When Dragons Take to the Water
Cheryl Mainland’s resume reads like a creative fever dream—language teacher, comic-book publisher, culture amplifier, and yes, straight-up surfer. Now she’s adding board-shaper to the list. Under her Bali-based Dragon Academy, Cheryl and partner Nino Chu have just released two hand-painted surfboards that weave Chinese mythology into every brushstroke.
One board, the “Love Dragon,” sports a jade beast coiled protectively around a vase, flanked by lotus, peony and a single dragonfly for luck. Seal-script characters at the nose read 望子成龙，龙行天下: “May your children become dragons, and may the dragon travel the world.” The other, “Floral Jade Dragon,” layers translucent greens over cherry-blossom pinks—think ancient scroll meets modern twin-fin.
The inspiration? Dragon Boat Festival, dating back to 278 BCE and originally a plea for good harvests. Instead of dragon boats, the team chose waves as the ritual’s new runway. Every paddle becomes a drumbeat, every bottom turn a prayer for wisdom on the water.
Built in Bali glassing rooms and finished in Lisa King’s steady hand, the boards aren’t museum pieces; they’re made to surf. Dragon Academy plans to auction one, fund bilingual outreach, and ride the other until the rails burn through. As RADII captured, these planks are equal parts heritage lesson and high-performance toy—proof that culture can hang ten just as hard as any pro.
If you ever wanted your quiver to tell a story deeper than board-feet and liters, here’s your cue.