On land, Ladda Delaney seems mild-mannered, speaking politely and offering to help fellow dragon-boat racers pack up their equipment.
Put the 73-year-old into a wooden boat with about 20 teammates and hand her a paddle, and she transforms.
“Our coach says you have to go for the kill. Be mean, and be nice later,” she said.
The Portland, Ore., resident was one of more than 1,000 people to race during the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, held in Sloan’s Lake Park on Saturday and Sunday.
Fifty-one teams of 20 or 22 people competed in either Hong Kong- or Taiwan-style races over the weekend. During both styles, paddlers work together to propel the boat to the beat of a drum, often chanting or yelling.
At the end of a Taiwan-style race, one person must climb to the front end of the boat, lean over the wooden dragon head and catch a flag hanging at the finish line.
Delaney and her team of senior-citizen racers participated in Hong Kong-style racing, in which there is no flag to catch, competing in six events over the two days.
Delaney said she joined the Golden Dragon team because she needed something to do in retirement. She and her teammates meet for practice every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, rain or shine.
The Colorado Dragon Boat Festival also featured traditional dancers and musical performances from people representing various Asian countries, as well as more modern hip-hop performances.
“The thing about the Asian community in Denver is that there are something like 30 different ethnic communities,” said event spokesman Gil Asakawa. “It’s important to learn about each other and then share that.”
Liz Navratil: 303-954-1054 or lnavratil@denverpost.com
