DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL NEWS

Paddlin' the Prairies | On Regina's Mighty Shores

Regina Dragon Boat Festival News

 For all the registered teams the Festival would like to include on its website a team picture and short bio of your team (years  in the festival, name significance, history, accomplishments, etc).  It is important paddlers and the public understand the long-standing success and involvement of teams and individuals that have comprised the festival over the last 25 years.  A small but significant appreciation of those who have committed their time and energies to making this a wonderful community event.  Compiling a history of the festival through pictures, video, personal/team stories, list of past teams, etc would be a bonus for the longest running dragon boat festival in Canada.

Each year the Festival is busy working on improvements.  One of our primary considerations is to find avenues of engagement at the festival where all teams participate, not just in racing, but opening ceremonies and other planned events prior to the festival as well as acting as ambassadors of the festival encouraging volunteerism, team development, or sponsorship.  Each team and its members are the Festival’s greatest asset and its foundation of building successful personal and community relationships with a diverse host of cultural identities.  We are a small committee but a Festival of over 800 that can have a tremendous impact on our future.

Remember, even if you don’t win a medal your presence is felt and your participation is admired and much needed. Every team is a valuable contributor to the Festival on and off the water.  The Festival will do all it can to recognize and encourage your efforts.

Cheers,

Barry Eisenzimmer
President

Regina Dragon Boat Festival

From CTV Regina

The annual Dragon Boat Festival took over Wascana Lake Saturday, for the 27th year in a row.

Sylvia Bowler and her team have been participating in the race for four years.

“A couple of us on the team said why don’t we do something fun for the long weekend,” Bowler said. “And we remember like years ago we were in a dragon boat team and we decided to try it out.”

They doesn’t usually finish first, but the team ‘At Least We Rowed Up’ is in it for the fun.

“It’s not about being athletic,” Barry Eisenzimmer, festival president, said. ‘It’s about being a great paddler. You come out, you have a lot of fun.”

The festival is open to all ages and skills sets, with fun and excitement on the lake, being the focus.

“Well we’ve always come in last, but we finished.” Bowler said. “At least we rowed up.”

This year, the festival featured 31 teams, but expect to see many more next year.

“We host the 2019 Canadian National Dragon Boat Championships,” Eisenzimmer said. “Probably looking at the number of 150 teams.”

For people looking for a day of athletic adventure, or light fun on the water with friends, organizers said dragon boat races made for an inclusive day on the lake, once again