Town of Banff

Lake Minnewanka, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

It's not something you see in Banff National Park every day: twenty-two athletes to a team, backs and arms straining, paddling exotic Chinese dragon boats in a furious race where split-second timing and cadence can make all the difference between winning and losing.

The Banff National Park Dragon Boat Races on Lake Minnewanka will feature teams of ordinary  Canadians paddling traditional dragon boats in a fire-breathing, nose-to-nose sprint across the lake.

The events will make for spectacular viewing from the shoreline, as paddlers stroke and slash their boats forward, dragon heads surging, over 200, 500 and 1000-metre courses. All against the spectacular backdrop of the surrounding Rocky Mountains.

Dragon boat racing is Canada's fastest growing water sport, with well over 100,000 enthusiasts. Novices are drawn to sign up for social or professional team building reasons, get hooked, and sometimes end up starting a friendly crew of their own.

Dragon boat racing originated 2,500 years ago as either a celebration of the Chinese summer harvest, to honour a political martyr's legacy, or to pay respect to the water dragon deity, depending on your beliefs. Canada has ranked as the number one nation in this pursuit for years - defeating larger European nations and even China, where dragon boats are paddled by an estimated 500 million people.

The Dragon Boat races continue tomorrow on Lake Minnewanka, Sunday, August 24th.

Also see:

• Dragon Boat Festival Opening Ceremonies, Friday, Aug. 22, 2008
• Banff National Park Dragon Boat Races, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008

More information:

• Banff National Park Dragon Boat Festival