'll all come back into Mandarin, and they'll be able to share it with their family and their grandkids and their sort of communities- Yeah
going, "Wow, our actually sport is amazing in the East." Yeah, that's it. In the West. Or sorry, we're... Well, I- I've got it wrong there. But the other beautiful thing is with us going in there is by the time we get up to Taipei for the Worlds The Chinese are hopefully, there's gonna be a number of paddlers up there who are going to know who we are because we're up there, we're promoting the sport for ourselves for Paddles Ready.
Yeah, yeah. Wow. And we're gonna- And champion Mr. Luo, like- And champion, we get to catch up with him ... he, he, he's the China voice of Paddles Ready. That's what I mean. So by the time we get back up to China and we get up to China, you know, we hope you guys in China, guys and girls, you, uh, you come up and say good day to Hando and I because, um, this is gonna be a lot of fun.
Say ni hao. So Nick- A bit of Cantonese. So Nick, we've been- I don't know ... I don't know if you can see this, modern-day dragon boat racing. So just with this whole China thing, you were going through the book just before. Oh, it, it, it's a fabulous book. And this is one of your coffee, this is in your office, isn't it?
It is. I got presented that, um, uh, by, by Loretta Lewis and, and, and Mike Haslam. I think they put all that good- The legend of Qu Yuan, Zhongji. I mean, this is just great stuff, so- The lion dancing ... the lion, lion and dragon. Well, well, that's all China. Yeah. Eye dotting. Yeah. You know? The, before each race, it's, i- it's the respect and the culture because it has to be done before each race.
Yep. So- That's, that's China-fying every- and they do it in the regattas here. We, we, we, we saw it in Australia- Yeah ... in, in, in the state titles, in the national titles. They, they, they follow the culture, the Chinese culture- Yes ... of paddling. And I mean, you, you probably know that book back to front. You've probably read it 100 times over the last 20 years.
Oh, it's, it's, it's amazing just looking back. It brings a lot of memories. Yep. And, and I'm so glad that Paddles Ready can bring it into China. Yeah, good, yeah. In, in, in the southern, southern China i- is, is so powerful with different sort of races and clubs and communities. Then you, then you go up north into, into Shanghai and Beijing, just...
Well, well, I don't know how many billion people are there. Yeah. But you know, some of the Mr. Luo's, uh, uh, 220 million people watching what he was commentating on. Yeah. Well, I saw, um... This is really cool I love it when you're cool though. I love it when it's cool. I saw it, uh, on Mr. Luo and Champion's, um, Facebook the other night, last night.
Right. Dragon boat drifting. Now this is what you're talking about. So you've got, it's basically like a circuit. Yes. And there's, let's just call there's a 20 boat, there's a 50 boat, there's 100, but these- It's the Formula One. You're not- It's the Formula One ... you're not going through the streets of Detroit or Las Vegas.
But did you see those sweeps as they're doing- Yeah ... the drifting? It's just like there and the boat is just, and they do- Going through the canals ... and there was one done in Venice, just a segue, the one in Venice- Oh ... um, the other day. That wa- Simona, who was one of my, our co-commentators in, uh, in Italy- Yeah
and we're gonna get him on, he had, 'cause there's thousands of boats that paddle in that, that, that, that, um, it's not even a race, it's just a pa- there's, there's rowers, paddlers, stand ups, outri- and they all go through Venice. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That was amazing. So, and that's what I saw on Mr- on Champion's- Yes
the drifting, you know. Don't worry. It was so good. So Nick, what do you think with China? What are they doing that's so good that you see? I mean, you, you've been around the sport for over 30 years. I mean we both have, but you've traveled the world. What's China doing differently? I don't know whether it's, it's, it's different, but it's in, it's in, it's embedded in their, their culture.
Like you see some of the, uh, the bits that Champion, Mr. Luo's putting up and, and, uh, the, you've got the other large sites, the Dragon Lover. Yeah. Um, I was talking to Edwin and he posted these young children in little four-man boats and two-man boats. Yeah. And then obviously- I saw that ... on the land, on the ice.
As young as three. All, all of that. Like they love it. Yeah. Obviously China's great in every sport, in every facet of like, you just see how competitive they, they are at the Olympics. Yeah. But they've got festivals and races and, and, and communities that battle it out. It's like our, you know, going for our AFL or our NRL or our NFL or hockey.
Yeah. They've got a league there. Yeah. You know, when, when, when the Diggers were there in 2023 in Hong Kong, China- That was straight after COVID. You had the China national team, this is the grand final. Yep. The four professional, uh, China teams that got through to the final, the Thai national team, Filipino national team, Australian national team, they made it into the final.
