It’s a water sport–enjoy it!

Stuart Mackinnon June 16, 2012 citycaucus.com

The Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival brings paddlers on False Creek

Why not enjoy the 24th Annual Dragon Boat Festival in all this wet weather?

The 24th Annual Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival has begun under grey skies and intermittent rain showers down at False Creek near Science World. One hundred and eighty teams from Canada, the USA, and far away countries are here to enjoy Vancouver' hospitality and some fine competition. Youth, women’s, men’s and mixed teams compete for medals and bragging right. There are cancer survivor teams, teams with vision impairments, teams with mental health issues, recreational teams and the best competitive teams in the world. Mostly they compete for the camaraderie and the pure joy of an amazing water sport.

This year because of the on-going labour dispute my high school team is racing under new colours and with a corporate sponsor. Clarkdale Volkswagen (Main & 29th) stepped up to sponsor us as the Jetta Dragons. It is great that local companies like Clarkdale Motors help kids stay safe and learn new skills.

There is something for everyone at the Dragon Boat Festival with live music, food and a variety of specialty vendors. For adults there is also a beer garden.  So come on down and join the fun. Public transit is easy. Take the Millennium or Expo lines to Main st./Science world and walk across the street.

Some might complain about the weather here in Vancouver but it won’t be a dragon boat racer. Dragon Boat racing is a wet wild and wonderful workout. As the teams come off the water soaked and smiling you can always hear someone say: Hey it's a water sport!
- post by Stuart Mackinnon