Friday, April 26, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
BY ADAM ATKINSON North Country This Week POTSDAM — The Dragon Boat races will return to Postwood Park beach again this summer. The town board at the March 14th meeting authorized Town Supervisor …
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BY ADAM ATKINSON
North Country This Week
POTSDAM — The Dragon Boat races will return to Postwood Park beach again this summer.
The town board at the March 14th meeting authorized Town Supervisor Ann Carvill to sign an agreement with Clarkson University to host the event once more on July 16.
Last year’s event drew hundreds of spectators and dozens of competitors to the beach in Hannawa Falls. In addition to the races, a festival was staged in the park with vendors, food, live music and games.
This year’s event will again feature on-shore events with a craft show, bands and food trucks.
According to the agreement approved by the town board on March 14, the university will have use of the park from July 15-17. Clarkson is to pay the town $1,000 before June 20 under the contract to stage the event in the park.
The event organized by Clarkson University, in conjunction with the town recreation department, will raise money to support mission trips, health initiatives, experiential learning, community service outreach and health education within St. Lawrence County.
Each team of 22 (20 paddlers, one steerer and one drummer) will race in two heats against other teams to compete for the top time. The two race times will be added together and the top 3 or 4 scoring teams will then compete head to head to win the overall event. Races take place in less than a few minutes each.
Dragon Boat Racing is now one of the fastest growing watersports in North America and is an internationally recognized sport, said the Clarkson University website. It is currently, said a press release from Clarkson.
Similar events, sponsored by Clarkson-Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg, have traditionally been held at Waddington Beach during that community’s homecoming event, and have drawn more than 1,000 people.
The firm Dynamic Dragon Boat Racing, LLC, of Knoxville, Tenn. will again handle the details of the Potsdam event, supply the boats and provide a navigator for each competitor boat. Dynamic Dragon Boat Racing was the company which helped stage past events in Waddington.
For more information and to register visit https://sites.clarkson.edu/dragon-boat/ .