Yep. A- and Macau, China, and Hong Kong, China in the final. So they do dominate the Asian, uh, you know, the, the, the rating, but it, but, but it's, it's that competitiveness that is embedded in it and, and, and they love it. They love it. And when people get into a boat, I think, you know, they just love the feel of the water and the exhilaration of it and how close you are.
Yeah. Like, you, you... It was a great point you mentioned the, the drag racing, like seeing them go through those canals. Oh, that's... And just with the lights. It, it literally was like something out of, um, W- Were Gone in 60 Seconds. Go It was Gone in 60 Seconds. It was like something out of Gone in 60 Seconds.
Well, you weren't in China, but, but you were in Singapore- Yeah ... and you saw some night racing there. I saw night racing there, but j- yeah, just to finish off on the drag, off the, um, dragon boat drifting, I think unbelievable. And, you know, hopefully one day you and I get to have the opportunity to, uh, to go over and get to do that as well.
And, and they're in the traditional boats. Yeah. I don't know where, I don't know if, if you'd wanna, uh, i- in a, in a, uh, in a, um- Tell me about your time in China when you went with the dam. Well, that was the Three Gorges Dam. Yep. That was in 2000. There was a combined Aussie team come up with CYL, um, Burleigh, uh, Brisbane River Dragons.
Actually, Loretta Lewis came up there- Yeah ... and, and, and I, and I joined them for a race, and we did the race in Hong Kong and then in China. I'm like, "Okay, no problem. I can get up there." And it- thir- 36 kilometers down the Yangtze River. I think we touched on that in a earlier- Yeah, we did ... earlier segment Yeah, but it's- Segment.
But they were displacing a l- a lot of people and, and we were the last people to go down this dam, and I think the Chinese national women's team over- o- overtook us, but that was phenomenal. Like- Yeah ... w- when, when you see how big China is and how they love it and they respect the paddlers and they, and, um, every country was over there.
Yes. You know, that, that, that, that was amazing. And, and each, each city, each province are different, and that's another question that we'll have to sort of go on, on how that China national team is picked because there's so many races that, um, are through the year- Mm ... that all countries from all, from, from whether it's i- North America or Europe, Australia, they go to different provincial races and, and they get take- and look, they win money.
Yeah, 100%. Well, it's- The, the sponsors- ... it's a professional sport ... the sponsors are up there for money. Um, you know, and, and, and, and we're building paddles ready. We're, we're China-fying it. We, we love China, we love dragon boating- Yeah ... and we love bringing it to you. Well, I know we touched on it earlier, but, you know, obviously this is our first, uh, take into China, so, um, our friends in China wouldn't know this.
You and I in Brandenburg, we called, and I, I, I've always said it was my greatest pleasure in commentating to date. Ah. Yes. You know, the 250, 250 meter or was it 500? No, no, it, it was the 500. It's the 500. But, but we- Head-to-head with Canada, and China won it. Uh, if you go and find it on the net, you'll find it.
You'll know the race, Brandenburg. We'll, we'll, we'll post it up on Paddles Ready. Watch, we'll post it up on Paddles Ready so, uh, you in China can, uh, have a look at it. But what- But, but you were in... Yeah I was out of control. I was out of control. But, but what the Chinese marketing, whoever picked it up, whether it was Edwin or, or, or one of the large, um, uh, Chinese media outlets, they took that race from the call from the IDBF Nations Cup.
Yep. And they China-fied it themselves. They put all the Mandarin- All the Cantonese there Yeah, and you, you- All Mandarin, yeah ... Mandarin. Yeah. Mandarin. All of a sudden I'm speaking Mandarin, like now. You, you were speaking Chinese. But, um, yeah, we'll put that up so you guys can see it because it was fantastic, and I think I, I was caught at the end there.
There was a little bit of emotion, and I said, "If this does not get you in a boat and into dragon boating, I'm not here." Yeah. Because it was phenomenal. We spoke to Julie about it at the Canadian team, and even though they got pipped she even said it was a great race. Mm-hmm. It was a fantastic race. A- and- It was beautiful to call
and when you, when you think about it, China's synonymous to a lot of the clubs that have been set up In Europe Yep In Australia, in, in North America Yep You know, because they love it Well, we'll touch on it in a minute. Um, you know, we'll touch on it later on. But while you say that, I'll just grab my notes and I wrote this down here.
Um, n- next weekend- You are amazing with your notes. You better not have a hot take that I don't know of Oh, there's some hot takes coming up And I've, I've been try- I've been trying to ask him and they still don't give it to me. So- No, there's a hot take coming ... if I'm speaking Chinese Uh, you'll be like it.
