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Colorful dragon boat racing comes to Lake Arlington

Posted July 25, 2015 1:00 am

Daily Herald report

The local Windy City Dragons venture out to compete Saturday in the Walgreens Chicago International Dragon Boat Festival at Lake Arlington. They won this race, one of several in different categories. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com

The colorful sport of dragon racing returned to Lake Arlington Saturday, with the annual local Walgreens Chicago International Dragon Boat Festival augmented by the national competition, with which its events were interspersed.

Members of the Arlington Heights-based Windy City Dragon Boat Club won the national competition in 2013 in New Jersey and were hoping to do well again this year.

While the local competition was a one-day affair, the United States Dragon Boat Federation Club Crew National Championships will continue Sunday.

Dragon boating began more than 2,000 years ago in China as a religious ceremony but has developed in recent years as an international sport. A total of 20 paddlers sit two per row in each boat, all trying to paddle in unison to the beat of a drummer in the front of the boat. A sternsman stands in back, guiding the direction of the boat.

Various teams compete Saturday in the Walgreens Chicago International Dragon Boat Festival at Lake Arlington. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com

The Arlington Heights-based Windy City Dragons (3) compete in the Walgreens Chicago International Dragon Boat Festival at Lake Arlington on Saturday, winning this race. The team was to compete multiple times in different categories. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com

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