Vocab & Commands

Olympia Dragon Boat Club: Vocabulary & Commands Guide

While there’s some common lingo in the dragon boat community, you’ll find that every club has its own way of calling commands in the boat. This page is our quick-reference guide to the Olympia Dragon Boat Club’s most frequent calls, terms, and phrases.

📘 Vocabulary:

• Helm / Steer
  The person at the back of the boat who steers and ensures safety. Always follow their instructions—they’re in charge of the boat’s direction and control.
• Strokers
  The two paddlers in the front row. They set the rhythm for the whole team. Everyone else matches their timing to stay in sync.
• Drummer
  Used during races or special events. The drummer sits at the front and helps keep the stroke rate steady by beating the drum. They also relay messages from the coach or helm to the strokers.
• Coach
  The person leading the practice. This could be a designated coach, the helm, or an experienced paddler guiding the session.
• Gunnel
  The sides of the boat. “Hips to the gunnel” means sitting with your outer leg touching the side—this helps keep the boat balanced.
• Stroke
  One complete paddle movement: entering the water, pulling through, exiting, and resetting.
• Timing
  Staying in sync with your teammates. Everyone should paddle together—watch the strokers to stay on beat.
• Hinging
  Lean forward from your waist when placing the paddle in the water, then sit up as you pull it back. Always hinge forward and back—never sideways.
• Rotation
  Twist your upper body slightly to reach farther with your paddle. This helps lengthen your stroke and add power.
• Powers
  Stronger strokes with more effort. Dig deeper, reach farther, and pull harder—but keep the same rhythm.

📣 Common Commands:

• “Hips to the gunnel”
  Sit with your outer leg against the side of the boat to help keep it stable.
• “Sit ready”
  Rest your paddle across your knees, blade facing out. This is the “ready but resting” position. You might hear “sit ready when you’re ready”—that’s a heads-up to get ready soon.
• “Paddles up”
  Raise your paddle vertically next to the boat, ready to start. Extend it toward the bench in front of you. Stay in position until the strokers begin.
• “Take it away”
  Start paddling! This command follows “paddles up” and signals the strokers to begin setting the pace.
• “Let it ride” / “Let ’er ride”
  Stop paddling and relax. You’ve finished the drill or race.
• “Hold the boat”
  Put your paddle straight down into the water next to the boat and hold it there. This acts like a brake to slow or stop the boat.
• “Hold hard”
  Like “hold the boat,” but with extra force. After submerging your paddle, push it forward once to stop the boat faster.
• “Quiet in the boat”
  Time to stop chatting and listen for instructions—especially important before launching or during drills.
• “Power [number] now”
  Do a set number of power strokes (e.g., “Power 20 now”). These are stronger strokes, but keep the same rhythm.
• “Back paddle”
  Paddle in reverse to move the boat backward. Stay in sync with the strokers.
• “Watch your timing”
  A reminder to stay coordinated with the team. Timing is everything in dragon boating.
• “Finish it”
  Give it your all for the final stretch of a race or drill. Keep paddling hard until you hear “let it ride.”

✅ Top Tips for Success:

• Always watch the strokers to stay in rhythm.
• Don’t forget to have some fun!
• Use your core and legs—not just your arms.
• Stay relaxed but focused.
• Ask questions if you’re unsure—everyone starts somewhere!