Um, a big regatta coming up next weekend in Ireland. Right. Um, in, uh, Carlow, and it is the Ireland Chinese Dragon Boat Festival. So that's goes into what you're saying. In Ireland? Yes. Is it in Northern Ireland, or is it in Dublin? I'm not too sure if they but it goes in what you're saying, how the Chinese, you know, they've got the Ireland Chinese Dragon Boat Regatta in Carlow- Yes
so that would be, I'm guessing, you know, the Chinese themselves having their own Dragon Boat Festival- Yeah ... um, in Ireland. But that's how far it spreads. I mean, you're at the top of the north hem- northern hemisphere there. Um- Yeah. A- and like we said, it's the fifth day of the fifth month that these festivals really start happening.
Yep. Uh, the Diggers are going to Hong Kong, to Stanley. We've talked about Stanley before. Yes. You know? Hong Kong, China is, there, there's the fishermen's races in, in, in, in Chai Wan, in Tai Po. Uh, you know, i- it's phenomenal. And that they get, like we were saying before, they're 50-man boats, but 100-man boats So we got the, uh, Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival coming up, having s- and that's coming up this month, um- Right
up there in Hong Kong. Yes. So something h- to yours and my heart, the Stanley Festival will be all part of that. Yeah. Um, they'll get up to along the foreshore there, down in the, um, in between the new territory, or not new territories. Um, my Chinese, my, uh- Kowloon ... from Kowloon in the island. Yes. Yeah. Hong Kong Island.
Yeah. So there's a month of paddling there in Hong Kong. Oh. Uh, and then throw in what's going on in Macau as well in June. Okay. Yeah. So it's all happening, and then you throw in Taipei when we're going up at the end of August. Yeah. So there's plenty going on over the next three months in China. Oh, absolutely.
And, and I know I went back on it, but, but they all happen. So there's so many clubs, um, uh, Lister from Hong Kong from, from, from Typhoon. Eight, they, they, they gotta work out, "Am I gonna go in the Taiwan race, or am I gonna- Yeah ... Stanley? Am I gonna go to Chaiwan, or am I gonna go to Macau?" 'Cause they're all on the same day.
Yeah, there you go. You know, obviously there's lead-ups, and there's fisherman races, and there's lead-up races to it. But those, the Hong Kong... And, and I think you're talking about bringing it back to China, isn't it? Or, or, or, or am I skipping the gun there with the- No. No, not at all. Not at all ... with the 35-year and 50-year anniversary.
Yep. Um, you know, obviously- And, and this is one of the reasons Paddles Ready has, you know, w- with us promoting it on earlier episodes- Talking to Claudio and Mike Huston ... which you guys will get to see. Yeah. Um, we have- And we hope you're enjoying this ... we have cons- Click subscribe. We- Like. We have consistently- Wait till we tell them about the members card.
Yes. Oh, shh. But we have consistently absolutely pushed China in our podcast, in earlier podcasts. I wanna have a chat to you when we have Mr. Luau here. Okay. Ice Dragons. Wow. How good. Mongolia, here we come. Mongolia, here we come. Ice Dragons, Ice Dragons, Ice Dragons, I cannot get enough of them. How good was that when Mr.
Luau just spoke about how it started, where, you know, just the whole thing of on the ice, the boats, the manufacturer of the boats. It's another sport just in itself. Oh, and, and, and how Mr. Luau, uh, from Champion and, and Fiona described it, it's bringing it- into the schools as well because up there, the, it's on ice 100%.
It, it, it, it's cold and, and you're bringing that culture because they want more. They have millions of m- um... Don't get me wrong, there is millions of paddlers in China Millions. Millions. But then- And let's reach out to them ... what, what about the kids in the areas of China who can't get on an ice dragon boat, but they're mimicking, I guess you could say, their heroes or the paddlers by doing it on a skateboard?
I know. I love it. That was good. That was awesome. And there was one the other day on a tree, and they're just grinding out the, uh, uh, the, the, the heads. There was four people against a tree. It was, it was... I mean, I went, I went to Thailand last year. Oh. And I went to a little village in Thailand, and it was no water, but the kids were on the skateboards and pretending they were on dragon boats, and they were just racing each other up and down the street.
And it was so good to see. Nice. It was so beautiful to see. Nice, nice, nice. So, um- Yeah, that, the ice dragons is, uh, you know, as you said, it was, it was, it was, um It's all through Europe as well. Yep And, and, and in Canada. We touched on that with, with, with Julie. But yeah, M- Mr. Luo, it was, it was fantastic having him here.
