• Competitors paddle hard across Bigfork Bay during the Montana Dragon Boat Festival in Bigfork on Sept. 7, 2019. Hunter D’Antuono | Flathead Beacon

  • Competitors race to the finish line during the Montana Dragon Boat Festival in Bigfork Bay in Bigfork on Sept. 7, 2019. Hunter D’Antuono | Flathead Beacon

  • The Montana Dragon Boat Festival in Bigfork Bay in Bigfork on Sept. 7, 2019. Hunter D’Antuono | Flathead Beacon

  • The Montana Dragon Boat Festival in Bigfork Bay in Bigfork on Sept. 7, 2019. Hunter D’Antuono | Flathead Beacon

  • Patrick Gembala and his team, Fa'assaulala, sported matching temporary dragon tattoos for the the Montana Dragon Boat Festival in Bigfork Bay in Bigfork on Sept. 7, 2019. Hunter D’Antuono | Flathead Beacon

  • Teams race across Bigfork Bay during the Montana Dragon Boat Festival in Bigfork on Sept. 7, 2019. Hunter D’Antuono | Flathead Beacon

  • Steersman Nancy Graham of Lethbridge, Alberta, sporting a squid-hat, guides a team out into the bay during the Montana Dragon Boat Festival in Bigfork Bay in Bigfork on Sept. 7, 2019. Hunter D’Antuono | Flathead Beacon

  • A boat is launched into Bigfork Bay during the Montana Dragon Boat Festival in Bigfork on Sept. 7, 2019. Hunter D’Antuono | Flathead Beacon

  • The Riveting Rosies team pulls away from the dock during the Montana Dragon Boat Festival in Bigfork Bay in Bigfork on Sept. 7, 2019. Hunter D’Antuono | Flathead Beacon

  • A drummer settles into position for a race at the Montana Dragon Boat Festival in Bigfork Bay in Bigfork on Sept. 7, 2019. Hunter D’Antuono | Flathead Beacon

  • A teams race across Bigfork Bay during the Montana Dragon Boat Festival in Bigfork on Sept. 7, 2019. Hunter D’Antuono | Flathead Beacon

  • Competitors hold their paddles at-the-ready during the Montana Dragon Boat Festival in Bigfork Bay in Bigfork on Sept. 7, 2019. Hunter D’Antuono | Flathead Beacon

  • The Montana Dragon Boat Festival in Bigfork Bay in Bigfork on Sept. 7, 2019. Hunter D’Antuono | Flathead Beacon

  • Teams race across Bigfork Bay during the Montana Dragon Boat Festival in Bigfork on Sept. 7, 2019. Hunter D’Antuono | Flathead Beacon

  • The Montana Dragon Boat Festival in Bigfork Bay in Bigfork on Sept. 7, 2019. Hunter D’Antuono | Flathead Beacon

  • Paddlers prepare to board their boats during the Montana Dragon Boat Festival in Bigfork Bay in Bigfork on Sept. 7, 2019. Hunter D’Antuono | Flathead Beacon

  • A teams races across Bigfork Bay during the Montana Dragon Boat Festival in Bigfork on Sept. 7, 2019. Hunter D’Antuono | Flathead Beacon

  • Steersman JP Ferguson of Lethbridge, Alberta, sporting a mushroom hat, guides paddlers into the bay during the Montana Dragon Boat Festival in Bigfork Bay in Bigfork on Sept. 7, 2019. Hunter D’Antuono | Flathead Beacon

  • Pink roses are distributed to members of Silver Lining paddling team from Missoula, who are all survivors of breast cancer, for a ceremony during the Montana Dragon Boat Festival in Bigfork Bay in Bigfork on Sept. 7, 2019. Hunter D’Antuono | Flathead Beacon

  • Tricia Lingle Johnson, left, of Missoula and Heidi Call of Kalispell share a tearful moment during a ceremony for breast cancer survivors and patients during the Montana Dragon Boat Festival in Bigfork Bay in Bigfork on Sept. 7, 2019. Lingle and Call received their diagnoses on Oct 16, 2018 and Oct 23, 2018, respectively. Hunter D’Antuono | Flathead Beacon

  • Members of the Silver Lining paddling team hold up pink roses during a ceremony for breast cancer survivors and patients during the Montana Dragon Boat Festival in Bigfork Bay in Bigfork on Sept. 7, 2019. Hunter D’Antuono | Flathead Beacon

  • A pink rose drifts across the Bigfork Bay after a ceremony for breast cancer survivors and patients at the Montana Dragon Boat Festival in Bigfork on Sept. 7, 2019. Hunter D’Antuono | Flathead Beacon

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Photos: Dragon Boats 2019

Sep 10, 2019 | Twenty-one teams composed of twenty paddlers each from across Montana and Alberta produced wakes across Bigfork Bay on September 7 and 8, 2019 during the annual Montana Dragon Boat Festival. The new race location in Bigfork offered protection from the wind and smooth waters for racers.