*This article is not meant to generalize, it is a product of the writer’s personal experiences and observations on fellow female paddlers.
*And yes, this is inspired by the many “Date a girl who (is a) –insert hobby in present tense/ profession here-“ articles.
*And no, I am not asking for dates (defensive).
Date a girl who paddles for she is not high maintenance. She minds not that she has blisters and calluses on her fingers and palms; she treasures them like battle scars, proof of her dedication to dragon boat. She minds not that she is not as fair skinned as the models we see plastered on billboards and airbrushed to death in magazines. She is tan as she is always exposed to the sun. She cares not about fitting the conventional notions of beauty which are restricting and superficial. She glows without the artifice of make-up, and her body is usually devoid of anything fancy when she rides a boat. You see her as she is, her natural beauty and magnetism apparent as she shines with perspiration whenever she trains, cheeks flushed, eyes alive with determination. Her beauty is not anchored on anything artificial, and she can still get you entranced every moment she bends down to slice through the water, she’ll have you admiring whenever she pulls her paddle against the heavy weight of the water to push the boat forward in time with the beat of the drum.
Date a girl who paddles for she knows the meaning of hard work. She chose to keep an intimidating and demanding sport that definitely not everyone can do. A lot of time, energy, sweat, and tears were invested for her to be a paddler. Date her for she knows anything worth having is worth working hard for. If she sees you as someone worth it, she will work hard to keep you by her side. She will not be daunted by petty arguments and she would dismiss trivial misunderstandings as they are: trivial misunderstandings. Date her for she knows hard work, you will never feel you’re the only one slaving to keep things going smoothly.
Date a girl who paddles for she understands the value of teamwork. She trains several days a week during ungodly hours in order to be one in motion with her team. She knows that teamwork is crucial to a relationship as it is to paddling. Like her paddle’s blade is always filled with load before she pulls, she will always make sure she has done her part in keeping a relationship. She would sometimes even compensate for her team mates. She will help the team and she knows to be one with the team. If she considers you part of her team, she will make sure to work in harmony with you.
Date a girl who paddles, you probably don’t need to worry about developing a dating tummy. She will try to engage you in the many physical activities she is usually involved with, possibly encourage you to eat more healthful foods. But make no mistake, she does not eat grass or cardboard and definitely does not consume proportions for a baby’s meal. She eats with gusto especially when preparing for a race, she knows what her body needs and probably will enthusiastically share her knowledge in nutrition she picked up from her peers with you.
Date a girl who paddles for she is no weak damsel in distress. She can paddle hard for a quarter of an hour non-stop, or more. She can do push-ups, possibly more than you can. Her core is probably stronger than some men’s. She sloshes through mud every time she trains but she never complains. Her skin gets touched by awful pathogens from the murky waters of the bay but she is rarely sick. She endures the heat of the sun and the extended training. She continues to give it all she got even when rain is pouring down, blinding her effectively. When waves threaten to unseat her, she will still be able to hold on. She will not need your help in carrying her minute purse (and for the record, doing this makes guys look silly). She will not demand that you give her your jacket when it drizzles, but she will appreciate it very much if you do (and you should).
Date a girl who paddles, she gives up long after you will. She will try to make things work using all resources at her disposal. She has developed a stubbornness to keep going and will be able to see a glimmer of chance in situations most people will give up on. Even when she sees the other boats gaining more distance faster than the one she’s in, she will not give up. She will still give it her all until she crosses the finish line. She will not let go without a good fight. It does not give you the license to try her patience and determination, though.
Date a girl who paddles for she settles not for mediocrity. She trains in her sport to be the best, and this usually spills out to other aspects in her life. The more she races, the hungrier she gets for recognition and awards. She will make sure she will support you to also be motivated to achieve higher things in your life. Of course, she is not turned on by slackers and drifters.
Date a girl who paddles for she is interesting. She is unusual, choosing a very unladylike sport. She does not conform for she is open-minded. Her passion for the sport usually translates to her being passionate about other things, and what many things she is interested in. With this passion of hers, she will never be bland.
Date a girl who paddles. She is strong, in mind and body, and she probably has the biceps to prove it. Being a paddler means building physical strength and endurance in order to keep up with the treacherous training. Being a paddler also means keeping focus, for it is also a highly mental game. A paddler builds strength and endurance both for her limbs and mind.
Date a girl who paddles. She is all that and more.
