Dragons and parasols

Dragon boats pay a visit to the Foss
By Ingrid Barrentine

TACOMA - The long yellow, green, and black boats cut through the water towards the finish line in front of Thea’s Park.

Twenty paddlers move in synchronization as their paddles penetrate the placid blue-green water, propelling them forward.

A drummer sits at the front of the boat facing the paddlers; she leans over the instrument she’s beating and urges her team to push harder.

The Tacoma Nagas, Team Xtreme, Khmer Krom Dragons, and Kirkland Spitfire dragon boat teams have made it to the final heat of the Bon Om Tuk Asian American Water Festival’s dragon boat races Saturday August 16, 2008 on the Thea Foss Waterway in Tacoma, Wash.

“Everything’s on the water now guys,” Nagas team captain, Kosal Nam, 29, said to his 25-member crew. “It’s the last heat.”

Nagas coach, Jules Halvarson, 43, reiterates the importance of the final event.

“We have got to hammer the start on this race,” she said. “No excuses.”

At first, the 500-meter course doesn’t seem long, but after five races, the paddlers start to tire.

Drumbeats quicken as the finish line nears. With a final push, the boats zip past the line. The race lasted a little more than two minutes.

The strength and experience of the Khmer Krom team gave them the edge over Xtreme and Nagas. Only one second separated the three teams at the finish line. Spitfire crossed 12 seconds behind the leaders.

“It was so close,” Halvarson said, as she wiped sweat from her forehead. “Good job you guys, excellent work.”

The festival, in its fifth year in Tacoma, brings together people from across the country to celebrate the ancient Cambodian water festival that traditionally marks the end of the rainy season.

Chanda Sovan, 37, of Kent, was excited about the mix of cultures that showed up for the festivities. Sovan is the president of the Asian American Dragon Boat Association and the event’s coordinator.

“The goal here is to make this an international event,” she said.

Sovan explained that the festival is not only geared toward Cambodians, but also to the Thai, Laotian, and Vietnamese communities as well as anyone interested in learning about the different cultures.

A variety of Asian foods, traditional folk music, and live performances were also available to festivalgoer’s on the grounds of Thea’s Park.

For Halvarson, getting involved with the Tacoma Nagas three years ago was her first exposure to the Cambodian culture.

“I’m starting to learn the language a little now,” she said.

Organizers expected 3,000 people to attend the free event.