Superior’s largest event of the year, the Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival, is about giving back to the community — with proceeds and publicity going to a boatload of good causes. But that doesn’t mean the dozens of teams in the dragon-headed wooden boats hold back their competitive streak. One team even had to deny being cutthroat.
“The 23rd Veteran team, Fighting Chance, is partnering with Forging Community, a local blacksmithing group,” said team member Paul Webster — adding the promise: “No razor-sharp blades will be brought aboard the boats.”
Now in its 21st year, the two-day event with a plethora of family-friendly activities both on land and water off Barker’s Island is one of the largest dragon boat races in the country. Webster and competitors Katie Sandstrom of the Duluth Fire team Smoke on the Water 2.0 and longtime race organizer and racer Belissa Ho joined WPR’s Robin Washington on “Morning Edition” to talk about their friendly — but fiercely competitive — rivalry.
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This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Robin Washington: Belissa, am I correct that you’re something of a free agent? Who are you racing for this year?
Belissa Ho: I am racing with Kilohana Hoe Wa’a–Superior Paddlers. It’s an amalgam of a lot of different teams that used to be here. Since we’ve formed in this combination, the first year we won bronze. I believe that year Duluth Fire took first, which is kind of a sore spot for us. And then in our second year, we took silver. So, looking at that trajectory, hopefully this will be our year.
RW: Paul, you have something to say about competition.
Paul Webster: Yeah. We took gold in the Silver Heat last year. We have about a 50-year age span in our team and a lot of us are older vets, but we shouldn’t be underestimated.
RW: Tell us about 23rd Veteran, the event’s charitable partner.
PW: It’s a veteran’s health organization specializing in helping veterans reintegrate into civilian life. At the time it was being formed, 22 American service veterans were taking their own lives every day. The point of 23rd Veteran is to be that 23rd veteran who doesn’t take that step. So 23rd Veteran is here to provide programming and opportunities to help out people that might be facing trouble.
RW: Katie, what’s the story of Smoke On The Water?
Katie Sandstrom: We are actually Smoke On The Water 2.0. When we came up with our name, we didn’t realize there was a Canadian team with the same name. A few of them came down and they are now our friends.
RW: Wait a minute — do they have anything to do with all that wildfire smoke Canada’s been sending us?
KS: Not to my knowledge, but they’re not racing this year.
We’re just a bunch of firefighters from Duluth. Our first time was three years ago and we actually took the gold by beating Belissa’s team. We really surprised ourselves; you put a bunch of competitive firefighters into a boat and it doesn’t look pretty, but somehow we muscled through. Last year we didn’t make the finals, so we’re out for a little revenge this year.
RW: What are some of the good causes benefiting from the event?
BH: The race is put on by the Superior Rotary. They’ve raised a lot of money that goes to a lot of local programs, charities, volunteer organizations. And then we have high schools and ways for corporations to give back to the community.
RW: Other than your own team, who will you be rooting for? For second place, maybe?
KS: I think Belissa would enjoy being in second place!
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