Paddlers

 

Fort Wayne Dragon Boat Races

Riverfront Fort Wayne and Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation are now planning the 4th Annual Dragon Boat Races on August 4-5, 2023.  See below to learn more about how you can be involved!

Check out Parking Options at Visit Fort Wayne.


Dragon Boat Team Registration Brochure

 

Dragon Boat History

Dragon Boat Racing is a rapidly growing sport that combines rich Chinese traditions, competition, team building exercises, and fun. Often, dragon boats are emblazoned with bright colors, dragon scales, which includes a dragon head and tail. Typical dragon boats are 46’ long and feature 20 paddlers, 1 drummer, and 1 steersman. During the course of the race, the job of the drummer is to keep an effective beat in order to synchronize the paddlers. Races are usually between 200-2000 meters and can last up to 10 minutes. 

Many of the traditional Chinese elements are still practiced today, such as beating of the drums and throwing rice into the river. A common practice for many Dragon Boat Race opening ceremonies includes a practice known as “Awakening the Dragon”. Before each race, the dragon eyes are dotted. It is believed that once the eyes are dotted, the dragon will come to life. We are fortunate to have the opening ceremonies performed by the Fort Wayne Chinese Friends and Family Association.

Dragon Boats sponsors

2022 Dragon Boat Team winners are featured below:

 

 IMG 0136


1st place: Steel Dynamics, Inc. SDI Red Team



IMG 0118

 

2nd place: Fort Wayne Chinese Families & Friends Association 


IMG 0124


3rd place: Don Hall's Restaurants- Buster Astro's

 

YLNI 2

 

4th place: Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana-Blazing Paddles

 

park paddlers

 
5th place: Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department-Park Paddlers

YLNI sm


 6th place: Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana, Barnes & Thornburg-Paddles of Justice

 

lincoln

 

7th place: Lincoln Financial Group-42 Arms of Steel


SDI Grey

 
8th place: Steel Dynamics, Inc-SDI Grey Team 

2022 Race Results

The 2022 Race Results are now available!      

 

dragon boat races 1


2022 Event Photos


Enjoy some photos below from the 2022 River, Set, Go! event.  Be sure to follow us on social media to see additional photos and information. 

 

 Dancers

 

 IMG 0941

 

IMG 0955

 
 

 IMG 0972

 

 IMG 1011

 

 IMG 1020


 IMG 1142

 

  IMG 1146

 

Paddlers

 

Contests 

 

Floating Yogasm

 


Paddlers




Paddlers



Paddlers



Paddlers



Night Scenesm

 

 

RFW Logo Hori RGB 01

We want your feedback!

new_blue_64x64Take our on-line survey now!
This quick and easy survey will only take 1 minute or less and will provide us with valuable information!

Translate Content

enfrderues