Arlington Heights dragon boat club qualifies for World Championship

Members of the Arlington Heights-based Windy City Dragon Boat Club have qualified for the 2016 World Championship.

Racing as the home team at Arlington Lake, the club's mixed and men's teams won first place overall at the United States Dragon Boat Federation Club Crew National Championships this weekend.

The win guaranteed them a spot in the World Championship, which is scheduled for the spring of 2016 in Adelaide, Australia.

The club's women's team took third place overall and also advanced to the World Championship.

The women's team was just recently formed and began practicing in April, said Heidi Shouder, a club member and an Arlington Heights resident. The races at Arlington Lake were their first on a national level, she said.

"We're really happy we were able to get the bronze," she said. "We competed really well against some really tough teams."

This wasn't the first time Shouder and her teammates have made an appearance in the championship competition. The Windy City Dragons won two gold and two bronze medals in the 2014 World Championship in Ravenna, Italy.

Races include 200 meters, 500 meters and a 2K, Shouder said, noting that the short race is her favorite.

"It's fast and furious," she said. "You better have the best start out there if you want to win."

Though Shouder has been competing for four years, winning the competition at home is a feeling unlike any other. This was the first time Arlington Lake hosted the event, which also included the Walgreens Chicago International Dragon Boat Festival.

"It was wonderful," Shouder said. "Our team was very gracious. I'm hoping it will be hosted here again."

She added that team members were very satisfied with their results of this weekend's competition.

"We dominated out there," she said. "It was just an amazing feeling."