Racing on Bamboo! 🐼 Lu Chuntao Soars to Victory in 60m Drifting Race
Have you ever imagined racing on a bamboo stick floating on water? Sounds exciting, right? That’s exactly what athletes do in the amazing sport of single bamboo drifting! 🛶🌿
At the 12th National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities of China, Guangxi’s own Lu Chuntao showed incredible skill and balance to win the women’s 60-meter race! 🎉 She wasn’t the only one; her teammate, Wei Bingyue, won the men’s race too! 🏆
What is Single Bamboo Drifting?
Single bamboo drifting started as a way for people in northern Guizhou province to travel across rivers using just a bamboo pole. Now, it’s a thrilling sport recognized all over China! In 2021, it was even listed as a national intangible cultural heritage. Cool, huh? 😎
In this sport, athletes stand on a single piece of bamboo and use another bamboo pole to paddle. They have to balance, steer, and race all at once! It’s like doing a balancing act while trying to win a race! 🏃♀️🌊
Why Is It So Hard?
Even professional rowers find single bamboo drifting challenging. That’s because it requires multitasking. You have to:
- Keep your balance so you don’t fall into the water! 🤭
- Control your direction to stay on course. 🧭
- Paddle fast to beat the other racers. 🥇
“It’s not an easy task to accomplish, and we fall down quite frequently,” Lu says with a laugh. But she doesn’t let that stop her! 💪
Lu’s Amazing Achievement
This was Lu’s third time competing in the Games. She had already won the 100-meter and 200-meter events in previous years. But this time, she finally clinched the 60-meter title, completing her collection of gold medals! 🥇🥇🥇
“I’m from the Zhuang ethnic group, and I’m very happy that I can finally win in all three women’s events,” Lu shared. “I think the beauty of the sport is that it showcases the athlete’s power and balance on the bamboo.” 🌟
Why We Love It
Single bamboo drifting is not just a sport; it’s a celebration of culture and tradition. It shows how people can turn everyday activities into exciting competitions! Maybe one day, you’ll get to try it too! Would you dare to race on a bamboo stick? Let us know! 😉🌿
Reference(s):
Guangxi's Lu Chuntao wins women's 60m single bamboo drifting race
cgtn.com
