Colorful dragon boats zipped across Tempe Town Lake Saturday and Sunday in Arizona's first Dragon Boat Festival, presented by the Salt River Project.
The races were held in celebration of an ancient Chinese sport celebrated worldwide. Proceeds from the races will go to the Valley of the Sun YMCA Strong Kids Campaign, which provides free activities for families who cannot afford them.
The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month, according to the Chinese calendar.
More than 6,000 people attended the races, and more than 50 local, national and international teams competed.
The mythical dragons also lured 25 ASU students who competed as the Sun Devil team.
Members of ASU's Asia Studies in Arizona, Alpha Mu Gamma and Model United Nations clubs made up the team.
Although the team did not place, team captain and religious studies senior Kody Kness said they were happy to participate and grateful for the SRP sponsorship, which donated the $1,000 entrance fee for the team and T-shirts.
"The only thing that was keeping us back from having a team was money, and that's when Marie Osterman [adviser for the Center for Asian Studies] came in and found this sponsorship, and that's why we are here today," he said.
Ronnie Sebastian, co-chair of the festival, worked with the Arizona Dragon Boat Association since last year to bring the races to Arizona.
"It's the fastest-growing sport all over the United States, and we have a perfect lake, but we didn't have it here," she said.
Funds from the entrance fee will benefit The Valley of the Sun YMCA and local scholarships.
Japanese senior and Alpha Mu Gamma member Mark Powers said he had no clue about racing, but tried to catch on quick.
"You try to go as fast as you can and the hardest thing is staying in sync. It's all about the team," he said while making quick paddling motions .
Though he had not paddled before, Ben Tang, a psychology senior, was familiar with the races from witnessing the large festivals in China.
"They do this in Hong Kong every year and those guys go fast," he said. "It's huge in Hong Kong."
The races were expected to raise $155,000, said Marcie Greenberg, president of the Arizona Dragon Boat Association and co-chair of the festival.
Though the boats will return to Canada on Monday, Taipei will loan Tempe two boats later this spring, she said.
The YMCA and ASU will be allowed to use the boats, she said.
Greenberg added that the organization plans to hold another festival next year and hopes that more ASU students will participate.
"We want ASU back here again," she said. "They're great people and they've added a lot of spirit and dimension."
Reach the reporter at jacqueline.shoyeb@asu.edu.
