Look out! River dragons!

Wednesday, Aug. 31 — It’s not a rain dance: It's the sound of 18paddlers in Taiwanese-style boats, moving swiftly down the Grand River to the beatof a drummer pounding out a cadence in the inaugural Capital City Dragon Boat Race.

The event, set for Labor Day weekend, is part of aconservation and restoration effort for Lansing’s waterfront and coincides withthe Michigan Mosaic Music Festival.

Julie Powers, director of Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council, said dragon boat racingis the fastest growing water sport in the country right now, and it doesn’t takeany special skills to participate.

“I didn’t know anything about it,” she said, when she wasfirst approached about holding the event. “I Googled it,” she said, and realized it was appropriate for what the organization wanted to accomplish.

“It’s very, very popular,” she said, adding they’ve alreadygot two local teams involved. Emergent Bio Solutions and the Lansing Derby Vixens are putting togetherteams, and Powers said she’s helping put together another women’s team. She said the Vixens players just finished asuccessful roller derby season and are usually more than willing to give backto the community in their off-time.

“The average age in the one boat is 45,” Powers said. There are also a couple of teams of college students. “This is absolutely as diverse as you get,” Powers added.

When itcomes to skill levels, there are none necessary. The event’s webpage has a full description of how to put ateam together, including where everyone should sit.

Powers said the 40-foot long boatswill have experts on board,  andeveryone will be required to wear life-jackets, regardless of experience. The event is supported by the AmericanDragon Boat Racing Association, and there will be experienced sternsmen on eachboat.

Knowing how fast the sport is growing, Powers said they haveplanned to be able to either expand or contract the number of boats they needas well. They still have room fora few more able-bodied paddlers, Powers said.

The best thing about the sport, Powers said, is that it is ateam event and it requires everyone on the team to work together. From the drummer at the front of theboat, keeping rhythm for the paddlers, to the flag grabber at the back of the boat,all 20 to 24 people in the boat have a job to do.

Years ago, Powers said the Grand River was the site of muchenvironmental waste dumping; over the past four decades the water qualityhas improved. Events like theCapital City Dragon Boat Race will help continue preservation and conservationefforts to restore the native plants and the waterfront, she said.

The event is planned rain or shine. Boats will take off fromthe Lansing City Market and course their way 300 meters north to Adado RiverfrontPark. Powers said the best placeto view the event is from the Shiawassee Street Bridge.

Visitors to the Michigan Mosaic Music Festival, held alongthe banks of the Grand River will have the opportunity to enjoy the race at thesame time, Powers said. Teams willpractice on Saturday, and the race begins at 8 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 4.

She’s not betting on a winner, but she said she has her eyeon the women’s team. “I think allthe macho, macho men will get their butts kicked by the women.”