The Chinese originated the sport more than 2,000 years ago. It is a study in both artistry and force. It is hugely popular in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Canada, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. Vancouver, British Columbia, is the largest venue in North America and annually draws 160 teams from across the world. A day at the races The Fifth Annual Northern California International Dragon Boat Championships will take place from about 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, and Sunday, Sept. 17, at Leo Ryan Memorial Park, E. Hillsdale Blvd. at Shell Blvd.
Admission is free.
During dragon boat season, generally March through September, first-time paddlers can drop by weekend open training sessions on boats that have available space. They are advised to arrive by 10 a.m. Regular paddlers are members of the California Dragon Boat Association, the organization that maintains the boats and co-sponsors the local race. On Sept. 16 and 17, spectators here will have a chance to check out this ancient sport when 60 teams from the United States and Canada duel in the waters of Foster City in the Fifth Annual Northern California International Dragon Boat Championships. There s also this great bond between dragon boaters, which really comes out when you travel to another city, adds Byers, who s paddled in Vancouver and Hong Kong.