Dragon Boat Races bring base, community together

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Katherine Holt
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
Shreveport, La. --  Members of Team Barksdale competed in the 5th Annual Red River Dragon Boat Festival Sept. 14, at Riverview Plaza in downtown Shreveport, La.

Since its inception in 2008, the Red River Dragon Boat Festival has grown in popularity. This year's festival drew 30 teams, including teams from the Shreveport-Bossier and Dallas regions.

Proceeds from the festival benefited the Rotary Club of Shreveport's outreach projects in education, social services and community.

"It's great to be involved with the community," said Maj. Bryan Walter, 20th Bomb Squadron pilot and member of the Hoitai and Foo Dogs team. "Anytime you're helping to raise money for a charity, having a great time and making friends outside of what you do on a day-to-day basis makes you a better person. It's a fun event."

Of the 30 participating teams, about one fifth was made up of military teams, including the day's second place winner in the second heat, Air Force Global Strike Strikers.

"It's a great team building exercise with people from different directorates in the command getting together to do a team event," said Tech. Sgt. Brandon Tanaka, AFGSC inspector general's office. "The camaraderie also brings friendly rivalry between all the teams from base. It is a lot of fun."

The 21-man team is made up of 20 paddlers and a drummer. Their goal is to paddle and cross the finish line before their opponents. According to San Fransico's Dragon Boat Festival website, it's a team sport in its purest form that encompasses the elements of power, speed, synchronization and endurance.
"We are competitive people, so we took it seriously and we worked hard out here," said Walter. "We were gunning for the firefighters. They won two years before we started winning, so we definitely have a great, good friendly rivalry with them."

Walter's team finished number one overall with the best time of the day. They completed their last race in 1:11.06.

Though they won first place for the third year in a row, Walter says the best part isn't just about winning.

"It feels great to win, but it is all about having a great time," he said. "Challenges drive you to do your best, which is similar to our job in the military. That's why I love coming out here."