Who We Are

The moment the horn sounds, adrenaline takes over. Individual anxiety is overcome by the energy of 20 paddlers hitting the water in unison, rocketing a 40 foot boat all the way to the finish. The intensity never drops, and focus is never lost. We’ve done it again. And we did it together. To the athletes of M.A.D, dragon boat racing is about becoming a part of something greater than the individual. But in the end of the day, it’s the friendships built and the bonds formed that keep us coming back year after year. Being a part of M.A.D is not just about being a part of a dragon boat team. It is about being a part of a family which strives to bring out of all its members. The passion and intensity our athletes have for the sport is what separates M.A.D from everyone else. It’s contagious and it’s addictive.

M.A.D is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established under the Metro Asian Cultural Exchange(M.A.C.E). We were established in 1997 as one of the pioneers of dragon boat racing in the United States. Our paddlers have competed all across the world, domestically in cities such as New York, Boston, Washington D.C, Hartford, Tampa Bay, San Francisco, etc and internationally in Hong Kong, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Rome, and Macau. In its second season, M.A.D had created its own junior program aimed at promoting awareness of Asian culture among high school students through the sport of dragon boat. Our members are taught the importance of trust, discipline, and teamwork.

Through the hard work of its members and leadership, M.A.D. has established itself as one of the top dragon boat teams in America. The unique experience of dragon boat and M.A.D in particular captured the attention of many local and international media outlets such as Sing Tao, The World Journal, Newday, etc. We have also made appearances on television with features in Nickelodeon’s Splash TV and most recently, TLC’s Cake Boss. With a strong foundation to build upon and a bright future ahead of us, we look forward to continued success in promoting the sport of dragon boat and the spirit of M.A.D.

A recommendation from NYC Comptroller Mr. Liu
Other M.A.D moments
What some of our members have to say

“When I first joined MAD, it was about trying something different. Different became unique and unique became special. The nuances of the sport may be difficult to explain but I’ve found friendship, responsibility, and a strong work ethic which carries me into my ninth year as a member of MAD.”
–Eric Chao, 8 years

“My experience with MAD to be honest is the friends that I made on the team. Also, it motivated me to work out a lot more and showed me that I can push myself to the limit. The workout and sport helps me stay healthy and gives me something to look forward to in the summer. “
–Alice Tran, 1 year

“MAD is as close to an external family as I’ve ever experienced. Going through the good times, bad times year after year and seeing the ones who stood behind you as you march forward gives you a sense of satisfaction that you can get from nothing else.”
–Rockman Ha, 6 years

“MAD is like a child to me. I was part of the club when it was first formed and just like a parent, I just want it to develop strong roots and succeed as one of NY’s premier paddling teams. Lastly, if it wasn’t for MAD and dragonboating for the past 18 years of my life, I wouldn’t even know what I’d do in the summers!”
–Raymond Lem, Fitness Coach, 13 years

“There is something magical about the water, the way it makes one forget about everything else and want nothing more than the collective goal of being faster, stronger. It is the one place where all the worries of day become irrelevant. The friendships, built one wet and sticky summer upon another, are like stone foundations, cemented by memories. I have and will carry that with me always, for at the heart of it, I will always be a paddler”
–Lisa Chen, 9 years

“My experience dragon boating with MAD has been very positive one thus far. It has made me appreciate the rewards of hard work and dedication. I have met great people who are passionate about what they do and who care about helping individuals become better paddlers. It is also the truly competitive nature the team brings that fuels my desire to do my best and a winning attitude that makes me want to comeback and strive to reach more and more goals.”
–Eli Hoory, Developmental Team Captain, 3 years

“There is no sport similar to dragon boating, where you need 22 people to be completely in sync– timing, form, and dedication. Dragon boating is a difficult sport both physically and mentally and only with the support of the team will you get through it.It involves trust in the rest of your team to put forth all they can and in yourself to never give up, hard work and sheer determination .”
–Monica Louie, 6 years