Dragon boat racing is all about teamwork. Crews made of 20 paddlers, each with a single paddle that is not attached to the boat, sit side by side facing forward in the long boats. Those paddlers are paced by a drummer who sits at the bow of the boat while straddling a drum and looking back toward the rowers. The drummer pounds out a beat and shouts out orders to keep the paddlers synchronized and moving at a swift pace as they dig their paddles into the water for each 500 meter sprint. A steerer stands at the stern of the boat and guides the direction of the boat with the steering oar.
The boats all have a carved likeness of a dragon’s head on their bow. The ornamentation is a part of the tradition of dragon boat racing which originated in China more than 2,000 years ago.
Teams at Saturday’s event weren’t required to provide their own boats or steerers. Team entry fees paid for the services of an event production company that provided the boats, experienced steerers, paddles and life jackets to all of the teams registered for the festival
The event was sponsored by KC Pink Warriors, a local dragon boat team comprised of women who are all cancer survivors. The team has its own boat and trains year round.
Here are photos from Saturday’s festival.
Crew members from SLAP Dragons KC (4) and Hump Day 5K Rapid Racers (2) compete for first place in a qualifying race during the KC Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shawnee Mission Park.
A drummer from KC Pink Warriors leads a crew team in a qualifying race during the KC Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shawnee Mission Park.
Spectators watch from the dock as crew members board their boats during the KC Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shawnee Mission Park.
A crew member from the team Pink Dragon Ladies of Tampa Bay, Florida, walks around during the KC Dragon Boat Festival at Shawnee Mission Park on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
Crew members of Prairie Dragon Paddlers paddle in a qualifying race during the KC Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shawnee Mission Park.
Spectators watch the qualifying races during the KC Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shawnee Mission Park.
Crew members from Paddles with a Purpose paddle in a qualifying race during the KC Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shawnee Mission Park.
Cat Hummel holds her two-year-old niece, Hazel, as her mother, Carolyn Hummel, takes a photo in front of an inflatable dragon during the KC Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shawnee Mission Park.
Chalk artist Amy Lynn Sell sketches a dragon during the KC Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, near the marina at Shawnee Mission Park.
Crew member Jobi Buehler from Dragon Deez Nutz, wearing Viking attire, poses for a photo after a race during the KC Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shawnee Mission Park.
Crew members row to the starting line for a qualifying race during the KC Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shawnee Mission Park.
Crew members from Indy SurviveOars paddle in a qualifying race during the KC Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shawnee Mission Park.
Drummer for Phantom Dragons, Tom Hidebater, wears a chicken-themed hat during the KC Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shawnee Mission Park.
A variety of customized oars from the crew members of Phantom Dragons are seen as they row back to the dock after a qualifying race during the KC Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shawnee Mission Park.
Participants wait near the marina to qualify for races during the KC Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shawnee Mission Park.
A drummer from Life is Bliss/Pink Phurree leads their team in a qualifying race during the KC Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shawnee Mission Park.
Crew members from Phantom Dragons paddle in a qualifying race during the KC Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shawnee Mission Park.
Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman are joined by ESPN MLB Insider Jeff Passan as they discuss which teams intrigue them the most this offseason before making their picks for The Good, The Bad & The Uggla.
Welcome to our weekend preview show where we get you ready with everything you need to know heading into Sunday and Monday's action. Andy Behrens joins Matt Harmon to share 3 burning fantasy questions he wants answered in Week 11. Behrens also shares the three matchups he has his eye on in Week 11 that will have the most fantasy ramifications.
On today's episode, Dan Wetzel, Ross Dellenger and SI's Pat Forde analyze the playoff chances for Army after their awkward placement in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. They also react to a quote from Colorado head coach Deion Sanders explaining his unique roster building approach. They discuss why his emphasis on the transfer portal could work in the future of college football.
Yahoo Sports 