Well, we- And how he's, you know, the... Our, our Paddles Ready China, Mr. Luo, um- Well, that's it. And, you know, what, what better interview to start with going into China than with Mr. Luo and with Fiona. Um, we had a beautiful lunch down there. We took him to the beach down here in, on where we, uh, in Australia, and we had a beautiful lunch down there where we spoke all- At the Burleigh Pavilion
yep, where we spoke all things dragon boating. We spoke all things Ice Dragons. Yeah. And we spoke all things what's in the future for Champion and what's in the future for Paddles Ready. A- a- and how good is it, Mr. Luo doesn't speak a word of English. Yeah. We, we, we were, we were teaching him to say, "G'day, mate."
Yeah, he was there going, "G'dday, mate." And Paddles Ready. And, and, but Fiona just does a fabulous job, and he's leading the way, bringing China, bringing Champion to the West. And what better time to do it- With the coverage ... what better time to do it now with dragon boating coming back home to China. Oh my goodness.
To Macau, the head office. Yeah, yeah. So there's- I mean, it's all, it's like the stars have all aligned ... it, it's the 30- 30- 35th anniversary- Yeah ... of the IDBF, and 50 years, um, uh, since it's been there. I'll, well, I'll have to check those dates. And I think on an early episode, Mike Husson touched it as well.
That was- Yeah ... that was great having Mike- Oh, that was awesome ... wasn't it? That was awesome. Well, Hando, just a quick, uh, wrap-up. We want to say thank you for everyone that's watching us in China- «Xie xie» ... right now. Hando's very, uh, prolific in his Chinese. Well, I hope the pronunciation... Cantonese a little bit Mandarin.
So, but hopefully this is giving you an insight to Paddles Ready. Hopefully we're coming into your lounge room, your office, on your podcast, or in your car, um, and you are really enjoying us. We are going, this is not our first, as we said. We've got a library coming into China now, and it's going to start with the interview with Mr.
Luo. How good. How good. Um, and it's all about dragon boating. It's all about just anything, everything that we love. So thank you for having us. Keep an eye on our socials because once this drops, we will be throwing up a bit of, uh, the photos we have with Mr. Luo here in Australia in the studio. Um, great photos, Nick.
Great photos. Oh, and, and having it live. Having it live. It's good, good. But, um, thank you. East to west, west to east. East to west. It's Paddles Ready in China. Paddles Ready. I'm Hando. I'm Dougie. We are Paddles Ready.
Okay, this is 60 Seconds with Dougie. We're still down in Singapore with the Aus10 team, and we are with Wendy. Worst excuse you've heard for not turning up to training? Ooh, um, I got hit by a car. Downwind or grind? Grind. Early morning training or sleep in? Uh, early morning. What's more important, fitness or technique?
Attitude? Yeah, that's the best one. Carbon fibre or wooden paddle? Mix. Coffee before or after training? Dangerous before, but very effective. Biggest talker on the boat? Oh, probably me. Sprint or distance? Distance. Beers or lemonade after a regatta? Beer! Beer. Favorite regatta you have competed in? Um, Busan.
Advice you would give to a new paddler hopping in a boat for the first time? It's all about attitude. If you stay positive, you can get through anything. And Wendy, if I wasn't a paddler, I'd be a...? You'd be a dog trainer. That's Wendy's 60 Seconds with Dougie. Yay.
So, Hando, it's that time of the day It is ... the people in China. So just to explain, I have a topic. Sometimes it's, uh- Better slow it down a little bit Yeah. I have a topic. It's usually... It's not controversial, but it can sometimes ruffle a couple feathers. I ask Hando the question- I still wanna be able to travel, Dougie.
I know. I still wanna be able to travel. No, no, no. This is an easy one. This is an easy one. This is for our first, uh, going into China. China. China hot take. It's a China hot take. So this is Hando's, Hando's hot take. So this is Hando's hot take. Okay. Nick, we always talk about East m- East versus, um, East meets West, West meets East.
You and I have both been fortunate enough to live in Asia. Yes. Uh, you were in Hong Kong for a long time. Okay. I was also in Hong Kong, uh, throughout the '90s, and that's where our dragon boating, uh, love came from. Mm. How can we be better with East and West, or have we got a great relationship as it is now in the dragon boating?
Everyone's, you know, it seems harmonious. It seems like we're all getting on. Um, but then when it comes to training regimes, are China doing it better than the West? How can we learn from China, and how can China learn from us as a dragon boating, uh, teams? Oh, Xie Xie, hot take. Hmm. All the way from Old Dahlia.
