Paddles Up!
The Montana Dragon Boat Festival, sponsored by the Flathead Community Foundation and produced by the Kalispell Convention & Visitors Bureau, made its debut Saturday, September 8, 2012, at Flathead Lake Lodge. The inaugural event drew so much interest that organizers were forced to turn away a number of teams. Race competition was fierce, but friendly. Thousands turned out to cheer on paddlers and join the spirit of celebration surrounded by the unrivaled natural beauty of the setting.
Watch the celebration in this video.
Dragon boat racing is the 8th fastest growing sport in the world, with more than 50 million people in 63 countries participating, and the most fun, unique cultural event featuring adrenaline-pumping action. Teams of 20 paddlers, a drummer and steerer race in authentic Hong Kong-style, 46-foot-long dragon boats. All ages, skill levels and physiques can paddle, making it the ultimate team building sport, requiring synchronicity and finesse, more than power to win.
Thinking about joining us as a racer or spectator? Watch this video
Find out why you can’t miss this event on Flathead Lake, the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River. The 2012 festival attracted more than 3,000 spectators and 1,200 racers from across Montana, Texas, Oregon, Nevada, Washington, and Alberta and British Columbia Canada. Due to the popularity of the event, numbers of spectators and racers are expected to increase substantially in 2013 and another day has been added to the festival schedule.
Learn about Kalispell and plan your trip at http://www.discoverkalispell.com!
