Dragon boaters hit the water in Penticton ahead of annual festival

PENTICTON – Organizers are getting ready for the 16th annual Penticton Dragon Boat Festival in September off the shores of Skaha Lake Park.

They are also offering area residents a chance to give dragon boating a try, with three opportunities for free trials in the upcoming weeks.

Dragon boat coach Don Mulhall says this year’s festival takes place Sept. 10 and Sept. 11 with more than 80 teams scheduled to participate so far. He expects 2,500 athletes to make their way from all over B.C. and Alberta to Penticton for the event, which will see teams competing in a 500 metre race, with a new race starting every 12 minutes.

The two day event includes a wide variety of vendors and food trucks at the park, in addition to a beverage garden, he says. The finals will include the Breast Cancer Survivor Championship race. The Okanagan Super Sprints take place on July 2. The lead up event consists of 20 teams and 600 athletes racing a 200 metre course.

Penticton dragon boaters are inviting the public to give dragon boating a try.

There will be three opportunities for those interested in getting involved in dragon boating to take part in the free trials on Skaha Lake, including this Saturday, May 14, and again on May 28 and June 11, starting at 11 a.m. at Skaha Lake Park.

For more information, see the Penticton Dragon Boat Festival website.

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