Referring to Long Beach as the "Aquatic Capital of America", Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia welcomed the "unparalleled talent, determination and sportsmanship "of the participants while promoting the festival as a great way to experience ancient Chinese cultural heritage, traditional dances and performances.

And there were so many great performances for families and friends to enjoy: red, purple and gold "lion dancers" from the Shaolin Temple Kung Fu School, swaying Hawaiian dancers in flowing grass skirts, Asian-style drum corps and traditional Chinese musicians, among other acts.

The audience participated in a rousing Pacific island-style chant to cheer on all the teams and start the races off with a bang.

Good-natured rivalry also added to proceedings. "We're here for the gold, so get used to it!" crowed a Panda Express team member to a nearby corporate rival.

The competitors wielding the oars ranged from once-a-year recreational paddlers to hardcore rowers who practice every day.

Some attend training camps, while others opt for single-session classes to improve their paddling technique, steering, coaching and team building.

And this sport is not just for the young and fit. Participants ranged in age from high-school students of 16 to over-60s.

As the teams assembled by the boat-loading beach, there was laughter and the cheerful camaraderie that comes from working together to achieve something.

The United States Dragon Boat Festival Federation is responsible for training, encouraging and promoting US teams at domestic and international races. Its mission is to promote fitness, recreation and team building at all levels of competition.

To ready the boats for racing, Dr. Chen and Port of Long Beach commissioner Frank Colonna followed the ancient tradition of "awakening the dragons" by dipping a brush in red paint and dotting the bulging eyes of the carved dragon heads attached to each boat.

This is traditionally believed to awaken the dragon from slumber and re-energize its chi (life energy) for the race.

"This is a great tradition that everyone can enjoy. The races bring a lot of people to Long Beach each year and they always have a lot of fun," Colonna told Xinhua.

The sponsors included the City of Long Beach, Panda Express, American Airlines, HSBC Bank, the International Cultural Exchange Association and LA County Recreation& Parks.

During the races, drummers pounded out rhythmic beats to help teams keep their strokes synchronized while the steerers barked out encouragement in stentorian tones that could be heard all the way across the inlet.

Each boat sported a golden dragon head and tail as it glided through the water, the crews' paddles rising and falling like the coils of a dragon as they raced.

There was also a breast cancer survivor crew, which poignantly shared a moment of silence and threw pink carnations into the water to honor friends and family who had lost their battle with the disease.

Xinhua

.