On the weekend of September 26th and 27th, the UC San Diego Dragon Boat Team hosted open practices as part of their annual Recruitment Week. Just over a hundred UC San Diego students came out to try the sport in hopes of earning a spot on the team. With only 55 spots available, the competition was fierce. The hundred potential recruits were incredibly diverse in their composition, including 1st years, 5th years, Masters and even PhD students. Over the weekend, first-time paddlers were evaluated both in their ability to pick up paddling and their physical fitness on land. Using boats from the San Diego Dragon Boat Team, the team was able to accommodate such an unusually large group. With such a huge turnout to recruitment events, the UC San Diego Dragon Boat team is looking to build a strong team this year. Tryouts continue to be held throughout the week, and prospective recruits endure workouts designed to test their limits and see how far they can push not only their mental barriers but also their teammates. With the San Diego Dragon Boat race coming up next week and the CDBA College Cup Championship in less than two months, the Dragon Boat Team will continue to push the new recruits and returning members alike to grow stronger like they have never been before.