EXPECT non-stop action as over 700 paddlers from 21 teams in the country will compete for honors in the 34th Kadayawan Dragon Boat Festival 2019 set Saturday and Sunday, August 10 and 11, at the Sta. Ana Pier in Davao City.
Clarice Jane Calolot, who was a guest in the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at The Annex of SM City Davao Thursday, August 8, said the PNP Maritime is not seeing action this year.
“This is going to be an intense race. Mas maganda ang labanan kasi puro club teams,” she said of the annual tournament that is part of the official Kadayawan Festival events.
Entries entered are Amihan, Bernardo Carpio National High School Dragon Boat Team, Dragon Warriors Davao, Dragons del Sur Dragon Boat Team, Habagat Dragon Boat Team, Hiraya Minokawa Dabaw, Hdyra Dragon Boat Team, Kampilan Dragon Boat Team and Ricspeed Dragon Boat Team of Davao City; Bakunawa Dragon Boat Team of Iligan City; Boracay Dragonforce; Braveheart Dragon Boat Team of Cagayan de Oro City; Bugsay Marajao of Surigao City; Kujaw Tiger Dragons of Cortes, Surigao del Sur; Pearl Farm Paddlers of Island Garden City of Samal; Philippine Blue Phoenix Dragon Boat Team, Philippine Titans Dragon Boat Team, Riptide Dragon Boat Team, SAG-1 Dragon Boat Team and United Paddlers Club PH of Metro Manila; Polillo Dragon Boat Team of Polillo, Quezon.
The first day, according to Calolot, will be the 400-meter races while the second day will be the 200m races followed by an awarding program.
She also said that teams will vie for 400m and 200m titles in open standard boat, mixed standard boat, women small boat, open small boat and mixed small boat categories.
She added that as of Thursday, the event “is still a go” as they are closely coordinating with the Philippine Coast Guard on the water condition amidst the moonsoon waves being experienced in the city.
The no-vest, no-race will also be strictly implemented in the competition sanctioned by Philippine Canoe Kayak Dragonboat Federation.