The Comox Dragon Boat Festival is coming back.
The event is taking place on June 11 at the Comox Valley Marina.
The Fairway Gorge Paddling Club is putting on the festival with help from the Town of Comox.
“There are some in the Comox Valley who may not realize that some of our most experienced and strongest paddlers live and train in the Courtenay and Comox area,” said Erik Ages, general manager of the Fairway Gorge Paddling Club.
The event will be part of a new series of races created for paddlers on Vancouver Island.
“The new Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Race Series gives paddlers a platform to kick-start racing on the island,” added Ages. “This is an opportunity for all of us in the paddling community to return to regattas, have fun, and set the stage for more seasons to come.”
The series is raising money for the BC Cancer Foundation.
Spectators and participants can donate to the paddler or team of their choice and remove one second from their time during certain races.
“After two long years of challenges because of COVID-19, the chance to race again in our communities is a cause for excitement in the paddling community,” said Ages.
Registration is open for the festival and the the Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Race Series and is available at fgpaddle.com/races.
“We have a lot of friends in the paddling community here,” said Ages. “That’s one of the reasons why we’re pleased to be hosting the Comox Dragon Boat Festival, and including it in the Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Race Series.”
