Power six! Reach…it…out!”
With a sudden surge, the boat I’m sitting in rushes forward, cutting through the soft chop of waves on Lake Meridian.
It’s a warm Tuesday and the evening light is golden on the water.
On the boat, though, the scene is anything but placid.
Twelve paddles flash up and down in unison, as the Ladies of the Lake dragon-boat team dig into the lake. Each also is digging deep into herself, fighting burning muscles and cranky joints to keep the momentum up and the boat flying.
They’re getting an earful of commands and encouragement from coach Connie Sorenson, sitting at the prow of the vessel, watching the movements of each, letting them know if they’re getting out of sync.
But with just days left before their big hometown showing at Saturday’s Kent Cornucopia Dragon-Boat races, the girls are looking good.
“You guys! That was so fast it knocked my water bottle over!” Sorenson shouts, to satisfied laughter in the boat.
She keeps up the friendly heckling as the paddlers take a quick water break.
This is my first time out with the Ladies of the Lake, a boatful of earnest paddlers operating through the Kent Dragon Boat Association. It’s been an interesting hour of getting soaked, smacking my thumb repeatedly between the paddle and the boat, and occasionally figuring out what I’m doing. And while the women in this boat like to compete, and have big hopes for Saturday, you can tell pretty quickly they’re out here for bigger and better reasons. Which is why they bothered to have me here at all, the flailing doorstop trying not to take anyone out with her paddle.
“It’s our social hour; it’s our workout hour,” one of my boatmates shouts out in response to my question of why they keep doing this to themselves. She’s several heads back, so I don’t know who she is.
“So we can get away from our men!” another paddler in the forest of ballcapped heads adds, to a chorus of knowing laughs.
So goes an evening of dragon boat racing. And you can be sure I’ll be back.
You don’t have to be a super athlete to be a part of the Kent Dragon boat Association. It’s a collection of paddlers from all walks of life who love to get out on the water, work hard, and get to know each other. And for those who are gung-ho about it, there are numerous opportunities to compete, on co-ed boats as well as on women’s teams.
Val Nelson of Kent was out on Tuesday for her third workout. She’s already got the team shirt on.
“Each time I’ve come, everyone has been welcoming and friendly,” Nelson says. “They’re a great group of ladies.”
Randi Shartin, another Lady of the Lake, has been paddling for 10 years. She likes the acceptance the Kent club extends to any who want to be in the program.
“They’re accepting of all abilities and disabilities,” she says, shortly after our workout, when we’ve made our landing back at the boat ramp.
Sig Soriaga, a member of the coed team Dragin’ Tails, saunters over after turnout. He says it’s the combination of being on the water, in the company of fellow paddlers that keeps him coming back.
“If you’re into it, you get good exercise,” he says. “And it’s a social sport.”
But what really amazes him is the atmosphere on race day.
“When you go into an event, it’s overwhelming,” Soriaga says, describing all the other team tents set up, and the small army of competitors preparing to give their best.
This year’s Cornucopia Days Dragon boat Races shouldn’t disappoint on that end. Patty Sikora of Kent, director of Saturday’s race, says she’s expecting upward of 44 teams, with competitors hailing from as far north as Vancouver and Langley, British Columbia, and as far south as Salem, Ore.
The racing will run from 9 a.m. to about 4 p.m. on Lake Meridian, with teams vying over 500-meter courses to be the best eight to make it to championship race.
The Cornucopia Race is consistently popular with teams on the dragon-boat racing circuit, and it’s a part of the official SeaFair calendar as well.
“For a local venue, we’re larger than Tacoma and Seattle,” Sikora said. “People like our race; they love the venue.
“Who wouldn’t want to be sitting at Lake Meridian park all day long, watching the races?”
IF YOU GO
The Cornucopia Dragon Boat races run from 9 a.m. until roughly 4 p.m. on Lake Meridian, at Lake Meridian Park. Parking at the park is limited; see the paragraph below for a special shuttle bus to the park.
To Lake Meridian:
Follow the above directions, but after driving under Highway 167, continue on State Route 516, turn left on Central, then right on Smith Street, continue on Route 516 following Kent-Kangley Road, pass 132nd, and continue east for about 1 mile. You will see the lake on the left.
Dragon Boat Shuttle – Saturday only
The special “Dragon Boat Races Bus” with stops at Horizon Elementary, Kent Fire Station No. 75, Lake Meridian Metro P&R, Kentwood High School.
Learn more
The Kent Dragon Boat Association welcomes all paddlers ages 18 and older. The season runs March through October. Visit the association Web site at
kentdragonboat.com.
To learn more about the club’s race schedule, and past performances, visit
www.seattledragonboatraces.com.
Learn more about Cornucopia Days by visiting www.kcdays.com.
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