Joey Payeur
The “dragons” are ready to set fire to the waters of the upper Rainy River.
Both professionals and amateurs will gather at the Sorting Gap Marina this Saturday (June 25) for the fifth-annual Boundary Waters Dragon Boat Festival.
Eight teams will square off to see whose collection of paddlers can be first to the finish line.
“We have more paddlers this year,” said festival co-organizer Annely Armstrong-Thorstad.
“We used to have teams that had 10-16 paddlers, but all our teams have 20 this year, plus a drummer plus a steersman,” she noted.
Opening ceremonies are set for 9:30 a.m., with the racing action slated to start at 10 a.m.
Teams will go through two heats apiece, with the two teams with the best combined times advancing to the final.
After the trophy and medal presentation around 4 p.m., Energy Fitness Centre’s “Duelling Dragons” tug-of-war will take place between teams of eight paddlers each, who will do their pulling from inside the dragon boat.
“We’re really excited about the tug-of-war and also some new awards that we’ve never had before,” said Armstrong-Thorstad, citing best team name, best team tent, and best team look.
One of the eight teams is a combination of paddlers who will be coming here from Duluth, Mn. and Superior, Wis.
“To have for the first time an out-of-town team be here is huge,” Armstrong-Thorstad stressed.
“It absolutely shows that the festival is going through [and] evolution.”
As well, U.S. national team assistant coach Megan Kress will return, along with two accomplished associates, after her original May 28 appearance to instruct a one-day paddling camp here.
Kress and her group will act as steersmen for some of the boats.
“For Megan to be here for this is huge, especially if she uses us on her Great Lakes Dragon Boat Alliance page,” enthused Armstrong-Thorstad.
“It’s like we’re getting a nod from the dragon boat community.
“We’ve always been this little club in the middle of nowhere,” she admitted.
“But hopefully having [Kress] on hand shows that we are growing and we should get from good feedback from her about the festival.”
Meanwhile, those thinking of throwing their paddling hat in the ring, but aren’t currently on a team, are encouraged to do.
“We’re still looking for a couple of paddlers to fill out a couple of the teams,” Armstrong-Thorstad noted.
“It’s always good to have back-ups.”
This year’s dragon boat festival also is running in tandem with the local “Relay for Life” event that raises money for cancer research.
“We’re helping [the ‘Relay for Life’] group out as much as we can because they have such a small committee,” Armstrong-Thorstad explained.
Multiple vendors will be on-site Saturday for people to purchase various food and other items.
When it comes to parking, Armstrong-Thorstad said arrangements have been made to allow the public to park in the Shevlin wood yard coming in off Scott Street.
“That way, people can just walk through to the site—it’s closer and easier,” she reasoned.
For more information, visit the festival website at www.boundarywatersdragonboat.com
