Dragon boats and outriggers will take over Shuswap Lake this weekend as racers compete in the annual Shuswap Dragon Boat Festival and “Survive the Triangle,” Shuswap International Outrigger Race Weekend.
Over the past nine years, the Shuswap Dragon Boat Festival has operated in Salmon Arm, but this is the first year that Survive the Triangle, a Canadian Outrigger Canoe Association (CORA) sanctioned event, will run in conjunction with the festival.
“I think it fits in nicely... and should make the whole event more interesting as well as bring a few more people into the downtown area and get acquainted with Salmon Arm,” said Tom Makey, one of the co-ordinators of the Shuswap Dragon Boat Festival.
He says this added event may explain the increase in registered dragon boat teams from just 11 last year to this year’s 23.
“There’s a possibility some of the outrigger teams also have dragon boaters within their organization, who may well be combining the two, to some degree, and coming down as a group...,” he said, adding, “We also had an excellent recruiter encouraging participation.”
The outrigger races will take place Saturday and Sunday with 22 teams competing in the 14- and 20-kilometre races and 40 to 60 teams competing in the 10-km races.
Altogether, Randy Brooks, chairman of the Beat the Triangle committee, says they expect 800 to 1,000 people between the two events.
Saturday’s dragon boating will feature three racing categories – mixed, masters mixed (55 and over) and women’s. They will compete in three 500-m races, beginning from the Salmon Arm Wharf.
“It’s not a highly rigid format. It’s primarily a fun competition and we try to keep it that way,” said Makey.
Beat the Triangle showcases four racing categories – novice, women’s, mixed and men’s – broken up into age groups that will start from the wharf, travel out into Shuswap Lake, and return.
Makey says these events are an opportunity for the Shuswap Association for Rowing and Paddling (SARP) to promote non-motorized water sports in the area.
“It’s a way to showcase outrigger and dragon boating... and at the same time make sure the community is aware and can see what opportunities there are,” he said, adding many travel to the Shuswap each year to participate in such sports. “Yet a fair segment of the population aren’t aware of these activities that are readily available and at a low cost.”
Brooks says they would like to see a young crowd attend the events. Races kick off at 7 a.m. Saturday with the annual Carnation Ceremony for cancer survivors and supporters at 11:40 a.m. An awards ceremony will be held at the Elks Lodge about 6 p.m.
Sunday, races start at 8 a.m. and an awards ceremony will take place in Marine Park once races have finished.
“It’s turning out to be a very successful event, a lot of people are coming, so try and get out and have a look. It’s a lot of fun,” said Brooks.
For more information, visit www.shuswaprowingandpaddling.com.16:22:44