AAAYA NorCal: Dragon Boat Racing Practice – Foster City, CA – Sa 6/11
Ever wanted to try out dragon boat racing? Join us for our fun first practice at Foster City Boat Park with Bay Area Dragons (http://bayareadragons.org/content/view/17/36/) at 899 Bounty Drive (water close to parking lot next to dog park area), Foster City, CA (map). No experience necessary. There are free dragon boat lessons and everyone is welcome. Bring your friends.
Dragon boating is a 44′ canoe with 20 paddlers, a drummer and a steersperson paddling togther. At the novice and recreational level, teams often form as a means of social outlet, team building and an alternative means of exercise.
If we have enough interest, we will try to get together a team to race at the San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival races (www.sfdragonboat.com) held 9/17-18 at Treasure Island, San Francisco .
If interested in coming to the dragon boat racing practice, please email Robert Lee ’90 BR at (click here to reveal email address) with your contact info, expected number of guests including yourself, and Yale affiliations (please put Dragon Boat Practice in the email subject line).
If interested in attending the San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival, please email Robert Lee at the above address with your contact info, expected number of guests including yourself, and Yale affiliations (please put Dragon Boat Festival in the email subject line).
SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL 9/17-18 at California Avenue & Avenue D, San Francisco, CA (map)
The San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival is a weekend of world-class dragon boat racing, spectacular cultural performances, and fun-filled activities for the whole family at the largest competitive dragon boat festival in the United States. Over 110 dragon boat teams and 3,500 dragon boat paddlers are expected to race the 500 and 300 meter courses.
The Festival also features many fun cultural activities: an entertainment stage with live dance and music performances, the Dragon Land children’s activity pavilion, and a variety of international food, arts & crafts, and other vendors. The entertainment includes rhythmic & powerful Taiko drumming, nimble lion dancing, acrobatic martial arts, talented dance groups, cultural music, award-winning magic, yo-yo stunts, and children’s sing-along & dancing.
The Origin Of Dragon Boating Dragon boat racing is one of the earliest known forms of boat racing and is celebrated at festivals and races throughout the world. This mythical celebration is a symbol of Chinese culture and spirit and is one of the three largest festivals in China. The roots of dragon boat racing go back over 2,000 years to the southern provinces of China.
Legend has it that Qu Yuan, a scholar and advisor to the emperor of the Chu Kingdom, jumped into the Mei Lo (Mi Luo) River in despair and protest against government corruption. Local fishermen raced out in their boats to save him. They beat drums and pounded their paddles on the river’s waters and threw rice dumplings wrapped in silk into the river to distract the water dragons and keep them from eating from Qu Yuan’s body. Dragon boating evolved from the re-enactment of this legend at annual festivals.
* Info from www.sfdragonboat.com