That's a great question. And don't know about being better, but for years clubs, federations, coaches would go to international events and see what the Chinese are doing. Yep. And they'd implement either a stroke rate or the stroke into that. And I know many, I'm not gonna name clubs, but I, I know many and, and myself as clubs.
Yep. You, you, you touch on it for this. I like some of the Chinese, they talk about, um, uh, the, the Asians are small slight, but there was a team in, in China, Sin Tak. Yeah. Every one of them was 6'1". Really? And I think they were all out of a Colgate factory. And, and will have to correct me if I'm wrong, but they, they train, they work, and they train every day.
And the timing was impeccable. Yep. You know, and I, I think China brings obviously so much influence to it. Well, China's always had that discipline culture, haven't they? Oh. You know- For that long ... and that's probably going back, w- what you just said then about those paddlers, if it was at the Colgate factory or whoever they, where- wherever they were.
And, and that was in the '90s. If it's working 12 hours a day- Yeah ... and then they're in a boat, I'd be guessing if they're not working 12 hours a day, they're probably training twice a day- Oh ... to get that. A- and there was- And it comes down to Chinese discipline. Uh, and there was a men's and a women's team, and the women were all tall.
And then there was one festival, I can't remember i- i- if, if it was, if it was one of the down, down from Shanghai once in, in, in 2001 or maybe t- actually 2002, just, just, uh, south of Shanghai. And the people talk about taking for granted some of these, there was a little old Chinese ladies team, and they were having cigarettes and-
right. And I got in there, and they took off and beat everybody. Really? Their rating was ridiculous. And, and because remember, you gotta remember the, the, the... I was talking to Jasper. Jasper, go, Jasper in Singapore, he, he's up from Hong Kong, had the flaming, flaming, uh, dragons, and they were all big expats and they h- and they sank.
Yeah. You know? So but, but to, to back to your point- I think we do learn a lot. Yeah. It's not about being better or, or, or worse. It's, it's collectively combining now and collaborating, especially with the coaches. Working together. Absolutely. Working together. Well, the east, west, west is, is, is definitely doing it.
You know, you, you see, you see the, uh, Chinese Asian coaches, they're over here all the time. Um, you see them, Brandenburg. We s- you know, you, you see the Western coaches going up to China, like you said. You know, some may have said back in the '80s, '90s, were they going in there and sneaking the ideas? Probably- Maybe
and bringing it back. Maybe. Well, with all the technology- It tends, tends to happen. ... the technology, the vision, the, the, the accessibil- accessibility to it. Yep. W- what... how, how good is the- 100% ... the East to West with us? I know. Giving that accessibility. And now that we're going to- Giving a voice to China ... now we're going into China, we are proving how combined and how, um, just how well we gel, how well we gel.
Yeah. Um, as, as- And, and the fishermen, the villagers, like, they all paddle. Yeah. And that goes back to the culture, because they had to. They had to. You know. And, and- So I think this Hando's hot take, I think there's no myth to be busted. There's no controversy there. It's, uh, all working collaborative. It's all working harmoniously, but at the same time- Are China the ones to beat?
But, yeah. Absolutely. And China are the ones to beat, Hando. But do you always wanna have an edge on each other? Oh, bloody oath. That's why it's a competition. Oh my goodness. You know, yet they... How fast can your boat go? 100%. You know, you, you're 200... You know, Tommy- Yeah ... Leonardo, USA, we're talking about at the different distances, what does he like the best?
Yep. Who is the most fierce competitor? Yeah. You got China. You got the Asians. So like I said, no myth to be busted here, but, uh- Okay ... it's all good. So that's Hando's Takeout. We hope you enjoyed it. There's plenty more coming on. Uh, I'm Dougie. I'm Hando. We're Paddles Ready. See you soon. Well, Hando, there you go.
That's our first, uh, Paddles Ready into China. Oh, how good was Mr. Luau? Mr. Luau. That was- Woo, champion ... that was the highlight. Mr. Luau, thank you for coming down. Fiona, thank you for sharing everything. But we have got a bunch of cat- We got... We cataloged them, Nick. So after this one goes, the first one, we've then got a back catalog- Wow
of what we've been doing. So stay tuned on our socials, on the website, we're gonna throw up the, um, photos of Mr. Luau and Fiona when they came and visit us in the studio. So keep an eye on our socials. Um, I got nothing to say. I'm actually blown away. Tu- tune in, tune in. Paddles Ready's coming to China, the champion of all champions.
I'm Hando. I'm Dougie. And we're Paddles Ready.
This podcast is brought to you by PodPro Australia