Year of the Dragon Boat

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Last year, Rocketts hosted a triathlon and a bicycle ride. Now, we’re getting worldlier.
 


This summer, on July 31, here come the Dragon Boats. 
 


Originating in China, dragon boat racing started 2000 years ago. The boats are slender, 40-foot-long canoes with elaborately decorated dragon heads and tails. A dragon boat crew consists of 20 synchronized paddlers, one steersperson and one drummer. While the paddlers propel the canoe forward, the drummer beats out a steady, strong rhythm to help the keep the paddlers’ momentum in synch and up to speed. Think of it like a musical coxswain. 


Local nonprofit Sports Backers, which also puts on the popular Monument Ave. 10K and Dominion Riverrock events, is co-hosting the festival with Canadian dragon boat event marketing company Great White North. The event is also a fundraiser to support the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation.
 


“We’re trying to create sporting events around the great attributes of Richmond and show it as a great place to live,” says Jon Lugbill, Executive Director of Sports Backers. “Having [the Dragon Boat Festival] at Rocketts Landing is a natural choice, and offers an incredibly beautiful section of the river right next to downtown.” 
 


Lugbill expects the race to bring contestants from out of town. And anyone can join. 



“What’s great is if you enter the event, you get a training session beforehand,” explains Lugbill. “Great White North comes in the week before [the race], your whole team is scheduled to come down for training, and you go out and paddle. In an hour or hour-and-a-half practice you’ll now what you’re doing.”
 


Great White North will provide all the dragon boats and steerspersons for each individual team on the day of the race. Paddlers will compete in various heats, which are meant to encourage just as much as competition as fun.
 


Additionally, up on shore, attendees can listen to music and watch traditional dragon dancing and various other cultural activities by the Organization of Chinese Americans Central Virginia Chapter.
 


To sign up as a dragon boat paddler or to learn more about the event, visit Sports Backers’ website at www.sportsbackers.org.

Photo courtesy of Sports Backers