Isle of Palms husband and wife Billy and Lisa Lempesis are native Charlestonians who are no stranger to water sports. The duo is part of the Charleston Paddle Club’s Firebreathers Dragon Boat Team that has qualified for the prestigious Club Crew World Championships in Ravenna, Italy, this September.
“It’s a really big honor,” said Billy, who founded the Charleston Paddle Club in 2010 along with his son Pete and four others. They are the only team representing the Carolinas in the event, which brings together elite dragon boat squads from around the globe. The Firebreathers earned their coveted spot in the World Championships after winning silver at the U.S. Dragon Boat Federation’s Club Crew National Championship in Sarasota, Florida, last July.
Taking place over several days from Sept. 3-8, the World Championships consist of 71 teams and more than 8,000 paddlers from around 25 countries. The race comprises four age divisions and the Firebreathers are competing in the 50-60 age group. There are 200, 500 and 2,000-meter race categories, each entailing a different strategy. No cash prize is awarded, with teams instead vying for medals.
“You meet people from all around the world who all just love paddle sports,” said Billy.
Dragon boat racing, which traces its origins to ancient China, involves teams of 20 paddlers in pairs that sit in long, narrow canoe-like vessels adorned with dragon heads and tails, “totally synchronized, all mirroring each other almost like a ballet, in order to make the boat go as fast as it can,” related Billy.
The Firebreathers are members of the Charleston Paddle Club, a local nonprofit passionate about paddle sports, physical fitness, fellowship and protecting our waterways.
While there is a small group of members competing nationally and internationally with the dragon boat team, and some who have raced internationally for Team USA, Billy emphasized that CPC welcomes people of all skill levels. It’s primarily about community and the pursuit of watersports.
They host regular events throughout the year including dragon boat practices, outrigger canoeing and various social and community service functions such as beach sweeps, added Lisa. The club offers an opportunity to enjoy Lowcountry waters recreationally, but “you can take it as far competitively as you want,” explained Billy. Six people from Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island are club members.
For Billy and Lisa, living on the Isle of Palms suits their aquatic lifestyle perfectly. “I feel like I’m in paradise now,” said Lisa.
“We love the island life,” stated Billy. “Being able to paddle whenever you want to… I have Lowcountry pluff mud in my veins.”
Although the Firebreathers have qualified for the World Championships, members must pay their own travel and race expenses. CPC is currently seeking sponsorships to help ensure that every paddler can make the trip.
For more information or to make a donation, visit charlestonpaddleclub.com.
By Colin McCandless
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