– Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Fort Dodge’s Piper Spurrier and Wisconsin’s Kinnadee Dodd will take part in Saturday’s Badger Lake Dragon Boat Bash down a giant slip and slide set atop a hill overlooking Badger Lake.
The 2022 Badger Lake Dragon Boat Bash ended in a tie for photography.
Division A finals, Motley Crew in Racine, Wisconsin. New Co-op Dragon Master at Fort Dodge. Eastern Iowa’s Cedar River Gang was neck and neck and neck as the team paddled across Lake Badger.
In the end, The Motley Crew and Dragon Masters skating to the finish line together in a time of 97.4 seconds (1.623 minutes). The Cedar River Gang weren’t far behind him with a finishing time of 98.1 seconds (1.635 minutes).
“If nobody was there to see the last race, they probably would have missed one of the best races I’ve been in in 25 years.” Event Co-Chair Barb Michaels said:
The excitement was at the end of the day, but the main event was the Breast Cancer Survivor Ceremony in the afternoon. The Badger Lake Dragon Boat Bash celebrates and honors local women who have survived or are currently battling breast cancer. To cover the needs of uninsured patients, Unity Point Health — Trinity Her Regional Her Medical Her Center’s Cancer Center at Silent Her Auction, said event co-chair Linda Donner. Over $5,000 of her has been raised.
– Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Members of the Fighting Angels Abrest dragon boat team paddle across Lake Badger on Saturday.
The event started many years ago when Daybreak Rotary Club members Donner and Michaels started a cleanup event on the Des Moines River. A few years after that, the river level was too low to go down the race and the club decided it was ready to hand over the event to another group. That’s why he started the Badger Lake Dragon Boat Association, Michaels said.
“One of the other things we’ve been doing as an organization is launching breast cancer teams in the Midwest.” Michaels said. “We launched our own breast cancer team to support newly diagnosed women.”
Three teams of breast cancer survivors competed on Saturday. Fighting Angels Abreast in Fort Dodge. Life for Ames is bliss. Kansas City’s KC Pink Warriors.
“On board there is nothing but the moment” Michaels said at a ceremony for breast cancer survivors. “What a positive way to experience life, especially for survivors.”
Survivors were all given pink carnations to throw into the lake in honor of those battling breast cancer.
– Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Youth dragon boat teams, the Dragoneirs, were one of two youth teams competing at the 2022 Badger Lake Dragon Boat Bash on Saturday at John F. Kennedy Memorial Park.
On the boat, 20 paddlers, drummers and helmsmen work in unison to propel the vessel through the water.
“It’s all about teamwork, because you can’t get things done without working together.” Michaels said. “And that’s especially true for boats.”
Dozens of volunteers are needed to run the Badger Lake Dragon Boat Bash. The event kicked off Friday night with a concert and fireworks at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Park. Volunteers did everything from running the concession stand to loading the boats, timing the races and helping with parking.
“I can’t thank the volunteers enough.” Michaels said. “We had a small but strong army of volunteers.”
race results
– Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
The Interstate Dragon Boat Team paddles to the start line of the race at the 2022 Badger Lake Dragon Boat Bash on Saturday.
Final game
Division A
Motley Crue – 1.623 (min)
New Co-op Dragon Master – 1.623
Cedar River Gang – 1.635
– Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
The new joint Dragon Masters on Boat 2 and the Interstate Dragon Boat Team on Boat 1 were neck and shoulders at the second timed trial of the Badger Lake Dragon Boat Bash on Saturday. The Dragon Masters ended up tied in the finals with Motley Crue of Racine, Wisconsin.
Division B
Interstate – 1.703
Silver Bullet – 1.848
Cargill Corn Rower – 1.917
youth
– Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Ames’ Life is Bliss Dragon Boat Team adorned their tents with unique bras at Saturday’s Badger Lake Dragon Boat Bash. The team is made up of breast cancer survivors.
Team Eagle – 2.106
Dragoon – 2.451
breast cancer survivor
KC Pink Warriors – 1.800
Life is bliss – 1.974
Fighting Angels Abrest – 2.199
– Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Dragon boat teams pass families fishing on Badger Lake on Saturday during the Badger Lake Dragon Boat Bash.
– Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Kansas City’s breast cancer survivor team, the KC Pink Warriors, won the breast cancer survivor team finals at the Badger Lake Dragon Boat Bash by a time of 1.8 minutes.
– Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Dragon Boat is full of breast cancer survivors holding pink carnations in honor of those who are still fighting.
– Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Pink carnations float on Badger Lake after a ceremony honoring breast cancer survivors at the Badger Lake Dragon Boat Bash on Saturday.