Dragon Boats draw a crowd
Festival at Sloan's Lake brings Asia to Denver
By Ed Will
Denver Post Staff Writer
Friday, August 15, 2003 - The Colorado Dragon Boat Festival in two short years has become one of the city's most popular events. Organizers expect 50,000 people at Sloan's Lake on Sunday for the third annual pan-Asian celebration.
Officials hoped to draw 7,500 people to the first event in 2001, but estimates put the inaugural crowd at 15,000 and the second year at 30,000, said John Chin, a steering committee member.
"I think a number of things have caused the festival to achieve the success that it has had. One of those things just absolutely has to be dragon boat racing," Chin said. "Dragon boat racing internationally has become this incredible, competitive sport. It is really exciting to watch."
He has figures to support that: 16 teams entered the first year, 32 in 2002 and 48 this year.
Dragon boat racing began in China some 2,000 years ago.
"A poet (Chu Yuan) was persecuted by the government. Rather than put up with the persecution, he walked into the Mil Lo River and downed. The villagers threw rice and food into the water to sustain his spirit and launched boats to scare away the evil spirits, and it became a celebration," said Tom Ging,another committee member.
In Yuan's honor, athletes from around the world still meet to commemorate his sacrifice for honor and justice.
Sunday's racers will launch six boats owned by the Iowa-based American Dragon Boat Association, which also provides the steersmen.
The fiberglass, 40-foot-long boats are made from molds of boats in Taiwan. Each of the flat-bottom boats carries a flag catcher, drummer, steersman and 18 paddlers, Ging said. They race over a 250-meter course. A flag representing each boat fly on buoys at the finish. As a team nears its flag, the flag catcher climbs out onto the dragon head at the front of the boat and stretches out to grab the flag. First team to grab the flag wins.
Association trainers help the teams prepare for the races on Saturday.
The first-year winners were the Mongolian project of Colorado -even though the Mongolian team had never been on a boat before. "They are analogous to the Jamaican bobsled team," Ging said.
The project beat Z's Zerpents, a team representing Denver's safety department, in a coin toss after the championship race ended in a dead heat.
Last year the Zerpents slithered to victory and plan to defend their title this year.
"The real secret to paddling a dragon boat is synchronous paddling," Ging said. "That is done by listening to the drummer. Not only does the drummer beat the drum, but they also shout a cadence."
The first round of racing runs from 9-11:45 a.m. Paddles go into the water for the second round at 1 p.m., with teams in the consolation bracket followed by those that won their morning match.
Three consolation teams determine that group's winner at 6:20 p.m., with the final three from the championship race at 6:40 p.m.
But the festival is more than just the boat races, Chin said.
Festivalgoers love the variety of cuisines offered, anything from Thai food to Vietnamese to Mexican, said Chin, who is chief academic officer at Front Range Community College.
The marketplace also offers a variety of Asian products and services.
Entertainment also is getting better, with popular singer Wendy Woo and her band headlining this year, he said.
"Every year we are going to try and highlight a professional Asian performer," said Chin, noting that Woo is of Filipino and Chinese extraction.
Having performers such as Woo is important not only as role models for Asian youth but to show a different side of their culture to the Denver community, he said.
"It is not just traditional dances. There is a lot to the really vibrant Asian communities that are existing in the Denver metro area," Chin said.
Organizers expanded the children's area, DragonLand, to offer youngsters more activities, such as face painting and creating and decorating paper samurai helmets.
A new exhibit, Gateway to Asia, features small-scale demonstrations, such as Chinese paper cutting, brush painting, calligraphy and tea ceremonies, plus information about all the countries represented at the event.
Hours are 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Festivalgoers may park free at Invesco Field at Mile High and ride free shuttle buses to and from Sloan's Lake throughout the day.
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Bang the drum quickly
What:Colorado Dragon Boat Festival
When:9 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday
Where:Sloan's Lake, Sheridan Boulevard and West 17th Avenue. Free parking and shuttle bus service at Invesco Field at Mile High.
Admission:Free
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