HOUSTON, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- The 16th annual Gulf Coast International Dragon Boat Regatta was held this weekend in Sugar Land in U.S. Houston, in a bid to enhance the understanding of Asian dragon boating culture.
Forty-six teams from the Greater Houston area joined the two-day competition. They included corporate teams, community teams, youth teams and club teams.
Bo Brown, a dragon boat coach and steersman, believed that participating in such a competition is a good way to "bond and experience positive energy."
"It's very rare where you can have 20 people doing one thing, chasing one goal at a time. We eat together and spend holidays together. We're more like a family than a dragon boat team. I think that makes it stand out from other sports," he said.
Besides cheering for the paddlers, thousands of viewers also enjoyed performances including traditional Chinese lion and dragon dances, martial arts, and Tai Chi shows.
The festival was organized by the non-profit Texas Dragon Boat Association, which aims to promote the tradition and art of dragon boating, increase awareness of Asian and Asian American culture and enhance cross-cultural understanding.
