Photo: Cesar von Meissen
Thrilling competitions on the north bank
Several times a year, the north bank of Lake Baldeney in the south of Essen is transformed into an action-packed arena for water sports, for example when the Dragon Boat Festival takes place. The event lasts several days and attracts teams from all over North Rhine-Westphalia and beyond. The exciting races on the regatta course take place over four lanes. The area between the Südtiroler Stuben and the finish tower | regatta tower will be the center of the action. From the waterfront promenade, spectators have the perfect view of the thrilling competitions and can experience them up close.
Different race categories
The festival offers various race categories, including competitions for fun and recreational sports teams as well as inclusive races that bring people with different backgrounds together. In addition to the sporting challenges, a colorful supporting program provides entertainment, so that the Dragon Boat Festival has not only established itself as a sporting event, but certainly also as a social event.
Fascination dragon boat
Dragon boating is much more than just a water sport - it is an experience that combines team spirit, rhythm and strength. The long, slender boats, which are often decorated with the ornately carved dragon heads that give them their name, are moved by up to 20 paddlers. They paddle in unison with the drumbeat of the helmsman or helmswoman. Synchronization and technique are decisive factors for the success of a team and make the sport a unique blend of strength, technique and synchronicity.
Origins of dragon boating
The origins of dragon boating are said to go back to ancient China, where it is said to have begun as a ritual ceremony. It later developed into a globally popular competitive sport. The sport inspires people of all ages and backgrounds. It is not only about top sporting performance, but also conveys a strong sense of community. Anyone who has ever sat in a dragon boat can feel the energy and dynamism that make this sport so special. As far as the local heroes are concerned, there are several teams from Essen and the surrounding area that regularly take part in the races and are often even considered favorites. TV Kupferdreh, for example, offers dragon boat training sessions so that local teams can enter the race well prepared.
Our conclusion
The dragon boat festival on Baldeneysee is certainly a spectacle worth seeing - not only in sporting terms, but also for team spirit and sometimes crazy costumes.
