Dragon Boats to race here in July
By John Vlahovich
Spokane Public Radio
An ancient Chinese sporting tradition, also popular in a number of U.S. cities, is catching on in the Lilac City.
Demonstration Dragon Boat races on the Spokane River during last summer’s Sister Cities International Conference proved so successful that the Spokane Parks Foundation is creating a homegrown version.
The foundation board is calling the July 30th fund-raising festival “Paddle For Parks.” Races will take place on the river just upstream from the Division Street Bridge.
Dragon boats have been raced in China for thousands of years. Spokane’s festival coordinator Jenifer Priest says a dragon boat is 46 feet long.
“It’s paddled by 20 people, and we have a certified steerer – someone who is trained – that stands at the back of the boat and keeps it on course. A drummer sits at the front of the boat, facing the paddlers and pounds out the beat, so that the paddlers are synchronized,” says Priest
Priest says that in dragon boat racing teamwork trumps might.
“That is the key to winning a dragon boat race. It’s not how much muscle you have but how well your team can paddle in unison,” she says.
Phyllis Holmes, vice president of the sponsor Spokane Parks Foundation, says Spokane’s Dragon Boat Festival will serve two purposes.
“We are launching a major event that we hope will not only raise the visibility of the Foundation, but help to increase our capacity to help the Parks Department fulfill their mission while we fulfill our mission,” says Holmes
Dragon Boat team entry fees and corporate sponsorships will go to the Spokane Parks Foundation, a non-profit group that raises money for the city’s parks. Among its projects, the foundation has raised money for the current restoration of the historic Moore-Turner Heritage Gardens located on Spokane’s near south side.
Spokane Public Radio
An ancient Chinese sporting tradition, also popular in a number of U.S. cities, is catching on in the Lilac City.
Demonstration Dragon Boat races on the Spokane River during last summer’s Sister Cities International Conference proved so successful that the Spokane Parks Foundation is creating a homegrown version.
The foundation board is calling the July 30th fund-raising festival “Paddle For Parks.” Races will take place on the river just upstream from the Division Street Bridge.
Dragon boats have been raced in China for thousands of years. Spokane’s festival coordinator Jenifer Priest says a dragon boat is 46 feet long.
“It’s paddled by 20 people, and we have a certified steerer – someone who is trained – that stands at the back of the boat and keeps it on course. A drummer sits at the front of the boat, facing the paddlers and pounds out the beat, so that the paddlers are synchronized,” says Priest
Priest says that in dragon boat racing teamwork trumps might.
“That is the key to winning a dragon boat race. It’s not how much muscle you have but how well your team can paddle in unison,” she says.
Phyllis Holmes, vice president of the sponsor Spokane Parks Foundation, says Spokane’s Dragon Boat Festival will serve two purposes.
“We are launching a major event that we hope will not only raise the visibility of the Foundation, but help to increase our capacity to help the Parks Department fulfill their mission while we fulfill our mission,” says Holmes
Dragon Boat team entry fees and corporate sponsorships will go to the Spokane Parks Foundation, a non-profit group that raises money for the city’s parks. Among its projects, the foundation has raised money for the current restoration of the historic Moore-Turner Heritage Gardens located on Spokane’s near south side.