The Colorado Dragon Boat Festival's staff, Board of Directors and Operations Committee extend sincere condolences and a message of hope for anyone who has family and friends impacted by the terrible devastation in Japan from the Tohoku Kanto Earthquake and subsequent tsunami.
We have welcomed the involvement of the Japanese and Japanese American communities at CDBF since our very first year in 2001, and our hearts go out to the people and government of Japan.
This year we will be featuring Japan as one of our spotlight countries in Gateway to Asia during the festival. We hope Gateway to Asia will be a tribute to Japan's recovery and the resiliency of its people. One of the community organizations helping to organize this area's exhibits and demonstrations is the Consul General of Japan's Denver office and they suggest making donations directly to the Japanese Red Cross Society on its English language page.
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They also suggest making donations to the Japan America Society of Colorado (JASC) who have created an Earthquake Relief Fund where you can show your support and contribute online.
The Consulate in Colorado was opened in 1999 and the office is a hub for people interested in Japan, as well as Japanese who work or are traveling in this region. The Japan America Society was formed in Boston in 1903 as a way to build bridges between Japan and the United States. The Japan America Society of Colorado was formed in the 1980s and has helped create strong economic and cultural ties across the Pacific.
We urge you to donate at either website (no amount is too small) and keep Japan in your thoughts, hopes and prayers.
If you're wondering what gambare means, it's a Japanese phrase of encouragement that means "persevere despite the circumstances."

Dragon Boat Races have become one of the main attractions of the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, from its humble beginnings in 2001 with 16 teams to this year, when we'l have 48 teams competing in Recreational and Competitive Divisions as well as our popular Youth Division races!
Click for a PDF on how to train for Dragon Boat Racing!

Registrations are now being accepted for the 2011 races. The Divisions are explained below. The team fees are $850 for Adult teams, $550 for Youth teams.
There are two ways to pay:
Send check or money order to:
CDBF
11049 West 44th Avenue #110
Wheat Ridge CO 80033.
(Note: Your team will not be officially registered until payment is received)
Or pay online via PayPal:
(Note: Please be aware, there is an added fee to use PayPal to cover processing fees. Adult = $875.50 and Youth = $566.50.
Registration includes one on-water training session provided by experts from the festival's Race Committee, but if you're "in it to win it," you can invest in extra on-water training sessions for just $100 each. You'll also be able to rent a tent for your area in "Team City" during the festival.
How many people do you need for a team? Each team needs 24 members -- 18 to paddle (half men, half women), one to keep time on the drum, one to be the flag catcher (for Taiwan-Style flag cather boats) and four alternates. A Dragon Boat race team is great for team building, and creating a camaraderie that continues off the water and into the office and circle of friends.
You don't have to convince 23 of your closest friends to join you in a team -- you can also be part of a community pickup team, which we've assembled to allow individuals to enjoy the thrill of dragon boat racing.

Sorry -- race registration is now closed!