The 27th Annual St. Charles Dragon Boat Races will return to Pottawatomie Park on Saturday, June 13th & Sunday, June 14th with all the spectacle and fast-paced excitement! Sponsored by Pride of the Fox, "Heart of the Fox" will feature the competition along with a full program of family fun along the river: www.heartofthefox.org Teams of 20 paddlers will once again vie for the coveted 1st,2nd and 3rd place awards in two divisions: Lizard and Komodo, paddling in a colorfully painted, carved wooden Dragon Boat from China! At the early start of day teams will gather at the dock to open the day of racing with an observance of the 2,000 year old Chinese tradition, "Awakening the Dragon".
Each team can select a (first-come/first-served) spot for your team picnic in the grassy area surrounding the large and small pavilions along the Fox River, for a great view of the races. Pitch your tent, bring your own grill and spend the day with friends , family, colleagues watching the heats until each day climaxes in the awards ceremony.
If time allows we will run one "Novice Race" each day, during which any spectator can try their hand at paddling the fastest two minutes of your life! 20 paddlers per boat-two Chinese Dragon boats. Must be 18 years or older to participate and sign a waiver at "Dragon Boat Race Central" in the large pavilion.
All participants receive:
- One practice session on the Fox River during the week prior to June 13th-we will schedule your team
- A picnic space
- A collectible enamel Race Pin
- Team photo
- Team photo on face book and 2020 Heart of the Fox website
- Individual participation medals
- Team Paddle award for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place in each division
All teams will provide:
Team Captain
Prepaid registration fee: $475
Signed waiver of Liability
Team T-shirts
Full team of 20 paddlers and Flag Catcher
Registration fees
1 Team/1 Day Racing - Team Captain Closed
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$475.00Jan 5 - Apr 6
1 Team/1 Day Racing - Team Member Closed
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FreeJan 5 - Apr 6
The History of Dragon Boat Racing
What is Dragon Boat Racing?
A dragon boat team consists of 20 paddlers sitting two abreast, a Cox who steers the dragon boat from the rear, and a drummer who sits at the front.
The team of paddlers work in unison to propel the boat forward from a standing start, the aim being to reach the finish line in the fastest time. Generally a race consists of between 4 and 6 boats.
Teams can be all men, all women, or a mixed crew with equal numbers of both men and women. Timing, strength and endurance are 3 key elements of a successful team; the fourth and most critical is teamwork. It is for this reason that the sport has achieved such a high profile around the world.
Spectacular for both participants and spectators alike, dragon boating is the fastest growing aquatic sport in the world. Adrenaline pumping and fiercely competitive, the teams range in experience from years to just a few weeks in some cases. Everyone is encouraged to "have a go" in this exciting sport that epitomizes a team spirit.
Origins of Dragon Boating
Dragon boating began in China more than 2000 years ago, originating from superstitious beliefs that the boat racing would ensure prosperous and bountiful crops.
The dragon boat celebrations were conducted during the summer solstice - the time of the year when natural calamities such as disease and death were more prevalent. Accordingly, dragon boating has come to symbolize both humankind's struggle against nature and the fight against dangerous enemies.
The tradition of dragon boat racing was further embedded in Chinese culture by the tragedy of patriotic martyr Chu Yuan. Chu Yuan was a poet and a minister and councilor to the King of Chu and lived during the "Warring States" period in Chinese history around the 4th century BC. It was a time when numerous supremacy wars were fought between feudal lords, resulting in the destruction of many kingdoms. The Kingdom of Chu, however, became one of the mightiest states.
Chu Yuan, in his desire to preserve the future of his kingdom and his country, provided advice to the King, which was ignored, and he was subsequently exiled. In despair over the consequent devastation of the Kingdom of Chu and his exile, Chu Yuan committed suicide by throwing himself into the Mi Lo River.
The people of Chu loved and respected Chu Yuan. They mourned his death and devoted much of their time trying to deter the fish and water dragons away from Chu Yuan's body by rowing around the river in their fishing boats, splashing their paddles and beating their drums. To ensure that Chu Yuan never went hungry, rice wrapped in leaves was cast into the river. Rice cakes are still eaten today as part of dragon boat festival celebrations.
Some of the original rituals are still practiced today, like the "Awakening of the Dragon" by dotting the eyes of the dragon's head on each boat. This ceremony is conducted to cleanse and bless the area of competition, the competitors and their boats. It also gives the boats and their crew the strength of the Dragon and the blessing of the Goddess of the Sea.
Practice Session
Your registration includes one team training session. If you wish to reserve a time for this optional feature, please indicate when registering and we will email you to schedule your team training session on the Fox River at Pottawatomie Park.
Event schedule
- Sat, June 13, 2020 8:00 AM - Awakening the Dragon
- Sat, June 13, 2020 8:30 AM - Dragon Boat Race Start
- Sun, June 14, 2020 8:00 AM - Awakening the Dragon
- Sun, June 14, 2020 8:30 AM - Dragon Boat Race Start
Contact information
- Event contact
- Vanessa Bell-LaSota,2020 Dragon Boat Race Coordinator
- Phone
- 630-402-1919
- Website
- Visit website