Columnist Susan Snyder: Breathing fire into boat races

Tuesday, April 29, 2003 | 8:14 a.m.

Gentlemen, start your dragon boats.

This is the desert. We probably should race camels or dirt clods or rock carts or NASCAR. But in Southern Nevada this spring, all the cool people are racing dragon boats -- 44-foot, hand-paddled vessels adorned with Chinese dragon heads.

Our dusty, drought-stricken region is hosting two dragon boat festivals in May. Laughlin has one May 9 and May 10. Lake Las Vegas Resort's is May 17 and May 18.

This is Laughlin's second year for dragon boat races to benefit Children's Miracle Network, said Kirk Schulz, spokesman for Source One Events.

This year 70 dragon boat teams will vie for titles on the town's stretch of the Colorado River. Most teams are from Nevada, California and Arizona, but a few Canadian teams also will compete.

Laughlin competitors have been practicing their skills out at Sunset Park in Henderson. Each long, low boat is powered by the muscle and teamwork of 22 people, one of whom beats a drum to keep the paddlers in rhythm.

"It's a real team-building concept as a sport," Schulz said. "These people get a real good concept safety-wise and of paddling together."

According to a Chinese legend retold in various ways on Western websites, dragon boats are traced to the suicide of a Chinese poet and statesman, Qu Yuan, who lived during the Chinese Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.).

Once held in high esteem, Yuan fell prey to slander, public ridicule and ugly political games. He drowned himself by jumping into the Milo River while clutching a large rock.

Local fishermen who considered Yuan an honest and upstanding statesman hit the river in their long, sleek boats to find him, slapping the water with paddles to keep fish from eating his body. When their unsuccessful search ended, they tossed rice balls called zon as a sacrifice.

The annual search and sacrifice evolved into a festival and boat race, which Western society has turned into a lucrative fund-raising and corporate team-building venture.

We evidently are latecomers racing reptilian vessels. More than 200,000 people participate in races worldwide, according to Facility Marketing Group, a Canadian company that sponsors dragon boat races across North America, including Laughlin's event.

But Tom Tait, vice president of Lake Las Vegas Resort, hopes to make his facility the leading dragon boat venue. He has his eye on the 2007 Dragon Boat World Cup, which would bring 3,400 competitors from about 160 countries.

"Our aim is to prove the ability to do it. Once we've demonstrated we know what we're doing, we can go for the bid," he said.

Laughlin's races and festival includes ceremonies with lanterns and the boats' races on May 9 and May 10. The band 10,000 Maniacs is to perform free. For details call 795-7772 or log onto laughlindragonboats.com.

Lake Las Vegas Resort's festival, being conducted with the Taiwanese Association of Las Vegas, is from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 17. Races are at noon May 18.

Tait is encouraging corporations and clubs to register teams. The resort is providing free use of two brand-new dragon boats. But teams must have 22 members and must reserve practice and race times this week. Call 992-7337 or log onto lakelasvegas.com for details.