Houston Heat Dragon Boat Club

Celebrating 20 Years of Houston Heat!

Last Saturday, we celebrated a milestone that means so much to our club—Houston Heat’s 20th Anniversary Gala. It was an unforgettable evening as current members, alumni, friends, and supporters came together to celebrate two decades of paddling, friendship, and community.

What started as a small group of passionate paddlers has grown into Texas’ first year-round dragon boat club, helping shape and grow the dragon boat community across the state. Looking back on our journey reminded us that reaching 20 years is an achievement—but continuing to grow, welcome new members, and inspire future generations is what makes this milestone truly special.

One of the highlights of the evening was hearing original member Loc and current Club President Jeff share the story of how Houston Heat was founded and how the club has evolved over the years.

We also took time to recognize the members who have been the foundation of Houston Heat over the years. A special thank you to Albert (“Pops”) for presenting our commemorative paddle awards, honoring our long-time members whose dedication and support have helped Houston Heat grow into the club it is today.

To everyone who has been part of Houston Heat’s journey—whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or just joined this season—thank you. Your passion, commitment, and support have made the past 20 years possible.

Here’s to the next 20 years of racing, friendships, and unforgettable memories. We’ll see you on the water! ❤️

20 YEARS OF HOUSTON HEAT! 🔥🚣‍♂️
The big day is finally here! Tonight, we celebrate two decades of passion, paddles, and community at our 20th Anniversary Gala. From our very first race in Florida back in 2006 to the incredible crew we are today, it’s been one hell of a ride.
We are so excited to honor our history, catch up with past coaches and Board members, and dance the night away.

📍 Location: Safari Texas Ranch Manor Ballroom
11627 FM 1464. Richmond, TX 77407
👔👗 Dress attire: Cocktail or Semi-Formal🍸

Here is your official game plan for the evening:
* 🕒 5:30 PM: Doors Open & Silent Auction Begins (30-50% off retail!)
* 🕒 6:00 PM: Live DJ, Appetizers & Cash Bar Opens 🍹
* 🕒 7:00 PM: Dinner (Chinese & TexMex Buffets 🥢🌮)
* 🕒 8:00 PM: History of Heat & Awards Presentation 🏆
* 🕒 9:00 PM: Cake time! 🍰
* 🕒 9:30 PM: Mingle, dance, sing, and be merry 💃
* 🕒 10:30 PM: Auction winners announced!

🛑 Don’t stop the party: The celebration continues at the Marriott for the after-party hosted by Albert (Pops) (BYOB) ! Let’s celebrate 20 years of fire! 🔥

🔥 COUNTDOWN: This Saturday! 🔥
We’re just days away from the Houston Heat 20th Anniversary Gala, and you won’t want to miss this one.

This year, you’ll get the rare chance to meet some of the original 2006 Heat legends — the paddlers who built the foundation of our team — along with several of our awesome coaches and board members who helped shape Heat’s culture, grit, and heart. It’s a reunion of history, family, and the people who made Heat what it is today.

If you’ve been thinking about joining or reconnecting, this is the perfect moment. Come feel the Heat energy, meet the crew, and celebrate 20 years of paddling, passion, and community.

📌 RSVP: https://forms.gle/3Uvy7GhaaJZStjxB7
💸 Zelle: [email protected]
🎟️ $80/adult • $25/youth (18 & under)

We’re also accepting silent auction items or gift certificates (retail value of $50 or more) to support our youth team. Contact Ha or Eva if you’d like to contribute.

Let’s make this milestone unforgettable. Heat family — see you Saturday.

20th Anniversary Gala We are now finalizing the head count for the 20th Anniversary Gala. Please fill out the form if you haven't done so by July 11th.

🔥 SAVE THE DATE! 🔥

Join us on July 18, 2026 as Houston Heat celebrates its 20th Anniversary!

For two decades, Houston Heat has brought together paddlers, families, friends, and supporters through a shared passion for dragon boating, competition, and community. We invite all current and former members, supporters, and friends of Houston Heat to help us celebrate this special milestone and the memories we've created together.

We're currently gathering a preliminary head count to assist with planning. If you're interested in attending, please sign up here or go to the website

https://forms.gle/n4NABddgB18WWh358

More details will be announced soon. We look forward to celebrating with you!

CONGRATULATIONS HOUSTON HEAT! 🔥

Houston Heat had an incredible weekend at the Third Annual AAPI Heritage & Dragon Boat Festival, and we could not be more proud of everyone who represented the team!

A huge congratulations to Jelly Beans, our team made up of youth paddlers and newer paddlers, for bringing home Bronze in the Corporate/Community Division! What makes this achievement even more impressive is that Jelly Beans battled their way into the Grand Final with only 16 paddlers — showing determination, teamwork, and heart every stroke of the way.

Congratulations as well to Houston Heat for earning Bronze in the Competitive Division! Out of 16 club teams, Houston Heat fought their way onto the podium against strong competition and showcased the grit and teamwork that defines our club.

This was a huge achievement for everyone who attended and represented Houston Heat. A special thank you to our coaches, paddlers, and supporters who showed up, gave their time and energy, and helped make this weekend such a success.

We are proud of the effort, the spirit, and the teamwork shown by all. Keep building, keep growing, and keep paddling forward!

Houston Heat at the Austin Dragon Boat Festival 🔥

What a way to kick off the season — and a special one at that as we celebrate our 20th anniversary! This year marked a huge milestone for Houston Heat, bringing three teams to Austin for the first time ever!

One of the biggest highlights was launching our very first HH Youth Team (ages 7–18). Seeing the next generation out on the water representing Houston Heat was something truly special.

A huge shoutout to all of our new members who raced for the very first time — you showed incredible team spirit, stepped up to the challenge, and got your first real taste of race day. That energy, excitement, and willingness to push yourselves is exactly what makes this team so special.

🏁 Race Results:
🥈 Starburst – Competitive Division A, 2nd Place
🥉 Jolly Rancher – Competitive Division B, 3rd Place
🏅 Gummy Bear (Youth Team) – Community/Corporate Division A, 4th Place

We’re also proud to have supported Blind Fury throughout the race — and huge congratulations to them on their well-earned gold medal finish! 🥇

All in all, it was an intense, meaningful, and unforgettable first race of the season. From first-timers to veterans, youth paddlers to competitive crews — this weekend showed exactly what Houston Heat is all about.

Here’s to an incredible start and an even bigger year ahead. Let’s keep the momentum going! 🔥