Reign of Fire

Philly's won national championships since '92?

by Lauren F. Friedman

George Lezenby

[ sports ]

America was late to the game.

Dragon-boat racing, which involves 50 million people worldwide each year, is a bit like crew — except that the boats measure 40 feet long, weigh 850 pounds and are adorned with, well, dragons. Ten people sit on each side and paddle furiously and in perfect unison, sometimes reaching madcap rates of 120 strokes per minute. Instead of a coxswain, a drummer shouts commands at the paddlers and beats out a rhythm to keep everyone in sync. Races are fast — often just two or three minutes — and photo finishes are routine.

Best of all, the Philadelphia Dragon Boat Team has won the national championship every year since 1992 and many of its members will be heading to Prague in August to defend the U.S. Dragon Boat Team's world title. "I challenge any athletic team to match that record," says Ken Wong, a member of the Philly-based U.S. team. "We won the world championships before the Phillies."

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Since — unlike the Phillies — the dragon boat team has to pay its own way, the members organized this regatta to help fund the championship trip. "We don't make a living doing this, but it's a passion," says Wong, emphasizing the final word. "It's more than a hobby."

For about $60 a head, anyone can enter a team, attend three practices with the pros and then race in the regatta. "The competition is tremendous," says Tim McShea, captain of the Firefighters Team. "It's amazing how many teams are in these regattas." Wong estimates that there are 2,000 active dragon boaters in the city, although the regatta will include many newcomers.

"It's all noise and splashing and drums pounding and people yelling," says Peter Kiliani, another Philadelphia team member and one of the regatta's organizers. Along with races starting every 10 minutes all day long, there will be food vendors, a rock climbing wall and live music.

"It's an opportunity to see people having a great time in one of the most popular sports in the world," says Wong. "The hardest part is getting the message out. Once people see it, they think it's a wonderful thing."

McShea claims that, in his personal experience, 99 percent of people who try it love it, and Killian is similarly enthusiastic. "If I could commute to work on a dragon boat," he says, only half-joking, "I would."

(lauren.friedman@citypaper.net)

Independence Dragon Boat Regatta | Sat., June 6, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., free, Kelly and Strawberry Mansion drives, independencedragonboat.com