Chattanooga Has Fun 2.5

The event will be Saturday, July 24, 2010 at the TVA Park at Chickamauga Dam. Register online at www.chatt.racedragonboats.com. Top prizes will be awarded, but the real winners are the children treated at T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital. Last year, paddlers from 49 teams raised more than $93K in pledges for the organization.

The most fun, unique cultural event featuring adrenaline-pumping action, dragon boat racing grows in popularity, and this year USDBF Club Crew National Championships will be held in conjunction with the Chattanooga Dragon Boat Festival, featuring three days of competitive racing. National Club Crews will race 200, 500 and 1000 meters from July 23-25. Festival and Nationals teams will race 200 meters on Sat­urday, July 24. Festival teams will look to capture the Grand Champion title. National Championship divi­sion winners will take a piece of a $10,000 purse, and be qualified for World Club Crew Championships in Hong Kong in 2012. Festival teams may also choose to race in National Championship heats against club crews from across the country.

Get on the Boat! Local and club crew teams rave about the excitement, friendly competition and com­munity spirit surrounding the sport. Teams of 20 paddlers, a drummer and provided steerer race in authen­tic 41-foot long Chinese dragon boats. Teams decorate their tents, wear their dragon apparel and cheer throughout – this is their day and they enjoy it to the fullest extent! All ages, skill levels and physiques can participate, making it the ultimate team building sport, requiring synchronicity and finesse, more than power to win. Bring your best!

Each festival team will get two on-water practices prior to the event and compete in at least two heats on race day on Saturday, July 24, 2010. Teams race in qualifying heats for the title of Grand Champion. More information is online at www.racedragonboats.com, or call 778-4688.