It was the day the dragons came to town.

On June 13, overcast skies did not keep spectators and paddlers away from the banks of Weiss Lake, as they gathered to watch a first for Alabama – Dragon Boat races. The event was the culmination of Weiss Lake Paddle in which participants of all ages and skill levels paddled Weiss Lake for three days.

The 40-foot long dragon boats were provided by the Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club of Gainesville, Ga. Club President Loren Collins told the crowd about the history of dragon boats before the race began.

“The sport of dragon boat racing dates back to 400 BC,” Collins explained. As legend has it, a much-loved villager jumped into the river to protest against government corruption. The villager drowned, and the people in the village then took their boats out, beating the water with their paddles to save the man from being eaten by the dragons.

“Dragon boat racing is a way to re-enact that event,” Collins said.

Tim Watson, the club’s vice president, explained the importance of the opening ceremony. “The race really starts with the waking of the dragon,” Watson said. “This is done by dotting the eye of the dragon, thus waking the dragon from his sleep so he can protect the rowers while they are on the water.”

The duty was taken on by Fred Couch, president of the Alabama Scenic River Trail. Couch was followed out onto the docks by a line of spectators to watch as he ceremoniously dotted each dragon’s eye, thus marking the official opening of the races.

The competition consisted of two races. Each dragon boat held 20 paddlers, one drummer, and a steersman. The drummer sat on a special seat at the front of the boat, beating out a cadence for the paddlers, who sat in two rows in the narrow boat, paddling in unison to the beat of the drum.

The paddlers were a mix of locals out for an adventure and those who had just finished the Weiss Lake Paddle. The steersman, both from the Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club, were Jared McArthur and James Watson. They had their work cut out for them as they instructed the paddlers and steered their boats in the races.

The winning team of both heats was made up of First United Methodist Church members and friends. Their drummer was Elias Jennings, who is a long-time fan of the Atlanta Braves. Jennings led his team to victory by beating out a steady “tomahawk chop” drumbeat.

In another boat the drummer was Cherokee County’s own Anne Shumaker. “I decided to be a drummer, because I thought it would be easier than rowing,” Anne said. She found that the drumming job was just as challenging, since it required her to stay perched in a seat above the canoe-style boat as it raced through the water. While Anne’s team did not win the race, she did enjoy having a part in history.

There was no way to describe the typical paddler for the dragon boats. They came in every size and shape, and in every age.

Emily Greene, 62, started the sport by trying ocean kayaking in Florida. Since moving to Mentone, Ala. she has paddled Desoto Falls and Terrapin Creek, but this was her first time on Weiss Lake. “It is going to be great out on that Dragon Boat,” Greene said.

Nine-year-old Seth Ethridge of Hueytown, Ala. was brought to the races by his grandparents. Ethridge was standing in line next to Greene, suited up in a life jacket, ready to take on paddling in a dragon boat. As the boat pulled away from the dock, Greene’s paddle worked in unison with Ethridge’s, to move the boat toward the middle of the lake. The difference in their ages didn’t seem to matter to either one of them. They were just out to have fun.

Joti Locker of Huntsville came to the event with her family just for the chance to paddle in a dragon boat race.

“I’m Canadian, originally from Toronto” Locker said, “Dragon boat racing is big in Canada, and I always wanted to try it, but I never did.” Locker and her husband, David Locker, are members of the Rocket City Rowing Club in Huntsville.

“I’m hoping we can bring a team from our rowing club next year,” Locker said.

State representatives were also on hand to kick off the race. Senator Roger Bedford, Senator Larry Means, State Representative Richard Lindsey, and Cherokee County Probate Judge Melvin Salter shared their views on the importance of events such as this one.

“Senator Means, Representative Lindsey and I have been working to get funding to develop eco-tourism and the Alabama Scene River System,” said Senator Bedford. “We want people to come and enjoy the waterways all through northeast Alabama and down the coast. They can spend the night, dine in local restaurants, and help promote the local economy.”

Senator Means agreed. “I just helped pass a bill in Etowah County to promote tourism,” Means said. “This is a good time for us to promote Cherokee County and all of the river systems here in Alabama. The people in Cherokee County are so easy to work with.”

Representative Lindsey noted that the event was drawing people to the area from other states. “So far this has been an outstanding event for Cherokee County and Alabama,” Lindsey said. “We have a great number of people participating from adjoining states. People are exciting about having the river trail open from Weiss Lake to Mobile. And the people organizing this event have done an outstanding job.”

That sentiment was expressed by many throughout the day. Two of the paddlers who completed all three days of the event were Michael Clements and his son, 13-year-old Christopher Clements, from Gadsden, Ala.

“Everybody has been so friendly and Weiss Lake is just beautiful,” Michael said. “I have paddled in Colorado and Wyoming, and we have never been on a better organized trip.” While on the trip the Clements’ father and son team met other paddlers from Nashville, Tenn., Mobile, Ala., Atlanta, Ga., and Mississippi.

Christopher Clements added, “The trip was never boring. We paddled through some storms and high winds, and I flipped my kayak one time. But I got back in okay. I really liked the trip.”

Before the race started, Noopie Cosby, program developer for the Alabama Association of Resource Conversation and Development Councils, presented a check from the Coosa Valley RC&D Council for $20,000 to Fred Couch for the Alabama Scenic River Trail.

“Our work is to promote all 641 miles of the Scenic River Trail,” Cosby said. He noted that this kick-off event was possible because of the funding received from the Alabama legislature.

While receiving the check, Couch said, “I’m just glad that I happened to have an idea that everybody liked.”

Senator Bedford thanked Cosby for the $20,000 contribution, and said, “We want people from all over American to come and paddle this area.” Representative Lindsey noted that Weiss Lake is the beginning of the Scenic River Trail, and Senator Means thanked the volunteers for all of their help with this event.

Judge Melvin Salter thanked those attending and the organizers, and added “We are happy that it all started here. Anything else we can do to help, just let us know.”