San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival- 9/15/12
The San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival sponsored by Kaiser Permanente is held at the Treasure Island in San Francisco.
Dragon boat teams across the U.S., from across Canada, and a few international countries come to San Francisco in September to race and roil the waters off of Treasure Island. San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival is probably the largest dragon boat competition in the country.
Competing on Sept. 15 and 16, 2012 are more than 130 dragon boat teams ranging from novice to masters levels. Each long, narrow boat, decorated with a dragon’s head and tail, holds 20 paddlers, a drummer to set the pace, and a helmsman. The courses are 500 meters and 300 meters, and winning requires speed, endurance and synchronicity.
Besides the dragon boating throughout Saturday and Sunday, the free festival has a boat load of on-shore entertainment and activities, music, lion dance performances, acrobatic and martial arts demonstrations, and magic and yo-yo stunts. There are also lots of food vendors on the premises.
6:30AM- The arrival
The day started out very early! We woke up around 5:00AM and we had to be at Treasure Island by 6:00AM so that Kevin can practice and warm up.
It is always cold in San Francisco so I dressed warmly!
There are already a lot of people on the camp ground.
Keivn found the UC Irvine's headquater and his team mates.
Kevin's team mate
The team warming up before the race.
Team Irvine gathering together.
Dragon boat racing began in China more than 2,000 years ago. It’s the center of a traditional festival that falls on the fifth day of the fifth Chinese lunar month, officially named Duanwu Jie (literally, “double-fifth festival”) and informally called the “Dragon Boat Festival.” Duanwu Jie is the equivalent of the Gregorian calendar’s June 23, 2012. So why are the San Francisco dragon boat races in September?
Because dragon boating has become a very competitive sport, races in North America and the rest of the world are staggered so that major teams can travel to and enter multiple competitions. And San Francisco’s weather is usually best around August and September.
A huge red rabbit statue in front of Jinbao place. Rabbit God has been part of Beijin's Mid-Autumn festival for over 400 years.
Boats docking on the marina.
I think there are total of 6 Dragon boats for the whole competition.
The Club was founded in 1884 as a membership club to promote racing and
riding.
Lots and lots of paddles and safety vests.
Next...Walking around