Racers battle slushy conditions at Ottawa's 1st ice dragon boating festival - Action News
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Racers battle slushy conditions at Ottawa's 1st ice dragon boating festival

Ottawa played host to North America's first-ever ice dragon boating festival this weekend although given the balmy weather, 'slush dragon boating' might have been a better name.

Organizers have hailed event as 1st of its kind in North America

Racers take to Dow's Lake for ice dragon boating

8 years ago
Duration 0:43
This weekend marked the debut of the Ottawa Ice Dragon Boat Festival, which organizers say is the first time an event of its kind has been held in North America.

Perhaps the "slush dragon" boat festival might have been a bettername.

This weekend marked the debut of the Ottawa Ice Dragon Boat Festival a highlight of Winterlude 2017, and an eventorganizers had hailed as the firstof its kind to be held in North America.

On a balmy Saturday afternoon, competitors fromas far away as California and Florida took to the semi-frozen surface of Dow's Lake, using spiked paddles to push the hefty boats across the finish line.

Chynna Chan came from Philadelphia to compete in this weekend's Ice Dragon Boat Festival in Ottawa. (Robyn Miller/CBC)

"It was amazing," said Chynna Chan, who came from Philadelphia to compete. "[The]first heat was much better because of the ice conditions, and we glided through. Second one was a little tougher, but it was so worth it."

Temperatures in Ottawa soared to8 C on Saturday, and the deteriorating conditions forcedfestival organizers to cancel the final heat of races and go straight to the finals.

Racers, however, seemed happy just to be on the ice even if there might be a few soothing massages needed afterwards.

"Everybody'shaving fun," said Toronto's Ivan Lee. "We're glad it's nice and warm out here, but the slush is causing us a lot of shoulder and arm pain. But we're grinning through it and smiling through it."

Winterlude wraps up on Monday.