More than 70 teams take to Conn. River for Hartford Dragon Boat and Asian Festival
More than 70 dragon boat teams took to the Connecticut River on Saturday as one of Hartford’s largest summer traditions returned to Mortensen Riverfront Plaza.
The 25th Dragon Boat Races and Asian Festival brought teams together to compete for medals, chase personal bests and, for some paddlers, simply make it across the finish line.
Michael Zaleski, president and CEO of Riverfront Recapture, described it as “one of the largest events in the country.”
For many of the competitors, the combination of teamwork and competition keeps them coming back.
“So, Dragon boats are not for everyone but the people that get into a dragon boat, the paddling, the teamwork, the competition? They’re in it because they love to compete. They love the Connecticut River,” Zaleski said.
A typical dragon boat features 20 paddlers sitting together, with no more than 10 men on a team. A drummer sits at the front of the boat, setting the rhythm for paddlers to follow, while a steersperson stands at the back and guides the boat down the river.
Riverfront Recapture says the event has continued to grow over the years, attracting more teams from a wide range of backgrounds.
Among those competing Saturday was the NYPD Dragon Boat Team.
“I’m the team captain of the NYPD Dragon Boat,” Tim Chin said.
The team has traveled from New York to compete in Hartford’s event since 2015.
“This is a great sport for us to decompress and also you can say get our frustration out on the water,” Chin and teammate Elizabeth Pizarro said, laughing. “To win.”
The racing was only one part of Saturday’s event, with the Asian Festival bringing an additional celebration to the riverfront as dozens of teams and spectators gathered in downtown Hartford.
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